Biblical Foundations - Course Paper

2006-09-22

This essay was written as a brief course summary for a course in Biblical Foundations.

All people come with their own cultural biases and worldviews, in which some particular elements form barriers to the Gospel. Upon building relationships with a tribal group, a western missionary will have many obstacles to overcome when teaching through the Bible. Eventually, by presenting God’s Word, the tribal people’s worldview will be radically challenged by the Holy Spirit. Teaching through the Bible from the beginning with a solid theocentric emphasis is imperative. This view was emphasized in the Biblical Foundations course. To teach this way, the western missionary must recognize the difference between previous ways of teaching and the theocentric method, let this method transform future teaching, emphasize qualities of God while teaching, and live out these truths by letting them transform one’s mind.

From my personal experience, the content of the Biblical Foundations course was very familiar. Nonetheless, the way it was taught was very appropriate and innovative. God and His qualities were emphasized repeatedly. God is the creator and the rightful owner of everything, including the spirit world. He is in control, and what He promises happens. Nothing, not even the sin of either Satan or humankind, took Him off guard; He had a plan to save humankind through the promise of a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15), the Lord Jesus Christ. The emphasis of God’s power over both Satan and humankind must be emphasized to tribal people.

These essential emphases will transform the way I teach God’s Word. If God, with His power and grace, is emphasized, and the reality of humankind’s sinfulness is stated appropriately, the listeners will be more apt to understand the Gospel. It is important to start at the beginning of Genesis in order to identify God as the creator of all things ex nihilo, including Satan, spirits, humankind, animals, and all of nature. God, as the Creator, is separated from the fabricated tribal deities and deified elements of nature, and magnified as Lord of all things. The entire Pentateuchal narrative, the prophets, and the Gospels demonstrate God’s sovereignty, loyal love, and mercy to His people through Jesus despite humankind’s sinfulness.

From my experience, many facets of God’s qualities impressed me. God’s omnipotence in His creation of all things in the creation hymn shows His unlimited power. His great provision before and after humankind’s disobedience is beyond words. Considering the emphasis on these qualities, historical and theological facts become a powerful resource in worshipping Him.

Knowing that God is in control and that He loves us is more than mere knowledge, however. The emphasis on this aspect of God’s power and love together with beginning a new phase of my life in missions shows these truths to be very evident. Just as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:9; John 3:14-15), it is a matter of looking to the Lord Jesus for salvation and for every aspect of life.

Teaching the Bible chronologically with a strong theocentric focus is an imperative part of teaching the Word of God. By teaching this method, all people can understand the sovereignty of God as seen in His creation, the sinfulness of humankind repeatedly throughout the Pentateuch, and the promise of a Redeemer, who is Jesus, to save the people from their sins.

Sources

Franicevich, J., Ketcham, R. and Mough, D. Lectures for the Biblical Foundations course at New Tribes Missionary Training Center, Fall 2006.