Engaging

CHRISTIAN MISSION IN THE MODERN WORLD:
Updated and Expanded
By John Stott and Christopher J. H. Wright
IVP. 238 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 783 593 934

In 1975, following his involvement with the Lausanne Conference, Stott published Christian Mission in the Modern World – a book that has become a classic text in dealing with missional concerns arising from the ecumenical debate.

In five concise (yet thorough) essays, Stott offers biblical and theological reflections on the meaning of mission, evangelism, dialogue, salvation and conversion. In each chapter he outlines the contemporary debate, explores the biblical and theological issues and offers winsome practical application. Additionally, in this revised and expanded edition, Christopher Wright offers his own biblical, theological and historical reflections on each of Stott’s essays.

Strikingly relevant

Although the original essays were penned four decades ago, the issues addressed are strikingly relevant. Stott deftly tackles a variety of important and contemporary issues: mission as proclamation or social action; the interplay between contextualisation and the kerygma; dialogue and other religions; liberation theology and the biblical meaning of salvation; and universalism and the biblical material regarding conversion. In each case Stott’s gift of concision is apparent. He quickly gets to the heart of the issue, and, by examining Scripture, offers humble, nuanced, fair-minded evaluation. Where he deems it necessary to bring critique he does so with a winning combination of both gentleness and firmness. His care and nuance also means that some of his critique is aimed at evangelicals as well as non-evangelicals.

Not only is this volume an excellent evangelical introduction to the biblical conception of Christian mission; it is also a model of Christian engagement to be emulated. My only regret is that I didn’t read it sooner.