Book Review: Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues PDF

234 Carlos F. Cardoza-Orlandi, Darrell L. Whiteman cially the poor, is a denial of truth. his article on "Critical Contextualization" is From a missiological perspective, one of the most cited articles in missiological Caminemos con Jesus provides a method-...

234 Carlos F. Cardoza-Orlandi, Darrell L. Whiteman cially the poor, is a denial of truth. his article on "Critical Contextualization" is From a missiological perspective, one of the most cited articles in missiological Caminemos con Jesus provides a method- literature. ological and theological challenge to methods Part Two, "Reflections on Planting and strategies of mission. From a Protestant Churches," gives us six excellent articles perspective, Goizueta's theology of accompa- where Hiebert discusses cross-cultural and niment challenges the inherited Protestant epistemological issues. The first article, "The missionary conception of popular Catholicism Category Christian in the Mission Task," as paganism and shows the deep faith and introduced us nearly 20 years ago to the very witness of the poor at the margins of United helpful terms bounded and centered set as we States society. think about conversion. Missiological anthro- The author has justly been awarded the pologists frequently employ the concept of Virgilio Elizondo Award for outstanding con- worldview, and Hiebert has written clearly on tribution to the development of a theology of this as well, helping us realize the importance and for the U.S. Hispanics. Wonderfully writ- of communicating the gospel at the deeper ten, Caminemos con Jesus is a rare combina- worldview level and not simply settling for tion of passionate writing and academic cre- change at the surface level of behavior. ativity much needed in theological and missi- Worldview, biculturalism, church renewal, ological circles. and leadership training are all highlighted in this section. Anthropological Reflections on The third area where Hiebert has con- Missiological Issues tributed to missiological thinking is spiritual By Paul G. Hiebert encounters. Three articles, including his Grand Rapids, M/: Baker Books famous "Flaw of the Excluded Middle," com- /994, 272 pp., paper, $16.99 prise this section. Hiebert's "Excluded Reviewed by Darrell L. Whiteman Middle" article is probably his most oft-cited Paul Hiebert is the leading missiological article and has been used as a foundational anthropologist of our day. No anthropologist argument for those involved in ministries of has done more to shape missiological think- signs and wonders. Since it first appeared in ing than Hiebert with his writing over the past Missiology in 1982, Hiebert has become 20 plus years. He has clearly laid out the com- increasingly concerned that much of the spir- plexity of cross-cultural mission and has itual warfare exercise can degenerate into a embraced cultural diversity while holding to a form of "Christian" animism. This concern is high view of Scripture. Hiebert's writing is addressed in two excellent articles on a bibli- stimulating, profound, and balanced, and now cal perspective on spiritual warfare and heal- we are fortunate to have 14 of his best articles ing. between the covers of a book that sells for a Hiebert has done his epistemological reasonable price. I have used the book in an homework, and it shows up in article after advanced missiological anthropology semi- article in this book. He helps us cut through nar with great results. the issues and see the impact of our own The book is divided into three areas which worldview on our thinking, reminds us of the in many ways parallel the three areas of importance of biblical fidelity without falling Hiebert's contributions to missiology. For into bibliolatry, and then often gives very over 20 years, he has been exploring the phi- practical and helpful suggestions for doing losophy of science to discover what episte- cross-cultural mission more effectively. This mological insights we may use for missiolog- is vintage Hiebert and comes as highly rec- ical purposes. Part One, "Reflections on ommended as possible. It will appeal to a Epistemological Foundations," carries the wide missiological audience and will be use- fruit ofhis inquiry in five stimulating articles. ful in many mission courses. His two articles on epistemology and mission are foundational to our thinking today, and