Will focus on the relationship between ethics and mission in the early Church for the sake of the Church’s ongoing mission. Social scientific research, theories, and models will be utilized and evaluated in order to understand and categorize behavior towards those deemed outside an individual’s group identity. Structurally, the course will contain reading assignments, lectures, discussions, an essay, an exam, and a hands on service project.
In this course students will critically reflect on the way they view those outside the Christian community. The importance of empathy, sensitivity, and understanding will be explored for the sake of developing compassionate students who engage those deemed to be “others” with the good news.
As Christians engage in missions and ministry of all varieties, it is important to reflect on the way that those outside the Christian community are treated and viewed. This is a crucial component to our witness. A Christian ethic for our approach towards outsiders and those deemed as “others” informs and impacts the way Christians evangelize and minister to them.
This course will look at missionary efforts in the New Testament with regard to the early Church’s posture potential converts and those who are not inclined to convert.
We will reflect on the missional habits of early Christians towards outsiders for its role in influencing missional efforts today.
We will consider the nuance of what constitutes an “outsider” in various contexts, and the role the Church should play in these settings.
As we consider the way the early Church engaged those outside their community—those who differed from them culturally, ethnically, religiously, etc—we will address both relevant and contemporary issues for the global, multi-ethnic Church at large, and also pressing local issues.
Looking at the way the early Christians treated, viewed, and shared the gospel with outsiders is meant to have a direct effect on our ministry, missional efforts, evangelism, etc.
The class will help foster a sensitivity towards all those labeled “others” and “outsiders” for the sake of impacting our lives and ministries, and will include a hands on service project.
