G-12

1
G-12

• A THEOLOGICAL AND PRACTICAL RESPONSE

2
C. S. Lewis

• Everyone has warned me not to tell you what I am
  going to tell you . . . They all say the
  ordinary readers does not want Theology give him
  plain practical religion. I have rejected their
  advice. I do not think the ordinary reader is
  such a fool. Theology means the science of God,
  and I think any man who wants to think about God
  at all would like to have the clearest and most
  accurate ideas about him which are available. You
  are not children why should you be treated like
  children?

3

• In a way I quite understand why some people are
  put off by Theology. I remember once when I had
  been giving a talk to the R. A. F., an old,
  hard-bitten officer got up and said, Ive no use
  for all that stuff. But, mind you, Im a
  religious man too. I know theres a God. I have
  felt him out alone in the desert at night the
  tremendous mystery. And thats just why I dont
  believe all your neat little dogmas and formulas
  about him. To anyone whos met the real thing
  they all seem so petty and pedantic and unreal!

4

• Now in a sense I quite agree with that man. I
  think he had probably a real experience of God in
  the desert. And when he turned from that
  experience to the Christian creeds, I think he
  really was turning from something real, to
  something less real. In the same way, if a man
  has once looked at the Atlantic from the beach,
  and then goes and looks at a map of the Atlantic,
  he also will be turning from the real waves to a
  bit of colored paper. But here comes the point.
  The map is admittedly only colored paper, but
  there are two things you have to remember about
  it.

5

• In the first place, it is based on what hundreds
  and thousands of people have found out by sailing
  the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it
  masses of experience just as real as the one you
  could have from the beach only, while yours
  would be a single isolated glimpse, the map fits
  all those different experiences together. In the
  second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map
  is absolutely necessary. As long as you are
  content with walks on the beach, your own
  glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map.
  But the map is going to be more use than walks on
  the beach if you want to get to America.

6

• Now Theology is like the map. Merely learning and
  thinking about the Christian doctrines, if you
  stop there, is less real and less exciting than
  the sort of thing my friend got in the desert.
  Doctrines are not God they are only a kind of
  map. But the map is based on the experience of
  hundreds of people who really were in touch with
  God experiences compared with which any thrills
  or pious feelings you or I are likely to get on
  our own way are very elementary and very
  confused. And secondly, if you want to get any
  further, you must use the map.

7

• You see, what happened to that man in the desert
  may have been real, and was certainly exciting,
  but nothing comes of it. It leads nowhere. There
  is nothing to do about it. In fact, that is just
  why vague religion all about feeling God in
  nature, and so on is so attractive. It is all
  thrills and no work like watching the waves from
  the beach. But you will not get to Newfoundland
  by studying the Atlantic that way, and you will
  not get eternal life by simply feeling the
  presence of God in flowers or music. Neither will
  you get anywhere by looking at maps without going
  to sea. Nor will you be very safe if you go to
  sea without a map. From The Joyful Christian by
  C. S. Lewis

8
Procedure

• Introduce Case Study
• Break up into groups of 5-8 to work through the
  theological reflection process from the assigned
  perspective
• (40 minutes).
• Name a scribe for each group.
• At 4 p.m. return to interact with the material.
• 440 Summary statements.

9
Theological Reflection Process

• What is the over-arching goal for you in this
  event?
• What emotions are you experiencing? What emotions
  do you think the other participants are
  experiencing?
• What truth from the Bible and/or other sources
  can shed light on this event? What analytical
  skills are needed?

10

• Skills in biblical exposition to understand how
  inspired authors addressed real life problems and
  situations.
• Skills in biblical theology, systematics,
  missiology, theological ethics to understand how
  others have bridged Scripture and contemporary
  experience.
• Skills in church history, denominational history,
  and needed history of the specific event to gain
  perspective of commonality and uniqueness.
• Skills in psychological, sociological areas for
  competency in pastoral care and counseling.
• Skills in organizational life in order to address
  the big picture in working with leadership
  groups, developing/implementing corporate
  mission, and managing conflicts.
• What leadership role is needed? (Prophet, Priest
  or King? i.e. administrator)

11
Discernment

• What is Gods will and direction in this event?
• Write down your approach to/in this ministry
  event which seems to be the will of God. Set
  priorities.

12
Action Steps

• What specifically will you do?
• Who, When, Where...?
• What resources needed?
• Identified restraints?
• Ways to address restraints.

13
Missionary EducatorAction Steps?

• What specifically will we do?
• Who, When, Where...?
• What resources are needed?
• Identified restraints?
• Ways to address restraints.

14
Summary Statement

• Personal Observations/ Opinions
• Review of some of the elements of the reflection
  process.

15
Positive Aspects of G-12

• Focus on evangelism/discipleship/ church growth
• Accountability
• Fleshes out the priesthood of all believers in a
  practical way (provides hands on leadership
  training)
• Addresses urban realities, provides an urban
  model for the church
• Creates space (encuentros) for cathartic
  experiences- conversion/liberation for the
  concrete/relational thinker
• Demands modified behavior/ a break with past
  life.
• Requires disciplined study

16
Positive Aspects of G-12

• Responds to Latin American felt needs including
• An experience of God that is community and
  relationally centered
• An identification with vertical authority
  (similar in Roman Catholicism and secular
  culture).
• An earning of salvation by works
• An affirmation of the mystical and supernatural
  (the importance of dreams/visions/exorcisms etc.)

17
Positive Aspects of G-12

• Responds to AG weaknesses in Latin America
  including
• The lack of discipleship
• The lack of community and accountability
• The lack of emphasis and experience of the
  baptism of the Holy Spirit (a lack of spiritual
  power in many segments of the church)
• The inability to deal with human brokenness-
  Abuse, sexual abuse and assault, violence, broken
  homes.
• Increasing distance between clergy and laity, the
  development of spectator members in urban
  churches (domingueros) (A significant educators
  issue)

18
Negative Aspects of G-12

• The exclusive/universal methodology
• The extreme vertical system of authority
• The use of Scripture
• Syncretism with popular Christianity or
  Christian animism

19
The Exclusive/Universal Methodology

• The arrogant, elitism of an all or nothing
  methodology.
• Violates the contextual/incarnational model of
  ministry presented by Jesus and Paul.
• Produces division in the body of Christ.
• Adherence to the vision more important than
  fruit.
• No diversity allowed- Violates creation mandate
  and biblical body analogy.

20
The Exclusive/Universal Methodology

• No methodology to reach specific needs based
  groups (e.g. young people, children, ethnic).
• Is ineffective in the rural context.
• Reductionistic not holistic (no missions!!)

21
Authority/Power

• The top of the chain is accountable to no one.
• Is prone to abuse of power by leadership at every
  level.
• It is power centered and power driven.
• A return to the heresies of dominion theology,
  the kingdom now and shepherding movement.

22
The Use of Scripture

• An inadequate hermeneutic.
• Equating personal/ contemporary revelation with
  the revelation of Scripture.

23
Syncretism with Popular Christianity

• Salvation by works
• Magical formulas to manipulate the supernatural
  including the use of visualization for inner
  healing
• Merges symbol and reality
• Is power oriented not people/service oriented
  (i.e. serve those in authority over you but not
  those under you)