continued . . .
Professor of Mission Rev. Dr. Tim Huffman at Trinity Lutheran seminary shared statistics that showed the ‘average’ Christian globally speaking is a young African woman with children. The Christian religion is showing explosive church growth on the continent of Africa. No wonder with this approach. Of course, there are some pitfalls and a huge need for education. For the Jesuits the rapid conversion rate stemmed from their approach of living among the peoples, learning the language, customs, and traditions to tailor their approach to each context based on understanding. Today mission is oriented towards teaching, healing and sharing skills and resources to facilitate ownership and independence in the indigenous context. (Photo: Mission Concepción in San Antonio, Texas)
I had to wonder what first comes to mind when you say, ‘Christianity’ in America. Not so simple; it’s certainly not a uniform picture. For some the answer might be ‘grace’, for others ‘success’, still others, ‘blessing’ or ‘charity’. The Mennonites are certainly involved in ‘peace’ education worldwide today. For that matter, what comes to mind when you say, 'evangelist' or 'missionary'? See columns on what other religions believe: http://www.examiner.com/x-14414-Columbus-Interfaith-Spirituality-Examiner~topic496461-Culture-and-Spirituality?selstate=topcat#breadcrumb
Beyond Christianity, several religions engage in mission work- the Buddhists through-out SE Asia with compassionate caring, Muslims working with displaced peoples and establishing free medical clinics in the Near East, Sikhs working alongside other faiths in Chicago to feed the homeless. Hindus came to this shore to teach Vedanta and establish meditation centers a few decades ago. Each group layers upon the native American faith traditions, and then the Pilgrims, followed by waves of immigrants and successive awakenings.
Mission and evangelism share in outreach to others. There are different motives. There are corporate mission statements and brand evangelists in marketing. From a time when ‘it was unthinkable people should be allowed to believe as they choose’ to discovering ‘those other religions . . . There can be little doubt that the contemporary world situation and the increasing exchange of ideas between peoples and religions have created an unprecedented situation.’ Author David R. Bosch, Transforming Mission, Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission believes ‘the dialogue we engage in should be a meeting of hearts rather than minds. We are after all dealing with a mystery.’( p 483)
He noted that Macquarrie identified 6 formative factors in theology: experience, revelation, Scripture, tradition, culture and reason. R.Pape adds a seventh formative factor- another religion. It’s not a one way street and militancy is ‘out’; dialogue ‘in’. My husband remembers buying a Bhagavad Gita to get rid of an aggressive woman in the airport. I remember when the Unification church attempted to gain converts in the '70's. Another colleague talks of street corner preachers shouting about 'the fire gonna git you!' on the OSU campus, and we've all had Jehovah's Witnesses come to the door with tracts.
Shared responsibility for education, healthcare, safety, food and water are all part of the new mission paradigm and building AIDs clinics, orphanages and schools. It is in that caring one sees the transcendent.
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