Evangelical Review of Theology (ERT)
Apr 2011 Vol 35 No 2
Now available
Paternoster Periodicals, c/- AlphaGraphics, 6 Angel Row, Nottingham NG1 6HL, UK
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Theme: A Century of Mission and More!
Contents:
Editorial: A Century of Mission and More!
Changing the World, One Story at a Time: Rediscovering Evangelism after Cape Town 2010 by C. Rosalee Velloso Ewell and John Baxter-Brown
Theology in the 21st Century by James P Danaher
Contextualizing the Structure of Systematic Theology in Africa by Andrew Wildsmith
David Yonggi Cho’s Theology Of Blessing: Basis, Legitimacy, and Limitations by Wonsuk Ma
Disability and the Love of Wisdom: De-forming, Re-forming, and Per-forming Philosophy of Religion by Amos Yong
Scratching the Itch: Paul’s Athenian Speech Shaping Mission Today by Susan Campbell
Reviews
The Future of Atheism: Alister McGrath and Daniel Dennett in Dialogue edited by Robert B. Stewart Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2008 ISBN: 978-0-8006-6314-8 Pb., pp. 212, index Reviewed by Glenn B. Siniscalchi, Pittsburgh, PA
Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction by D. Stephen Long (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010) ISBN 978-0-19-956886-4 Pb, pp 135, bibliog, index Reviewed by David Parker, Executive Editor, Evangelical Review of Theology
Retrieving the Natural Law: A Return to Moral First Things by J. Daryl Charles Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2008 ISBN: 978-0-8028-2594-0 Pb., x + 346, bibliog, index Reviewed by Glenn B. Siniscalchi, Pittsburgh, PA
Kirchengeschichte Asiens (Asian Church History) Klaus Wetzel Nuremberg (Germany), VTR, revised edition 2010 ISBN 978-3-941750-25-8 Translated from the Indonesian edition Kompendium Sejarah Gereja Asia Malang (Indonesia), Gandum Mas, 2000 Pb, pp 680 Reviewed by Thomas Schirrmacher, Bonn, General Editor, Evangelical Review of Theology
My Brother’s Keeper: Essays in honor of Ellis R. Brotzman Edited by Thomas J. Marinello and H. H. Drake Williams III Eugene, Oregon: WIFF & Stock, 2010 ISBN 13:978-1-60608-776-4 Pb., pp 287, Reviewed by Norman T Barker, Brisbane, Australia
Global Dictionary of Theology edited by William A Dyrness and Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen (Downers Grove Il./Nottingham: InterVarsity Press, USA/Inter-Varsity Press, England: 2008) ISBN 978-1-84474-350-6. Hb., pp 996, Indices. Reviewed by David Parker, Executive Editor, Evangelical Review of Theology
Evangelical Internationalism: The American Christian Right and Global Human Rights by Gerlinde Groitl (Regensburger Studien zur Internationalen Politik. Vol. 4) (Hamburg: Verlag Dr. Kovac, 2007) ISBN 978-3-8300-2823-9. Pb., pp 200 Reviewed by Frank Hinkelmann, Austrian Evangelical Alliance, Petzenkirchen, Austria
Editorial: Theology and the World
In October 2010, four thousand people met in Cape Town, South Africa under the auspices of The Lausanne Movement and the World Evangelical Alliance for the Third International Congress on World Evangelization. We were well represented at this important event and carried some reflections on it in our other publication, Theological News, at the time. We introduce this issue with a longer personal reflection by Rosalee Ewell (Brazil) and John Baxter-Brown (UK/Switzerland) which is certain to create interest in our readers. It should be read in association with the material in earlier issues which presented papers and findings from a series of consultations conducted by the Lausanne Theology Working Group and the WEA Theological Commission in preparation for the Congress. (For full details of the Congress, visit http://www.lausanne.org/)
This paper heads up several others on our theme for this issue. James Danaher (USA) discusses the nature of theology itself in relation to our personal knowledge of Jesus Christ, advising us that ‘Only the experience of God’s presence in prayer brings us to find our security in the mystery of God’s mercy rather than our own understanding.’
From here we move to different contexts. First, Andrew G. Wildsmith (Kenya) discusses how Western systematic theology has been introduced into the African context and proposes a new approach based on relationships rather than abstract topics that would help with pastoral issues. Wonsuk Ma (Korea/UK) analyses the outstanding ministry of David Yonggi Cho and his famous ‘Theology of Blessing’, showing how it fits in with its distinctively Korean and Pentecostal context. His article covers not only the rise of this theology in the period of rapid growth of Korean Christianity but also reflects on the challenges it faces in a new era for that church in that country.
The next article takes us to another context completely, that of human disability. In a carefully argued essay, Amos Yong (USA) examines traditional approaches to theodicy, epistemology, and questions of death/afterlife from a disability perspective. One of the results of this process is a ‘performative philosophy of religion’, an activity that shapes human dispositions, activities, and political life. Including both physical and intellectual disability as well as personal and social aspects, Yong argues, ‘If life in the hereafter manifests the divine and cosmic justice we all hope for, and also includes people with disabilities in a sense just as they are, then such notions of justice and inclusion should also guide our present efforts.’
We round off this issue on theology and the world with a Bible study article by Susan Campbell (Australia) on the Apostle Paul’s classic address in Athens which is a guide to ‘shaping mission for today.’ This passage ‘encourages Christians to trust the work of the Spirit in un-believing cultures, to put aside our arrogant claims to possess all the answers, and to enjoy the journey as we discover new insight from other cultures.’
Thomas Schirrmacher, General Editor
David Parker, Executive Editor
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