This book review is part of this post exploring books showcasing theology from the Global South originally posted on Substack by Tex Chettiar.
Emerging Theologies from the Global South – edited by Mitri Raheb & Mark A. Lamport
“For people who love the Bible, there should be loads of ideas in this book to delight your heart and stimulate your imagination. Biblical interpretation is not a closed book, we haven’t arrived, and contemporary Western theology is neither the peak nor the summation of revelation. But, more importantly, theology exclusively from the Global North is insufficient to understand John’s Gospel. If you only read North Atlantic commentaries on John, there is a great deal of great import that will be missed.“ – Andy McCullough, Made Flesh – John’s Gospel, Mission and the Global Church
In Andy’s quote […] he talks about Western theology neither being the summation or revelation. This is where this work fills that gap.
A couple of chapters that are worth engaging with first, particularly if you are in the UK are: The post-colonial/decolonial option in theology & Middle Eastern Theologies.
One of the main strengths of Emerging Theologies from the Global South is, firstly, it is a much-needed voice for the Global North – making it aware that the Global South has a significant part to play in global theological development and secondly is that it recognises that theological thought is more fluid and being shaped by contextual elements such as linguistic or cultural traditions, rather than something that is static or rigid.
I found it particularly helpful to reframe how Western theologies focus on the persecution of Christians by Islam – which can often be divisive or combative. This short section helped affirm in me a more contextually winsome approach to mission amongst the “cousins”. I’d recommend it because it is able to help give a breadth of what God is doing in the Global South in terms of theological development (there are 32 chapters focusing on various regions in the Global South), which in turn equips me to pastor in a world that is becoming more and more globalised.
I’d recommend it to those who are studying theology and/or those involved in cross-cultural pastoral ministry.
