신학의 모체로서의 선교와 선교학의 발전

Abstract

This study attempts to explore the studies of missiology in terms of definition, motive, purpose, and methodology. Further it attempts to articulate the types of missiology in connection with the theology of missions. Then it attempts to present some suggestions in regard to developing missiology in Korea. What is missiology? Defining missiology calls for defining missions. Missions is the concrete action of churches, missionaries,and mission agencies to carry out the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. Missiology is the science of missions studying the concept, motive, purpose, and method of missions. Missiology deals with the practice and the theory of missions while focusing on various mission fields. There is no missiology without considering mission fields in which the gospel, church, and culture are interacting. In this vein, missions is the “Mother of Theology” as Martin Kaehler has stated. Theology of missions is concerned with constructing local theologies. It is desirable for churches to listen to popular religions in order to develop local theologies in different cultural contexts as Robert J. Schreiter has maintained. To put it in another way,local churches are encouraged to do self-theologizing. Gustav Warneck has claimed that there are three purposes for missions: conversion, church planting, and the extension of God's kingdom. The extension of God's kingdom calls for conversion and multiplying churches. These purposes of missions are based on evangelical theology of missions which is different from ecumenical or Roman Catholic viewpoints. There are four types of mission theologies according to Theo Sundermeier. First is the conversion and church planting models in which conversion and planting churches are stressed. Second is the salvation history model in which God’s mission (Missio Dei)is emphasized and the basic idea that the church is different from the world is stressed. The third is the history of the promise model in which God's mission is emphasized, in addition to the basic idea that the church cannot be separated from the world. The fourth is the communication model in which the gospel message must be the same while the cultural forms need to be changed. This study presents some areas in which the Korean Church may develop Korean missiology. They are closely related to the gospel,church, and Korean culture largely because theology of missions is developing through the interactions of the three factors. All theologies are local theologies because they need to be rooted in different cultures. In this sense, Western theology is not universal. However, theologians from different cultures need to be encouraged to share with each other their theological ideas.