The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Cody C. Lorance
Date: 07.05.2010
Category: Truth and Pluralism
Here, I’d like to share a brief article that I wrote related to Ethnographic Field Research (EFR). I always like to develop theological foundations for the things I do in mission. That desire prompted this paper. An excerpt follows. The full article may be downloaded as a PDF.
(Excerpt:)
" . . . As followers of Jesus deeply concerned with loving Him and making
disciples for His glory among all peoples, it is not enough for us to simply understand and employ secular research methods to Christian interests. We desire to seek, please, and magnify the Lord in everything we do, including research. In order to bring a true Christ-orientation to EFR, we must found our work upon sound, Biblical, and theological principles. I believe that means that we should have a Christ-inspired focus, a Christ- determined goal, and a Christ-pleasing approach.
As followers of Jesus deeply concerned with loving Him and making disciples for His glory among all peoples, it is not enough for us to simply understand and employ secular research methods to Christian interests. We desire to seek, please, and magnify the Lord in everything we do, including research. In order to bring a true Christ-orientation to EFR, we must found our work upon sound, Biblical, and theological principles. I believe that means that we should have a Christ-inspired focus, a Christ-determined goal, and a Christ-pleasing approach. . . ."
Keywords: research, ethnography, ethnographic field research, theological foundations
Views: 7570
Comments: 1
Recommendations: 2
Conversation Post Comment
United States
I agree Cody, as Christians we should not be trying to compile an anthropologically correct people group list. We should be trying to understand the points of missionary sending need. This includes Bible translation and church planting.
The Lausanne definition is clear. For evangelization purposes, a people group is the largest group within which the Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance.
Look at this definition above closely, it is not defining “unreached group” but “people group” for the missionary movement.
Join our conversation on Unreached People Group Research.
16.05.2010
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