The Importance and Significance of Missiological Research
– Christian Stewardship in Leadership
Enoch Wan
Director, Doctor of Intercultural Studies Program, Western Seminary, USA.
Former President, Evangelical Missiological Society of US & Canada
Published in www.GlobalMissiology.org January 2017
Editor’s Note:
This paper was originally published in Chinese. Engaging in Global Mission(往普天下去).
A quarterly publication of Hong Kong Association of Christian Mission. January
to March, 2014.
INTRODUCTION
This paper will begin with defining key terms, followed by explanation of the importance and significance of missiological research in order to help Christian leaders be good stewards of resources and opportunity. Due to the brevity of this paper, only five branches of missiological studies (i.e. theory, theology, history, anthropology and strategy of Christian mission) are being included. For more extended coverage on missiological research and research methodology, readers are advised to consult other papers published in English and Chinese by the author.[1]
KEY TERMS IN MISSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
· “Missiological research” — “systematic and academic study (e.g. theory, theology, history, anthropology(intercultural studies), strategy of Christian mission) to continue on and carry out the missio Dei of the Triune Go, including investigation and interdisciplinary research. [2]
· “Inter-disciplinary research” — “academic and systematic study conducted by using elements (e.g. theory, methodology, etc.) from one or more disciplines in the attempt to achieve a high degree of coherence or unity.”
· “Mission” — “is the endeavor of both individual Christians and organized congregations to continue on and carry out the missio Dei of the Triune God at both micro and macro levels, spiritually (saving souls) and socially (ushering in shalom)[3], for redemption, reconciliation and transformation.”
THE IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MISSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
For the sake of being brief, we shall explain the importance and significance of missiological research by selectively choosing only five branches of missiological study as shown in the diagram below.
Figure 1. The Importance and Significance of Missiological Research
|
Importance/ significance missiological study |
Significance of missiological research |
Importance of missiological research |
|
Theory |
Formulation of theory and model, such as “church growth study,” 10/40 window, unreached people-group, diaspora missiology,[4] relational paradigm.[5] |
Academically and practically seeking to advance in: theoretical formulation, model building, etc. for qualitative and quantitative improvement, e.g. church growth study,[6] Engle’s Scale, contextual -ization: C1 to C7, etc. |
|
Theology |
In search of biblical and theological foundation for branches of missiological study in order to avoid abstract speculation and superficial knowledge |
Being evangelical, action and strategy should be grounded in biblical principle and sound theology to avoid problems, e.g. secularization, syncretism[7], etc. |
|
History |
Learning: how God worked previously in historical past, including temporal, spatial and contextual factors, and ways to follow good examples of past saints and to not repeat past mistakes. |
Positively: to appreciate Gods’ work in the past and learn from godly practice of past saints. Negatively: discern past pitfalls, avoid repeat of past tragedy. |
|
Anthropology & intercultural studies |
Through studies in anthropology, intercultural studies, etc. in order to understand people we evangelize/ serve in matters of cultural background, cognitive pattern, etc. in order to continue on and carry out the missio Dei of the Triune God spiritually (saving souls) and socially (ushering in shalom) , for redemption, reconciliation and transformation |
Training in anthropology, linguistics, intercultural studies(e.g. cc-communication, intercultural education/leadership) will reduce culture-shock, increase learning curve, advance contextualization without accommodation, minimize cc-conflict, maximize productivity, expedite indigenization process, |
|
Strategy |
To be good stewards of resources and opportunity, collect & interpret data of demographic reality, advance planning…in order to best use resources and opportunity |
To be good stewards of resources & opportunity, one has to be wise & responsible in planning & implementation in a godly way. |
INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN MISSIOLOGY
Inter-disciplinary research in missiology combines and integrates biblical study, theology, anthropology, demographic, statistic, etc. in order to achieve a high degree of coherence or unity in research and for the practice of Christian mission. As evangelical, we are not to be sold out to the newest theory, pragmatic efficiency[8]. Nor should we engaged in unreserved contextualization,[9] such as multiple forms of liberation theology (e.g. feminist theology of the west, “minjung theology of Korea,” C.S. Song’s “third eye theology”)
The diagrams below emerged from personal research, professional publication and two-decade-long coaching doctoral dissertation. If inter-disciplinary research in missiological studies is conducted by following the five-step according to priority, then it will be characteristically evangelical, doctrinally sound and theologically grounded.
Figure 2. Wan’s Way of Integrative Research (“STARS”) [10]
|
CRITERIA |
* |
EXPLANATION |
|
1. Scripturally sound |
S |
Not proof-text; but the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27) |
|
2. Theologically supported |
T |
Not just pragmatism/expedience; but sound theology |
|
3. Analytically coherent |
A |
Not to be self-contradictory; but to be coherent |
|
4. Relevantly contextual |
R |
Not to be out of place; but fitting for the context |
|
5. Sensibly practically |
S |
Not only good in theory; but can be put into practice |
Listed below are simple explanations:
1. Scripturally sound
As evangelical, Scripture is to be the basis and guide of Christian faith and practice. It is axiomatic for evangelical Protestant based on the conviction of “sola scriptura.”
2. Theologically supported
Just based on pragmatism/expedience is insufficient; but sound theology is essential and required.
3. Analytically coherent
Not to be self-contradictory; but to be both consistent and coherent
4. Relevantly contextual
Not to be out of place; but it is to be required to be fitting for the context.
5. Sensibly practically
It is good to have scriptural/theological support with coherent theory and cultural relevance; but can be put into practice in reality.
Figure 3. Comparisons Between “Biblical” & Scriptural”[4]
|
# |
BIBLICAL |
SCRIPTURAL |
|
1 |
Descriptive: Recorded/reported in the Bible |
Prescriptive: Prescribed by the Incarnate & enscriptured Word |
|
2 |
Precedent in the Bible |
Principle of “the whole counsel of God” |
|
3 |
particular: time and place specific |
Universal: transcending time & space |
|
4 |
culturally & contextually specific |
Neither culturally nor contextually specific |
Figure 4. Directional Understanding of Being “Biblical” and “Scriptural”
Note: Not all men are husband; but within the context of “traditional Christian marriage,”
all husbands are men.
INSIGHTS FOR CHINESE CHURCHES
Figure 5. Insights for Chinese Churches
|
NAT-URE |
STEWARDSHIP OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP |
|
|
PRINCIPLE |
PARTICULAR |
|
|
POSITIVE |
Wise with entrustment |
Know history: be truthful to founder’s original vision or founding principle. Best preserve heritage & withstand tidal waves of secularization, post-modernism and can face fierce challenges of pluralism, new age movement, etc. |
|
Faithful stewardship |
Make informed decision to best use of opportunity and exercise wise stewardship of resources, and opportunity. |
|
|
NEGATIVE |
Avoid mistake |
Learn from historyà not repeat tragedy; theological soundnessàsteadfast in faith and not drifting; spiritual discernment ànot to be presumptuous/misled |
|
Reduce wastefulness |
Benefit from anthropology, linguistic & communicative sciences, etc. to reduce or minimize culture-shock, risk factor, casualty of personnel, cc-conflict thus spare of blunders and wastefulness. |
|
Chinese churches have the tendency of being obsessed with efficiency and dismissing research to be unnecessary and a waste of time/energy. At the leadership, sometimes may even make uninformed decision, i.e. without knowing the hard facts to be gathered by research. Missiological research is an essential part of healthy stewardship and godly leadership. For example, the LCWE movement (Lausanne Congress of World Evangelization) has formed committees to conduct research on holistic mission, BAM (business as mission), diaspora missiology, etc. In addition, there are other missiological research groups, e.g. the “Center of the Study of Global Christianity” at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Joshua Project[11] of Frontier Ventures, and Global Research of IMB[12] (International Mission Board) of Southern Baptist Convention.
CONCLUSION
Due to the brevity of this paper, we began with definition of key terms, then use diagrams to explain the importance and significance of missiological research, and concluded by introducing Wan’s five-step approach in inter-disciplinary research in missiology.