Mission: Vol. 14, No. 12
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Mission Volume 14 | Issue 12 Article 1 6-1981 Mission: Vol. 14, No. 12 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/missionjournal Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, Practical Theology Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation (1981) "Mission: Vol. 14, No. 12," Mission: Vol. 14 : Iss. 12 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/missionjournal/vol14/iss12/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Stone-Campbell Archival Journals at Digital Commons @ ACU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mission by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ ACU. ..TO EXPLORE THOROUGHLY THE SCRIPTURES AND THEIR MEANING . TO UNDERSTAND AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE THE WORLD IN WHICH THE CHURCH LIVES AND HAS HER MISSION . TO PROVIDE A VEHICLE FOR COMMUNICATING THE MEANING OF GOD'S WORD TO OUR CONTEMPORARY WORLD.'' POLICY STATEMENT, JULY, 1967 -EDITORIAL CONTENTS Page SEM I NAR 3 TO BE A PEOPLE OF JUSTICE 4 By Larry James SEEKING JUSTICE IN MISSIONS 7 By Bob Douglas GO YE: PREACH AND HEAL? 10 By Roger McCown, Ellie Evans and Robert T. Clark, M.D. THE MISSION TRAINING AND 13 RESOURCE CENTER: A BOLD ADVENTURE IN EVANGELISM By Bob Douglas VIEWING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST FROM JAIL 17 By Michael Gose REFLECTIONS ON AN UNLIKELY PROPHET 19 By Don Crittenden BOOKS 21 By Edward G. Holley FORUM 22 IN DEX 23 lllustrations by Gayle Brown EDITOR RICHARD HUGHES BOOK REVIEW EDITOR BOBBIE LEE HOLLEY BUSINESS MANAGER LAJUANA BURGESS EDITORIAL SECRETARY JANICE HUGHES Mission Journal (ISSN 0199-4433) is published monthly by Mission Journal, lnc., '11223 Henge Drive, Austin, Texas 78759. Annual $10, three years $25, five years $40. Annual student and senior citizen rate $7.50. Bundle and bound volume rales on request. Single copies $1. Second class postage paid at Austin, Texas and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mission Journal, 11223 Henge Drive, Austin, Texas 78759, which is also the address to be used for circulation and bookeeping correspondence. Manuscripts submitted for publication should be submitted in duplicate, double spaced, and typed. Maximum length: ten pages. Editorial Off ices: 2071 Adolphus, Springf ield, Missouri 65807. MISSION JOURNAL , JUNE, I98I Who Speaks For God? Moslems claim they do and are ecumenical in their claim. Moslems include Moses and Jesus among the seventy spokesmen for Cod, although for them, only Muhammed is the raszl, the seal of all these prophets. ¡ What does this mean for Jews? o What does this mean for Christians? ¡ How do Moslems perceive Christian missions? o For what reasons would Moslems unite in a jihod (holy "war"), and for what reasons would they prefer peace? ¡ Would Moslems really want to ally themselves with Communists? r If so, what does that mean? Gerrit J. tenZythoff ANNO(JNCING THEANNUAL MISSIONJOURNAL READERS'SEMINAR Friday, June 19, 7:00 p.m. DFW Airport, Amfac Hotel East, Sector 7 Theme: The World of Islam Guest Speaker: Gerrit J. tenZythoff Mission Journal readers are a special educated at the University of Utrecht, the group of people and are bound together by a University of British Columbia, and the common bond. University of Chicago, tenZythoff is This is why Readers' Seminars the one Chairman of a flourishing Department of occasion each year when readers- can share Religious Studies at Southwest Missouri in fellowship together are such important State University. He has traveled extensively occasions. - in the Moslem world, and participated this Because our readers are sensitive and past summer in a Moslem/Christian alert to the world around them, and because dialogue in Geneva, Switzerland, sponsored of the significance of the Middle East today, by the World Council of Churches. this year's Readers' Seminar focuses on the We hope that many of our readers in the world of lslam. Dallas-Fort Worth area - and their friends - The speaker for the seminar is Dr. Cerrit J. will share with us in this evening of tenZythoff, a dynamic and widely sought- exploration, stimulation, and fel lowship. after lecturer. Born in the Netherlands and MISSION JOUlINAI, TOBËA PËOPLE OF JUSTICE "While 750,000,000 people live on annuctl incomes o"f 825.00 or less and while from one-half to one billion people føce liJ'e on starvation cliets, Christians go about theír actívities ss churchmen in a fantøsy world",, By LARRY M".IAMES ff ow could it happen that a movement standing on people of Yahweh find their chosenness and meaning Il the biblical record as the "ground of its being" as they become agents of justice in history on behalf should largely neglect at least one central concern of of their creator. But many believers remain God's word? Even though the analysis sounds out of uninitiated before a biblical doctrine of justice. The context when applied to the Restoration heritage, the word's fundamental emphasis on God's everlasting words of H. Richard Niebuhr assume revelance in a concern for the poor, the suffering, the ill, and the startling way: oppressed is largely neglected by those who claim to be "a people of the Book. " Therefot'e, a sketchy and . they understand Christ through culture, at best inadequate overview is in order. selecting from his teaching and action, as well as from the Christian doctrine about him, such The dlld Testament nnd Justice points as seem to agree with what is best in By reading through the Psalms one quie kly civilization. (Christ and Culture, pp. 83-84). becomes aware of the centrality of justice in God's How so? The fact is, the conservative wing of' the Þrograrl of acticln in history. ground swell to "restore primitive Christianity" * "The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a largely ignores a rich vein of truth running through stronghold in times ol trouble" (Ps. 9:9). justice the mine of God's word concerning and its in- + " 'Because the poor are ciespoiled, beear-rse the separable relationship to faith. needy groan, I will now arise,' says the Lord; 'l But even a cursory overview of the Bibic reveals will place him in the safety for which he longs"' Yahweh's radical commitment to justice in the (Ps. 12:5). worid. Justice is always central to faith and to * "With all my heart I will say to the l.orel, covenant relation between God and his people. The 'There is no one like you. You protect the weak I-arry M. James is minister for tl'ìe Richardson Bast Church ol Christ, fronl the strong, the poor fronL the oppressor' " Richardson, lexas. (lls,35;lû, TEV). 1l JUNL, l98l * "With my mouth I will give gl'eat thanks to the claim as Messiah (Lk. 7:18-23). Disciples learned Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throrrg. even dinner invitations should be sent out according For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to to a prescription of justice (Lk. 14:12-14). The save him from those who condemn him to death" parable of the rich man and Lazarus was told to (Ps. 109:30-31). challenge the apathetic affluent concerning the * "He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the danger of wealth and the injustice of unconcern, not needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with to placate the wretched of the earth, nor to sketch princes, with the princes of his people" (Ps. details concerning the state of the dead for future 1 l3:7-8), chart makers (Lk. l6:19-31). According to Jesus, * "I know the Lord maintains the cause of the final judgment for believers will be based on action afflicted, and executes justice for the needy" (Ps. or inaction taken in life on behalf of those who suffer 140:12). unjustly (Mr. 25:3lfÐ. Countless other passages could be noted (cf. Ps. 89:8, 14; 94:l-15; 102:18-22; 107 :4-9; 146:5-9, et. al.). Justice and the Contemporary Church Whether one considers the songs of the singer of American narcissistic culture and affluence liberation, the passages of the Penteteuch, or the obviously fly in the face of the .Iudeo-Christian piercing directives of the prophets, the Old Testament heritage regarding justice in the world. More provides powerful and undeniable witness to God's devastating is the fact that American values and just character issuing in a call for justice in the earth. cultural norms shape the churches of the Restoration (Cf. Ex. 3 :7- 1 0; 6:2-9; 22:25 -27 : 23 :6-12; Lev. 1 9:9- 1 8, tradition far more than those congregations 33-36; 23:22; 25:l-55:, Deut. I :16-17 ; 10:17 -19; 14:28- prophetically challenge the society in which they 29; 15:l-18; l6:18-20; 24:10-22; 25:13-16; 26:l-15; exist, Church budgets, program plans, and individual 32:4; lsa. l:10-17; 3:3-25;5:8-17, 22-25;9:6-7; l0:l- priorities reflect an almost absolute ignorance of 4; I l:l-5; 25:4-8; 26:5-6;61:l-4; Jer. 5:26-29; 2l:ll- Cod's dream for his people in the twentieth century. 12;22:l-5, 13-19; 34:8-17; Ezk. l8:5-9; 22:6-12, 23- Living as citizens of the richest nation in history,, 3l;45:9-12; Hos. l2:7-9; Amos 2:6-8; 3:15-4:3;5:6- American Christians in Churches of Christ suffer 24; 6:4-7 ; 8:4-8; Micah 2:l-10; 3:l-12; 4:l-4; 6:6-15; from a "cruel innocence" (to borrow Michael Hab.