Transformationalism
Encyclopedia
Transformationalism, or Transformational Christianity
, represents a fusion of evangelicalism
, Pentecostalism
, and ecumenism that started becoming prominent in the early 21st century. Unlike previous movements, it is typically embodied in regional meta-church
organizations — alliances of churches from different denominational backgrounds — rather than particular churches
, denominations, or parachurch organizations. Critics of Transformationalism accuse it of over-realised eschatology
, false dichotomies, unnecessary idealism and a tendency to be corrosive of individual church identities.
, and socially with ecumenicals — though only up to a point. The emphasis is less on being theologically or politically correct than on being effective in transforming the world around you (and yourself). It thus tends to reflect the kingdom theology
of Gordon Fee
's radical middle
approach to Christianity, which characterizes the role of the church as manifesting God's kingdom on earth.
Several criticisms have been made. Firstly "people" and "nations" are parallel ideas, and no biblical distinction is being made. Secondly, the creation mandate
should be distinguished from the salvation mandate. Silvoso conflates the two; even though the creation command to work is not the same as the command to worship. Building the church and the kingdom are not separate ideas that can be distinguished neatly, and so once again a false dichotomy is posed. Finally, judging whether the kingdom has come on grounds of health and wealth is highly disputed.
In one sense, this is a return to the ideals of the Protestant reformation
, with its emphasis on the "priesthood of all believers" and the value of secular work. The key difference is that transformationalism is set in the context of a post-Christian culture, where personal evangelism is both possible and (in this view) necessary. Thus, secular work is also viewed as a platform for evangelization. At the same time, transformationalists would also affirm—and celebrate—the intrinsic value of work, both as an aspect of worship and as a service to society.
Secular authorities, however, still expect Christians to do the work that they are supposed to do, and the ability of some to give all their time to Christian ministry for the sake of equipping the saints should still be desired. In the transformational movement, however, full-time Christian ministry can be seen in a negative light. Christian heroes have often been remembered for their sacrifice; it is an unusual spirituality that wants to ignore this and suggest worldly riches as a badge of honour.
The "one church in the city" idea is based on an unusual reading of the Scriptures that supposes that just because there was only one church in each city in the time of the primitive church, that there should also be today. It is also based in the anti-denominationalism of Restorationism, the ministry of Watchman Nee
and Derek Prince
. Some would argue that denominations can be seen in the Bible, where Paul had direct influence in some churches (Ephesus, Thessalonica) and not in others (Rome, Jerusalem).
which took place around the world in the 1990s. These were documented by several individuals, notably: George Otis, Jr. and his popular (if controversial) Transformations film which claims drug arrests (see Cali Cartel
) were connected to revival in the Colombian city. Jack Dennison also wrote a book, City Reaching. This led to an upswell of global interest in both city reaching and marketplace ministry. Argentinian
evangelist Ed Silvoso popularized the latter approach in his book Anointed for Business, which introduced the term Marketplace Transformation. This combined with the concept of community transformation to develop a more general focus on transformation.
The term 'Transformationalism' was apparently first used in conjunction with groups such as Pray the Bay in early 2004, reflecting a more general view of transformation as a key (if not defining) attribute of the Christian life. This coincided with a possibly unrelated increase in the use of the term 'transformation' by a wide range of different churches and organizations during 2004.
Transformation conferences in 2005 (Indonesia
) and 2007 (Seoul, Korea
) focused on five "streams": saturation church planting
; revival; reaching cities; marketplace ministry
and economic development
for the poor. The goal was, among other things, to develop a transformational covenant, to provide further definition to this movement.
of traditional Evangelicalism. However, by shifting the focus from individual conversion to large-scale transformation, it adopts an approach not unlike the social gospel
of Liberal and the Liberal Evangelicalism of the pre-war period (this is in contrast to the more confrontational approach of fundamentalism
). Unlike the Christian Right
, transformationalists emphasize that the way to achieve a renewed society is through personal testimony and servant-leadership towards those in power, rather than political manoeuvring. This places it near to progressive evangelicalism. Some aspects are reminiscent of the Dutch Neo-Calvinists
, Abraham Kuyper
and Herman Dooyeweerd
, especially talk of "filling up the spheres
of society."
Transformational groups typically involve a cross-section of Catholic
, Protestant, and non-denominational churches (though not borderline groups such as Mormons). Most still tend to have an evangelical, or even fundamentalist, statement of faith; however, they are generally more concerned with being inclusive than exclusive, and often will attempt to accommodate individuals and churches with more liberal theological views if they share a compatible vision of the goals and means of transformation. Transformational movements are often mediated by other trans-denominational initiatives such as the Alpha Course
or Promise Keepers
, which share a similar heritage and goals.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, represents a fusion of evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
, and ecumenism that started becoming prominent in the early 21st century. Unlike previous movements, it is typically embodied in regional meta-church
Non-denominational Christianity
In Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations...
organizations — alliances of churches from different denominational backgrounds — rather than particular churches
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
, denominations, or parachurch organizations. Critics of Transformationalism accuse it of over-realised eschatology
Eschatology
Eschatology is a part of theology, philosophy, and futurology concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world or the World to Come...
, false dichotomies, unnecessary idealism and a tendency to be corrosive of individual church identities.
Radical middle
Transformational Christianity interprets the gospel from a unified perspective of transforming individuals, relationships, and institutions. It thus tends to align intellectually with evangelicals, emotionally with charismaticsCharismatic Christianity
Charismatic Christianity is a Christian doctrine that maintains that modern-day believers experience miracles, prophecy, speaking in tongues, and other spiritual gifts as described in of the Bible...
, and socially with ecumenicals — though only up to a point. The emphasis is less on being theologically or politically correct than on being effective in transforming the world around you (and yourself). It thus tends to reflect the kingdom theology
Kingdom theology
Kingdom theology is a system of Christian thought that elaborates on inaugurated eschatology, which is a way of understanding the various teachings on the kingdom of God found throughout the New Testament. It is often associated with the Vineyard movement...
of Gordon Fee
Gordon Fee
Gordon Donald Fee is an American-Canadian Christian theologian and an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God . He currently serves as Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada.-Biography:...
's radical middle
Radical middle
The terms radical center , radical middle or radical centrism describe a philosophy as well as an associated political movement and position on the political spectrum...
approach to Christianity, which characterizes the role of the church as manifesting God's kingdom on earth.
Defining beliefs
Ed Silvoso identifies "Five Pivotal Paradigms" he considers essential for sustainable transformation to take place. Specifically, he calls people to recognize that:Several criticisms have been made. Firstly "people" and "nations" are parallel ideas, and no biblical distinction is being made. Secondly, the creation mandate
Cultural mandate
The cultural mandate or creation mandate is the divine injunction found in Genesis 1:28, in which God , after having created the world and all in it, ascribes to humankind the tasks of filling, subduing, and ruling over the earth...
should be distinguished from the salvation mandate. Silvoso conflates the two; even though the creation command to work is not the same as the command to worship. Building the church and the kingdom are not separate ideas that can be distinguished neatly, and so once again a false dichotomy is posed. Finally, judging whether the kingdom has come on grounds of health and wealth is highly disputed.
Marketplace ministers
One defining aspect of transformationalism is its focus on what are called marketplace ministers. In this context, as in many Christian circles, the term 'marketplace' is used to represent business, education, and government—i.e., everything outside the church and family. The heroes of most other movements are celebrated for their church-related activities (e.g., evangelists, missionaries, bishops, apostles, etc.). In contrast, the heroes of transformationalism are lionized for their work outside the church. Importantly, they are expected to deliver secular success (new business, increased profits or efficiency, improved workplace conditions) as a precondition to spiritual success (conversions, transformed lifestyles, formal acknowledgement of Christianity, etc.). They are not valued just for making money, or even just for bringing people into the church; rather, they are seen as the primary carriers for bringing the "kingdom of God" or "presence of Jesus Christ" into the world.In one sense, this is a return to the ideals of the Protestant reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, with its emphasis on the "priesthood of all believers" and the value of secular work. The key difference is that transformationalism is set in the context of a post-Christian culture, where personal evangelism is both possible and (in this view) necessary. Thus, secular work is also viewed as a platform for evangelization. At the same time, transformationalists would also affirm—and celebrate—the intrinsic value of work, both as an aspect of worship and as a service to society.
Secular authorities, however, still expect Christians to do the work that they are supposed to do, and the ability of some to give all their time to Christian ministry for the sake of equipping the saints should still be desired. In the transformational movement, however, full-time Christian ministry can be seen in a negative light. Christian heroes have often been remembered for their sacrifice; it is an unusual spirituality that wants to ignore this and suggest worldly riches as a badge of honour.
Regional pastoring
A related innovation is the concept of city-wide pastoring. The key premise is that in addition to the concepts of one "church universal" and many "local congregations," which most Christians accept, there is also a third level: "the church in the city". The idea is that all the congregations in a particular region, of whatever denomination, are really aspects of a single church family, and should actively think, plan, and work together under that common framework. This doesn't mean that a single unifying structure is imposed from above, as in the old establishment idea of parishes. Rather, it involves formalizing the existing networks of relationship and trust into a coherent organizational structure, usually involving councils of recognized leaders from different communities. This typically means the church as a whole develops a common vision, which is implemented by individual congregations with minimal explicit coordination. It also enables the Christian community to speak with one voice when dealing with local government; however, the focus is usually on finding ways to cooperate in serving the community, rather than dictating policy.The "one church in the city" idea is based on an unusual reading of the Scriptures that supposes that just because there was only one church in each city in the time of the primitive church, that there should also be today. It is also based in the anti-denominationalism of Restorationism, the ministry of Watchman Nee
Watchman Nee
Watchman Nee was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. Together with Wangzai, Zhou-An Lee, Shang-Jie Song, and others, Nee founded The Church Assembly...
and Derek Prince
Derek Prince
Peter Derek Vaughan Prince was an international Bible teacher whose daily radio programme Derek Prince Legacy Radio broadcasts to half the population of the world in various languages...
. Some would argue that denominations can be seen in the Bible, where Paul had direct influence in some churches (Ephesus, Thessalonica) and not in others (Rome, Jerusalem).
History
The concept of transformation was birthed out of an apparently uncoordinated series of city-wide revivalsRevival meeting
A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held in order to inspire active members of a church body, to raise funds and to gain new converts...
which took place around the world in the 1990s. These were documented by several individuals, notably: George Otis, Jr. and his popular (if controversial) Transformations film which claims drug arrests (see Cali Cartel
Cali Cartel
The Cali Cartel was a drug cartel based in southern Colombia, around the city of Cali and the Valle del Cauca Department. The Cali Cartel was founded by the Rodríguez Orejuela brothers, Gilberto and Miguel, as well as associate José Santacruz Londoño...
) were connected to revival in the Colombian city. Jack Dennison also wrote a book, City Reaching. This led to an upswell of global interest in both city reaching and marketplace ministry. Argentinian
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
evangelist Ed Silvoso popularized the latter approach in his book Anointed for Business, which introduced the term Marketplace Transformation. This combined with the concept of community transformation to develop a more general focus on transformation.
The term 'Transformationalism' was apparently first used in conjunction with groups such as Pray the Bay in early 2004, reflecting a more general view of transformation as a key (if not defining) attribute of the Christian life. This coincided with a possibly unrelated increase in the use of the term 'transformation' by a wide range of different churches and organizations during 2004.
Transformation conferences in 2005 (Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
) and 2007 (Seoul, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
) focused on five "streams": saturation church planting
Church planting
Church planting is a process that results in a new Christian church being established. It should be distinguished from church development, where a new service, new worship centre or fresh expression is created that is integrated into an already established congregation...
; revival; reaching cities; marketplace ministry
Marketplace ministry
Marketplace ministry typically refers to evangelism or other Christian activities that are targeted towards the secular workplace, as opposed to homes, churches, or specialized venues . It can also refer to particular parachurch organizations that focus on such ministry...
and economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
for the poor. The goal was, among other things, to develop a transformational covenant, to provide further definition to this movement.
Comparisons
Transformationalism is a more secular version of the Manifest Sons of God doctrine that emerged from the Latter Rain Movement. It is also similar to the revivalismChristian revival
Christian revival is a term that generally refers to a specific period of increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a church congregation or many churches, either regionally or globally...
of traditional Evangelicalism. However, by shifting the focus from individual conversion to large-scale transformation, it adopts an approach not unlike the social gospel
Social Gospel
The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
of Liberal and the Liberal Evangelicalism of the pre-war period (this is in contrast to the more confrontational approach of fundamentalism
Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
). Unlike the Christian Right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
, transformationalists emphasize that the way to achieve a renewed society is through personal testimony and servant-leadership towards those in power, rather than political manoeuvring. This places it near to progressive evangelicalism. Some aspects are reminiscent of the Dutch Neo-Calvinists
Neo-Calvinism
Neo-Calvinism, a form of Dutch Calvinism, is the movement initiated by the theologian and former Dutch prime minister Abraham Kuyper.- Introduction :...
, Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuijper generally known as Abraham Kuyper, was a Dutch politician, journalist, statesman and theologian...
and Herman Dooyeweerd
Herman Dooyeweerd
Herman Dooyeweerd was a Dutch juridical scholar by training, who by vocation was a philosopher and the founder of the philosophy of the cosmonomic idea. He received early support for his work from his brother-in-law D. H. Th. Vollenhoven...
, especially talk of "filling up the spheres
Sphere sovereignty
In Neo-Calvinism, sphere sovereignty is the concept that each sphere of life has its own distinct responsibilities and authority or competence, and stands equal to other spheres of life. Sphere sovereignty involves the idea of an all encompassing created order, designed and governed by God...
of society."
Transformational groups typically involve a cross-section of Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Protestant, and non-denominational churches (though not borderline groups such as Mormons). Most still tend to have an evangelical, or even fundamentalist, statement of faith; however, they are generally more concerned with being inclusive than exclusive, and often will attempt to accommodate individuals and churches with more liberal theological views if they share a compatible vision of the goals and means of transformation. Transformational movements are often mediated by other trans-denominational initiatives such as the Alpha Course
Alpha course
The Alpha course is a course which seeks to explore the basics of the Christian faith, described as "an opportunity to explore the meaning of life" . Alpha courses are currently being run in churches, homes, workplaces, prisons, universities and a wide variety of other locations...
or Promise Keepers
Promise Keepers
Promise Keepers is an international conservative Christian organization for men. While it originated in the United States, it is now world-wide...
, which share a similar heritage and goals.
Organizations
- Harvest Evangelism's Apostolic Transformation Network
- Transform World
- The Real Talk Program on KFIA radio with Joe Pursch
- Center for Transformational Christianity, Sacramento, CA
- Transformational Alliance of Santa Clara County (Northern California, USA)
Documents
- Mission as Transformation, Vinay Samuel and Christopher Sugden, 1999
- Transformational Covenant (Indonesia 2005)
- City Reaching: On the Road to Community Transformation by Jack Dennison
- Transformation: A Unifying Vision of God, People & Work (PDFPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
) - Car Wash Christianity by Phil Ware
- Living the NORMAL "REVIVED" Christian Life by Don Lamb
- Transforming Discipleship by Greg Ogden
- Putting God In A Box – Transformationalism
- Transformational Christianity by John Isaacs
- A Model of Spiritual Transformation by Center for Christian Leadership
- What If God Were Real? by John Avant of First West Church
Criticisms
Other meanings
Transformationalism can also refer to:- a theory in linguisticsLinguisticsLinguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
- an artArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
istic movement supposedly founded by the Transformationalists of the late 19th century, which received a perhaps tongue-in-cheek revival in 1979 from START: Stoke-on-TrentStoke-on-TrentStoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
's Magazine Of The Arts - See also: The Transformationalists