Sending vir kerk of koninkryk (1999): Enkele gedagtes oor die siening van Spoelstra

Abstract

Mission for Church or Kingdom: Thoughts on Spoelstra’s view

This book about mission work by the Reformed Churches in South Africa was written by a well-known church historian, and one reads it with high expectations. Although valuable information is provided, especially about the period before 1928, much of the information about the period from 1828 to the present is inaccurate. Moreover, the author seems to have a strong bias, which is manifested in his efforts to interpret and even twist facts in his efforts to demonstrate what he regards as pietistic and paternalistic trends. Many important aspects of mission work, especially the work on the frontiers of the encounter between the gospel and the Venda people, are not mentioned. As a whole the book does not fulfil the expectations raised by the title.