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Document Details : Title: Migrantenkerken & evangelicale religiositeit Author(s): JANSEN, Mechteld Journal: Tijdschrift voor Theologie Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Date: 2010 Pages: 448-462 DOI: 10.2143/TVT.50.4.3203453 Abstract : The newer evangelical immigrant churches share many elements of belief, language, music, and behaviour with the global evangelical movement. These shared elements add substantially to a worldwide family feeling of evangelicals, be they migrants or non-migrants. This article, however, focuses on special features of immigrant evangelical churches, because they mirror the context of migration and the vulnerable conditions of many immigrants. The context of migration involves an interpretation of biblical texts and beliefs supporting the go-structure of faith: God wants us to move and cross borders, not only in a transnational way, but also in a missionary way, reaching out to our new neighbours in the country of our destination. Meanwhile, the powers of evil are felt to be everywhere, in setbacks during the migration process and in disappointments and weaknesses after arrival in the new country. Against these powers of evil, the healing, sustaining, protecting, and challenging power of Jesus has to be brought to the fore. His name and his words contain both the spiritual and the physical power to overcome Satan’s daily attacks. Belief in Jesus’ power and fighting the power of evil are first and foremost group practices. Individual conversion, individual study, and individual care for persons do take place, but most activities are organized in groups, preferably together with the sharing of food. The last part of the article is dedicated to some mutual questions shared by immigrant and non-immigrant churches, and by immigrant Christians and academic theology. The evangelical Christian immigrants are interrogating the ‘indigenous’ churches regarding their mission to society at large and young people in particular. The non-immigrant churches are questioning the way the Bible is used in evangelical immigrant churches. Evangelical immigrants aspire to academic theological studies, but they doubt whether Western theology can stay in touch with living faith. |
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