I read and reread everything that Dr. Randy S. Woodley (Keetoowah Cherokee) writes and try to sit at his feet every chance I get. I sense he may be a prophet of our time and place. Maybe especially to Whiteness Christians though his wisdom and life of practice extends far beyond the way such conversations are typically framed in the West. I relish every moment I’ve been able to be with Randy and Edith at Eloheh; simply being with him as he is present to the land, animals, plants, water, and all facets of the ecosystem that is the life of their farm woos me to discover and practice the “harmony way” he writes about.
So when I stumbled across Cindy Wang Brandt’s interview with Randy I just ate it up.
One of Cindy’s questions was:
“What would you say to missionaries who are trying to impact the world globally for God in the way they communicate their faith?”
Cindy Wang Brandt
In response to her question Dr. Woodley responded with what he calls, his “10 Missiological Imperatives.” The ten are fantastic! I hope and pray that he unpacks these imperatives more fully in a book or a series of blog posts or something. Anyway, here is what Randy says:
Randy Woodley’s 10 Missiological Imperatives
“I am a missiologist so I’m happy to share what I consider a basic set of assumptions for all mission. From my understanding of Jesus, mission doesn’t merely mean sharing a truth, it means to invite people into a shalom community. I teach something I call my 10 Missiological Imperatives in my mission courses:
1. There is no place we can go where Jesus is not already present and active.
2. Since Jesus is active everywhere, the first responsibility of mission among any culture is not to teach, speak or exert privilege but to discover what Jesus is already doing in that culture.
3. Realize God expects two conversions out of every missional encounter: 1) our conversion to the truths in their culture, and 2) their conversion to the truth we bring to the encounter.
4. Our humility as servants of Jesus should naturally lead us to first convert to the truths in their culture wherever we see Jesus is at work.
5. Through the work of culture guides (people of that culture), earnest study, prayer and experiential failures, it is our responsibility to first adapt to and then embrace their culture, and as much as possible, their worldview.
6. Realize that conversion is both instantaneous and a process, (the Biblical idea of salvation is becoming wholly healed) and think through those implications as you begin to consider your timelines. Then, throw out your timelines.
7. During this time also read, study, discuss with others ways that you can continue to deconstruct your own worldview and culture. This is a long, painful and yet freeing process.
8. Our own process of conversion may take years, so be patient with yourself and with God.
9. When and if, they invite us to share the gospel they have noticed us living out, then the process formally known as cultural contextualization should occur.
10. Their process of conversion may take years, so be patient.”
Dr. Randy Woodley
Peace, dwight
