Review: Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility

Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility by Duane Elmer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One eye-catching feature would have to be the endorsements of the book in the first pages from the who’s who in the cross-cultural field. The book provided for a highly engaging, enjoyable and perhaps even captivating read. I cannot emphasize how brilliant it is that the content was presented as succinct as it was. As an Asian young adult who is largely influenced by Western education/thinking that clashes with the more traditional culture/worldviews of my elders, I appreciated that this book was extremely useful in that it was thoughtful, reflective and insightful. It seemed that much of his material was highly intuitive and logically, and yet I often wondered to myself: “now why didn’t I think of that?”

The mix of his own anecdotes with quotes/stories of others was just right. His breadth of knowledge in the subject matter is seen from the variety of sources he draws inspiration from, seemingly never over-quoting (like some other authors) to the effect that it was merely a paraphrase reproduction of another’s work. His dedication and passion in the subject matter (theology held in tandem/tension with anthropology) are also illustrated by his ever insightful experiences that he shares in the book.

As the title indicates, the primary substantive is that we are called by Christ to cross-culturally serve and not to boss/lord over those whom we perceive need our help/expertise or ministry. This is exceptionally helpful in our day of Instagram social work or short-term missions whereby it is “cool,” fashionable even, to broadcast to one’s social network how noble one was to have volunteered one's time and energies. Whilst this book is no silver bullet to make a proud and egotistical minister become a magically humble servant overnight, it should raise enough red flags to prompt the readers into introspection, reflection and a desire for change.

I heartily recommend this book to all Christians, not only those involved in cross-cultural overseas missions/ministry work as all of us are called to evangelise and minister wherever we are placed and not only to a homogenous people group from which we hail. A great companion to be read alongside this would be Lingenfelter’s excellent title Ministering Cross-Culturally (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/102044).

View all my reviews

Review: The Mission of God's People: A Biblical Theology of the Church's Mission

The Mission of God's People: A Biblical Theology of the Church's Mission by Christopher J.H. Wright
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The content is rather light and easy to read quickly through. I recognise that Chris Wright is one of the leading theologians in the field of missiology, but I found this title a tiresome to read and rather unengaging. Perhaps in trying to be accessible for a lay-level reading audience, the theological depth was compromised to a point that more advanced readers would not find it useful. When I read it 2-3 years as a bible school student, I found that I craved "deeper" theological reflections on the topic, and when I read it recently for the purposes of obtaining material for a research paper on the biblical theological perspective on missions, I too found it wanting. I cannot recommend this book and would recommend that you consult Walter Kaiser or Michael Goheen instead if you were exploring the theme of the biblical theology of the OT and church's mission respectively.

View all my reviews

Review: A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story

A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story by Michael W. Goheen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goheen may not be a theologian who introduces earth-shattering new defining concepts for us to chew on (like Newbigin for example), but he is a master researcher who compiles the material in a concise and very readable package. With a 1500 page reading requirement for a Missions module, this was by far the breath of fresh air amidst some other very painfully tedious (and boring) titles.

Of the tens of books I utilised for a research paper on the biblical theological perspective on missions, this was the one I found the most enjoyable to read. My guess is that this provides a lighter dose of his more comprehensive "Introducing Christian Mission Today" that is almost twice as thick, and where many similar concepts are visited but in greater detail. Goheen writes with an interest in the biblical theological framework and what made the book a truly pleasurable read was that even novice readers would find the title highly engaging and accessible. More advanced readers can refer to his abovementioned lengthier title.

View all my reviews

Review: Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission (New Studies in Biblical Theology)

Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission (New Studies in Biblical Theology by Andreas J. Köstenberger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This title is targeted at intermediate and advanced readers, for the deep theological content is difficult to skim through quickly without engaging into time to digest and reflect. For the tens of books I utilised for a research paper on the biblical theological perspective on missions, this was the one I found the most insightful. It was also really easy to read and its thickness is due to the breadth of issues discussed. It is a pity that this book is out of print (and I did notice many ideas from various other authors being quoted without acknowledgement).

Nevertheless, I recommend obtaining a copy because of its usefulness. It would still be a good investment for sermon or bible study preparation, especially for the last chapter (concluding synthesis) provides a "light" and easily comprehensible summary of the topic. If you find that a certain subsection in the concluding summary that seems potentially useful, you can tend leaf your way into the in-depth corresponding chapter.

View all my reviews

Review: Leading Across Cultures: Effective Ministry and Mission in the Global Church

Leading Across Cultures: Effective Ministry and Mission in the Global Church by James Plueddemann
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Although Plueddemann's CV would lead one to infer his great depth of experience, it somehow does not translate to how he writes. I felt that if Plueddemann could have injected a large dose of brevity into the book, it could potentially provide an engaging read. However, many substantives were repeated more than necessary, and the second chapter about his own lengthy leadership journey would not appeal to or interest readers who do not know him.

Having different contributors at the end of each chapter to provide their own commentary on the topic was a nice touch, but not enough to save the rather mediocre content of the book. The many case studies and personal accounts shared in the book were simply not as intense/gripping or insightful as those in the other excellent books I've reviewed on cross-cultural missions (namely Sherwood Lingenfelter's Ministering Cross-Culturally and Duane Elmer's Cross-Cultural Servanthood).

View all my reviews

Review: Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships

Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships by Sherwood G. Lingenfelter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's been a long time since I enjoyed a read so thoroughly! This is an easy 6 star rating from me. The author (and editor) provided an exciting and extremely informative read. It is amazing how concise the material is - I did not feel that more ink was spilt than necessary, and also I did not feel that the substantives were insufficiently developed - the length of the book is just right. This feels like a distilled gift to us from a lifetime of cross-cultural work in the mission field. Novice and advanced readers alike will find it a worthwhile read and I appreciated how the fields of cultural anthropology and theology formed the backbone of the material.

Although written primarily to a North American audience, even as a Singaporean living in an Asian culture interacts with a western worldview, there was much to learn from Ligenfelter. I had not been aware of how different the eastern and western cultures (or individualistic and collectivist societies) are, and how the people in each perceive the world and interact with each other! Although the real-life illustrations in the book are slightly dated (most are pre-1986), the issues addressed and the principles discussed are timeless. Perhaps the ultimate compliment I could pay to the authors is to reveal that as a bible school student who is not very much interested in missions, I found that I started to develop an attraction toward the topic and felt the desire to read more titles on it!

I heartily recommend this masterpiece of a book! A great companion to be read alongside this title would be Elmer's Cross-Cultural Servanthood (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2477980169).

View all my reviews

Going home to participate in world missions

I have considered it rather fascinating - the notion of encouraging foreigners in our midst to go home for the sake of the gospel. I appreciate how Packer iterates the points clearly and succinctly. Practically, there would be less of a cultural barrier (and language barrier) and there would be less suspicion of colonial-type of forceful influence by a foreigner coming to impose a foreign religion upon the indigenous people. Whereas the foreign person would have to find a reason to obtain a long-term visa, be it education or work, the local missionary could be seeking genuine employment (until the church plant has grown large enough to sustain a full-time pastor). I am apprehensive about the efficacy of short-term missions with durations below 2-3 years, and the indigenous missionary would be able to make long-term plans and participate even indefinitely. Monetary-wise, especially if the area of the mission field is a developing country, the same amount of money would go further funding a native citizen as compared to funding a Westerner.


From J I Packer's article on the Lausanne Movement page:

The Work of the Holy Spirit in Conviction and Conversion - Lausanne Movement

POWER AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT I I live in Vancouver, Canada, where the wind rarely rises beyond a gentle breeze. But in Britain, where I lived before, gales would strip branches from trees, roofs from sheds, and make it...Read more ›

"We also need to recognize the intrinsic superiority of nationals evangelizing within their own or similar cultures. This is more effective than having others bear the brunt of evangelizing cross-culturally where the receiving culture differs from their own in a radical way.

National evangelism is superior to cross-cultural evangelism because: (a) nationals have freedom [of] movement, living in lands whereas by A.D. 2000, 83 percent of world's population are expected to to be living in lands to which church-planting Western missionaries will not be admitted; (b) throughout Asia, and in other parts of the Two-Thirds World, anti-Western prejudice is strong; (c) in Asia and Africa, missionary money from the West goes much further when supporting nationals rather than Westerners; (d) pioneering by Western missionaries perpetuates the myth that Christianity is the religion of the West as Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam are religions of the East, in other words, that Christianity is an ethnic rather than a universal religion; and (e) the efforts of Western missionaries in the East so easily look and feel like neo-colonialism and denominational imperialism. But the deepest reason is that appreciating the full humanity of a person who culturally is not felt to be “one of us” is harder than when a person is felt to be a part of that culture. This makes it more difficult for cross-cultural communication to be perceived as incarnational and, therefore, as convincingly true. It is as simple, and as far-reaching, as that. In lands where there are no churches, cross-cultural missionary work remains the only way to begin."

Review: Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations

Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations by Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed the read and found this book very insightful. Kaiser packs in deep theological material and somehow managed to make the material a joy to leaf through. I appreciate the footnotes and references that he provided for further reading. Intermediate and advanced readers would probably find the content engaging, and because of the extremely small number of pages, maybe even novice readers would be able to read a chapter or two that catches their interest.

Of the tens of books I utilised for a research paper on the biblical theological perspective on missions, this title is a close second on my list of favourites that I found most insightful/helpful (the standout title was Michael Goheen's excellent "A light to the nations."

View all my reviews

Review: Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City

Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City by Timothy Keller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rather than propose a culture-specific quick-fix model, Keller communicates a theological vision across various ministry settings to balance the three axes of gospel, city and movement (p23-24). For him, the reading of Scripture is less about “what I must do” and more about “what he has done.” (p78). Keller skilfully uses secular narratives to illustrate biblical truths. For example, utilising C. S. Lewis’ analogy of Hamlet’s relating to Shakespeare and Dorothy Sayer’s writing of herself into the story to save Lord Peter Wimsey to illustrate divine revelation (34-35).

Keller emphasises that the Center Church movement is “not a formula,” (p39) and repeatedly calls church planters and pastors to hold opposite theological positions in tension. For example, an “evangelical-charismatic church” (p47) that draws on both the Systematic Theological and the Redemptive Historical Methods. Keller maintains that a church that truly understands the implication of the biblical gospel will look like an unusual hybrid of various church forms and stereotypes. Because of the inside-out, substitutionary atonement aspect, the "evangelical-charismatic church" will place great emphasis on personal conversion, experiential grace renewal, evangelism, outreach and church planting (p85).

When I first read this book in my first year of bible school (about 2-3 years ago), much of it went over my head and dismayed, I put the book down for a later time when I would be more theologically and spiritually astute to comprehend the rich theology, sociological concepts, and ministry/missional responses to secular culture. Keller’s extensive lists of recommended material reflect his thorough research. Throughout the book, he engages with the ideas of various thinkers and scholars; for example, Niebuhr in Chapter 16 and Bosch and Newbigin in Chapter 19.

A caveat therefore is that Keller’s exhaustive referencing and thorough development of substantives may intimidate the average pastor. Probably only the most “scholarly” of church leaders able to comprehend and persevere through. And for those that do, Keller hopes that they would be inspired and that the overwhelming task ahead would elicit a sense of humility (p382). Indeed, a gospel city movement cannot come about without the “providential work of the Holy Spirit” roots the pastors as to who is the chief engineer of revival – it is a work of God, not man’s (p373-374).

View all my reviews

Review: Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission (New Studies in Biblical Theology

Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission (New Studies in Biblical Theology by Andreas J. Kostenberger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book is full of extremely "heavy" theological content and is difficult to skim through quickly. It is great for academic study and research purposes but a little too in depth for lay readers.

The last chapter (concluding synthesis) provides a "light" and easily comprehensible summary of the topic, and should possibly have been included as the first chapter. I would recommend that non-bible-scholars borrow this book from their church or public libraries and head straight for the concluding synthesis.

View all my reviews

Enough of "Short term missions" PLEASE!

Stop Calling It 'Short-Term' Missions

My heart resonates with the article about the efficacy of short-term missions, especially with the primary goal for numbers of "salvations" with just 1-3 years of sowing the ground. Without long-term discipleship of new converts, I just hope that the short-term efforts will not eventually end up in vain.

This article chimes along with what I just read from page 14 of
The Good and Beautiful Community

(Smith was quoting Dillas Willard) Social activism is not an act but a way of being... It is not that we do a good deed here and there, but that our very lives are deeds. The character of Christ that is infused in us will be a part of every encounter...

(Now in his own words) Too often people engage in social action on a part-time basis--a visit to the soup kitchen, a short-term mission trip--and feel that they have done more than their share in the area of service.

While those are good activities, if they do not flow from a Christlike character, they are merely temporary acts of kindness. Apprentices of Jesus are not part-time do-gooders.

Review: Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: Reader

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: Reader by Ralph D. Winter
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

My bias is perhaps I have more interest in biblical theology than in the history of world missions, and having grown up in a charismatic missions church, find the case studies to be less "spectacular" than I had expected. I did really enjoy the assortment of biblical perspectives, and works by the pioneers of modern missions (like Carey and Taylor).

Maybe the fact that we were to read this title as a compulsory reading for a missions course killed the joy of reading. If I were to purchase this book, I would cut it up and only keep the more enjoyable chapters (1-7, 9, 11-19, 21, 24, 27-28, 30-31, 34-36, 43, 48-51, 54, 69, 75-76, 78-80, 88, 99, 101, 106, 110, 132, 134-6). Overall, there are a few brilliant articles, but the disjointment from author to author does not provide a smooth overarching picture from theology to practice. I also would avoid any article written by Hawthorne as he writes from a non-scholarly perspective.

View all my reviews