Publication
Description
Stephen Bevans and Roger Schroeder have given theologians, missiologists, and historians of Christianity a volume marked by both erudition and clarity. Treating ancient Asian and Western church development and subsequent Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Pentecostal, and Evangelical mission work and theology, Constants in Context is the most up-to-date and complete book of its kind. It is destined to become a classic and is marked by a depth that places it alongside David Bosch's Transforming Mission as a standard account of both the history and theology of Christian mission. Beginning with the Luke-Acts construction of the mission of the church as the Spirit leading Christians to become a movement that is missionary by its very nature, the authors then identity six constants of mission, and three types of mission theology. These they trace deftly down through ages, ending with an balanced, magisterial treatment of mission in the contemporary era as participation in the mission of God; as liberating service of the reign of God; as professing Jesus Christ as universal Savior; and as prophetic dialogue involving witness and proclamation; liturgy, prayer and contemplation; work for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation; as interreligious dialogue; as inculturation; and ultimately as reconciliation of all in God's plan for peace in total unity in diversity of all creation.… (more)