There are different ways of tackling the study of any religious topic: the student/researcher may look at the subject quite dispassionately, analysing various aspects but with no particular commitment to the ideas and beliefs enshrined in the teachings being studied; another approach is to study them from an antipathetic viewpoint which implies an alternative belief system to that being studied; yet another approach is from a committed standpoint, thoroughly understanding and being convinced of the veracity of the teachings of the religion or religious phenomenon being researched. The Dictionary of Mission Theology Evangelical Foundations falls squarely in the last category. As the introduction states:
This dictionary documents a wide range of voices from many contexts who have contributed to the task of charting the parameters of a theology that will provide foundations for evangelical mission thinking and practice in any and every context.
It is clearly intended for those working in an evangelical Christian context and many of the articles presuppose an understanding of the fundamental concepts underpinning evangelical theology and missiology.
The editor claims to have three goals. First, to encourage the integration of theology and the study of mission (missiology) which too frequently, in his view, are seen as separate entities in religious studies. Second, the aim is to place mission in its proper context which will vary according to the culture, politics and demography of the place in which mission is being carried out. In this the contributors recognise that the old model of mission from Christian to non‐Christian areas is now outmoded and mission can and does take place between places of all kinds: it is very much a two‐way traffic. Third, the aim is to chart the contours of evangelical thinking on mission and also to move such thinking forward. Given these statements of intent it is important that any user of the Dictionary recognises the scope and limitations of the articles contained in it. “What is said is demonstrably grounded in the Scriptures” states the introduction. Given this context it should also be understood that many contributions take for granted a basic understanding of evangelical theology that may be lacking in the general inquirer or, indeed, someone approaching the topic from a different theological background.
The dictionary is arranged in a fairly conventional fashion. There is a list of abbreviations, followed by a list of contributors. There are about 120 contributors in all, coming from all parts of the world and from a wide variety of Protestant traditions. Roman Catholic and Orthodox contributors are, not surprisingly, absent but a noticeable number come from the Anglican tradition which spans a range of different attitudes. There then follows the bulk of the dictionary, consisting of articles in alphabetical order of topic, after which there is an index of names referred to in the texts, a subject index and finally a list of the articles. This last is of more value than might at first seem probable as it short‐circuits the search for a specific heading quite neatly.
The articles themselves range in length from one to four pages (double columns). Each article is attributed to an author and usually has a bibliography. There are see also references at the end of a number; for example at the end of the article on AIDS the reader is referred also to Health/Healing. There are also references where alternative terminology might be used as in Cults see New Religious Movements. It is not always easy to tell where one article ends and another begins. Main entries for topics are in bold type and subheadings in each article are also in bold type but a different typeface. Further sub‐division is indicated by the use of italics in the headings. Where articles are quite long this can cause a little confusion.
Articles vary enormously in style as would be expected with so many contributors from such an enormous range of backgrounds and linguistic traditions. Articles are clearly written and concise but the style is often rather intimate and implies that the reader and the contributor are on the same wavelength. For example in the entry for AIDS “There is a very real danger that the debate [on the origin of AIDS] may be used to apportion blame … This is damaging and very unhelpful in our efforts to raise awareness and our strenuous efforts to contain the disease” (italics added). Generally, a basic knowledge of the tenets of evangelical Christian theology is necessary as many articles assume this to be the standpoint of the reader. For example, the entry for Music begins “Music is one of the social practices which God uses to enable and inspire the church to fulfill its mission”. Just what that mission is in the as seen by the contributor is left to the reader to work out for themselves.
The subjects covered by the dictionary are varied but broadly in line with what would be expected, given the nature of the topic. Other major faiths are discussed, such as Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Shamanism, but always in the context of how Christians react or interact with them in the underlying context of attempting to convert followers to Christianity. Some articles deal with the methodology of mission, such as those considering the role of music or liturgy, whilst others are more theological dealing with hope, Christology, faith and the Trinity.
The dictionary specifically states that it is not trying to duplicate information readily available elsewhere and this is laudable, given the number of theological/religious/church dictionaries on the market. However, some additional entries would have been welcome. For example there are numerous references to the Lausanne Convention, which is a cornerstone in the definition and understanding of world evangelization. These references are scattered over a considerable number of articles dealing with many disparate topics but there is no easy way to find out just what the Lausanne Convention is or what its founding Committee actually said or what was decided at various subsequent meetings.
This is a solid and scholarly dictionary as befits a well‐known and respected publisher but it does need to be treated with care. It is prepared from a specific point of view and is therefore partial in many of its analyses, judgments and scope. Highly suitable for the shelves of the library of an evangelical Christian college it could be seen as partisan and even misleading in a more widely‐based or general reference collection.
