Contextual Theology

It has been almost fifty years since theological educators first began talking about contextual theology. Today in every country of the global South their home schools require them to contextualize theological education and construct contextual theologies that would be helpful for their local churches. In spite of this expectation there are few helps available. The expectation is clear but an understanding of the process by which this may occur is lacking. Educators often complain that they are led to adapt Western theology to their context rather than developing theology for their churches. Arguments for contextual theology are proposed often but there has been little debate explaining and defending the methods involved. This book is intended to enter that debate and invite others who should help appreciate the gravity of our situation and join the conversation. The epicenter of Christianity has shifted to the global South. Yet contextual theology which seeks to preserve the integrity of the faith has not been met with generosity among scholars in the US and Europe. This book intends to forge helpful bridges that encourage mutual regard to develop among scholars across the globe. The bubble of the Western academy needs to be breached. This is a superbly written book which clearly outlines the vital importance of engaging in contextual theology for our time. Matheny reviews the historical background to contextual theology as well as various approaches. He explains how it works in practice why contextual theology is good theology and why a healthy contextual theology will shape the future of theology by reviving biblical images and perspectives found in world Christianity. It is an accessible read and will be a very helpful resource for students practitioners and parishioners. --Cathy Ross Lecturer in Pastoral Studies (Mission) Regents Park College University of Oxford This book is the best treatment of contextual theology I have read. Professor Matheny has written a succinct informed critical balanced and passionate defense of theology as a response to Gods revelation in the concrete contexts of life. He shows that to take context seriously in conversation with the Christian text is not a fad--to be either rejected or uncritically adopted--but a mark of all authentic and self-aware theologizing whether in a seminary or favela. --Ross Langmead Dean and Professor of Missiology Whitley College in the Melbourne College of Divinity Australia For centuries the doing of theology has been shaped by Western theological imperatives. Today the decline of institutional religion in the West and the extraordinary growth of the church of the South mean a radical movement beyond such theologies is required. In Contextual Theology Matheny sensitively examines how a reassessment of the relationship of gospel to cultural context can advance such a critical and necessary development. --Susan Smith Lecturer Emeriti in Theology and Adjunct Faculty Member University of Auckland New Zealand The challenge before the New Christianity emerging in the Global South is planting the gospel deeply within the rich indigenous soils of various cultures while engaging in conversations with older expressions of Christianity around the world. There are many books crying for the church to become more contextualized and less Western but very few books that demonstrate how to use contextual methods to accomplish that task to think theologically and act missiologically in different cultural contexts. Far from advocating catchy slogans and trendy techniques to create contextualized expressions of Christianity Paul Matheny underscores the importance of relying on Scripture and engaging ecumenically in demonstrating the universal nature of Christianity that connects Followers of Jesus with each other across space and time while living out their faith in particular local settings. Weve been waiting a long time