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

anticipates distinctive Indian Pentecostal-Charismatic pneumatology, she insists
that ‘the main focus of mission Pneumatology in India is not the Spirit as inspirer
of mission or the mission of the Spirit, but mission in the Spirit, who is already
involved in the world.’ 104 However, as Anderson observes, ‘mission is
Pentecostalism’s central, most important activity,’ 105 and the Holy Spirit as the
inspirer and source of mission is a fundamental theme of Pentecostal missiology.
Therefore, most Pentecostals may not be comfortable about ignoring the
inspirational role of the Spirit in mission. On the other hand, many Pentecostals
limit this inspirational role of the Spirit to evangelism, church planting and
growth. Nevertheless, the current study argues that the role of the Spirit should
not be limited to these aspects only; rather the horizon of Spirit influence must be
broadened.
In conclusion, the above discussion urges the central role of the Holy Spirit in
contextual Pentecostal missiology. The Holy Spirit knows the context, and He
guides His people in different situations, and the contextual needs are met by the
Spirit. The Spirit enables his people to meet the challenges of contextual mission,
and it is His world, His people, His mission, and His missionaries. As Lesslie
Newbigin says, ‘mission is not just something that the church does; it is
something that is done by the Spirit, who is himself the witness, who changes both
the world and the church, who always goes before the church in its missionary
journey.’ 106 Therefore, the pneumatological foundation of a contextual missiology
104
Kim, Mission in the Spirit, 242.
105
Anderson, Spreading Fires, 65.
106
Lesslie Newbegin, The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission. rev. ed.
(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995), 56.
291