World Christianity is now becoming an accepted term in scholarship. It is increasingly being seen as a field of study and not only a subject because of, as this short article suggests, the worldwide nature of the Christian faith. The history of Christianity explains why this is the case.
Since the inception of Christianity, the Middle East and North Africa (Syria, Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia) have been, for some centuries, the great centers and examples of Christianity. These places produced theological development, scholarship, Christian devotion, martyrs, and witnesses that shaped Christianity from its birth. However, over time, they became the most conflicted and least prosperous of Christian fields.
At other times in history, for a long time, Christianity became associated particularly with Europe, so that Europeans began to think of themselves as Christians on the map, the Christian territorial line, the Christian part of the world, even when there were Christian communities outside, such as in Ethiopia, the USA, South India, and Central Asia, of which Europeans knew little or nothing.
In many ways, the twentieth century is significant because it marked the shift of the Christian faith from being a religion specific to Europe and people of European descent to a truly global phenomenon where the majority of adherents were Africans, Asians, Latin Americans, and Pacific Islanders, and Europeans became less and less significant. That points to a fresh period in Christian history. It suggests a new chapter in church history.
Future of World Christianity
The future trajectory of Christianity remains unknown to scholars studying the global religion. Whether we are living in the final days of the church or the early era is a mystery to all of us, but one thing is certain: new things are happening all over the world.
Christian studies must become more cognizant of Christian centers outside of the West and more reflective of this global phenomenon. In terms of followers, Christianity is primarily a non-Western religion today. This must have a significant effect on theology and, by extension, how we approach the study of history of Christianity.
The study of Christianity has wider implications for the church itself because of theological issues that arise out of the actual lives of actual Christians. This is not something that you work out in the library. It’s something that requires thorough research. For instance, how do we, as Christians, respond to situations that are culturally determined? Furthermore, it stands to reason that in the church, tropical Africa, Brazil, and China have hugely become important contributors to any future chapter of the history of Christianity. These are going to introduce new theological issues and questions that require Christian answers.
The Nature of World Christianity
Christianity began with church fathers, who had to deal with problems arising from the Hellenistic world, from the Greek tradition of thought and from circumstances arising from Roman law. This was a period of great importance and influence for the theology of creative thinking that could potentially occur anywhere in the world today.
The Christian community is no longer centered on a particular location. Around the world, spiritual energy is bubbling over; all kinds of innovative activities are happening. Initiatives for missions can begin and end anywhere. Maintaining this is a significant burden if you work in the academic sector. All these factors become important if your business is the study, practice, or propagation of Christianity.
In the book of Revelation, the prophet tells us that the Christian faith leads to a city that has twelve gates with three in each direction: north, south, east, and west. And all the treasures of all the nations are brought on roads leading into that city. The same prophet gives us the vision of the great multitude whom none can number out of every tried nation and kindred who are singing the traces of the Lamb. While the exact course of world Christianity remains uncertain, the prophecy described in Revelation will mark the pinnacle of world Christianity.
World Christianity is now becoming an accepted term in scholarship. It is increasingly being seen as a field of study and not only a subject because of, as this short article suggests, the worldwide nature of the Christian faith. The history of Christianity explains why this is the case.
Since the inception of Christianity, the Middle East and North Africa (Syria, Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia) have been, for some centuries, the great centers and examples of Christianity. These places produced theological development, scholarship, Christian devotion, martyrs, and witnesses that shaped Christianity from its birth. However, over time, they became the most conflicted and least prosperous of Christian fields.
At other times in history, for a long time, Christianity became associated particularly with Europe, so that Europeans began to think of themselves as Christians on the map, the Christian territorial line, the Christian part of the world, even when there were Christian communities outside, such as in Ethiopia, the USA, South India, and Central Asia, of which Europeans knew little or nothing.
In many ways, the twentieth century is significant because it marked the shift of the Christian faith from being a religion specific to Europe and people of European descent to a truly global phenomenon where the majority of adherents were Africans, Asians, Latin Americans, and Pacific Islanders, and Europeans became less and less significant. That points to a fresh period in Christian history. It suggests a new chapter in church history.
Future of World Christianity
The future trajectory of Christianity remains unknown to scholars studying the global religion. Whether we are living in the final days of the church or the early era is a mystery to all of us, but one thing is certain: new things are happening all over the world.
Christian studies must become more cognizant of Christian centers outside of the West and more reflective of this global phenomenon. In terms of followers, Christianity is primarily a non-Western religion today. This must have a significant effect on theology and, by extension, how we approach the study of history of Christianity.
The study of Christianity has wider implications for the church itself because of theological issues that arise out of the actual lives of actual Christians. This is not something that you work out in the library. It’s something that requires thorough research. For instance, how do we, as Christians, respond to situations that are culturally determined? Furthermore, it stands to reason that in the church, tropical Africa, Brazil, and China have hugely become important contributors to any future chapter of the history of Christianity. These are going to introduce new theological issues and questions that require Christian answers.
The Nature of World Christianity
Christianity began with church fathers, who had to deal with problems arising from the Hellenistic world, from the Greek tradition of thought and from circumstances arising from Roman law. This was a period of great importance and influence for the theology of creative thinking that could potentially occur anywhere in the world today.
The Christian community is no longer centered on a particular location. Around the world, spiritual energy is bubbling over; all kinds of innovative activities are happening. Initiatives for missions can begin and end anywhere. Maintaining this is a significant burden if you work in the academic sector. All these factors become important if your business is the study, practice, or propagation of Christianity.
In the book of Revelation, the prophet tells us that the Christian faith leads to a city that has twelve gates with three in each direction: north, south, east, and west. And all the treasures of all the nations are brought on roads leading into that city. The same prophet gives us the vision of the great multitude whom none can number out of every tried nation and kindred who are singing the traces of the Lamb. While the exact course of world Christianity remains uncertain, the prophecy described in Revelation will mark the pinnacle of world Christianity.
