Don't Mess with Missions | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Free E-mail Newsletters:

RSS Feed | More Feeds | RSS Help

Home > 2007 > January

Christianity Today, January, 2007 |

BOOKMARK

Don't Mess with Missions

Paradigms in Conflict argues against changing missionary theories and practice.

Review by Jim Reapsome | posted 1/19/2007 08:49AM

Related articles and links |

1 of 1

David Hesselgrave's thesis: "Although changes there must and will be, the future of Christian missions will depend more on changes that are not made than it will on changes that are made." He weaves insights from biblical theology, missionary experience and history, and the social sciences into a strong case for leaving missionary theories and practice pretty much untouched.

Hesselgrave's questions have been fertile ground for debate among missionaries and missiologists for a long time. Among them: sovereignty and free will, universalism, the gospel and other faiths, spiritual warfare, our missionary model (Jesus or Paul?), and power encounter.

Hesselgrave provides mission leaders in churches—as well as professors of mission—a helpful basis for thorough discussion from numerous vantage points.

He gives ample space to those who have advocated contrary positions. Therefore, his book resembles a prizefight—albeit with Christian charity and mutual respect. The format of each of his 10 "rounds" includes the basic biblical, theological, and missiological arguments—first describing what he considers erroneous paradigms and then rebutting them.

Despite the heavy questions, this book is reader-friendly with clear charts and numerous stories that reveal Hesselgrave's missionary heart and passion.

Related Elsewhere:

Paradigms in Conflict is available from ChristianBook.com and other retailers.

1 of 1

January 2007, Vol. 51, No. 1

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment

Reader Reviews are below

Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required.

Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.

If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.

Click here for international orders

2-for-1 Gifts!

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Displaying 1 - 3 of 6 comments.

See all comments

Paul Griffin

Posted: January 19, 2007 10:50 PM

1/19/07 I appreciate Dr. Reapsome's consistent, long-term commitment to The Great Commission. His review encourages me to read Dr. Hesselgrave's book. The reasons for this interest include sharpening my own focus in cross-cultural service and better understanding both the relevant doctrinal debates and assisting new disciples in standing firm. The review gave sufficient information to discern the value of the book in these areas. Thank you. Sincerely in Christ, Paul Griffin

Uncle Jim Serna, USA

Posted: January 19, 2007 4:51 PM

I found the review adequate and the topic timely. There is a necessary paradigm shift in missions taking place right before our eyes and many cannot see it for what is really is. Tradition and traditional Christian dialogure can blind one side or the other from witnessing the handiwork of God in the field of missions. Whether I agree with Hesselgrave's thesis or not, I commend him for making his points and contributing to the necessary dialogue and debate on 21st Century missiology. The points made by the previous commentors only serve to make my point. There are still too many holding back the work of God in the 21st Century because their enslavement to traditional views causes them to see change as compromising rather than adapting. May God grant us grace to participate in this debate without judging others and dividing the work of the Church.

David OBrien

Posted: January 22, 2007 4:54 PM


Jim Reapsome's review whets the appetite but, apart from restating Hesselgrave's these, and telling us how the book could be used, does not give any examples. I would have liked to see some of the areas of change that Hesselgrave opposes mentioned at least.