Paradigm Shift in Evangelism. a Study of the Need for Contextualization in the Mission of Southern Baptists
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PARADIGM SHIFT IN EVANGELISM. A STUDY OF THE NEED FOR CONTEXTUALIZATION IN THE MISSION OF SOUTHERN BAPTISTS by RONALD WAYNE JOHNSON submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY in the subject MISSIOLOGY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF W A SAAYMAN JOINT PROMOTER: DR JN JONSSON JUNE 1999 Statement of Candidate Ronald Wayne Johnson I declare that Paradigm Shift in Evangelism. A Study of the Need For Contextualization In the Mission of Southern Baptists is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. Table of Contents Summary ....................................................... v Introduction .................................................. viii A Definition of Terms Used in this Thesis ..................... xv Chapter One: A Call for Change in the Missiology of Southern Baptists ..........· ............................... 1 1.1 The validity of pursuing this thesis .................... 1 1.2 The problems posed which are addressed in this thesis .... 6 1.3 Propositions formulated within the assumption of this thesis. 8 1.4 The limitations imposed on this thesis ................... 9 1.5 The purpose of the thesis ................................ 10 1.6 The practical nature of this thesis ...................... 11 Chapter Two: Inadequacies Within the Current Model of Mission ......... ., . 18 2 .1 Stating the problem ...................................... 18 2.2 Failure of assumptions, methods, and models .............. 35 2. 3 Four critical issues. 37 2.4 Failure of method and model .............................. 51 Chapter Three: Historical Perspectives of Southern Baptist Mission ........................................ 58 3.1 Historical perspectives .................................. 58 3.2 Central to the founding of the Home Mission Board ........ 73 3.3 Early mission activity ................................... 75 3.4 Development of evangelistic strategies ................... 77 3. 5 A shift in emphasis.. 8 6 3.6 Trends in mission strategy ............................... 104 3.7 The work of the Foreign Mission Board .................... 123 ll 3. 8 Implications. 134 Chapter Four: Biblical Foundations for Mission and Evangelism ...................................... 141 4.1 New impetus for mission and evangelism ................... 141 4.2 The experiential in the individual ....................... 144 4.3 Growth patterns in communities ........................... 146 4.4 Societal inculturations in Christian associations ........ 148 4.5 Mutuality of faith in the churches ....................... 150 4. 6 Implications for mission ................................. 154 Chapter Five: Theological Foundations for Mission and Evangelism ..................................... 164 5.1 A theological perspective for evangelism ................. 164 5.2 The whole church ................., ........................ 166 5. 3 The whole gospel ......................................... 173 5. 4 The whole person. 1 77 5. 5 The whole society ........................................ 180 5. 6 The whole world .......................................... 182 Chapter Six: Mission and Evangelism in a Changing World ....... 189 6.1 Factors to contributing to a changing world .............. 189 6.2 Impact of culture ........................................ 190 6.3 Demographic and lifestyle changes ........................ 203 6.4 Religious orientation .................................... 212 6.5 Implications for Southern Baptists ....................... 215 Chapter Seven: The Challenge of Postmodernism to the Mission of Southern Baptists ................... 221 7.1 Postmodernism: Problem for Southern Baptists ............. 221 lll 7. 2 Definitions of postmodernism ............................ 222 7. 3 The modern world view ................................... 226 7.4 The decline of the modern period ........................ 232 7.5 The emerging postmodern paradigm ........................ 237 7.6 Implications for Southern Baptists ...................... 242 Chapter Eight: Reconciliation as Foundational to the Mission Of Southern Baptists .......................... 257 8.1 Concern for reconciliation .............................. 257 8.2 A need for a theology of reconciliation ................. 259 8.3 Implications of a theology of reconciliation for Southern Baptists ................................................ 265 Chapter Nine: Contextualization as a Critical Element in The Mission of Southern Baptists ............... 271 9.1 A need for contextualization of mission ................. 271 9.2 Evidence of a lack of a contextual approach .............. 273 9.3 Contextualization as a theological development ........... 274 9.4 Issues confronting a proper contextualization ............ 279 9.5 Contextualization as ongoing process ..................... 289 Chapter Ten: The Kingdom Church Model: Needed Paradigm Shift .. 296 10 .1 Movement toward paradigm shift ........................... 296 10.2 The validity for a Kingdom model for mission ............. 300 10.3 The praxis of a Kingdom model for mission ................ 305 10.4 The Kingdom model as hope for wholism in mission ......... 311 10.5 A view of the Kingdom church for Southern Baptists ....... 313 10.6 Component one: Immersed in mission ....................... 313 10.7 Component two: Salt, Light, and context .................. 315 iv 10.8 Component three: A ministry-based mind set ................ 316 10.9 Component four: An inclusive spiritual house ............. 318 10.10 Component five: Commitment to the family of God ......... 319 10.11 Conclusion .............................................. 320 Works Cited . 323 Summary This thesis addresses a needed shift of paradigm for mission and evangelism within the Southern Baptist Convention. The current model lacks appropriate contextualization in a postmodern world. The proposition of the thesis is that a kingdom model for mission and evangelism is more appropriate for Southern Baptists' commitment to mission. The methodology of this thesis was researching primary and secondary sources, interviews with persons currently involved within the mission of Southern Baptists, evaluation of empirical data, and testing of concepts. In Chapter One, the validity of this thesis is presented with the proposition, the limitations, the purpose, the practical nature, and the modus operandi of the thesis stated. Chapter Two explores the problems of evangelism within the mission of Southern Baptists today. Focus is on empirical statistical evidence and the failure of assumptions, methods, and models currently in practice. Chapter Three examines the birth of the mission and evangelism mandate of Southern Baptists and the subsequent development of a monolithic structure unchanged to the present day. Chapter Four traces the evolution of evangelistic witness within the early church and explores the cultural dynamics of the period. v I Key Terms Describing the Topic of the Dissertation Title of Thesis: PARADIGM SHIFT IN EVANGELISM: A NEED FOR CONTEXTUALIZATION IN THE MISSION OF SOUTHERN BAPTISTS Key Terms: Contextualization; Mission Strategy; Theology of Mission; Evangelism; Demographic Trends; L~festyle Issues; Postmodernism; Reconciliation; Paradigm Shift of Mission; Kingdom Model for Mission; Ministry-Based Evangelism; Baptist History Introduction This thesis addresses the need for substantial change related to assumptions, motifs, methods, and communication of the overall missiological imperative embraced by Southern Baptists. The thesis is proposed on the assumption that such a change is needed in order to reformulate Christian imperatives for mission and evangelism within the contemporary missiological strategy of Southern Baptists. It also takes cognizance of the fact that the original construct of the mission and evangelism mandate embraced by Southern Baptists at the founding of the Convention in its organizational meeting in Augusta, Georgia in 1845, has remained largely unchanged to the present. This limitation highlights the imperative for structural and functional change, to meet the demands of the 21st century world. Southern Baptists are slow to accept change and must learn to regard change as constructive. The methodology adopted to structure this thesis includes researching both primary and secondary sources, interviewing contemporary scholars, evaluating present methods, assessing current data regarding evangelistic effectiveness, and taking cognizance of current trends within the missiology of Southern Baptists. Chapter One of the thesis endorses the authenticity, the problem, the proposition, the limitations, the purpose, the practical nature, and the modus operandi of the thesis. Chapter two explores the problems of evangelism within the mission of Southern Baptists today. Material is presented that will ix not only state the problem but provide evidence of the failure of assumptions, methods, and models of current evangelism as this relates to the contemporary world. The thesis focuses on what seems to be the perpetuating denial of the failure of approaches currently in practice by pastors, denominational leadership and laity. There appears to be a reticence to address this apparent failure. Empirical statistical evidence which reflects this problem will be provided. Chapter three examines the birth of the missions and evangelism mandate of Southern Baptists, the biblical foundation assumed, and the