a contextual missiology of the spirit - eTheses Repository ...

every exploitation of some sectors of humanity by the powerful, every religious,
ideological, or cultural imperialism, and every exaltation of the self-sufficiency
of the individual over other people or over other parts of creation. 6
Contemporary missiology seems to be in tension with classic or traditional
mission theology. As Jongeneel and J.M.V. Engelen note, the traditional theory of
mission ‘looks for support in the text of the Bible, and perhaps also in church
tradition’ over against contemporary mission theory, which ‘derives the agenda of
missiology primarily from the world context.’ 7 In his study of the evolution of
contemporary missiology, Oborji observes that ‘dialogue with the contexts … is
the emerging trend in mission studies.’ 8 Malaysian theologian Hwa Yung suggests
that an authentic theology must properly be grounded in ‘the pastoral and
missiological practice of the church.’ 9 It is significant that a contextual missiology
has emerged out of the current study on Pentecostalism in Rajasthan. However, it
is necessary to understand the significance and meaning of contextual missiology
before discussing its characteristics.
6.1.1. The Significance of Contextual Missiology
Contextual theology is a widely developed concept in present-day theology.
Contemporary contextual theology is closely tied to missiology. In an edited
volume of the story of the LMS and its successor bodies during the period 1945-
77, Bernard Thorogood argues that there are external pressures and internal
6 Bosch, Transforming Mission, 496.
7 Jongeneel and Engelen, ‘Contemporary Currents,’ 447.
8 Oborji, Concepts of Mission, 40.
9 Hwa Yung, Mangoes or Bananas, 26.
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