I was concerned at first by how far back Winter began his look at the future of Missions. I would say that about three-quarters of his essay is related to missions past instead of the future of missions. I will also state that by the end of his work, I get it. It was his desire to lay the foundation for understanding where missions have been to describe what needs to happen in a meaningful way. I think he does a good job of relating this information.
Primarily, Winter’s concern is that the reader understand the beginning of the evangelical movements and that many directions were traveled in pursuing the understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how He expected the church to respond to His kingdom work.
Is it social responsibility or spreading the understanding of salvation through Jesus Christ? The direction of the evangelical movement has clearly taken either one of the other of these paths. I believe Winter used the history of faith and his own mission work to show these two are not mutually exclusive. As he discussed the future of missions, he clearly points to a continued work that harmonizes the areas of meeting both physical, social, emotional, and spiritual need.
Response to Winter’s Essay by Moreau
Moreau provides a basic review of the major foci of Winter’s essay. I didn’t see the need for this basic review as Winter was very clear in his writing. While Moreau did provide some additional areas to consider in the future of missions, they were so brief I did not see the relevance of the inclusion of his response in this overall work.
Response to Winter’s Essay by Little
Little has an extensive interaction with Winter’s essay. This is how I prefer to see responses to essays, as a writing that interacts with the original subject matter and not just rewrites the points again.
Little includes some additional points from other missiologists relating to this point. He also includes some recent statistics that clarify his point well. I appreciated the current perspective he brought into the conversation by including the celebrities turned social reform philanthropists, and their work as compared to the commands of Scripture.
Little also asks the question of the social ministry of Jesus and the apostles. He points to the fact that Jesus considered the proclamation of the gospel to be the primary. This was a good point and one I am still reflecting upon.
There was a section and diagram attempting to describe the “doxophany in mission theology” that only confused this reader. That was followed by a section on science s a missionary method that I found very thought provoking. It relates directly back to the greater social work we are attempting to do and exactly how that relates to the primary role of proclamation of the gospel.
Response to Winter’s Essay by Barnett
Barnett asks critical questions of Winter’s essay. He addresses historical interpretations, intuition, the donor myth, and the relief and development myth. I felt that he responded to the essay in such a way that it really added to my understanding of the future of missions.
Barnett stresses his disagreement with Winter’s prediction that parachurch and mission agencies are the future. Barnett says the future must remain with the church. He says, “But regardless of how and when we serve, we have not fulfilled the Great Commission unless and until we proclaim.”
Response to Winter’s Essay by Terry
Terry began by critiquing Winter some for his emphasis on the history of missions when his essay was to cover the future of missions. I have already addressed that early in this review. However, Terry’s response is so well written, the simple answer is to combine Winter’s essay with Terry’s response.
Terry says, “This teaching aspect is often forgotten and neglected by Evangelicals in their zeal to ‘make disciples of all nations.’” He points out that there really is so much more than save ‘em and move on thought. In fact, Terry adds that the apostle Paul speaks of both the good works we are called to do and the fact that it is salvation is not about doing those works in the same chapter of Ephesians. He makes a great point that salvation, while strictly of grace, is not an end in itself. God saves us to carry out His work.
This response has been my favorite of the entire book. It is also the best look into the future of missions.
