Ethics · Society · Theology · Mission · Sociology of Religions
ARTICLE Thoughts on the relationship of theology, missiology and mission, presented by the chair of the Theological Commission of World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), Thomas Schirrmacher, to the General Assembly of the Missions Commission of the WEA at Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Germany, November 2011.
I just received an English translation of my oldest article on Romans from 1999, which later grew into large studies.
Thomas Schirrmacher. Biblical Foundations for 21st Century World Mission: 69 Theses Toward an Ongoing Global Reformation. World of Theology Series 11. 2018.
The Chairman of the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance, during an address in Osnabrueck entitled “Christ Alone” and held upon the anniversary of the Reformation, has defended the thesis that the age of global dialog where religions are made out to be the same is coming to an end.
Much of what I have stand for or defend, e.g. in my book ‘Missio Dei’, has increasingly been labeled “missional” over the past ten years or so in place of the older term “missionary.” That is not completely coincidental, since in the case of almost all advocates of the expression “missional church” the names Lesslie Newbigin and David Bosch are mentioned as the sources of inspiration and the representatives of the term’s use. Both individuals were closely allied with the term missio Dei.
The important term Missio Dei (Mission of God) needs a biblical foundation. The sending of God by God is a foundational motive in the New Testament. Even at the very beginning of salvation history, shortly after creation, God became the first missionary.
The journal of the dialogue department of the World Council of Churches “Current Dialogue” carries my article “Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World – Three Years On” pp. 67-79 CURRENT DIALOGUE 56