Product Details

Line: IVP Books
Length: 272 pages
Size: 6 x 9 inches
Format: paperback
Published: June 2015

ISBN-10: 0-8308-4423-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8308-4423-4
IVP Order Code: 4423

Subjects

Church History
Cultural Analysis
Global Christianity
Justice/Peace
Missions & Missiology
Multiethnic Ministry
Multiethnicity

Missio Alliance Essential Reading List of 2015
One of Seedbed's 10 Notable Books from 2015

The gospel of Jesus has not always been good news for Native Americans.

The history of North America is marred by atrocities committed against Native peoples. Indigenous cultures were erased in the name of Christianity. As a result, to this day few Native Americans are followers of Jesus. However, despite the far-reaching effects of colonialism, some Natives have forged culturally authentic ways to follow the way of Jesus.

In his final work, Richard Twiss provides a contextualized Indigenous expression of the Christian faith among the Native communities of North America. He surveys the painful, complicated history of Christian missions among Indigenous peoples and chronicles more hopeful visions of culturally contextual Native Christian faith. For Twiss, contextualization is not merely a formula or evangelistic strategy, but rather a relational process of theological and cultural reflection within a local community. Native leaders reframe the gospel narrative in light of post-colonization, reincorporating traditional practices and rituals while critiquing and correcting the assumptions of American Christian mythologies.

Twiss gives voice to the stories of Native followers of Jesus, with perspectives on theology and spirituality plus concrete models for intercultural ministry. Future generations of Native followers of Jesus, and those working crossculturally with them, will be indebted to this work.

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