Tuesday, January 16, 2007

more on missional apologetics

In a previous post, I mentioned the work of John Smulo and his cutting-edge ventures into new territory. Personally, I have often pondered the subject of apologetics as it applies to today’s world, asking myself what I feel truly makes sense and works best in a postmodern world. To that end, I sent these words to John a while ago. There’s a lot more to say, but here are at least a small handful of things pertaining to missional apologetics.

+ Missional Apologetics is both propositional and narrative in focus, convinced that it is best to keep ideas about God together with the story God has told (and is telling), for God meets people through both ideas and story.

+ Missional Apologetics revels in mystery, seeing our incomplete knowledge not only as evidence of human ignorance/limitations but also as a God-given way of highlighting the magnificance of a God not easily “boxed.”

+ Missional Apologetics is Personal, approaching the faith not only with facts but with the conviction that the One about whom we speak is actually with us, seeking to draw near to those who seek him.

+ Missional Apologetics is redemptive historical, for it is able not only to look around (at a postmodern world) but also back (to premodern and modern models) and ahead (to post-postmodernism?).

Thus . . .

+ Missional Apologetics follows a journeying paradigm, believing that “the faith once delivered” is gradually and increasingly unfolded over time.


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent additions, all.

Dr. Carmen C. DiCello said...

Thanks, Jamie!