Theological Commission Evangelical Review of Theology (ERT)

April 2009 Vol 33 No 2

Apr 03, 2009

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Contents

• Editorial: Life, Work and Witness
• Niggle’s Leaf and Holland’s Opus: Reflections on the Theological Significance of Work by Richard Langer
• With/Beyond Tracy: Revisioning Public Theology by Timoteo D. Gener
• Transforming the Indian Culture of Poverty and Oppression by Samuel Jayakumar
• Will Lausanne III Listen? A Latin American Inquiry by J. Daniel Salinias
• Jesus’ Questions by Lee Wanak
• Book Review Article by Amos Yong
• Book Reviews:
  • Reviewed by David Parker:
    • Joel Edwards: An Agenda for Change: a global call for spiritual and social transformation
    • Darrell L Bock and Mitch Glaser (editors): To The Jew First : the case for Jewish evangelism in Scripture and History
  • Reviewed by James Nkansah-Obrempong:
    • Thomas C. Oden, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: rediscovering the African seedbed of western Christianity
  • Reviewed by Walter McConnell
    • Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative
  • Reviewed by J. Daniel Salinas
    • Sharon E. Heaney, Contextual Theology for Latin America: Liberation Themes in Evangelical Perspective
  • Reviewed by Susannah Clark
    • Pete Wilcox, Living the Dream: Joseph for Today: A Dramatic Exposition of Genesis 37-50

Editorial: Life Work and Witness

In this issue we plunge into the public world and examine how some aspects of our faith and practice are related. The first article (responding to an earlier paper on the topic) focuses on work itself, and shows how it has an eschatological significance as it anticipates the new creation. Then Timoteo Gener (The Philippines) asks about the role of theology in the public arena, examining some ideas from David Tracy, and searching for a truly transformationist Christian perspective on public culture.  Finally for this section, we become very practical and follow Samuel Jayakumar (India) as he looks at the situation in his country, where poverty is rule rather than the exception. His burden to understand how the Christian gospel can transform society and empower the poor.

We cannot escape the challenge to develop a truly transformational mission, so our fourth article is rather pointed. Daniel Salinas (Paraguay) looks ahead to the next big evangelical meeting, Lasuanne III Cape Town, 2010, and enquiries whether this will be an opportunity for authentic engagement with these realities and cause ‘evangelicals around the world to incarnate the Kingdom’s values with compassion and Christian love to people in need.’

Finally, coming back to our source and heart, Lee Wanak (The Philippines) draws our attention to an outstanding feature of Jesus’ ministry—and one that might be a useful one to bear in mind in this context—the careful use of questions. Wanak suggests that by  asking thought provoking questions, Jesus sought to transform the assumptions of his first century listeners with the idea of introducing a new set of kingdom values.

We conclude with a longer than usual book review section, headed off by a review article by Amos Yong evaluating an ambitious project to understand evangelicalism; this is followed up by another issuing a radical call to evangelicals to be  ‘good news people.’ Other reviews take up the usual wide range of issues that pour from the presses, including in particular Early African Christianity and its legacy, Jewish evangelism, Latin American theology and post-modernism.  We welcome suggestions of books and reviewers, especially from the Majority world, as we do articles. Contact the editor for more information.

David Parker, Editor

Next Issue: July 2009 Vol 33 No 3 Theme: Holistic Gospel