M.Div
The purpose of this paper is as stated: “Doing Missions in a Pluralistic Society,” to be specific, the concept of strategy in mission works where Christianity is one religion among many. It is the intention of this writer to examine such purpose in light of Scriptures that deals in this area, namely the book of Acts, with the focus of establishing factors that hope to contribute to the success of Christianity.
To this we wish to simply state that doing missions within a pluralistic society is nothing new in the overall picture of church history, in the overall demography of the world, and especially during the time of the apostles. In fact throughout church history and through many mission endeavors, “pluralism” has been present the whole time.
A pluralistic society is nothing new to Christianity. Given, it is possible that the apostles were not necessarily aware of engaging any strategy in a premeditated accord to evangelize their world, nevertheless, conclusions can be drawn out that such strategies were inherent in their works by divine providence. This, we seek to establish.
But first, what is pluralism? It is important to note the definition of pluralism in this context. Leslie Mark provides this definition: “A pluralistic society is one in which diverse ethnic, racial, religious or social groups live and maintain an autonomous participation in and development of their traditional culture within the confines of a common civilization.”
Wong Wai Ching Angela, of the world council of churches Asia plenary, provides another definition:
“It describes an attitude of accepting difference and diversity across a very broad possible range of value and practices in different cultures across diverse communities. It does not only join Marxist, feminist, post colonialist critique of class, gender, imperial, racial, and religio-ethnic oppression, it is also an exercise of freeing from fixed positions or judgment, and refraining from seeking universal or totalizing
To this we wish to simply state that doing missions within a pluralistic society is nothing new in the overall picture of church history, in the overall demography of the world, and especially during the time of the apostles. In fact throughout church history and through many mission endeavors, “pluralism” has been present the whole time.
A pluralistic society is nothing new to Christianity. Given, it is possible that the apostles were not necessarily aware of engaging any strategy in a premeditated accord to evangelize their world, nevertheless, conclusions can be drawn out that such strategies were inherent in their works by divine providence. This, we seek to establish.
But first, what is pluralism? It is important to note the definition of pluralism in this context. Leslie Mark provides this definition: “A pluralistic society is one in which diverse ethnic, racial, religious or social groups live and maintain an autonomous participation in and development of their traditional culture within the confines of a common civilization.”
Wong Wai Ching Angela, of the world council of churches Asia plenary, provides another definition:
“It describes an attitude of accepting difference and diversity across a very broad possible range of value and practices in different cultures across diverse communities. It does not only join Marxist, feminist, post colonialist critique of class, gender, imperial, racial, and religio-ethnic oppression, it is also an exercise of freeing from fixed positions or judgment, and refraining from seeking universal or totalizing