Bonnie Miriam Jacob

Public Theology Bonnie Miriam Jacob

About half a century ago, there has been a recovery of the social dimension of the gospel in evangelicalism. This movement towards what is now called 'Integral Mission' saw the rise of faith-based organizations doing compassionate ministries. While the gains have been significant, there remains a black hole in the theology and practice of the churches, namely, the need to confront the powers behind systemic poverty and injustice. This book is an important step in clarifying the issues that come up when addressing the public square. It is an early effort towards a coherent theological frame for engagement in socio-political issues, this time rooted in the richness of a multi-faith context like that of India. While the church is the primary social context in which the saving power of God is made visible, this book equally insists that it is in the larger arena of what God is doing in the world that the kingdom's historic presence is felt. It is a fitting tribute to a man who has spent much of his life opening up the spaces where the Word is in vital conversation with the larger world. Melba Padilla Maggay, PhD, Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture (ISACC).