Signs Amid the Rubble: The Purposes of God in Human HistoryThe late Lesslie Newbigin was widely regarded as one of this generation's most significant voices on Christianity in relation to modern society. Now that he is gone, there is a call for his unpublished writings to be made available. To that end "Signs amid the Rubble" gathers some of Newbigin's finest statements on issues of continuing relevance. The first set of chapters consists of the 1941 Bangalore Lectures, in which Newbigin speaks powerfully of the kingdom of God in relation to the modern - severely deficient - idea of "progress." The second group of writings, the Henry Martyn Lectures of 1986, deals mainly with the importance of Christian mission. In the last piece, his address to the World Council of Churches conference on mission and evangelism in Brazil in 1996 - which editor Geoffrey Wainwright calls his "swan song on the ecumenical stage" - Newbigin wonders aloud how future generations will judge today's practice of abortion. |
Contents
Bangalore Lecture I | 3 |
Bangalore Lecture II | 19 |
Bangalore Lecture III | 31 |
Bangalore Lecture IV | 46 |
The Henry Martyn Lectures | 57 |
Authority Dogma and Dialogue | 59 |
Conversion Colonies and Culture | 78 |
Church World Kingdom | 95 |
Gospel and Culture | 111 |
The Gospel | 113 |
and Culture | 116 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted affirm already anonymous Christian Bangalore lectures believe century Christian action church growth conversion course D'Costa death disciples doctrine dogma earthly Edwyn Bevan eschatology eschaton eternal European evangelism evil experience fact faith fundamental future goal God's Kingdom God's purpose grace happen heaven Henry Martyn Lectures Hindu hope idea of progress inclusivist position India individual Israel J. B. Bury Jesus Christ Karl Rahner kind Kingdom of God Kraemer Lesslie Newbigin literal live Lord means ment missiology mission missionary movement nations Newbigin perfect fellowship perfect society political possible preaching present question radical Rahner raised reality realized realized eschatology reject religions religious resurrection of Jesus revelation Salvador de Bahia salvation secular seems share simply social social gospel society on earth soul story symbolic teaching Testament things thought tion tradition true truth ture understand whole word