Kategorie: English Texts

David J. Bosch, The Vulnerability of Mission (1991): „A church that follows the model of the victim-missionary is one that is called to be a source of blessing to society, without being destined to regulate it. It knows that the gospel ceases to be gospel when it is foisted upon people.“

David Bosch, südafrikanischer Missionstheologe (1929-1992), dessen Grundlagenwerk „Transforming Mission“ jüngst auf Deutsch unter dem Titel „Mission im Wandel“ im Brunnen-Verlag … Mehr

Henri Nouwen über die Spiritualität des Fundraising: „Fund-raising is also always a call to conversion. And this call comes to both those who seek funds and those who have funds. Whether we are asking for money or giving money we are drawn together by God, who is about to do a new thing through our collaboration.“

In Amerika ist es ein wichtiges Teil des Gemeindeleben, Stewardship, zu Deutsch „Haushalterschaft“, die im Unterschied zu Deutschland eben auch … Mehr

Listen to the Saviour: “A Western cultural reservation makes Christian missionary work among Muslims in Europe practically impossible. Those who demand assimilation of religious faith – and not loyalty to the law, for instance – as a prerequisite for integration in society, cannot simultaneously attest to Christ’s surrender of his life as an act of redemption. Only from a tolerant minority position, which raises no other claim to inclusion in society beyond personal conversion, does our own Christian testimony remain credible. Thus, the state’s religious neutrality and freedom of religion in fact guarantee that we can bring Christ’s message into play without force in our society. Official Christianity still has difficulties with a minority position. Religious pluralisation and increasing distance from the Church do, after all, damage its own allegedly hereditary status in society. It would seem logical in this situation to defend claims to religious importance on a cultural basis. A religious conservatism that relies on maintaining culture, however, is an unholy matter. The only thing that enables hope and optimism for Christians is looking back at the cross.”

Schon einmal etwas von Qantara.de gehört? Nachdem dort mein F.A.Z-Artikel „Man höre doch mal dem Heiland zu“ sowohl im Original … Mehr

That’s Not What Luther Meant: „‚Christian Freedom‘ as Martin Luther proposed, was not at all about freedom in civil society nor about do-it-yourself religion. According to Luther the thoroughly sinful human has no birthright to genuine freedom. Humans also have no native right to stand in freedom before the triune God.“

The Lutheran „Crossing Community“ published the translation of my article „So hat es Luther nicht gemeint“ (which originally appeared in … Mehr

Martin Boos, the Preacher of the Righteousness that Avails Before God: „His natural character appears to have been marked by great sincerity and mental energy; while his exemplary observance of his religious duties procured to him, as to the Apostle of old, high estimation among his own body. The reception of the truth gave an impulse to his whole soul. It was impossible for him to hide the light under a bushel. He lifted it up in a widely extended sphere, and with a large measure of blessing. Even a company of the priests became obedient to the faith and endured with himself a living martyrdom in the profession of Christ.“

The well-known German revival preacher and former roman-catholic priest Johannes Evangelista Gossner (1773-1858) published the autobiography of Martin Boos posthumously … Mehr