Liberation Theology, Part One…

Aaron White asks why this doesn’t resonate with more Salvationists

I

have recently been thinking about and studying up on Liberation Theology, particularly as it has developed out of Latin America from the 1960’s until now. I know, I know, I’m such a party animal.

Many Christians are deeply suspicious of Liberation Theology, given its connections with Marxist and socialist thought. But even a cursory reading should be of great interest to Salvationists who are trying to piece together how the service and justice work they are drawn to might be understood in the light of theology. Whether you agree with the ultimate conclusions of Liberation Theology or not, this really is theology done “with its sleeves rolled up”. It theology derived from serious scholarship and spiritual engagement with Scripture, with prayer, and with the poor. I would hope that this approach would resonate with all thinking, practicing Salvationists the world over.

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Tags: liberation theology, theology

Meaning of salvation

Paper title: What is the meaning of salvation in The Salvation Army today?
Exploring a theology of Social Service and Holistic Mission
Author/researcher: Jason Davies-Kildea
Country of origin: Australia
Publication/completion date:
Length: 128 pages
Keywords: The Salvation Army, Salvationist, salvo, salvation, theology, mission, holistic, social service, evangelical, poor
Abstract: The Salvation Army, through a multitude of social services right across the world, is involved daily in saving people from the devastating impacts of poverty,  homelessness, addictions, unemployment and a wide range of other predicaments.   However, the dominant internal rhetoric about salvation would appear to suggest that theologically these efforts are at best secondary to an evangelical mission of  conversion.  What good is it to save people’s bodies if their souls are damned to hell?  A critical task of this study will be to explore theological notions of salvation which encourage a holistic view of mission, with the potential for reuniting the social and evangelical purposes of The Salvation Army.  It will be demonstrated that this broader view of salvation reflects the early history of The Salvation Army, has a solid scriptural basis and also fits within a number of other contemporary theological frameworks which are based in the life experience of the poor and oppressed.

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Tags: evangelical, holistic, mission, poor, salvation, Salvationist, salvo, social service, The Salvation Army, theology