EMQ » July – Oct 2024 » Volume 60 Issue 3
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Mutuality in Missiology
Summary: Mutuality can be a powerful concept in missiology. It captures a sense of how Christ came to us in his earthly ministry, emptying himself to serve others. Using the word mutuality in missiology requires a different definition than what we find in other areas of interest. Mutuality can inform and speak into our approach to missions and is already being used in various ways by those taking the gospel into new cultures and places.
By Ted Esler
The word “mutuality” has been rising in usage in missiological discussion. It is also being utilized more in conversations surrounding male/female relationships and race. Because issues of critical theory are pressing against a biblical worldview, mutuality as a word has the potential to be used without a centered, common understanding.
Academics have not written much on the topic of mutuality. In 2013, Marcus Dean wrote about the relationship between Westerners and non-Westerners in a paper published by the journal, Missiology.[i] He wrote that defining mutuality is aided by looking at other disciplines such as politics, personal relationship theory, and medicine. This was necessarily helpful in 2013 because the topic of mutuality was, “not widely studied in missions, nor is it a significant factor in our individualistic Western culture.”[ii]
In 2024 a different approach is needed. Mutuality as a term is being used in numerous spheres. This list would include teacher/student relationships, race and racism discussions, and male/female relationships (particularly in marriage). These are all appropriate uses in their context, but a deeper understanding is needed for how the gospel is communicated across cultures.
