Module 13: World Christianity

Hi everyone, and welcome back to the thirteenth module of the History of Christianity 2 Course. In this section, we'll return to looking at the wider church around the world in the later history up to the present. Because the world is so big and complicated, this will only be a survey level coverage of a few representative places and churches as well as the activity that caused a church to exist in those places. This module will cover later missionary activity and the resulting worldwide church.

This module will help you to understand the history and various approaches of the missionary activity that caused these native expressions of Christianity and the theology and practice of the churches that were a result. The student will be able to consider the result of Christian influence around the world, including contrast with the influence of marxism and islam.

The student will be exposed to different missionary approaches taken during this history and have opportunity to evaluate these various principles, approaches, ideas, mindsets, and practice, and the lessons that can be learned from them. This module will also aid the student to work through how the lessons learned are applicable in their own life and ministry.

Introductory Scenario

Imagine that you are a successful businessman. You are expanding the business and also starting to plan for retirement. Therefore, you need to raise up and train other people to franchise the business and expand it to other markets. How can you train these people to remain faithful to your principles that built the business, but also be appropriately flexible to make it succeed in new markets? How can you insist on conformity to the important core of the business? How can you give freedom to innovate? How can you train them to know when either approach is more appropriate? Please consider these questions and be watching for material that will help you answer them as you work through this module.

Module Objectives and Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Understand the history of later missionary work and representative examples of the resulting churches around the world.
  • Describe the missionary approaches of imperialism and indigenization and the reasons each was used in various situations.
  • Evaluate the missionary approaches of imperialism and indigenization and the lessons that can be learned from the various approaches.
  • Explain the strengths of various indigenized churches around the world, the principles that can be learned from them, and how those principles apply.
  • Place the major events and people of these movements in a general chronology.

Instruction Guides

In this section, you'll find links to important instructional documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. There is a set of instructions for individual study and a document for group study.

Individual Student Guide
Group Student Guide

Textbook Content

The textbook reading was completed in the prior module. There is no textbook reading for the remainder of this course.

Lecture Content

In this section, you will find the video lecture for the World Christianity module. Click the banner to open access to the video. There are also links with each video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.

Lecture Study Guide for Module 13
Blank Lecture Notes for Module 13
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13: World Christianity
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Watch on Rumble
Watch on YouTube
Download Audio

Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 13. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the banner to open the slide show.

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Review Slideshow
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Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 13. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. Below, you will find links to the Response and Application Reflection Instructions for Individuals, and the Response and Application Discussion Instructions for Groups. And you will find a link to the detailed question document for this module. Or Click the banner below to view the questions in a simplified format.

Instructions for Individuals
Instruction for Groups
Discussion/Reflection Questions for Module 13
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Discussion/Application Questions
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The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

  1. What can you learn about contextualization, imperialism & indigenization? How do these work? How does this apply?
  2. What did you learn from the various church stories? How was this similar or different from your church? What was good or bad? How does this apply?
  3. What else did you learn? How does it apply?

(Optional) Timeline - Part 13

This section contains instructions for an optional Timeline activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.

Timeline Project Instructions

Step thirteen of the Timeline should include the following information:

  • Any significant events, ideas, and people from the later missionary activity.
  • Any significant events, ideas, people, and approaches demonstrated by the indigenous churches around the world.
  • Any significant writings from these movements, and the ideas, doctrines, and approaches which they represent, and the impact they had.

(Optional) Principles Chart - Part 13

This section contains instructions for an optional Principles Chart activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.

Principles Chart Instructions

Step thirteen of the Principles chart will add any important principles noted from the later mission work and the resulting indigenous churches, the influence these movements had, the reasons behind that influence, and how those principles can be applied.

It is suggested that the student begin this activity before watching the Guiding Principles portion of the lecture. Then the student may supplement their work after learning additional insights from the Guiding Principles.

(Optional) Term Project Organization & Writing

The student will continue researching their chosen topic for their term project, and organizing the material they have found. The student should also continue writing (or otherwise creating their presentation, depending on their chosen means of communication) the first draft of their term project. Based on the organization of the material, based on their research, the student should continue communicating what they have learned, as well as the principles they gained from the historical data, and how it applies to current life and ministry.

Below is a link to detailed instructions for the entire project.

Term Project Instructions

Primary Source Reading

This section contains instructions and resources for the Primary Source Reading activity. The student should read a minimum of 10-20 pages from a primary resource or resources discussed in this module's lecture and write or discuss a brief response to their reading. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the Primary Source Reading, which contain a list of recommended resources, by module. And click the banner below to access a list of recommended resources with links to where they may be found.

Primary Source Reading Instructions
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Primary Sources
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The following is a list of the recommended primary sources for this module. This list contains links to the resources in print and/or online format. These links may change, so feel free to search for other sources for these same titles. In addition, please do not feel you are limited only to this list. Feel free to choose from any primary source from the period and topic covered in this module:

Links to Primary Sources

Review Quiz

This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 13. By clicking the banner, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the banner to begin the quiz.

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Quiz for Module 13
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Review Quiz for Module 13

Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


Marxists define humanity's main problem as oppression, while Biblical Christianity defines the main problem as sin

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 13
Which is not a part of the evaluation of World Christianity given in the Lecture?

There is a danger of imperialism in some cases

Sorry, see Lecture 13

There are some good aspects, and some bad aspects

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Each culture should take care of itself, with no help from others

Good Job

The church should be contextualized, without compromise

Sorry, see Lecture 13

There is a danger of syncretism in some cases

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Which is not a cause of persecution against Churches mentioned in the Lecture?

Criminal Cartels

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Advocates for traditional families

Correct

Marxism

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Islam

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Secular "liberal" governments

Sorry, see Lecture 13

In Biblical Christianity, group identity may have some contribution, but it is never the defining identity of anyone, which contrasts with Marxism

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 13
The Lecture argues that world evangelism is essentially completed, so we no longer have a need to be good witnesses

True

This answer is so wrong that it is in a completely different category I'm calling "Superwrong", see Lecture 13

False

Well Done
Which is NOT true of the faithful church in Korea?

It is very missionary minded, sending missionaries around the world

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Its largest church is built on cell groups around a central congregation

Sorry, see Lecture 13

It does not exist in North Korea because of communist persecution

Good Job

It makes prayer a high priority

Sorry, see Lecture 13

The Lecture argues that Marxism appears Christian on the surface, but in reality is opposed to genuine Christianity in most core worldview and practice

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 13
The house church movement in China experienced phenomenal growth, despite tremendous persecution, even aided in some ways by that persecution

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 13
The churches in Africa often experience persecution from Islam but also resist Islam with the Gospel

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 13
Drag to match each term to its best definition
William Wade Harris
Liberation Theology
Jotabeche Church
Yoida Church
Indigenization
Samuel Crowther
Imperialism

The mixing of Christianity with Marxism, using mostly Christian terms with primarily Marxist meanings

Influential church in South America known for outreach in a notorious prison

The approach of asking native churches to take responsibility for themselves, typically with the goals of the "three-self" formula

A native of Nigeria, who was enslaved by muslims, and later freed and educated by the British. He evangelized the Yoruba region, connecting with their culture

South Korean church built around cell group meetings, which may be the largest local church in the world

Native minister in the Ivory Coast, who used traditional music and dance to lead the "Aladura" churches

The approach of imposing something foreign on a native culture, sometimes with good motives, and sometimes for selfish reasons

Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the thirteenth module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 14.