Save Europe: Reintroducing Christianity to Post-Christian Europe
Ebook
Overview
Europe is a continent of ironies. There are beautiful, historic church buildings, but they are empty on Sunday mornings. Europeans have been surrounded by Christianity for centuries, but Christ is not in them. Is this the future of Christianity in Europe? May it never be! The author combines cultural analysis with a prophetic insight to propose a new direction for the European churches. The decline of Christianity in Europe has been necessary to shed excess baggage. The beautiful heritage of Christianity in Europe is truly wonderful, but that is not the essence of Christianity. Churches must return to the original priorities of the faith. Be a fisher of men. Do not assume that people already know about Christianity but are not interested. People may not be interested in religion, but Jesus has an irresistible appeal. Christianity cannot be reinvented, but churches can. If churches stop presuming that Europeans are already Christians and instead compete in the marketplace of ideas, they will be able to win back the hearts of the post-Christian Europeans. Europe is the most important mission field of the twenty-first century and the fiercest spiritual contest will take place in Europe. If you desire to be a servant of the Lord, ask him to send you into the harvest field of Europe. Exciting days are ahead of us.
“Ted Kim has a bold vision for renewing the cause of the gospel
in Europe. In a manner that is both highly informative and
delightfully provocative, he sets forth his vision with solid
theology, cultural savvy, and practical wisdom. Reading him has
forced me to rethink some things that I have been taking for
granted. In this fine book Ted Kim has given me some new reasons to
be hopeful about what God will yet accomplish in Europe—and beyond
that in the global church.”
—Richard Mouw, President Emeritus, Fuller Theological
Seminary
“I wish to congratulate Ted on presenting such an ambitious and
wide-ranging discussion of so many issues facing Christian faith in
western Europe today. His style is punchy, to the point, and easy
to read. The text moves along at a fair clip. Many of his points
are insightful and challenging. As often the work of an ‘outsider’
to the region can bring fresh insight which the ‘locals’ may not
perceive. There is much to learn from many points Ted makes. We do
not have to agree on everything to learn from each other. There is
much food for thought for those who care to reflect. I recommend
Ted’s book to you.”
—Malcolm Clegg, lecturer, Evangelical Higher Theological Seminary,
Poland
“As a long-time missionary and educator to Europe, I was excited to
read Ted Kim’s book, Save Europe. Kim shares my heart and
passion for post-Christian Europe. The majority of books that I
have read regarding mission in Europe have offered diagnosis of the
spiritual crisis. However, Ted Kim not only gives a diagnosis of
the spiritual ailment in Europe, which has implications throughout
the West, but he also offers a missional prescription to
reintroduce Christianity. As a Korean pastor and scholar, Ted Kim
is not attempting to introduce an American version of Christianity
into Europe. Rather, he seeks to deconstruct Christianity in Europe
to the fundamental elements—i.e., the word of God, the Holy Spirit,
the fellowship of Christians, and charity. Kim re-visions church
that is uniquely European, yet authentic, missional, and deeply
spiritual for a secular society that long ago rejected the
construct of Christendom. . . . Save Europe is refreshing
and encouraging. I agree with Kim that the best for Europe is saved
for last.”
—Blayne C. Waltrip, Assistant Professor of Global Mission and
Church Development, Pentecostal Theological Seminary
“Ted Kim discusses the situation with Christianity in Europe with
projection to the entire world. He asserts that the truth of the
gospel must be recovered by churches in Europe to bring people back
to faith and church. He touches on many issues of church life and
Christian living. You may not be in agreement with everything Ted
Kim states, but his conclusions and ideas are thought-provoking and
calling to action.”
—Vasily Dmitrievsky, Professor in World Missions and Intercultural
Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
“In Save Europe, Ted Kim pointedly outlines the emptiness of
Europe’s post-Christian identity and grapples with how the gospel
can restore a sense of grounding to Europe’s present and future.
Similar to Paul in the book of Acts, Kim has heard the Macedonian
call from the European West and wants to motivate a generation of
people to save Europe through prayers, academics, the arts, and
public theologies. While one may not agree with all of Kim’s
assumptions, suggestions, and conclusions, the reader will glean
multiple gems. The book’s prophetic focus on the gospel for a
post-Christian context makes this text relevant and
compelling.”
—Kirsten S. Oh, Professor of Practical Theology, Azusa Pacific
University
“This is surely is a necessary volume. We Americans rarely think of
Europe as a needy mission field. They are not ‘colored’ enough for
that. A terrible and costly mistake. God needs us there, and I am
pleased that Ted Kim has responded to his leading.”
—William E. Pannell, Professor Emeritus of Preaching, Fuller
Theological Seminary
“Should Europe be evangelized again? Should the gospel be preached
again in Europe when there are innumerable places on earth where
the good news has not been preached even once? Yes, says Rev. Ted
Kim. That’s the thrust of his new book, Save Europe. This
book is hugely relevant at a time when there is a certain cold
apathy creeping into the church at large with regard to winning new
souls and new grounds for Christ. While acknowledging the
accomplishment of the European church as monumental, he also
emphasizes the need to reinstate the gifts and calling of the
Europeans. This book is a must-read for evangelical
Christians.”
—Robin Sam, Editor, The Christian Messenger
“Europe has become the most difficult mission in the world today.
Secularism poses a new kind of challenge for Christian
missionaries. As a servant of God, Ted Kim is rightly concerned
about this and, in this book, offers the type of help that can only
come from a non-European. His passion is exactly what is needed to
re-evangelize Europeans. This book will not only cause readers to
see Europe as the mission field that it is, it will also convict
them to pray. This is a book for everyone concerned about God’s
mission in the world, which should actually be every Christian in
the world.”
—Harvey C. Kwiyani, Lecturer in African Christianity and Theology,
Liverpool Hope University
“As Ted Kim says, he is not writing so much academically as
prophetically to stir up Christians for the Great Commission. The
author has a passion to see the gospel touch the old continent
again in a new way. . . . The biblically based argument is
encouraging: God has not given up on Europe. He wants to give it a
new opportunity. . . . Yet, the gospel of peace still needs to
penetrate the hearts of the Europeans! Ted Kim’s book calls us to
do the job!”
—Marko Halttunen, Director of Conference Centre, Iso Kirja Bible
College, Finland
- Title: Save Europe: Reintroducing Christianity to Post-Christian Europe
- Author: Ted Kim
- Publisher: Resource Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2021
- Logos Release Date: 2021
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781725279285, 9781725279254, 9781725279339, 1725279282, 1725279258, 1725279339
- Resource ID: LLS:9781725279285
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T20:26:02Z
Ted Kim is a preacher, theologian, and Christian thinker with a
vision to reintroduce the gospel to Europe. Ted studied philosophy
at Yale University and law at Columbia Law School. Instead of
pursuing a career as a Wall Street lawyer, Ted enrolled at Fuller
Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Ordained in 1991, Ted
Kim went back to South Korea, where he planted a church at a
bowling alley in Seoul with a handful of people, which rapidly grew
to more than nine thousand registered members. During twenty years
of pastoring Good News Presbyterian Church, he baptized more than
one thousand people. With ten years left until retirement, Pastor
Kim felt the leading of the Lord to resign his post to start new
missionary work in Europe. Based in Berlin, Ted hopes to work all
over Europe wherever his service is welcomed and needed.