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

6.1.2. Contextual Missiology of the Spirit: A New Model
As stated earlier, a new contextual missiology has emerged out of the story of
Pentecostalism in Rajasthan (local story) as proposed by Thangaraj. However, this
new model gives more insights into the Spirit dimension of contextual missiology,
which is neglected by Thangaraj and others. Although Bosch recognizes the
importance of the Holy Spirit in mission, his treatment on the role of the Spirit in
contextual missiology is limited. 29 It is important to note that most Catholic
missiologists like Schreiter and Bevan failed to give a clear picture of the Spirit
aspects in contextual mission. As Andrew Lord observed, for Schreiter, Spirit was
only ‘a background worker of grace in the church,’ and for Bevans, the Spirit was
‘not seen as a central issue in contextualization.’ 30
On the other hand, many missiologists recognize the significance of the Spirit
dimension in missiology, but have failed to develop this further. As mentioned in
chapter one, both Jongeneel and Hwa Yung consider the Spirit element, as part of
other aspects of mission, that is, as an addition, not as a distinctive dimension.
According to Hwa Yung, an ‘adequate theology of mission’ should involve three
aspects. First, it must address the socio-political context of the church. Second, it
must also empower the church for evangelistic and pastoral tasks including
planting and building churches. Third, it must concern itself with the problem of
inculturation. He adds a fourth one which is that it should be ‘faithful to the
Christian tradition.’ However, it is significant to note that he specifically includes
29 See K. Kim’s critique on Bosch’s missiology, Kim, Mission in the Spirit, 172-74.
30 See Lord, Spirit-Shaped Mission, 92.
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