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Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World

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What is the relevance of Christian Mission for the turbulent world of the 21th century? Is it a threat to the cultural diversity of our various communities to be eagerly avoided or an asset for global citizens to be welcomed and promoted?
Does it result in an imperialistic McWorld? This is the key question which the NT theologian Richard Bauckham tries to answer through a fascinating biblical overview of God's missionary activity in world history. Starting from Abraham, the 'father' of 3 monotheistic religions passing through Israel, climaxing with Jesus Christ and ending with the missionary movement of God: the worldwide Christian Church of today. It is a penetrating and very illuminating analysis of the relevance and importance of Christian Mission for the (religious)struggles and economic problems of our present postmodern world. Bauckham convincingly defends the viewpoint that the God of the Bible is both universal and particular. The worldwide spread of Christian Mission in the biblical sense in the 21th century is the opposite of a 'tidal wave of religious homogenization and imperialism sweeping away all diversity of the world'. Warmly recommended as an excellent book on an important issue!

Bauckham ponders in very thoughtful and scholarly manner the question of today's mission in light of especially globalization of capitalism. This he contrasts with Biblical metanarrative of the particular in Christ becoming the universal in His Kingdom.

God's unfolding metanarrative in Christ continues against all challengers, but in postmodern context it faces stiff challenge of having any metanarrative that is universal. Bauckham fascinatingly answers that this is very similar context to when Christ came: a competing metanarrative in Roman Empire for universal dominance: "Within the Bible, the biblical metanarrative is rarely portrayed as the dominant metanarrative in its world." Now an economic globalism which spreads through instant, worldwide communication and information technology seeks to surpass and supplant all other competing metanarratives. In a postmodern time when its opposition is to any metanarrative that is put forward as universal, Bauckham rather encourages the church to proclaim the metanarrative of Jesus even more so: "This is both an essential part of our witness and the way we retain our knowledge of what it is to which we witness."

Hence, author's hermeneutical evidence that God's metanarrative in Christ crucified stands squarely opposed to such competing idolatries, but does so in non-violent way, even allowing wideranging cultural diversity within its midst. However, emphatic reminder to discernment and demand that its primary witness does not compromise with other metanarratives such as the marketing foundation of church growth playing into hands of economic captialistic globalism. Yet, when one thinks of it as Bauckham reflects, church is well ahead in its spread of globalism as universal metanarrative for all nations/peoples.

Church is ever in mission with Christ crucified to ends of earth, a sojourning people, citizens of heavenly kingdom, speaking freedom from all spiritual oppressors, in the one who blesses all nations/peoples, the fulfillment of Abrahamic blessing/my servant Israel/Davidic King ... Jesus.

Thought provoking with its exegesis and engagement with relevant culture. Encourages mission in sense of hymnwriter's words: "The world seeks after wealth and all that mammon offers; yet never is content, though gold should fill its coffers. I have a higher good, content with it I'll be: my Jesus is my wealth, what is the world to me!"

This one is way better than the cover and title would suggest. Bauckham, for me, was very Walter Brueggemann like in this book. He skillfully shows how God works from very small beginnings and causes the small to greatly multiply. Follow along and watch how passages that have become old hat to you, now come to life as you go aha, why didn't I see it that way before. He does not make the mistake, like some in the American Church do, of mistaking God's mission for the world with the USA politcal agenda. This book is deep, but not a hard read.

Being in seminary I read lots of books. Lots. Even when I am not in class, getting ahead for the next class makes for constant reading. It's the life of a graduate student - philosophy, theology, politics, science, and history - everything in sight. Some of the books that I read are good. Really good. Others are useful for treating insomnia. Still others read like angry rants against chiliasts or some other error.

Once in a while a book comes along that falls into the middle. It cannot be classified as good or bad. In this case, the content is outstanding, and I wish every pastor would read the book. Then again, maybe not. The language is academic and periodically quite dry. But if you can get past that, Richard Bauckham's Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World is an outstanding, challenging work.

A few quotes stood out to me as I read through it. Here is one:

The New Testament gives the church in every age its missionary identity by plunging it into the midst of the biblical story where the words of the great commission still ring in its ears. (p. 25)

But I was grabbed by the particular points. He confronts the failure of "postmodern" ideas and properly identifies it as a variant on Christian eschatology as well as a miserable failure. (p. 88) It maintains its place by power and domination. In addition, he sets up the principle that hanging onto this approach.

Consistent with this he separates the church from the progressive ideals of liberalism. (p. 20) He sees no place for the dialectical approach within Christian missiology. That's a point which makes the work stand out - it expresses a proper Chrisitan militancy against the ways of the world.

Unfortunately it also exposes the singular weakness of the book. When he discusses the church's involvement in human need, his analysis of the situation does not employ the Biblical standards of sin and abuse, but of comparative value. He uses a dialectical approach to describe the abuse. Bummer.

But that's just one point. I find the book to be an excellent framework for finding your church's place when it seeks to confront this lost world with the redeeming gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not a strategy book. It is a book of principles that will be useful for anyone wishing to maintain focus on being Biblical.

The book arrived very quickly and in excellent condition. I would definitely order from this vendor again.