Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World

by Richard Bauckham

Book Overview

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801027713
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Length: 126 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.3" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

A non-coercive metanarrative - Summary and Review

Bible and Mission, which was originally a series of lectures in All Nations Christian College (2001), and in Ethiopia (2002), is a hermeneutic of the biblical narrative that shows how the Bible "embodies a kind of movement from the particular to the universal" (11). It is not "an account of what the Bible says about mission or a biblical theology of mission" (11), but a book that seeks to encourage "those who feel a lack of confidence in the whole mission enterprise" (viii). Richard Bauckham argues that the biblical story, which moves from the particular towards the universal, is a metanarrative that could be an alternative to other metanarratives of which postmodern critics are suspicious. In Bauckham's view, the biblical story is a non-coercive truth that accepts diversity and can be shared through non-oppressive witnessing. Chapter 1 addresses the problem of particular and universal truths in the context of the events of September 11, 2001. Bauckham cites Jonathan Sacks who claims that "9/11" is the result of the clash of two metanarratives, that of Islam and Global Capitalism, because they claim to possess universal truth. Bauckham defines what a metanarrative is and explains that postmodernity rejects all stories that try to universalize others because "they are necessarily authoritarian or oppressive" (6). But, Bauckham asks, "Where does Christianity stand in all this? Where does Christianity stand between the universalist ambitions of McWorld and Jihad?" (8). Unlike Sack who claims that God is universal and religion is particular, therefore religious plurality should be upheld, Bauckham argues that the God of Abraham is both universal and particular, thus universality and particularity are to be kept. He explains that the Bible has a kind of movement from particularity to universality in "all three dimensions of time, space, and human society" (15). Additionally, the New Testament uses hyperbolic language that suggests a movement which gives the idea of an anticipated closure and permanent narrative openness. The universal goal has almost or has already been achieved. Chapter 2 shows the movement from the particular to the universal using four biblical narrative examples. Bauckham starts with three examples in which God singles out one particular person, one people, and one place in order to bring universal blessing, revelation, and kingdom, respectively. God does not despise the particular but uses it to bring universality. This exemplifies the positive movement of particularity to universality in the biblical story. All of the Old Testament examples are also echoed in the New Testament: Jesus is the individual through whom all are blessed, the revelation of Christ is testified by the apostles sent to the ends of the earth, and Jesus is the new King who exercises God's universal rule. The fourth trajectory is where God singles out the poor. Here Bauckham adds that it is through the poor and the abolition of social status that the u

The Question of Metanarrative

Bauckham ponders in very thoughtful and scholarly manner the question of today's mission in light of especially globalization of capitalism. This he contrasts with Biblical metanarrative of the particular in Christ becoming the universal in His Kingdom. God's unfolding metanarrative in Christ continues against all challengers, but in postmodern context it faces stiff challenge of having any metanarrative that is universal. Bauckham fascinatingly answers that this is very similar context to when Christ came: a competing metanarrative in Roman Empire for universal dominance: "Within the Bible, the biblical metanarrative is rarely portrayed as the dominant metanarrative in its world." Now an economic globalism which spreads through instant, worldwide communication and information technology seeks to surpass and supplant all other competing metanarratives. In a postmodern time when its opposition is to any metanarrative that is put forward as universal, Bauckham rather encourages the church to proclaim the metanarrative of Jesus even more so: "This is both an essential part of our witness and the way we retain our knowledge of what it is to which we witness." Hence, author's hermeneutical evidence that God's metanarrative in Christ crucified stands squarely opposed to such competing idolatries, but does so in non-violent way, even allowing wideranging cultural diversity within its midst. However, emphatic reminder to discernment and demand that its primary witness does not compromise with other metanarratives such as the marketing foundation of church growth playing into hands of economic captialistic globalism. Yet, when one thinks of it as Bauckham reflects, church is well ahead in its spread of globalism as universal metanarrative for all nations/peoples. Church is ever in mission with Christ crucified to ends of earth, a sojourning people, citizens of heavenly kingdom, speaking freedom from all spiritual oppressors, in the one who blesses all nations/peoples, the fulfillment of Abrahamic blessing/my servant Israel/Davidic King ... Jesus. Thought provoking with its exegesis and engagement with relevant culture. Encourages mission in sense of hymnwriter's words: "The world seeks after wealth and all that mammon offers; yet never is content, though gold should fill its coffers. I have a higher good, content with it I'll be: my Jesus is my wealth, what is the world to me!"

Don't judge a book by it's cover

This one is way better than the cover and title would suggest. Bauckham, for me, was very Walter Brueggemann like in this book. He skillfully shows how God works from very small beginnings and causes the small to greatly multiply. Follow along and watch how passages that have become old hat to you, now come to life as you go aha, why didn't I see it that way before. He does not make the mistake, like some in the American Church do, of mistaking God's mission for the world with the USA politcal agenda. This book is deep, but not a hard read.

'From THE ONE to the many'

What is the relevance of Christian Mission for the turbulent world of the 21th century? Is it a threat to the cultural diversity of our various communities to be eagerly avoided or an asset for global citizens to be welcomed and promoted? Does it result in an imperialistic McWorld? This is the key question which the NT theologian Richard Bauckham tries to answer through a fascinating biblical overview of God's missionary activity in world history. Starting from Abraham, the 'father' of 3 monotheistic religions passing through Israel, climaxing with Jesus Christ and ending with the missionary movement of God: the worldwide Christian Church of today. It is a penetrating and very illuminating analysis of the relevance and importance of Christian Mission for the (religious)struggles and economic problems of our present postmodern world. Bauckham convincingly defends the viewpoint that the God of the Bible is both universal and particular. The worldwide spread of Christian Mission in the biblical sense in the 21th century is the opposite of a 'tidal wave of religious homogenization and imperialism sweeping away all diversity of the world'. Warmly recommended as an excellent book on an important issue!