Book Review 5 - Disciples of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity

Chapter 1: Whither Christianity?
Tertullian's account of how Christianity brought forth a new philosophy and community. It wasn't limited to just one certain culture or people group. It was not limited to any physical entity such as a building or place. It crossed all barriers and this is what gave it power and influence. It wasn't a secret society that met underground. It wasn't a faith that was forced upon anyone. All people volunteered to join and be persecuted and most importantly to serve one another and attend to the poor. It was truly something unlike any other faith before it.

Another significance of this, was the development of the idea of one's salvation. This becomes a fully Christian concept but derives from Sophoclean urge of teaching a "plan of salvation" and the whole premise of an possible loving relationship between the forgiving God and redeemable humanity. There was also the belief that this salvation was not based on material possession nor personal accomplishments and merit.

Chapter 2: The Christian Movement in Islamic Perspective
AS Christianity readily moved into influencing government leaders and Christendom grew, so did the opposition from the Muslim world, which reached its height with the Crusades. It is during the 7th century where Islam really begins to rise and expand and therefore is probably the greatest challenge that prevents the continual exponential growth of Christianity across the Northern Africa. The belief in the Muslim world was that Christianity in and of itself might be an authentic faith, but the influence of the Roman empire tainted its authenticity and made it corrupt and tainted unlike Islam and the Qur'an. The Enlightenment also shifted certain philosophies of Christianity in its treatment of the poor and other social progress.

Chapter 3: Old World Precedents and New World Directions
The fear of the spread of Islam was one of the reasons for the rush for imperialism around the world (especially for the new world). And as colonialism continued all throughout the world, the Christian message spread as a new world religion due to Europe's cultural influence. However, the message ironically also sowed seeds of social consciousness and the injustices of what happened especially in South America. Catholic missions began to decline because of its dependence on the slave trade for supplies. Protestant Christianity took hold of this call to justice movement to show that Catholicism didn't have the market on missions.

Chapter 4: The Yogi and the Commissar
As time progressed, scholars began focusing on the notion that missionaries were simply agents that were part of the imperialistic movement. Although this is true to some degree, to simplify missions with this kind of mentality is not correct. If anything, we need to look throughout history as a tug of war struggle of these two philosophies - political control and the pure spirit of missions.

Chapter 5: Pillar of Charismatic Renewal
The Pietist movement in Europe in the 18th Century shifted the Christian movement to reclaim religion's moral autonomy against those who would be seen as "compromisers." The joining of faith and politics was frowned upon in the view that the world was corrupt and therefore was a negative influence of the Christian faith/church. This anti-colonial Christian view was especially accepted in Africa. This led to churches to separate from their European churches to create a new faith community.

Chapter 6: Resurgence and the New Order in West Africa
The reconciliation of old and new influences is what Christian missionaries were able to use to maintain influence. Recounts the new movement within West Africa and the mixture of Muslim influence into Christian faith.

Chapter 7: Civilization and the Limits of Mission
Christian mission is weakened if Europe's influence is taken out of the mix. It is Europe's world power that allows Christianity to be a world religion. Take that away, then you take away its impact. But this also means that Europe and Western Christianity set itself up for a fall, as culture and its dependence on the material got in the way of the message. It is this Western cultural captivity of the gospel that needed to be released. Boundaries needed to be redrawn and Christian values and significance needed to be restated and re-understood. It had to be more than just civilization's culture. The push through nurses, preachers, teachers, etc was what brought back the advancement.

Chapter 8: Christian Awakening and the New China
China was an exceptionally difficult territory to break through. There was great opposition again Western control and Marxism was highly influential. The government wanted to gain control of the church, as to maintain full sovereignty which caused conflict with the Catholic church - loyalty to the church or government? Through the decades, it is most likely the underground charismatic/pentecostal movement that has brought the growth of Christianity in China, rather than the hierarchical public church.

Conclusion
There is a third wave of Christian influence happening that is not limited to Western Christianity. A new true world Christianity with inter-ethnic and interracial climates is on the move. It is now the time for the church to be an influence and build bridges of reconciliation between these cultures in order in order to maintain influence.