This course is not educational tourism. As DMin students, our reflection leads to action. How does the story that I am being exposed to impact my life? It is dangerous to acquire knowledge without action.
Sometimes the most powerful people in society are the most resitant to change. There is just too much embedded power, and God tends to work in places that are weak. Some models that apply a top-down approach to ministry have a difficult time giving away power. This model prescribes what the needs of the people are, and then it delivers those services. Instead, should we listen to the leaders in a community and equip them to meet the needs of the community. That may be considered a more bottom-up philosophy. This philosophy tends to be more tilted toward liberation theology.
Over the past 80 years in the United States, many American conservative Christians have distanced themselves from what they call the social gospel. Many Christians stopped caring about the world or its systems. Evangelicals missed the boat in capturing the arts, symbols, and rituals that bring meaning to what is seen or felt. Protestants believe in the oral demonstration of the gospel. It diminishes thought and communication because the guy who is preaching determines the cultural niche that he is preaching to. It is very anti-polycultural. Catholics, who bring in all the senses, tend to promote a wide variety of meanings where people can conclude meaning on their own. Evangelicals inprison the gospel in our own socieoeconomical languages so that Christians become believers in a narrow gospel.
1 comment:
Bryan
Hmmm... you must have been reading my mind. Or maybe some of my thinking is rubbing off on you? :) I completely concur with your comments. Evangelicalism has, for the most part, thought that 'the church' has lost its way concerning preaching the Gospel. In truth, Evangelicalism lost its way when it concerns how the Gospel is to be preached, which is by serving and loving individuals in the local community.
John V
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