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Challenges for Mission Challenges for Mission and Ministry from and Ministry from Postmodern Assumptions Postmodern Assumptions and Realities and Realities Joshva Raja Joshva Raja Session 5. Session 5.

5 challenges for mission and ministry from postmodern assumptions

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Page 1: 5 challenges for mission and ministry from postmodern assumptions

Challenges for Mission and Challenges for Mission and Ministry from Postmodern Ministry from Postmodern Assumptions and RealitiesAssumptions and Realities

Joshva Raja Joshva Raja

Session 5.Session 5.

Page 2: 5 challenges for mission and ministry from postmodern assumptions

Themes to be discussedThemes to be discussed

An emerging paradigm / emerging An emerging paradigm / emerging churchchurch

The end of Modern Era and MissionsThe end of Modern Era and MissionsPostChristendomPostChristendomSimpson’s GospelSimpson’s GospelHarry Potter’s churchHarry Potter’s church

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Resources for readingResources for reading J Andrew Kirk J Andrew Kirk Mission Under Scrutiny: Confronting Current Mission Under Scrutiny: Confronting Current

ChallengesChallenges, pp. 201-219: ‘A Postscript: Mission post-Everything?’, pp. 201-219: ‘A Postscript: Mission post-Everything?’ Bosch, Transforming Mission. 349-362)Bosch, Transforming Mission. 349-362) Richard Tiplday, Richard Tiplday, Church in a Postmodern SocietyChurch in a Postmodern Society.. Richard Tiplady Richard Tiplady Postmission: World Mission by a Postmodern Postmission: World Mission by a Postmodern

Generation.Generation. Cumbria Cumbria Paternoster Press, 2002.Paternoster Press, 2002. Richard Bauckham Richard Bauckham Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a

Postmodern World.Postmodern World. Cumbria: Paternoster Press. 2003.Cumbria: Paternoster Press. 2003. J. K. Rowling, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban New York: New York:

Scholastic Scholastic Press, 1999.Press, 1999. Brian McLaren, Brian McLaren, A New Kind of Christian (San Francisco: Jossey-A New Kind of Christian (San Francisco: Jossey-

Bass, 2001), xiv-xv, Bass, 2001), xiv-xv, xvi.xvi.

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Preview Modernity and Mission Preview Modernity and Mission viewsviews

A scientific view of the BibleA scientific view of the BibleEmphasis on doctrine – Doctrines are Emphasis on doctrine – Doctrines are

our theological facts.our theological facts.High value on rightnessHigh value on rightnessLow tolerance for mysteryLow tolerance for mysteryHigh Value on TruthHigh Value on TruthProclamation as DoctrineProclamation as DoctrineHigh value in teaching and preachingHigh value in teaching and preachingLow value in personal discipleshipLow value in personal discipleshipAutonomy in Church practiceAutonomy in Church practice

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Rise and fall of ChristendomRise and fall of Christendom

In 312 Constantine (hoc Signo Vince In 312 Constantine (hoc Signo Vince – in this sign conquer) – sign of the – in this sign conquer) – sign of the cross – Christianity as a force of cross – Christianity as a force of unity of the Roman empireunity of the Roman empire

Christendom means – Christendom means –

a.a. adoption of Christianity as a the adoption of Christianity as a the official religion of the empireofficial religion of the empire

b.b. All citizens were Christians by birthAll citizens were Christians by birth

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Mission of the Christian Church Mission of the Christian Church in a Postmodern World – George in a Postmodern World – George

CareyCarey The Collapse of Global IdeologyThe Collapse of Global Ideology Relativising of valuesRelativising of values Loss of hopeLoss of hope

Mission Response – The church should Mission Response – The church should never be apologetic for bearing witness to never be apologetic for bearing witness to eternal truths (versus material values)eternal truths (versus material values)

As a Church we need to rediscover the As a Church we need to rediscover the sacramental nature of communitysacramental nature of community

The Church must put service before power The Church must put service before power and statusand status

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Christian Mission in the Christian Mission in the Postmodern World Postmodern World PeterstephensonPeterstephenson

A. Suspicion of All Big Stories A. Suspicion of All Big Stories progress vs ecological disasterprogress vs ecological disaster

Deconstruction as mission? Deconstruction as mission? Come clean about the churches’ pastCome clean about the churches’ pastExamine ourselves for oppressive Examine ourselves for oppressive

tendenciestendenciesSearch ourselves for signs of Search ourselves for signs of

syncretismsyncretism

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B Distrust of Authority and B Distrust of Authority and InstitutionsInstitutions

Big stories are construction of those in Big stories are construction of those in power built to legitimise and preserve power built to legitimise and preserve that powerthat power

No favours to elders due to ecological No favours to elders due to ecological disasters – Live for todaydisasters – Live for today

Image – free to choose – any truthsImage – free to choose – any truthsGlobal awareness – ecological Global awareness – ecological

destruction, human rights, destruction destruction, human rights, destruction of ethnic cultures, racial and religious of ethnic cultures, racial and religious intolerance, sexual discrimination, intolerance, sexual discrimination, abuse of animalsabuse of animals

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Missions 1Missions 1

Personally Focussed – Personally Focussed –

a.a. I will get by with a little help from I will get by with a little help from my friends – relationshipmy friends – relationship

b.b. Live and let live – pluralismLive and let live – pluralism

c.c. Get your act togetherGet your act together Longing for IntimacyLonging for Intimacy Real Personal SpiritualityReal Personal Spirituality

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Missions 2Missions 2

Politically Alienated Politically Alienated

a.a. Trust no one above thirty – authorityTrust no one above thirty – authority

b.b. Whatever - IdeologyWhatever - Ideology

Philosophically Confused Philosophically Confused

a.a. There is more to life than meets the There is more to life than meets the eye – empiricismeye – empiricism

b.b. Consistency belongs to small minds –Consistency belongs to small minds –rationalism rationalism

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Missions 3Missions 3

Theologically Ignorant Theologically Ignorant

a.a. Feeling good is good enough for Feeling good is good enough for me: Truth and Valuesme: Truth and Values

b.b. Imagine there is no heaven: Imagine there is no heaven: Spirituality Spirituality

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Changing Patterns and Changing Patterns and Models of MissionsModels of Missions

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InitiativesInitiatives

Mission as DevelopmentMission as DevelopmentMission with HIV PatientsMission with HIV PatientsMission with prisonersMission with prisonersMedical MissionMedical MissionMedia and MissionMedia and MissionCharity as MissionCharity as MissionConflict Resolution as MissionConflict Resolution as MissionEcological concerns as MissionEcological concerns as Mission

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Paradigm shifts?!Paradigm shifts?!

No history of other missions?No history of other missions?History of Other missionsHistory of Other missions

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Medical MissionMedical Mission

Wilkinson, John (1989 Maxwell Memorial Lecture) Making Wilkinson, John (1989 Maxwell Memorial Lecture) Making Men Whole - The Theology of Medical Missions, CMF and the Men Whole - The Theology of Medical Missions, CMF and the book by Christopher H Grundmann - University Press of book by Christopher H Grundmann - University Press of

America 2005America 2005 Sent to Heal! - Emergence and Sent to Heal! - Emergence and Development of Medical MissionsDevelopment of Medical Missions

Holistic approach of mission – Physical Holistic approach of mission – Physical healing through medical treatment?healing through medical treatment?

God’s concern for the sick and weakGod’s concern for the sick and weak Jesus’ healing and caring for the sickJesus’ healing and caring for the sick Mission purely spiritual? Caring for Mission purely spiritual? Caring for

physical wellbeing as well! – James 5physical wellbeing as well! – James 5

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Paradigm shifts in Medical Paradigm shifts in Medical MissionMission

Nestorian Christianity - 'the knowledge Nestorian Christianity - 'the knowledge and practice of medicine and healing was and practice of medicine and healing was a notable feature’a notable feature’

Constantine’s conversion – 4Constantine’s conversion – 4thth Century – Century – hospitals, orphanages and other missions hospitals, orphanages and other missions beganbegan

Until enlightenment the medical practice Until enlightenment the medical practice was traditional, religious, and superstitiouswas traditional, religious, and superstitious

Medical missionaries were sent out in 18Medical missionaries were sent out in 18thth Centuries – from Hospitals to Community Centuries – from Hospitals to Community health care systemshealth care systems

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Development as MissionDevelopment as Mission

Progress Progress Traditional societiesTraditional societiesLinear modelsLinear modelsModernization – diffusionModernization – diffusionDependencyDependencyParticipationParticipationCommunity based developmentCommunity based development

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DevelopmentDevelopment

Ecological economicsEcological economics Sustainable developmentSustainable development Welfare economicsWelfare economics Feminist economicsFeminist economics

http://etd.rau.ac.za/theses/available/etd-1http://etd.rau.ac.za/theses/available/etd-10062004-104219/restricted/Chapter6.pdf0062004-104219/restricted/Chapter6.pdf

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/1998/sen-lecture.pdfeconomics/laureates/1998/sen-lecture.pdf

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Mission among HIV/AIDSMission among HIV/AIDS

http://data.unaids.org/Publications/IRC-http://data.unaids.org/Publications/IRC-pub06/JC1119-Theological_en.pdfpub06/JC1119-Theological_en.pdf

http://www.unaids.org/DocOrder/Orderhttp://www.unaids.org/DocOrder/OrderForm.aspxForm.aspx

AwarenessAwarenessPreventionPreventionTreatmentTreatmentCaringCaringAdvocacyAdvocacy

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Mission among the virtual Mission among the virtual communitiescommunities

(1) a virtual common-public-space where a significant portion of interactive group-CMCs

occur;(2) a variety of communicators;(3) a minimum level of sustained

stable membership; and(4) a minimum level of interactivity.

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New Mission Initiatives and New Mission Initiatives and modelsmodels

Postmodern MissionPostmodern MissionGlobalization and MissionGlobalization and MissionPopular culture and MissionPopular culture and MissionMedia and MissionMedia and MissionWar and MissionWar and MissionEco-concerns and missionEco-concerns and missionCollaborative missionCollaborative mission

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Barriers between Modern and Barriers between Modern and Postmodern faithPostmodern faith

Truth and SubjectivityTruth and SubjectivityRejection of rigid distinctionsRejection of rigid distinctionsLocal, personal and specific truthLocal, personal and specific truthRejection of absolute truthsRejection of absolute truths Inclusiveness or toleranceInclusiveness or toleranceDiversity of Morals and LifestylesDiversity of Morals and LifestylesNoise as non-confirmingNoise as non-confirmingConservative religion as enemyConservative religion as enemy

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BridgesBridges

Tendency for spiritual sensitivityTendency for spiritual sensitivityExperiential spiritualityExperiential spiritualityPersonal spiritualityPersonal spiritualityPracticalityPracticalitySocial needsSocial needsShalomShalomLooking for spiritual guidesLooking for spiritual guides

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Postmodernist churchPostmodernist church

Strong tendency toward personal Strong tendency toward personal spiritualityspirituality

Deep thoughtful ChristiansDeep thoughtful ChristiansTendency to live out their faith in Tendency to live out their faith in

societysocietyDesire for communityDesire for communityLess tendency to fight with other Less tendency to fight with other

Christians over the doctrineChristians over the doctrineLiving in MetaphorsLiving in Metaphors

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Weakness of the Postmodern Weakness of the Postmodern ChurchChurch

Desire for Individual spiritualityDesire for Individual spiritualityDesire for Individual TruthDesire for Individual TruthPotential to get attracted with Potential to get attracted with

Spirituality itselfSpirituality itselfTendency not to reflect biblically Tendency not to reflect biblically

about social issuesabout social issuesPragmatism without biblical Pragmatism without biblical

reflection is no goodreflection is no goodTendency to hold personal doctrine Tendency to hold personal doctrine

above biblical doctrineabove biblical doctrine

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Postmodern modelsPostmodern models

Testimonies, symbols, paradox, Testimonies, symbols, paradox, parables and stories to shareparables and stories to share

Creative artistic expressionsCreative artistic expressionsTalents and gifts of spirit using them in Talents and gifts of spirit using them in

ministryministrySharing through the web of relationshipSharing through the web of relationshipAvoiding denominational identitiesAvoiding denominational identitiesUsing all mediaUsing all media

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Models of churchingModels of churching

Non-church-like namesNon-church-like namesHome web of cell groupsHome web of cell groupsSmaller churchesSmaller churchesCorporate worship is like a theatre Corporate worship is like a theatre

roomroomChurches filled with art meeting non-Churches filled with art meeting non-

traditional hourstraditional hoursDistrust marketing techniquesDistrust marketing techniquesNo leader but leadersNo leader but leaders

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Starting from where?Starting from where?