The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission

It's a shame that more thought leaders and pastors are not referencing this book. Lesslie Newbigin is one of my faith heroes, and this book only deepens that conviction. The Open Secret is a wonderful introduction to the language of mission and how justice, witness, and action dialogue with the missio Dei. With all the buzz around missional theology and mission in general, this should be the "go to" book if you are interested in learning a great center point by which you can begin to dialogue about others book related to Christian mission. I'm always blown away by Newbigin's writing with how prophetic. This book was originally written a couple of decades ago, and it seems as though that even in 2009, there is a necessity to read this sort of book on mission beyond the "pop culture" of missional books in the Christian publishing world. This book will challenge your thinking with regards to pluralism and God's justice in the world, and it seems as though at a time when those things are becoming somewhat overused and ambiguous, a fresh reminder with what God says is necessary.

A must read for anyone desiring to openly engage this present world with the eternal good news of God's Son. A faithful and compelling explanation of why the church has a responsibility to be God's witnesses in and to the world.

Is there still a place for mission in the late twentieth century? By what authority can we speak about God and the Christian message in our pluralist world? Newbigin brings his original and thoroughly biblical thoughts to these questions. He places missions in a Trinitarian context: Mission is the proclamation of the Kingdom of the Father, sharing in the life of Jesus, doing the work of the Spirit. He discusses the ideas of the school of Church Growth, of liberation theology and John Hicks (from "the myth of Christianity"), and develops his theology of mission in discussion with these voices. I have one reservation, and that is his discussion of election. Election, in Newbigin's view, is - and is being limited to - being called to witness. I cannot see how with this limitation he can avoid the danger of Pelagianism, which he rejects earlier on in the book. (This topic, however, is developed more extensively in "The Gospel in a Pluralist World"). Overall, though, an excellent read.