HOLISM or PRIORITISM

HOLISMHOLISMoror

PRIORITISMPRIORITISM

The Good News for Who?The Good News for Who?

Drawn From:

Paradigms in Conflict by David Hesslegrave, 2005

Christian Mission in the Modern World by John Stott, 1975

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

• Are the poor a particular object of our Are the poor a particular object of our

Mission?Mission?

– In what sense are we to “reach the poor”?In what sense are we to “reach the poor”?

– Who are the “poor” anyway?Who are the “poor” anyway?

– Does salvation incorporate deliverance from Does salvation incorporate deliverance from

oppression & poverty?oppression & poverty?

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

• What is the relationship between What is the relationship between

preaching the gospel and reaching out preaching the gospel and reaching out

to the poor?to the poor?

– Between offering the water of life, and Between offering the water of life, and

giving a cup of cool water?giving a cup of cool water?

– Between saving the soul and saving the Between saving the soul and saving the

body?body?

Poor as a “god-term”Poor as a “god-term”

• Assumed meaningAssumed meaning– So important it governs assumptions & feelingsSo important it governs assumptions & feelings

• What does it mean to be “poor”?What does it mean to be “poor”?

• What is the proper Christian response?What is the proper Christian response?– Resolving the causations…Resolving the causations…– Alleviating injustice / suffering…Alleviating injustice / suffering…– Determining West’s liability – Determining West’s liability – toto or or forfor the the

poor…poor…– Intervening: social development or Intervening: social development or

evangelization…evangelization…

Emerging Emphasis on Emerging Emphasis on “Poor”“Poor”

• Modern missions always ministered soul & Modern missions always ministered soul &

bodybody

• Ecumenical missions shifted focus / prioritiesEcumenical missions shifted focus / priorities

• Evangelicals readjusted focus in 1970’sEvangelicals readjusted focus in 1970’s

Three Positions Regarding Three Positions Regarding the Poorthe Poor

1.1. Radical LiberationismRadical Liberationism• Marxist informedMarxist informed• Salvation = deliverance from injustice & Salvation = deliverance from injustice &

cultural transformationcultural transformation

2.2. HolismHolism• Dynamic partnership of socio-political action Dynamic partnership of socio-political action

and gospel proclamationand gospel proclamation• RevisionistRevisionist: evangelism and social action as equal : evangelism and social action as equal

partnerspartners• RestrainedRestrained: evangelism takes priority over social : evangelism takes priority over social

actionaction

3.3. PrioritismPrioritism• Maintains sharp distinction between primary Maintains sharp distinction between primary

(spiritual) and secondary (social) missions(spiritual) and secondary (social) missions

SPIRIT

health

wealth

educ

SP

IRIT

body mindmindbody

soc.

VISUALIZATION “A”VISUALIZATION “A”

Spiritual transformation – Social transformation

Spirit/Soul — Mind/Body

Evangelism – Social Action

VISUALIZATION “B”VISUALIZATION “B”

RadicalThe mission is

to promote justice in

society and establish

Shalom on the earth.

RevisionistThe mission is to minister to society and individuals

without dichotomizing between the physical and

spiritual or the body and the

soul/spirit.

RestrainedThe mission is to minister to society and individuals

socially and spiritually while giving certain

priority to evangelism.

TraditionalThe mission is

primarily to make disciples of all nations.

Other Christian ministries are

good but secondary and

supportive.

LiberationTheology

HolismTheology

PrioritismTheology

VISUALIZATION “C”VISUALIZATION “C”

Alleged Inadequacies of Alleged Inadequacies of HolismHolism

• Holistic “cradle” built of one fiber:Holistic “cradle” built of one fiber:– No Priorities!No Priorities!

• Bough #1 -- Argument from Bough #1 -- Argument from reasonreason– Christianity begins with Christianity begins with absoluteabsolute

dichotomy between the Creator and his dichotomy between the Creator and his creation” creation”

• Bough #2 -- Argument from Bough #2 -- Argument from revelationrevelation– Misinterpretation of biblical motifs, Misinterpretation of biblical motifs,

obscuring obscuring biblical biblical prioritiespriorities regarding the regarding the mission of the Church mission of the Church

Biblical ArgumentsBiblical Arguments(Hesselgrave)(Hesselgrave)

• Premise:Premise:– If we can prove If we can prove ““thethe poor”poor” does does notnot mean those mean those

in material need, we can legitimize a clear in material need, we can legitimize a clear priority on spiritual over material ministries.priority on spiritual over material ministries.

• The Poor in the O.T.The Poor in the O.T.– Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy (Isa. 61:1-2)Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy (Isa. 61:1-2)

• Employs Hebrew term Employs Hebrew term anaoanao in “figurative” sense. in “figurative” sense.

• The Poor in the N.T.The Poor in the N.T.– Luke’s record of Messianic fulfillment (Lk. Luke’s record of Messianic fulfillment (Lk.

4:18)4:18)• Employs Greek term Employs Greek term ptochosptochos in “metaphorical” in “metaphorical”

sensesense

Biblical ArgumentsBiblical Arguments(Hesselgrave)(Hesselgrave)

• Some ConclusionsSome Conclusions

– A limited concept of “salvation”?A limited concept of “salvation”?• Platonic or Hebraic hermeneutic?Platonic or Hebraic hermeneutic?

– If salvation is the spirit alone, poor If salvation is the spirit alone, poor necessarily are poor in spirit alone.necessarily are poor in spirit alone.• Christ’s ministry not that dichotomizedChrist’s ministry not that dichotomized• John’s teaching in I John 3:17-19John’s teaching in I John 3:17-19• Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 25:31-46Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 25:31-46

A Holistic Theology of A Holistic Theology of SalvationSalvation

• Bible is Bible is HeilsgeschichteHeilsgeschichte – salvation history – salvation history– God’s continuing intervention into affairs of God’s continuing intervention into affairs of

lost & suffering humanity to savelost & suffering humanity to save• O.T. multiple deliverancesO.T. multiple deliverances

• N.T. ministry of Jesus (N.T. ministry of Jesus (YeshuaYeshua = God is salvation) = God is salvation)

– Our “mission” is to join Christ in his rescue Our “mission” is to join Christ in his rescue

missionmission• What all is What all is missionmission depends largely on how broadly depends largely on how broadly

we interpret we interpret salvationsalvation


What Salvation is NOTWhat Salvation is NOT• NOT principally psycho-physical healthNOT principally psycho-physical health

– Post WWII equation of salvation with wholeness/healthPost WWII equation of salvation with wholeness/health

– Salvation is used in NT to denote physical deliverance (Salvation is used in NT to denote physical deliverance (sozosozo))

– Central meaning of salvation in Christ is moral, not material Central meaning of salvation in Christ is moral, not material

– To overly blend the two realms generates missional To overly blend the two realms generates missional

confusionconfusion

– To overly distinguish the two is to Westernize NT intention To overly distinguish the two is to Westernize NT intention


What Salvation is NOTWhat Salvation is NOT• NOT principally political-social liberationNOT principally political-social liberation

– Ecumenical trend in 1970’s toward a theology of Ecumenical trend in 1970’s toward a theology of

liberationliberation

– Goal of mission: Establishment of new humanity, Goal of mission: Establishment of new humanity,

or shalom, or K.G.or shalom, or K.G.

• Promoted by Gustavo Gutierrez Promoted by Gustavo Gutierrez (A Theology of Liberation, 1973)(A Theology of Liberation, 1973)

– Noble / proper missional pursuits – but not the Noble / proper missional pursuits – but not the

essence of biblical salvationessence of biblical salvation

• Problem: Evangelism is replaced by social/political action Problem: Evangelism is replaced by social/political action


What Salvation is NOTWhat Salvation is NOT• NOT principally about our bodies or societiesNOT principally about our bodies or societies

– But neither does it disregard themBut neither does it disregard them

– God is greatly concerned for our bodies and our societies God is greatly concerned for our bodies and our societies

– One day, both body and society will be redeemed One day, both body and society will be redeemed

– Godly love compels us to labor meanwhile in both spheres Godly love compels us to labor meanwhile in both spheres

• Lausanne Covenant (par. 5)Lausanne Covenant (par. 5)


What Salvation ISWhat Salvation IS• Freedom (liberation): past, present and Freedom (liberation): past, present and

futurefuture

– Past:Past:

• Freedom from judgment for sonship Freedom from judgment for sonship

– Present:Present:

• Freedom from self for service Freedom from self for service

– Future:Future:

• Freedom from decay for glory Freedom from decay for glory

Four ProclaimedFour Proclaimed“Confident” Conclusions “Confident” Conclusions

• The Christian gospel is both true and good news The Christian gospel is both true and good news

• The Good News is first and foremost spiritual The Good News is first and foremost spiritual

salvation of sinnerssalvation of sinners

• Christian missionary is primarily about Christian missionary is primarily about

proclaiming gospel to the most spiritually proclaiming gospel to the most spiritually

poor/lost poor/lost

• Missionaries do best when they prioritize Missionaries do best when they prioritize

ministry to the most spiritually receptive ministry to the most spiritually receptive

The Wesleyan The Wesleyan TraditionTradition

in Missions in Missions • HistoricallyHistorically

– Began in very holistic spirit of John WesleyBegan in very holistic spirit of John Wesley– Reacted to social gospel / ecumenical liberalism Reacted to social gospel / ecumenical liberalism – Recent resurgence of holistic approach Recent resurgence of holistic approach

• Current Vision Statement (WGM)Current Vision Statement (WGM)– World Gospel Mission will minister through preaching, World Gospel Mission will minister through preaching,

teaching and healing ministries. World Gospel Mission will teaching and healing ministries. World Gospel Mission will assist in forming culturally relevant congregations assist in forming culturally relevant congregations comprised of maturing disciples of Jesus Christ who will comprised of maturing disciples of Jesus Christ who will evangelize and reproduce themselves within their own evangelize and reproduce themselves within their own cultures and across cultural boundaries and call believers cultures and across cultural boundaries and call believers to the deeper work of God in the human heart of being to the deeper work of God in the human heart of being cleansed from all sin and filled with the Holy Spirit by cleansed from all sin and filled with the Holy Spirit by faith. faith.

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HOLISM or PRIORITISM