Mission from the Perspective of the Other

Christian mission involves God, the missionary, and the other, the recipient of mission. This book argues for the centrality of this other in the practice of mission. The other as child of God is presented, not as an empty vessel waiting to be filled, but as the one who draws near to the missionary. Both are sent by God, and together they enter into the journey towards God. Drawing on Scripture, contemporary missiology, and phenomenology, the book argues for the importance of this often neglected other and demonstrates through historical case studies involving Saint Ignatius of Loyola, William Carey, and Saint Innocent of Alaska that the recognition of the gift of the other has always been present in Christian mission and can continue to inspire. Noble asks us to consider what mission looks like when the usual binary model of subject confronting object is replaced by something simpler: a response in love to another subject who has already been touched by the grace of God. This is radical stuff--a thoroughly absorbing read, and all the more so for being written with intelligence, imagination, and a deep respect for the great traditions of missiology. --Michael Barnes SJ, University of Roehampton Tim Noble deserves to be better known as a missiologist and this book shows why. It demonstrates his command of the subject biblically, theologically, historically, and ecumenically. What is more, it brings missiology in touch with continental philosophy. Noble applies his intellect to a rising and pertinent question in a post-colonial and identity-conscious world. This is a profound and carefully crafted book with copious notes for future reference. --Kirsteen Kim, Fuller Theological Seminary Scripturally, theologically, philosophically, and historically, Tim Noble brilliantly argues how mission can and should be an encounter with the irreducible uniqueness of the Other, who in her journey toward and in Christ, simultaneously expands, deepens, and illuminates the Christian faith of the missionary. Given the changing landscape of the missionary field, and the suffering inflicted by Christian missionaries in the past and present, this book points to how Christians can heed the command to preach the Gospel in a way where form is identical with content. --Aristotle Papanikolaou, Fordham University Ultimately this book is a thoughtful and accessible book on mission-spirituality. It compels the reader to revisit his/her biblical hermeneutic on mission, to engage in mission history through biographies, and to learn practicing abstraction in order to master the great commandment when encountering the other. While never questioning the legitimacy of mission, and with reference to a missio Dei framework, Tim Noble demonstrates how the Christian person existentially needs the other, the always given one, like one needs his/her daily bread in order to do mission. --Dorottya Nagy, Protestant Theological University Tim Noble is Associate Professor of Missiology in the Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University in Prague. He is the author of The Poor in Liberation Theology (2014) and numerous articles on mission, liberation theology, and theology and culture.