TRANSCENDING MISSION: The Eclipse Of A Modern Tradition PB

Today the language of mission is in disarray. Where do the language and idea of 'mission' come from? Do they truly have precedence in the early centuries of the church? Michael Stroope investigates these questions and shows how the language of mission is a modern phenomenon that shaped a 'grand narrative' of mission. He then offers a way forward.

Review
'Above everything else, it is a well argued, well thought through and well written piece of iconoclasm . . . if you've read Bosch, Wright's Mission of God, Bevans and Schroeder or any other serious missiology book, then you must read this one, too.'
--Kouyanet

'All the main churches of the UK have 'mission' high on the list of their priorities at the moment - mostly in the sense of 'missional church' or 'evangelization'. So Michael W. Stroope's findings that 'mission' is a late usage - unsupported by the Bible and premodern Christian literature - will certainly provoke. Nevertheless, when so much is invested in mission, this in-depth and insightful interrogation of the discourse and rhetoric is essential reading for scholars and practitioners alike.'
--Kirsteen Kim, Professor of Theology and World Christianity, Leeds Trinity University

About the Author
Associate Professor of Christian Missions and the M. C. Shook Chair of Missions at Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University. Previously served for twenty-one years as a missionary. Appointed in 1977 by the International Mission Board and has served in Sri Lanka, England, Germany and Hong Kong. Has also taught as an adjunct professor at Golden Gate Theological Seminary, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Theological Seminary.

Book review by GLO General Director, Dr. Stephen McQuoid 11/09/2017
A former missionary, Stroope is now associate professor of mission at Baylor University. His basic contention in this book is that the language of mission that we use is both imprecise and a late development in the Christian church. It was developed by the Jesuits in the 16th century and borrowed by Protestants in the 18th Century.

The word Mission, he argues, is not a biblical one and if we were to return to a biblical mind-set we would abandon it as a term along with much of the baggage from the modern missionary movement and instead think of the church as Pilgrim witnesses committed to living alongside people and witnessing informally.

Stroope is undoubtedly an able scholar who understands much about the history of missions. However, if his book is anything to go by he does not come across as an inspiring missionary leader. Indeed, I fear that this book largely misses the point. Yes, the language we use in mission may not be entirely biblical, however the concept of mission certainly is. It is true that much of mission today is accidental and informal, yet the challenge to go remains at the heart of the Christian gospel as revealed in the New Testament. Moreover, while we may discuss semantics we also live in a dying world that needs us to commit to mission. The book does raise interesting points and is certainly a useful corrective at times, but I am not convinced by his arguments which are overstated as he slays straw men and I fear it will not do very much for the cause of mission.

Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: IVP (Inter Varsity Press) (16 Mar. 2017)