Mission as Testifying to the Experience of Meeting with God

Karavaltcheva, Zlatina (2012) Mission as Testifying to the Experience of Meeting with God. In: Foundations for Mission. Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series (13). Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Oxford, England, pp. 55-66. ISBN 9781908355126

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Abstract

(From the Conclusion) This chapter has explained something of the experience of post-communist societies. It has held up a model of mission which can communicate in this context and it has critiqued the prevalent model which attempts to coerce society into belief and church membership. During communism the church experienced persecution but it missed the historical chance to demonstrate a missional heroism of self-denial. After communism the church chose the wide path of spreading the Word of God by restricting it to socially useful ideology, by relying on the strength of national traditionalism and arguing that its historical contributions have forged national identity. The transformation of Orthodoxy into ideology is one of the most serious obstacles for the witness of church in modern society. It seeks to "persuade" people of the truth of certain "Christian ideas", "moral examples" and "universal values". But according to the words of the famous Greek philosopher Christos Yannaras, "none of these things saves us from death".

Item Type: Book Section
Subjects: B Mission theology/theory > Identity issues
B Mission theology/theory > Persecution
B Mission theology/theory > Spirituality
B Mission theology/theory > Evangelism/Proclamation of Gospel
D World Christianity and Central Eastern Europe > Europe
G Christian traditions/Denominations > Eastern Orthodox
Divisions: Balkan countries
Balkan countries > Bulgaria
Depositing User: Speranca Tomin
Date Deposited: 18 Jan 2022 12:44
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2022 12:46
URI: https://ceeamsprints.osims.org/id/eprint/2471

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