The background of this study was to explore the Old Testament vision of shalom and determine how it was relevant to its holistic mission, Bible translation, transformational development and the world’s challenges and trends. The aim of... more
The background of this study was to explore the Old Testament vision of shalom and determine how it was relevant to its holistic mission, Bible translation, transformational development and the world’s challenges and trends. The aim of this research was to create a framework to serve practitioners and theorists associated with the Bible translation movement and its intersection with transformational development. The setting for the study was the consideration of factors affecting Bible translation and transformational development in the context of global challenges and trends. The methodology of the study included literature surveys integrated with analysis of data from global sources. Results from the study included an understanding of the relevance of shalom, and integration with holistic mission, including integral mission, and intersection with transformational development. Analysis of global challenges and trends was combined with an existing framework for transformational development that included Bible translation as a mission. The conclusion was that the church was called to be faithful stewards of knowledge and resources. This included an understanding of the relevance of the vision for shalom, integrated with holistic mission, transformational development and Bible translation that addressed in full or in part global challenges and trends that resulted in the framework produced by this study.
This chapter looks at the question of reception and recognition in theology and church life and examines one example that may suggest that non-reception and non-recognition are at least experientially the norm, and that part of the... more
This chapter looks at the question of reception and recognition in theology and church life and examines one example that may suggest that non-reception and non-recognition are at least experientially the norm, and that part of the metanoia to which the gospel calls is to move beyond those cultural norms to a place of recognition and reception of the other. It deals with the question of non-reception and non-recognition through examining reactions in the Czech Republic to the migrant situation in Europe. It looks at the praxic nature of recognition and reception through reflection on the nature of shalom as expressed in the mission discourses in Matthew and Luke. The praxis of reception and recognition is an integral part of the construction of peace (shalom), and this is true at the socio-political level of dealing with migration as well as at the – connected – spiritual level of receiving and recognising the presence of the Kingdom. And this praxic task of the construction of shalomis also a task of the Christian churches.
The chapter uses the concept of shalom to examine the mission discourses in Matthew and Luke as examples of the need to go out to the other and receive the other in order to build up peace, and to leave those who do not seek peace behind.
