by Irene Nyambura, WCIU student
This “Reflection” is by a WCIU student responding a question about their personal understanding of the term, “international development.”
Read MoreBy Ralph D. Winter with Beth Snodderly
If Winter were living today, he might have asked, Is there is a future in mission for those the world now thinks of as “evangelicals”? Unfortunately, what the public is seeing from so-called evangelicals is not bringing glory to God.
Winter first reviewed the history of the evangelical movement in America that started with a theology combining both personal salvation and social responsibility that glorified God. During the early 20th century, evangelicals largely withdrew from efforts to influence society and focused almost exclusively on salvation and escape from this world to the next. But now, as Winter predicted, the evangelical world has again taken an interest in societal impact, although with mixed results.
Read Moreby Paul Hiebert
If religion, anthropologically defined, is at the core of any lasting development, then what is the religion that drives programs of modern secular development? The answer is nationalism. The state does not speak for the cosmos, but for a community of people; it is inherently ethnocentric. … It is a secular religion that promises to satisfy human nature and succeed in its work. … National self-interest wins out over sacrifice for humanity.
Read Moreby Ronnie Fargason, WCIU graduate student
Revival leads to transformation. Transformation is where the Kingdom breakthrough begins. There is a fear (or an awe) of God throughout the community.
Read Moreby Kisongo Mbeleulu, WCIU MA student
The concept of international development is a borrowing of the biblical Hebrew concept of Tohu Wabohu. Though international development may appear corrupted in its practices by yielding to the interest of the powerful, the concept of Tohu Wabohu justifies the presence of the church on the stage of the global development community and compels the church to engage in transformation work, not as an option but as an obligation for the glory of God.
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