Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Mission

by Michael Niebauer

2023 Outreach Magazine Missional and Cross-Cultural Resource of the Year 2023 Academy of Parish Clergy (APC) Top 10 Books of the Year
Christians should make disciples as disciples .
Christians who are engaged in missions regularly face ethical challenges. But the approaches and standards of modern missions often further complicate, rather than alleviate, matters. Modern missiology debates what actions constitute mission work, how to measure growth, and the difference between persuasion and coercion. In Virtuous Persuasion , Michael Niebauer casts a holistic vision for Christian mission that is rooted in theological ethics and moral philosophy. Niebauer proposes a theology of mission grounded in virtue. Becoming a skilled missionary is more about following Christ than mastering techniques. Christian mission is best understood as specific activities that develop virtue in its practitioners and move them toward their ultimate goal of partaking in the glory of God. With Virtuous Persuasion, you can rethink the essence of Jesus's Great Commission and how we seek to fulfill it.

Genres: Theology

320 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2022

Reviews

[Greg Hagues · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started to read this book hoping to get clarity on how Christians can be persuasive without being manipulative. The book answers this, both philosophically and biblically in part one (among other issues). Persuasion does not have to be manipulative. People have minds and can use them to judge for themselves the weight of an argument. And, trying to substitute ‘dialogue’ for proclamation strips the hearers of their own ability to make decisions for themselves.
Lots of helpful reflections on missions.

The book is dense and parts were hard for me to get through.

The conclusions in part two when you boil them down seem to be straightforward Christian life. Mission as virtuous practice is the line that gets repeated. Growing in the faith, growing in virtue, being submissive to God as Lord and relying on the Spirit, trusting Him with the results.

[Terence Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a missionary or a serious student of missions, you must read this book. And if you are reluctant because you like what you are doing in missions and you don’t want Niebauer giving you grief, don’t think that way. These are all models, they are not tribes. Nobody is asking you to change citizenship, and I honestly think mission is important enough that does who can, should reflect on the theology of missions.

But other than missionaries, this book is also for you. Let me ask you: “Are you a virtuous person? Do you see what you are doing now, right now, whether you are driving, drinking coffee or getting ready for bed, do you see your actions as moral actions?”

These are alien questions. And here I recall that Socrates quote, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

That’s a bit much but the point stands. And here is the beautiful part. The offer in this book is saying, you should live a virtuous life. You can live a virtuous life.

This book applies Christian ethics into missions but as I read it, you and I can, with some effort, apply this robust virtuous model into our non-missionary work. My recording this podcast episode for a book review, is a virtuous practice. And that is an eye-opening, soul-enriching realisation of Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus…”

Full 3,666-word review: https://readingandreaders.com/podcast...

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Mainline Protestants (my tribe) traditional missions that focus on proclamation and church planting is out of favor. In part that's due to excesses in the past as well as a refocusing on matters of justice and development. Nevertheless, the Christian faith has been missional from the beginning, so how might we live missionally or perhaps engage in mission as a virtuous practice?

Michael Niebaurer seeks to defend proclamation and church planting/gathering by rooting it in the virtue ethics/ Moral theology of Aquinas and Alasdair McIntyre. Before laying out his own vision of mission as a virtuous practice that includes proclamation and gathering, he engages and critiques three models of mission extant today -- "Missio Dei" which looks to find where God is at work and join God. The second is the church growth model/church planting models of Donald McGavran and his followers. Finally, he engages with those who approach missions from a pluralistic vantage point. He notes both where these models have value and where they fall short. The critiques are helpful, even if one does not embrace the entire premise of the book.

[Sola.scriptura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an interesting book. Got a feeling however that the mission paradigms that are examined (Missio Dei, church growth movement, interreligious dialogue) are looked upon very simplistically. And if Aquinas solved the questions of "ought" and "is", and "morality", then why we still talk about it centuries later. Preaching the Gospel and planting churches and then leaving is not really a novelty as well... Took some ideas from the book, but I somehow was expecting something more.

[Clinton Crumley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has become my top book of the year. He effectively and with clarity describes the work of missions that should be on every student, professor, and practitioner of missions to the glory of God!

[Ethan Moehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of the more niche books I’ve read. Really helpful at points. Niebauer is a smart writer. This book would be helpful for anyone who is considering a call to missions or church planting. Would require some ‘translation’ to be useful for larger groups of people.