This is a two part series: Part I (Below) Part II Introduction With what seemed to be a wave of a nonchalant hand and a non- directive voice, Elisha the prophet sent the cured, former “generalissimo”, Naaman, on his way. “Go in peace”. This three-word phrase has been...
John Span
John Span has worked with his family in West Africa among an unreached 'Fulani' people group for the last ten years. His mentors have challenged him to think theologically, especially in the area of missions to Muslims and he desires to inspire others to do the same. In the last year he has been a frequent contributor to the St. Francis Magazine.
Do Methods Matter? Lessons from History
Whether we are conscious of it or not, every evangelist and every missiologist leans towards using certain methods. History has shown that these methods are anything but neutral, but are very much derived from one's theology. Case in point, if I have a hard time...
A Lesson at a Wedding
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Ephesians 5:31 cf. Matthew 19:25, Genesis 2:24) The bride and the groom with eyes full of love and promises of loyalty in their hearts and on their...
Do you Really Believe in the Power of the Gospel in a ‘Resistant Place’?
Spurgeon believed in the power of the Gospel in a "resistant place." Do you? Do I? In 1851, a young man of only 17 years old went into the small village of Waterbeach, England. He had every reason to try out new-and-improved methods of bringing the Gospel, as one...
The Puritan John Owen on the rich benefits of Sonship
At times when we think of the Puritans we think of people with tight-fitting clothes, tight-fisted hearts, and a somber attitude to life. Some of that might be true, but when one reads how the Puritans desired to be "ravished" by the reality that they were adopted as...
Condemned to death “for the doctrine of the Son of God”
Just prior to mounting the scaffolding to be hung for the crime of ‘sedition’ by the Spanish Inquisition, Guido de Brès voiced the following words: “My brothers, I am condemned to death today for the doctrine of the Son of God, praise be to Him. I would never...
Book Review: A God of Many Understandings?: The Gospel and a Theology of Religions
A God of Many Understandings?: The Gospel and a Theology of Religions by Todd Miles, B & H Academic, (Apr 1st, 2010) 416 pp. ISBN 978-0805448221 Reviewed by John Span In his book, A God of Many Understandings?: The Gospel and a...
Worshipping “Yahweh” by means of a Golden Calf
In response to the cover story of the Christianity Today (CT) January-February '13 issue entitled "Worshipping Jesus in the Mosque" I would like to take a close look at the subject of worship by the Israelites. Perhaps it will shed light on what...
The Judaizers: When almost right isn’t good enough
The true God says: "No righteousness, wisdom, or religion pleases me, but only that by which the Father is glorified through the Son. It is those who lay hold of the Son and me and my promise in him, by faith, to whom I am a God, a Father; it is they whom I accept,...
Holy Boldness
A recent (Nov 19, 2011) World Magazine interviewed an Afghan Christian named Sayed Musa which detailed his coming to the Lord, his imprisonment, torture and eventual release. In the article entitled "Holding Fast" the interviewer asked him if he had told his friends...
Exodus verbs and modern missions.
Due to the great importance of the Exodus event in the entire Scriptures, with the original happening "out of Egypt", a second exodus "out from exile" in the prophetic books as well as the "exodus" of people dead "out of the tyranny of sin" into the land of the living...
Biblical Missiology agrees: BIBLE POVERTY… IT IS A BIG DEAL
The Wycliffe Global Alliance features a short and dramatic video by 'One Verse' or 'The Seed Company' that says in all caps: BIBLE POVERTY IS A BIG DEAL The music starts and it transitions to the verse from Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written, "Man shall not...
Holy Ambassadors
"So what do you do?" asked the curious student. "I am an ambassador," I replied. "For the Canadian government?" he queried. "I didn't know you were in the diplomatic service...how do you get a job with them anyway?" Another student, curious about the conversation...
“Give me____________or I die”
Missions in the late 20th and early 21st centuries appears to have a strong bent towards getting certain methodologies just right. "Make the material Muslim-friendly" ....so the line goes..."and you will overcome all of their cultural hang-ups" ....so it is...
Timothy Tennent on World Religions
In 2010, one hundred years after the historical 1910 Edinburgh Missions Consultation, Timothy Tennent, president at Asbury Theological Seminary, authored Invitation to World Missions: A Trinitarian Missiology for the Twenty-First Century. Following Part One's wide...
Analyzing the New Winds of Doctrine.
Not long ago I was asked to provide a critique of a proposed position paper on the Insider Movement. As I looked at the paper, I realized that this would likely be one of many samples of new winds of doctrine that would blow my way for the rest of my life. I decided...
Regeneration and Your Missiology
In a day and age when the church is becoming increasingly fad driven, it is logical that missions starts to reflect this character. The faddish seeker-sensitive church movement with its human-centered gospel, now has entered the field of missions with its...
Is your view of people Biblical or humanistic? Lessons from Acts 17.
Paul's speech at the Areopagus is likely one of the most studied and debated speeches in the book of Acts. For more detail see a much longer piece: THE AREOPAGUS: A STUDY IN CONTINUITY AND DISCONTINUITY featured in the June, St. Francis Magazine. Just what kind of...