Why Evangelical Theology Needs the Global Church - Paperback

by Stephen T. Pardue (Author)

Christianity Today 2024 Award of Merit (Missions/Global Church)

Christian theologians and students are aware that evangelicals in the Majority World now outnumber those in North America and Europe, and many want to know more about emerging voices in the global church. At the same time, these voices are largely absent from Western evangelical theology.

Stephen Pardue seeks to bridge this divide by arguing, biblically and theologically, that it is imperative for Western evangelical theology to engage with the global church, and he provides examples of how this can be done. Case studies throughout the book illustrate opportunities for fruitful engagement with non-Western theology in various areas of Christian doctrine.

Readers will be given an introduction to the riches available within the worldwide body of Christ and learn how to engage productively with the global church.

Back Jacket

"A signal contribution to evangelical theology"

Offering biblical and theological reasons for engaging the church's diverse cultural contexts, both past and present, Stephen Pardue makes a distinctively theological case that evangelicals in the West should take their Majority World counterparts as serious dialogue partners.

"This book is an encouragement to readers to embrace the concept of unity in diversity that is vividly illustrated in Revelation 7. Pardue has succeeded in inviting Majority World evangelical voices into the theological conversation that has, for too long, been dominated by the West."
--Elizabeth Mburu, Africa International University, Kenya; Langham Literature Regional Coordinator, Anglophone Africa

"Here is a work in constructive theology that should set the direction for the global evangelical movement."
--Simon Chan, editor, Asia Journal of Theology

"This is a signal contribution to evangelical theology from one who identifies with and understands both it and the global church."
--Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"An impressively informed argument for Western evangelicals to welcome theological contributions from around the world."
--M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas), Wheaton College and Graduate School

"This book provides solid theological frameworks along with relevant case studies that support a vision of an evangelical theology enriched by contextual and historical expressions of the Christian faith. A precious gift to the global church!"
--Theresa R. Lua, general secretary, Asia Theological Association; director, Global Theology, World Evangelical Alliance

"Pardue bravely takes on Western evangelical theologians' varied responses to broad theological issues pertaining to the phenomenon of the global church and the field of contextual theology."
--Victor I. Ezigbo, Bethel University

"Pardue writes out of a hermeneutic of charity that welcomes the many voices from the global church to engage with the biblical and historic theological traditions, and hence invites us all to consider our own posture toward others that we may before have held at arm's length."
--Amos Yong, Fuller Theological Seminary

"A timely and unique contribution to evangelical theology. I hope this book becomes the standard reference point for future conversations regarding how Western theology engages with the contributions of the Majority World."
--Uche Anizor, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

Author Biography

Stephen T. Pardue (PhD, Wheaton College) directs the ThM/PhD in Theological Studies and Church History at the Asia Graduate School of Theology and teaches theology at the International Graduate School of Leadership in Manila, Philippines. He is the author of The Mind of Christ: Humility and the Intellect in Early Christian Theology and the coeditor of 10 books, including Majority World Theology and Asian Christian Theology.