Asian Christian Theology

Description

Asian Christian Theology provides a survey of contextually reflective, robustly evangelical theology for students to engage with the core doctrines of Christianity and their outworking in different cultures across Asia. The contributors of the chapters come from all corners of Asia to systematically examine traditional doctrinal themes and contemporary concerns for the Asian church. Ideal for use as a companion textbook in Asian seminaries and institutions, this book will also provide excellent further reading for those outside of Asia seeking global theological perspectives, and for those in contexts of significant Asian diaspora. Many excellent books surveying theology exist, but this book is a major step forward for students and scholars seeking to understand the dynamic environment of evangelical theology in Asia.

Informations

• Publié par: Langham Creative Projects
• Date de parution: 06 août 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 3
• EAN13: 9781783686728
• Langue: English

Extrait

This groundbreaking book, authored by Asians from every part of the vast continent, will be standard reading for every Asian student of theology in the evangelical tradition for years to come. But its importance will inspire Asian evangelical scholars as well, and students and scholars from other ecclesial and theological traditions. Rooted in the tradition of the wider church, it embraces Asian methods and concerns in a generous, responsible, and creative way.
Stephen B. Bevans, PhD
Louis J. Luzbetak, SVD Professor of Mission and Culture,
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois, USA
This groundbreaking book is not vaguely Christian nor parochially Asian. It is, rather, the effort of leading Asian theologians to articulate Christian faith in terms that are biblically rooted, committed to historic orthodoxy, contextually engaged, and suffused with evangelical zeal. As we continue in the “Asian Century,” the future of Christianity will be increasingly shaped by Asian Christians such as those writing in this volume. As this book shows, the future is bright because Asian Christianity is theologically rigorous and missiologically driven, something the Western churches would seriously benefit from imbibing. Well done to the editors Timoteo D. Gener and Stephen T. Pardue for assembling such a fine collection of essays by a sterling group of leading Asian theologians of Christ. This book is simply mandatory reading for anyone interested in theology from the global church, missions, cross-cultural ministry, or serving in multi-cultural settings.
Rev Michael F. Bird, PhD
Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology,
Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia
Asian Christian Theology: Evangelical Perspectives is a groundbreaking selection of theological reflections from Asia. The sixteen authors represent a wide variety of Asian contexts and include pastors and church leaders as well as seminary professors, offering a historically informed biblical and evangelical take on Asian realities. The first section provides a competent survey of traditional theological themes in biblical and historical perspective. But it is the second section of articles on contextual topics that constitutes the special contribution of this book. Tackling key topics, often by means of compelling case studies – spirits, traditional cultures and identity, interfaith conversations, the public sphere – the authors show the exciting emergence of a truly Asian voice in theology. The editors aim to present a biblical faith for Asian believers; some of us hope and pray this solid presentation of Asian theology will also be read by North American (and European and African) believers. Asian Christian Theology makes an important contribution to that global conversation.
William Dyrness, PhD
Senior Professor of Theology and Culture,
Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA
It is with enormous pride that I commend this book to you. We find here a much-needed compendium of contemporary evangelical thinking on many of the key theological issues that define Christianity in Asia today. It is a rare privilege to have, in one book, contributions from some of today’s outstanding Asian creative and biblical thinkers. May the insights found here trickle down to the churches and contribute to helping the growing church in Asia to mature in depth, relevance and national influence.
Ajith Fernando, ThM
Teaching Director, Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka
Decentering the dominant strands of the Western theological tradition in the practice of evangelical theology is of utmost importance for its witness to the gospel among the people of every tribe and nation. This volume contributes admirably to that task by offering a rich and compelling collection of essays on a full range of theological topics and concerns from the perspectives of Asian evangelical theologians. As such, it makes a significant contribution to the formation of a global Christian faith that deserves to be widely read and contemplated, particularly by those interested in the future of evangelical theology.
John R. Franke, PhD
General Coordinator, The Gospel and Our Culture Network
With steady growth in recent decades, evangelicalism in the world’s largest continent has come of age. This compendium of essays, with leading evangelical theologians from various parts of this vast continent writing on topics traditional in theology – from revelation and Trinity to Christology – and issues of contemporary concern such as culture, religious plurality, and immigration, is an amazing treasure of voices and insights. What is particularly noteworthy about the book is the presence of comparative theology throughout the discussions of various topics. Unlike most evangelicals, those from Asian soil are accustomed to reflecting on and framing their Christian theology in a sympathetic and critical dialogue with the teachings of other living faiths. This is mandatory reading not only for evangelicals in the global church but also for everyone who wishes to keep updated about the latest theological developments.
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Dr Theol Habil
Professor of Systematic Theology,
Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA
Docent of Ecumenics, University of Helsinki, Finland
Evangelical theology that is “biblically rooted, historically aware, and contextually relevant” has at times been considered unattainable. But this book effectively demonstrates a mode of Asian reflection and theologizing that supports classical theology and compels us to be more committed to biblical truth.
Jung-Sook Lee, PhD
President, Torch Trinity Graduate University, Seoul, South Korea
This book contains sixteen distinguished essays succinctly addressing not only the classical dogmas ranging from revelation to eschatology, but also a variety of contemporary issues on culture and mission. They speak from a shared Asian identity, with an earnest commitment to be “biblically rooted, historically aware, contextually engaged, and broadly evangelical.” A “must read” for all seminary faculty, students, and alumni, whether you are of the Majority World or in the post-Christian West.
Rev Stephen Lee, PhD
President and Lam Ko Kit Tak Professor of Biblical Studies,
China Graduate School of Theology, Hong Kong
Studying and doing theology in ways appropriate and relevant to the Asian situation has been limited for the longest time by the lack of Asian resources and our dependence on systematic theology books from the West. Finally, here is a textbook on Christian theology written by Asian theologians for the Asian church! Written from an evangelical perspective, it engages the worldviews shaped by the frameworks of major Asian religions and traditional cultures, as well as addressing the contemporary challenges and issues confronting churches in Asia. An excellent resource on thinking theologically in context, I highly recommend this to be required reading in Bible colleges and seminaries as it will definitely help in equipping leaders who are not only rooted in the evangelical tradition but are also responsive to the contextual realities in Asia.
Theresa Lua, EdD
General Secretary, Asia Theological Association
This book is for anyone who cares deeply about making disciples and planting churches in Asia – the most populous and diverse continent in the world. Considering the unprecedented growth of Asian Christianity and the bewildering cultural and religious diversity of the region, we need more books like this that model for us what it looks like to be faithful to the gospel and mindful of the context in which it is delivered. Covering a wide range of topics from Christology to pneumatology to ecclesiology, this volume serves a guide to reflective practitioners who desire to be “biblically rooted, historically aware, contextually engaged, and broadly evangelical.” I wish that this volume had been written sooner, and I hope that more like it will be published in the future.
Steve Murrell, DMin
Founding Pastor, Victory Manila, Philippines
Cofounder and President, Every Nation Churches & Ministries
If you are being challenged by the pressures of secular society, or by the uncertainty of the uniqueness of the gospel, or you want to know why the churches in Asia continue to grow under persecution, then this book will help you reset your mission compass. In the first eight chapters, eight well-known Asian theologians explore contemporary theological issues from their biblical foundations, through the history of the church and on to their missiological goal of effective witness to their Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim neighbours. This book marks evangelical mission theology breaking new ground. It embraces the authority of Scripture and the work of the triune God in revelation as creator, sustainer, redeemer, the church and our eschatological hope. In the second eight chapters, the writers outline how Asian churches live with suffering and persecution and have developed their own theology of mission. Practical insights into the lives of Christians across Asia in the context of the public square, poverty, religious pluralism, cultural identity and demonic power are a goldmine of information inspiration and hope. It is essential for theological students and their teachers wanting to develop their own theology of mission to study this book.
Bruce J. Nicholls, PhD
Senior Adviser, Asia Theological Association
Here is a fantastic and timely example of incarnational theology, in which the Asian church articulates what it means to be faithful, relevant and effective in its time and place. This is a