More perspectives on mission.
Billman, Kathleen D.
The essays in the June 2013 issue of Currents continue the theme of
passion for God's mission in the world that has permeated recent
issues of the journal.
In "Reading the Parables Theologically to Read Them
Missionally," Jason S. Sexton contends that the parables display
"a range of theological themes sufficient to highlight precisely
how it is that a theological reading is tantamount to a missional
reading of Scripture." Focusing in particular on Luke's
gospel, Sexton illustrates his way of reading parables
theologically/missionally by presenting five "rest cases" from
the early Galilean parables in Luke.
Sheri D. Kling examines the text of the prologue to the Gospel of
John for its deep resonances with the Wisdom tradition in the Old
Testament, tracing how Wisdom/Sophia in the disguise of Word/Logos might
have become associated with Jesus, who is God's Wisdom made flesh.
The purpose of this inquiry is to suggest fruits that might come from a
rediscovery of the Wisdom roots of Christianity that, when tapped more
fully, hold transformational power.
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in Lutheran liturgy? Justin
Eller discusses how the newest hymnal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (Evangelical Lutheran Worship--ELW) manifests Luther's
understanding of the action of the Holy Spirit in its pattern for
worship: gathering, word, meal, and sending. Each of these movements
offers a venue for exploring how Lutherans understand and embody a
theology of the Holy Spirit, and how the community's response to
the active presence of the Holy Spirit cakes form and shape through the
mission of the church in the world.
Seung-oh An offers both an appreciative and critical perspective on
recent approaches to mission that prioritize social justice for the poor
and oppressed and shalom for the creation itself, which he calls
"ecumenical mission." He traces the development and the
theological center of this commitment, outlines contributions and
limitations of this approach, and concludes with some challenges to this
approach to mission.
Writing from Cambridge, England (Sexton); Claremont, California
(Kling); La Paz, Bolivia (Eller); and Gyeongsan City, South Korea (An);
each essayist reflects on views of theology and Scripture that can
animate the people of God to enthusiastically embody God's love and
purposes for the world. When set beside the host of voices who have
spoken on these themes in recent issues of Currents, we can imagine a
very lively, even passionate, exchange of views.
Kathleen D. Billman
Editor
