Missiology as theology

For those of us who still think that we can do mission without theology. We should think again. Luzbetak argues that most mission theorists consider missiology to be basically theological. Schliermacher considers all study of mission as a form of pastoral theology. Although today there is no agreement as to how missiology fits into an overall scheme of theology, it is a fact that theology will always occupy the central place and will always play the determining role. He argues that the object of missiology must repeatedly be examined, tested and re-tested, not so much in the light of human wisdom but in terms of how God understands mission. The most important themes in mission are what God regards as genuine salvation activities and what God means by the "kingdom of God."

Thus, "theology is the real acid test inmission and holds the place of honor among the disciplines involved. All other fields, including anthropology, are essentially supportive in nature and have a cross-fertilizing, expanding, strenghtening, and integrating function. In a word, the other fields are essential, but they are supplementary dimensions of a basically theological field."

Although we do not like theology (or even mentioned the word), we can not deny that theology is central in doing mission. If anybody claims that they can do mission or any of its activities, they need to do serious thinking because mission without theology is impossible.

The Church and Cultures: New Perspectives on Missiological Anthropology by Louis J. Luzbetak, p. 14.