Lesslie Newbigin
Lesslie Newbigin: A Theologian of Mission and Contextualization
Full Name and Common Aliases
Lesslie Newbigin was born on December 8, 1905, in London, England. He is commonly known as L. William Newbigin.
Birth and Death Dates
December 8, 1905 - February 10, 1998
Nationality and Profession(s)
Newbigin held dual citizenship of the United Kingdom and India. His profession was primarily that of a theologian, but he also served as an Anglican missionary in India for many years.
Early Life and Background
Lesslie Newbigin was born into a family of modest means. His parents were members of the Church of England, which would later influence his career choice. In 1924, at the age of 18, Newbigin converted to Christianity and began his theological studies at Cuddesdon College in Oxfordshire.
Major Accomplishments
Newbigin's contributions to theology and mission are extensive:
He served as a missionary in India from 1931 to 1954.
During World War II, he was imprisoned by the Japanese for three years.
After his release, Newbigin helped to develop a new approach to Christian mission that emphasized contextualization and engagement with local cultures.Notable Works or Actions
Newbigin's most notable works include:
The Finality of Christ (1969): In this book, Newbigin argues that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
The Gospel in a Pluralist Society (1989): This work explores how Christianity can be presented as a living option within pluralistic societies.Impact and Legacy
Lesslie Newbigin's impact on Christian theology and mission is profound:
He helped to shape the modern understanding of contextualization, which emphasizes the importance of adapting the gospel to local cultures.
His emphasis on the significance of Jesus Christ as the center of the Christian message has influenced many theologians and missionaries.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Lesslie Newbigin's influence extends far beyond his writings. He is widely remembered for:
His missionary work in India, where he helped to establish a new approach to mission that prioritized contextualization.
His leadership role in shaping the modern understanding of Christian theology and mission.
His emphasis on the importance of Jesus Christ as the center of the Christian message.
Quotes by Lesslie Newbigin
If the relativist claims that, since all reasoning is embodied in a particular social context, no claim to know the truth can be sustained, one has to ask for the basis on which this claim is made. It is, after all, a claim to know something about reality – namely that reality is unknowable.
Opinions about how it ought to function can only be personal opinions, and any assertion that the purpose for which human life exists has in fact been revealed by the One whose purpose it is, is treated as unacceptable dogmatism.
Does the use of the word “revelation” mean that reason has been left behind? Obviously not. Both the discovery by Kepler of a new pattern in the movement of the heavenly bodies and the disclosure to Moses of a personal calling become the starting point of a tradition of reasoning in which the significance of these disclosures is explored, developed, tested against new experience, and extended into further areas of thought.
In the twentieth century we have become accustomed to the fact that – in the name of the nation – Catholics will fight Catholics, Protestants will fight Protestants, and Marxists will fight Marxists. The charge of blasphemy, if it is ever made, is treated as a quaint anachronism; but the charge of treason, of placing another lyalty above that to the nation state, is treated as the unforgivable crime. The nation state has taken the place of God.
In the attempt to be “relevant” one may fall into syncretism, and in the effort to avoid syncretism one may become irrelevant.
If I do not know the purpose for which human life was designed, I have no basis for saying that any kind of human life-style is good or bad.
What is true in the position of the social activists is that a Church which exists only for itself and its own enlargement is a witness against the gospel, that the Church exists not for itself and not for its members but as a sign and agent and foretaste of the kingdom of God, and that it is impossible to give faithful witness to the gospel while being indifferent to the situation of the hungry, the sick, the victims of human inhumanity. I.
When coercion of any kind is used in the interests of the Christian message, the message itself is corrupted.
If we cannot speak with confidence about biblical authority, what ground have we for challenging the reigning plausibility structure?
Modern capitalism has created a world totally different from anything known before.