A New Mission Agenda: Dialogue, Diakonia and Discipling

About the Author

The author of “A New Mission Agenda – Dialogue, Diakonia and Discipling” is Rev. Dr.
M. Stephen Hails from Kerala. He is also known as a Theological teacher and writer. He
received his B.A and M.A in English Literature from Kerala University, B.D (UBS Pune) and
M.Th (UTC Bangalore) from Serampore University Vidyakshetream, Bangalore. He is an
author of several books and articles both in English and Malayalam. He Teaches theology and
ethics at Faith Theological Seminary, Manakala, Kerala.

Publication

A New Mission Agenda- Dialogue, Diakonia and Discipling – Published by Rev. Ashish
Amos of Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (ISPCK), Post Box 1585,
Kashmere Gate, Delhi in 2000 and printed at Cambridge Press, Delhi. The book contains 119
pages and has 21 subtitles. The first part discussed about theology of religions especially in
pluralism, the second part discussed concerning mission, thirdly discussed dialogue and final
ecumenism. The author referenced 50 books in his book.

About the Book

This Book deals with missions in the context of pluralism. In the context of
fundamentalism, it tries to discuss the perspectives of theology we should have as Christians
as we live in the midst of people of other faiths. In this book dialogue, diakonia and
discipling are proposed as viable means to do mission work effectively. Theology of
religions and theology of missions are the subjects of discussion in this book.

The Purpose of Author

When we read the book, firstly, we could find the fact that the author has a mind to
opposed exclusivism in mission strongly. The world for “dialogue” used every page of the
book. The second theme of the author is to make dialogue with interfaith. Thirdly, the author
explains the meaning of mission deeply even its nature, original, philosophical, theological and
reinterpretation on the word of mission. The fourth theme of the author is that to serve mission
all together without divided denominations and ecumenically. Final theme of author is that to
promote as holistic mission.

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The Purpose of the book

The purpose of the book, the book deals with missions in the context of pluralism. In
the context of fundamentalism, it tries to discuss the perspectives of theology we should have
as Christians, as we live in the midst of people of other faiths. It processes dialogue, diakonia
and discipline as viable means to do mission work effetely. Theology of religions and Theology
of mission are also subjects of discussion in this book. Try to make dialogue missiology and
theology of religion especially with religious pluralism.

Introduction

Life is dialogical. Only a dialogical life is meaningful. God is also dialogical. God is
constantly in dialogue with human beings. Not only that, there is dynamic dialogue among the
Holy Trinity. In the human relationship, dialogue plays a very dominant role for enriching our
fellowship, understanding and co-operation. Today, the religions are politicized and it fails to
uphold their liberative vision and becoming demonic. The religious fundamentalism is a threat
to humanity. The mission of the church is also confronting several questions and challenges,
so it is important to discuss what is Christian Witnessing in the context of religious pluralism.
The Gospel should be presented in the Indian Cup. The dialogue, diakonia and discipling can
be the new agenda for the mission in the Indian Context today.

The people of God should have a new understanding about doing mission in today’s
context. Awareness of new realities only can help to mould our perspective on mission.

Review Of the Book

Pluralism

The author wrote concerning pluralism that the world is converted into a “global
village” because of the technological revolution. The marginal boundaries enhanced the
pluralistic character of all societies so that pluralism today is not merely a global phenomenon;
it has also become local and national. A new awareness is created about religious pluralism, as
different communities realize the need of coexisting with their particular traditions. No one can
think about a monoculture or mono-religion. There can be only love, unity brotherhood and
harmony. Religious pluralism is a unity in diversity. It is a life-together of people of different
faiths. It is a reality which affirms that humanity is one, though there are divided by their
various religious experience.

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 Fundamentalism

We can find that the author opposed fundamentalism strongly with the experience of
Indian context. He expressed that Fundamentalism consists of uncritical adherence to ancient
beliefs and practices, but communalism consists of animosity of persons belonging to one
religion towards persons of another religion. There are economic reasons and political reasons
behind communalism, which is outcome of fundamentalism. Using religion with false motives
and selfish interest is a common crisis in the Indian context. In the case of personal or family
conflicts also religion is used with wrong intention. Fundamentalists reduced the religion to
fascism. Western secularism is rooted in humanism, but Indian secularism is rooted religious.
The Hindutva ideology claims the identity and unity of Hindu in India. Their culture identity
and religious unity are unhelp by them. It is important here to define what is Hindu and Hindu
culture. Indian culture is both Dravidian and Aryan. In the name of Hinduva ideology, there is
violence and communal disharmony, which reveals the evils of Hindu fundamentalism.

Mission

Then, the author wrote the philosophical and theological basis of mission. In the post-
modern context, human beings have kept God and religion away so they are alienated from the
divine or the Creator, which created a vacuum in them. Man is lost as there is a spiritual and
moral crisis. The chaos and the anomie are the character of the day. The brokenness of man is
reflected in the society in the form of enemity, murder, corruption, crimes, alcoholism and
narcotic addition, terrorism and wars, so it is significant that human beings need guidance and
direction in life.

The basic theological premise is that man is created in the image of God, but was
alienated from God and man as man has destroyed God. Man is in state of falleness and
sinfulness. So, human beings need a restoration to God which he could not do by himself. God
intervenes in this situation to restore or to redeem humanity, as Jesus Christ incarnated to take
up the cross for the restoration of mankind. God’s election is with a purpose. It is a privilege
and also a responsibility. The people of God’s love share to others. So, the mission is to share
the good news. It is a message of repentance and restoration. The mission is God’s and it is to
save the humanity. Jesus mission was with a commission from the Father, so we are also
commissioned by Jesus. Jesus said that as the father had sent to me, so I send you (Jn. 20: 21).
Christian mission is a life of service. We are called to serve. We can witness Christ by serving
the community.

Dialogue

Dialogue is an indispensable part of human life. No one can get rid it. Human life is not
possible without dialogue. There is misunderstanding that dialogue means compromising one’s

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faith with another. Dialogue is meant for meaningful relationship, understanding and
cooperation as responsible human beings in the human community. Dialogue is the essential
part of partnership in life together. Dialogue is not peripheral gesture of love and trust among
people of different faiths, but it is the symbol of the in-depth relationship among people who
belong to various religious traditions.

The Bible is a book of dialogue. There is an ongoing dialogue between Gad and man,
man and man. In the book of Genesis, we can find that God initiates dialogue. The question
“Adam, where art thou?” Implies that God does not like the ‘fallenness’ ‘estrangement’ or
‘alienation’. He likes to have relationship. God is always dialogical. Covenant affirms the
dialogical relationship between God and man. God is communication. God likes to share his
mind to human beings. The bible is the message of the dialogue between God and man. God’s
intention made known through prophets. The priests take the ‘message’ of the people to God.
So, the dialogical process is always continuing. A greater amount of dialogue takes place in
the Exodus event. God had a very intense dialogue with ruler of Egypt and people of Israel.
Lord listened to the cry of the people of Israel and instructed the pharaoh to give freedom from
oppression.

Inter-faith dialogue is essential to our life and mission. For a harmonious life-together,
the inter-faith dialogue is quite important. Inter-faith dialogue is to live in amity and fellowship.
It will also reduce the differences between different religion and as they share in the life of
community. Building friendship and relationship are important in dialogue. Dialogue is not
meant conversion but for living in harmony and to join in the efforts to build up a just
community. Conversion is a personal decision and it should not be mined. Dialogue is to come
to an understanding and also to involve in the liberating activity. The essence of all religion is
the liberation of the poor and needy.

Dialogue with people of other faith is our mission. Dialogue is to bring understanding
and harmony. The common feather or steps towards dialogue are as follows.

1. Respect other religious traditions

2. Keep maximum objectivity in understanding other traditions.
3. Mutual respect should be maintained.
4. Be open and do not keep rigidity and arrogance.
5. Share the views and experiences in a spirit of friendship.
6. Concentrate on points of agreement and leave the areas of disagreement and leave the
areas of disagreement for personal rethinking and evaluation.
7. Do not insist one’s views on others. Realizing or acknowledge the mystery is personal
decision.
8. Realize the fact that it is the witnessing through the life and deeds with fascinate people
to Christ and Christian faith.
9. Realize that the focus of the people to different faiths in the context of pluralism is to
live in peace and harmony and jointly work for the welfare of the poor and needy, so
that a just community can be built up.

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 Ecumenism

The ecumenical movement play significant role in the world today. The biggest
ecumenical body is the World Council of Churches. WCC was begun by the World Missionary
Conference in 1910.The author wrote the several ecumenical councils and movement step by
step in these book. The general theme of WCC is the need for defending human dignity and
freedom. The author expressed about the National Council of Churches of India (NCCI), it also
stresses the significance of interfaith dialogue, human dignity, human right, justice and the
libration of the marginated. Mission is understood as withnessing Christ and affirmation of the
gender justice, eco-rights, right of the dalits and tribals and the formation of a just and human
social order.

The Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT) also has

understood mission in a holistic sense. The importance of dialogue, diakonia, inculturation and
liberation are streed by them. It is challenging the oppressive structure and emancipating the
poor and marginalized.

Christian view on ‘conversion’ is not an outward, superfluous change, but a change of

heart, an attitudinal change, a total transformation.

Evaluation on the book

When I read the book, the book looks like theology of religions because the book
contains many about of religious term such as exclusivism, pluralism and fundamentalism. The
author colonized his opinion from domain of mission to outside the scope of mission boundary.
The author displayed his experience in Indian context. The point is not good to lead us or not
suitable for us because there was caste system in India. We never understand the whole about
of caste system of Indian. The book is very hard to understand for layman, it only can
understand the person who having theological experience, theological and seminary students.

The scope of there is very wide and it is very good for readers to get many
theological knowledges of mission. The book is as all-rounder person containing theological,
philosophical, social, cultural and political etc. The book explained theology of mission with
biblical based usually. The book accessed various perspectives on mission, and we can find
theology of mission clearly in this book. The books always care interfaith religion all over the
world. I see that the book share missiological applications in our context today.

Conclusion

I think that the book is a very helpful who interesting in missiology and doing mission.
The book guides special methodology of mission contemporaneously. We all need to
understanding contemporary mission. Today, because, the religions are politicized and it fails
to uphold their liberative vision becoming demonic. Religious fundamentalism is a threat to

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humanity. Life is also missiological in nature. The mission of the church is also confronting
several questions and challenges, so it is important to discuss what is Christian witnessing in
the context of religious pluralism. The gospel should be presented in our context. The dialogue,
diakonia and discipling can be the new agenda for the mission in our context today. The people
of God should have a new understanding about doing mission in today’s context.