Protestant Missiologist: Do Not Replace Mission With Dialogue

Bad Blankenburg/Germany | 18.09.2005 | idea/APD | International

Protestant theologian Peter Beyerhaus, one of the best-known German missiologists, has urged Christians not to replace the proclamation of the Gospel with religious dialogue. Evangelicals should seek dialogue without neglecting mission, said Beyerhaus at a meeting of evangelical theologians in Blankenburg, Thuringia, in September.

It would be detrimental for the church to neglect or disregard the Great Commission, emphasized Beyerhaus. Christians should not bow to the pressure of popular expectations but rather preach an unabridged biblical message.

He criticized liberal theologians who reject the message of Christ¹s atoning sacrifice as an affront to modern thinking. It is inevitable - said Beyerhaus - that Christians meet with opposition. Jesus does not promise evangelistic success, but he takes responsibility for the fruit of evangelism.

According to Beyerhaus the most important task of a missionary is to translate the Gospel message in such a way that it is clearly understood without harming the biblical content. Missionaries should take care not to embrace unbiblical cultural or ideological concepts.

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