The Challenge of Culture Articulating and Proclaiming the Wesleyan-Holiness Message in the Asia-Pacific Region Papers Presented at the Asia-Pacific Region 2001 Theology Conference Edited by David A. Ackerman © 2002 Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary Ortigas Ave. Ext., Kaytikling, Taytay, 1920 Rizal, Philippines Cover Design by Scott Griffiths, Brisbane, Australia. In the design, the hand is reaching out in compassion and love, while at the same time holding up the Asia-Pacific region in support. The heart captures the thrust of the Wesleyan- Holiness message of holiness. The goal is to bring this message of holiness to the Asia-Pacific region in relevant ways that speak to the needs of people. All scripture unless otherwise stated is taken from the Holy Bible, New Interna- tional Version® (NIV). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989. Used by permission of the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publish- ers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines by Evangelical Life Publications. ISBN Table of Contents Contributors ................................................... v Acknowledgments .............................................. vii Introduction ................................................... ix Part One: Articulation 1. Some New Days for Christian Holiness Roderick T. Leupp .......................................... 3 2. The Challenge of Articulating the Doctrine of Holiness in Japanese Culture: Japanese Conception of Sin and the Doctrine of Sanctification Makoto Sakamoto ......................................... 16 3. Teaching and Preaching Biblical Holiness in the South Pacific Island Context Peniperite Fakaua ......................................... 24 4. Seeking a Dialectic Synthesis of Faith and Work: A Biblical Investigation of the True Meaning of “Justification by Faith” for Christians in Korea Seung Won Yu ............................................ 30 5. Holiness in a Pluralistic Indonesian Society Johanis Siahaya ........................................... 53 6. Being Holy is Being Christlike: To What Extent is This a Definable and Useful Model in an Australian Context? David B. McEwan ......................................... 65 7. Communicating Holiness to the Filipinos: Challenges and Needs The Path to A Filipino Theology of Holiness Jason V. Hallig ............................................ 83 8. Culture and the Beauty of Holiness: Reflections from the South Pacific Neville Bartle ............................................ 103 iii iv Part Two: Proclamation 9. Sing It, Shout It, Preach It, Live It Roderick T. Leupp ....................................... 121 10. Passing the Faith Along Judges 2:6-10 David A. Ackerman ....................................... 132 11. The Wonders of the Fullness of the Spirit Act 2:1-4 Sung-Won Kim .......................................... 139 12. Holiness Within and Without: A Narrative Sermon I Thess. 1:1-10; 2:13 Brent D. Hulett .......................................... 145 Part Three: Application 13. Eight Easy Steps to Theological Maturity Roderick T. Leupp ........................................ 151 14. Slices of Wesleyan Theology In a Word A. Brent Cobb ........................................... 162 Contributors David Ackerman, Ph.D. (Iliff School of Theology/University of Denver), Associate Professor of New Testament, Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Semi- nary, Philippines Neville Bartle, D. Miss. (Asbury Theological Seminary), Missionary to Fiji, Church of the Nazarene A. Brent Cobb, D.Min. (Northwest Graduate School, Kirkland, Washington), Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Church of the Nazarene Peniperite Fakaua, M.Div. (Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary), Principal of South Pacific Nazarene Bible College, Samoa Jason Hallig, Th.M. (Asia-Graduate School of Theology), Instructor at Luzon Nazarene Bible College, Baguio City, Philippines Brent Hulett, D.Min. (Nazarene Theological Seminary), Asia-Pacific Education Coordinator, Church of the Nazarene Sung-Won Kim, Th.D. (Boston University), Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Theology, Korea Nazarene University, Korea Roderick T. Leupp, Ph.D. (Drew University), Adjunct Professor at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, U.S.A. David B. McEwan, Ph.D. Cand. (University of Queensland), Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology at Nazarene Theological College, Brisbane, Australia Makoto Sakamoto, Th.D. Cand. (Rikkyo University), Pastor of Koiwa Church of the Nazarene, Tokyo, Japan, Assistant Professor at Japan Nazarene Seminary, and Assistant Professor of Japan Christian Junior College Johanis Siahaya, Th.M. (Seminary Alkitab Nusantara), Professor and Dean of Students at Nazarene Theological College, Indonesia, Assistant Pastor at First Church of Nazarene(Filadelfia), Jogjakarta, and Coordinator Jesus Film, Indonesia Seung-Won Yu, Ph.D. (Duke University), Assistant Professor of New Testament, Korea Nazarene University, Korea v Acknowledgments Due appreciation goes to the three entities which made this theology conference a success. First, Korea Nazarene University hosted the conference and gener- ously provided room and board for the participants. In addition, this publication has been made possible by a generous grant from the university. Second, the Department of Education for the Asia-Pacific Regional Office made available both financial assistance and administrative leadership in making this conference possible. Third, the International Board of Education (IBOE) provided a generous grant to assist developing theologians from many countries to attend this conference–something that would be impossible for them to attend without this gift. vii Introduction The papers presented at 2001 Asia-Pacific Region Theology Confer- ence wrestled with the theme of the “Challenge of Culture.” Many modern thinkers recognize that the church is in the midst of a transition. Examples of this transition are myriad, but closer to home, the Church of the Nazarene is now known as the International Church of the Nazarene with international headquarters located in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. More- over, the majority of the members of this denomination now live outside of the U.S.A. and Canada. This transition poses significant challenges in polity, organization, and at times, even articulation of doctrine. The growth of information during the 20th century has left little of life untouched, and theological study is no exception. Theology has made major advancements (or declines, as some might say), from Barth to Bultmann, from Schweitzer to Moltmann, or closer to home, from Wiley to Grider. Some of the greatest minds of church history lived in the last century. Most of these advancements in theology have served the church well, laying the groundwork for the present growth of the church. One factor that is becoming more apparent, especially through ease of travel and the proliferation of access to the Internet, is that the world is becoming smaller. At the same time, the world of theology is expanding beyond old borders. Earned doctorates in all areas of theological studies and practical ministry are proliferating. Yet, the church and the church’s theology are no longer confined to or dominated by North America or Europe. Old paradigms are shifting and at times even being replaced by newer perspec- tives. The question we are confronted with in the midst of this transition is, Can the Gospel and church speak with one voice in an age of relativism and pluralism? Can the church articulate the Gospel in such a way that it neither distorts the message nor finds itself irrelevant to the new world? Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). He prayed, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:9-10). Where is this Kingdom and how is it made manifest in the 21st century? Jesus taught that the ix x Introduction Kingdom of God is separate from the kingdoms of people (John 18:36). The Gospel transcends culture just as the Kingdom transcends human institutions. But can we see the Kingdom? The Kingdom is like a seed that grows secretly night and day and soon ripens for the harvest (Mark 4:26- 29). Like a mustard seed, the Kingdom began small but is growing until someday it will be the largest of all garden plants (Mark 4:30-32). The Kingdom is like yeast that slowly but surely penetrates the whole lump of dough (Matt 13:33). The Gospel is assuredly penetrating all cultures and language groups in an unprecedented advancement of the Kingdom. In Jesus’ teaching, the Kingdom was a gift to be received (Luke 18:16-17) but also a treasure to be sought after (Matt 6:33). God’s prevenient grace has prepared the way, but is the church ready to seek after the latent Kingdom? The Apostle Paul made a profound statement when he wrote to the Corinthians, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor 9:22). This is a statement of relevancy. Paul recognized that for him to bring the Gospel effectively to the cities of the Roman Empire, he had to know his context. He had to adjust