S2 Ep1129: Why the Evangelical Church Needs Global Theology: Dr. Stephen Pardue
Nov 16, 2023
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Dr. Stephen Pardue, author and theologian, discusses the need for global theology in the evangelical church. They explore the growth of global Christianity, the evangelical appropriation of liberation theology, and the perception of theological conservatism in the global church. They emphasize the importance of respectful dialogue, inclusivity, engagement with different perspectives, and the dominance of North American theology. The speakers also discuss their favorite travel destinations and express their desire to visit the Philippines and engage in surfing.
Theology is deeply cultural and engaging with global theology is essential for a fuller understanding of God's revelation.
The church is seen as a multicultural people, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and integrating cultural aspects in theology.
Efforts to promote global engagement in theological literature are needed to allow majority world voices to contribute and set the agenda.
Deep dives
The Importance of Engaging with Global Theology
Engaging with global theology is crucial as the center of gravity of Christianity has shifted from North America and Europe to Latin America, Asia, and Africa. It is essential to recognize that theology is deeply cultural, and God Himself reveals Himself through culture. The diversity of languages and cultures is maintained and perfected in the New Testament, emphasizing the importance of cultural engagement in theology. While there may be skepticism or concerns about relativism, it is crucial to consider how culture shapes our theological perspectives. Ultimately, engaging with global theology is not about political correctness or diversity for its own sake, but rather about the gospel itself and remaining true to the biblical text.
Challenging the Notion of Pure Theology
The idea of doing pure theology detached from culture is not biblical. God reveals Himself through culture and emphasizes the importance of contextualization in communicating His message. Theological interpretation, like any interpretation, is fallible due to the lenses and backgrounds of individuals. Engaging with different interpretations and perspectives is necessary for a fuller understanding of the truth. The New Testament subverts the idea of detaching theology from culture, as the church is seen as a multicultural people gathered together in diversity and unity. By recognizing the cultural aspects of theology, we can approach theological discussions with more depth and nuance.
Promoting Global Engagement in Theological Literature
The majority world's voice in theological literature is expanding, albeit slowly. Efforts have been made to publish books with majority world voices, but there is still a need for more representation. Many theological resources used in majority world seminaries are still influenced by Western perspectives. Promoting global engagement in theological literature means allowing majority world theologians to set the agenda and contribute to theological discussions. It also involves recognizing the diversity of theological conservatism among majority world churches and avoiding broad generalizations. Globalization and the internet have played a role in increasing awareness and similarities between theological discussions across different cultures.
Contextual theologies in Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant world
Contextual theologies developed in the Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant world, but have not always been successful in the majority world church. The rejection of these contextual theologies is often due to their relativistic view of truth and their emphasis on culture over scripture. Evangelicals have a unique perspective to offer because of their commitment to protecting the gospel and their connections with the majority world church.
The impact and adaptation of liberation theology
Liberation theology originated in Latin America and focused on God's preferential option for the poor as revealed in scripture. While it faced challenges in Latin America and was not widely accepted by churches there, evangelicals in Latin America transformed liberation theology into a more biblical perspective, which gained significant traction within the global church. This evangelical appropriation of liberation theology highlights the deep implications of the gospel for issues of justice and societal organization.
Stephen T. Pardue (PhD, Wheaton College) directs the ThM/PhD in Theological Studies and Church History at the Asia Graduate School of Theology and teaches theology at the International Graduate School of Leadership in Manila, Philippines. He is the author of The Mind of Christ: Humility and the Intellect in Early Christian Theology and the co-editor of ten books, including Majority World Theology and Asian Christian Theology. In this conversation, we talk about Steve's latest book: Why Evangelical Theology Needs the Global Church.