Mangoes or Bananas?

fourth matter, the ambiguities of liberation

detailed discussion of the criteria for a missiological theology already outlined in the last chapter.

third issue is the interpretation of the ‘signs of the times

second issue is that while Latin American liberation theology represents the clearest articulation of the attempt to address theologically the sociopolitical context in the Two-Thirds World, Asian Christians have in recent years also begun seriously to do the same (cf. e.g. Kim 1981; Balasuriya 1988; Pieris 1988

the sociopolitical issues of the day, we need to address four other related matters

Contextualization and Sociopolitical Concerns
A truly contextual Asian theology must come to terms with the immediately felt needs of the peoples of the continent

Together they point to the fact that God does not merely take us as we are and where we are, and leaves us there. He also seeks to transform us into what He wants us to be (Walls 1982:98f)

third basic consideration is the importance of clarifying the underlying epistemological foundation for contextualization.

always be held in tension with the ‘indigenizing’ principle

was the problem of Western theology in the past wherein Western theological formulations were elevated to the status of absolute divine truth before which all other peoples and cultures must bow.