Browsing by Author "Serfontein, André"
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- ItemOp soek na missionale spiritualiteit : 'n prakties-teologiese verkenning in die lig van die bydraes van David Bosch en Eugene Peterson(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03) Serfontein, André; Hendriks, Hans Jurgens; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The missio Dei is understood as the initiative, movement and sending love of the triune God to the world for the purpose of establishing his kingdom. When the phrase “missional” is used within the context of the church, it describes a congregation that finds her identity within this theological framework, and understands that her calling lies in collaborating with the missio Dei. The human response to the missio Dei can be described by the concept “spirituality”. Trends within the macro-context of our time show spirituality is subject to subjective interpretation. It is therefore necessary to define and frame Christian spirituality within the context of faith, and more specifically, within the context of missional theology. For this reason this study poses the following research question: What is the essence and nature of missional spirituality? What would a spirituality that uses the missio Dei as its theological epistemological core look like? The study found that the essence of missional spirituality lies therein that the initiative of man’s search for and connection to God, belongs to God himself. The Trinity provides the landscape in which missional spirituality can be described and understood. Missional spirituality insists, though, that a believer’s knowledge of God (theology) is meant to be fully embraced in life as response to God (spirituality). It thus invites a believer towards participation in the missio Dei, within the following three spheres: - A process of spiritual formation: God takes the initiative in the salvation of man and restores Him, through the atonement of Christ, to a relationship with Him. God further invites and enables the believer in becoming a participant in a process of spiritual formation, which is meant to impact his life holistically. A way of life, characterised by faith and love, becomes the measure of an adequate response to the missio Dei. - A community of faith: God also takes the initiative in the formation of a faith community. Communion with Christ assumes communion with the body of Christ. Missional spirituality invites believers towards mutual relationships within the community of faith that strives towards reflecting the unity and love of the Trinity. - Social transformation: It is distinctive of missional spirituality that God takes the initiative in the transformation of society. There is an underlying connection between the agenda of God’s kingdom and the transformation of reality. A call to Christ involves believers in a call towards social transformation, incarnate to the conditions of time and place. The study shows that a reciprocal interiority exists between these spheres of participation, which is characteristic to missional spirituality. The embrace thereof opens the door to the believer towards finding meaning in life. A believer can further his participation in the missio Dei by engaging in spiritual practices, which grows his capacity for a greater awareness of God’s movement and the discernment of his will.