Conflict: The Church and External Pressures (1961)
A Panel from Urbana 61
Urbana 61 featured four panels on the themes of the convention: COMMISION—CONFLICT—COMMITMENT. The external conflict panel is both a snapshot of mid-twentieth century life, and timeless in its insight.
In fact, as we read through these messages, we see how little the universal challenges in mission have changed in fifty years. Read and discuss!
Arthur
Glasser spoke on Marxist
Ideology. This talk is perhaps the most dated,
but it is a helpful reminder of Marxism’s universal claims and therefore
its absolute opposition to the gospel.
"Our message is the antithesis and the antagonism of the communist message. It is either Karl Marx or Jesus Christ."
Eugene
Nida spoke on Paganism. His words are uncannily relevant today—from
daily spiritual encounters on the mission field, to growing paganism in the
secular West—what we now call New Age.
"If you don't think magic exists on the mission field, you need to get just a little closer to the people."
Clyde
Taylor spoke on Nationalism
and Resurgent Religions. The world he describes
is firmly set in 1961, yet the underlying issues have hardly changed, even
as place names have.
"We have propagated our nationalism, our sense of superiority, along with the message of Christ. Because of this, we are paying a price today."
Subodh Sahu applied
the message to India, and in the process gave us a message
that remains universal and timeless. The parameters of cross-cultural witness
never change; perhaps the reason his words seem so relevant today is because
we Western Christians have yet to really listen.
"The Communists have been very aggressive and very successful in identification and infiltration. But the missionaries have not successfully infiltrated our hearts, because there has been no intercommunion between the missionary and the people."
After you read these messages, we’d love to hear from you in one of two ways. First, respond in the Urbana.org discussion area (free login required). Second—and this applies to a smaller group of people—if you attended Urbana 61, do let us know! We’d love to hear your story.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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