Bibliography: leaves 146-158. / This dissertation attempts to answer the question "Do the methodological and epistemological proposals of John M. Frame have anything to contribute to the construction of a contextual evangelical theology in South Africa - a theology which is both faithful to its evangelical roots and yet radically engaged with the contemporary context?" This question is dealt with in four stages. Firstly, Frame's theology is expounded against the background of its context in America. Secondly, four aspects of Frame's theology are critically evaluated. They are perspectivalism, theology as application, hermeneutics, and the relationship between theology and praxis. This evaluation has three dimensions. It investigates the relationship between Frame's theology and the historic Reformed tradition. It examines the use that is made of Frame's theology by other theologians related to the Westminster Seminaries, in particular, the work of Harvie M. Conn and Vern S. Poythress. Finally, the evaluation seeks to examine the usefulness of Frame's theology in the South African context. This analysis results in the identification of certain weaknesses in Frame's methodological proposals. The conclusion of this dissertation is that Frame's theology provides certain methodological tools which can be employed in the construction of a contextual South African theology which is both radically engaged with its context, and faithful to the core of the evangelical tradition. For this to be possible it is proposed that certain modifications need to be made to overcome the weaknesses of Frame's theology. These modifications are the following: the integration of a strongly christological approach to Frame's concept of lordship with particular reference to a theology of the cross; the affirmation that God is, in a particular way, the God of the poor and oppressed; an understanding of the accommodated and context-relatedness of biblical revelation, and the incorporation of perspectives from the sociology of knowledge.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie kom voort uit die groeiende behoefte onder Christene in Suid-Afrika om die evangelie aan Moslems te kommunikeer. Die vertrekpunt van die studie is in 'n charismaties-evangeliese teologie, 'n tradisie wat tot op hede nog nie ernstige teologiese aandag aan getuienis teenoor Moslems gegee het nie. Dit gee 'n oorsig oor die herkoms van Suid-Afrikaanse Moslems en konsentreer dan op die uitdaging wat aan Christene gestel word deur die aktiwiteite van Mnr. Ahmed Deedat en die Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI). Die ontstaan van die IPCI en die inhoud van hulle openbare debatte en publikasies word eerstens ontleed. Daarna word die programme van drie Christengroepe, wat pertinent op die aktiwiteite van die IPCI reageer, beskryf en geevalueer. In 'n slothoofstuk word riglyne neergele vir 'n alternatiewe benadering teenoor Moslems wat klem le op die plaaslike gemeente en op vriendskapevangelisasie / This study emerges from a growing desire of Christians in South Africa to communicate the gospel to Muslims. The starting point of the study is in a charismaticevangelical theology, a tradition which has not yet given serious theological attention to Christian witness to Muslims. It gives a survey of the origin of South African Muslims and then concentrates on the challenge presented to Christians by the activities of Mr. Ahmed Deedat and the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI). First of all the development of the IPCI and the content of its public debates and publications are analysed. Then the programmes of three Christian groups that have have reacted pertinently to the IPCI are described and evaluated. In a closing chapter some guidelines are given for an alternative approach to Muslims which emphasises the local congregation and f~iendship evangelism / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Sendingwetenskap)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie kom voort uit die groeiende behoefte onder Christene in Suid-Afrika om die evangelie aan Moslems te kommunikeer. Die vertrekpunt van die studie is in 'n charismaties-evangeliese teologie, 'n tradisie wat tot op hede nog nie ernstige teologiese aandag aan getuienis teenoor Moslems gegee het nie. Dit gee 'n oorsig oor die herkoms van Suid-Afrikaanse Moslems en konsentreer dan op die uitdaging wat aan Christene gestel word deur die aktiwiteite van Mnr. Ahmed Deedat en die Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI). Die ontstaan van die IPCI en die inhoud van hulle openbare debatte en publikasies word eerstens ontleed. Daarna word die programme van drie Christengroepe, wat pertinent op die aktiwiteite van die IPCI reageer, beskryf en geevalueer. In 'n slothoofstuk word riglyne neergele vir 'n alternatiewe benadering teenoor Moslems wat klem le op die plaaslike gemeente en op vriendskapevangelisasie / This study emerges from a growing desire of Christians in South Africa to communicate the gospel to Muslims. The starting point of the study is in a charismaticevangelical theology, a tradition which has not yet given serious theological attention to Christian witness to Muslims. It gives a survey of the origin of South African Muslims and then concentrates on the challenge presented to Christians by the activities of Mr. Ahmed Deedat and the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI). First of all the development of the IPCI and the content of its public debates and publications are analysed. Then the programmes of three Christian groups that have have reacted pertinently to the IPCI are described and evaluated. In a closing chapter some guidelines are given for an alternative approach to Muslims which emphasises the local congregation and f~iendship evangelism / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Sendingwetenskap)

Text in Afrikaans / Evangelisasiewerk het in die Hervormde Kerk nog nooit regtig van die grand af gekom nie. Jaar na jaar word daar op vergaderings verslag gedoen dat daar in die meeste gemeentes op hierdie gebied nie·veel gebeur nie. Hierdie studie het gevra na die werklike stand van sake tans in die Kerk; die paradigmaverskuiwing wat besig is om plaas te vind; en na 'n moontlike nuwe teorie om die huidige praxis mee te probeer wysig. Die resultate van die ondersoek het die volgende opgelewer: - Tans is daar ongeveer 15% van die gemeentes wat hoegenaamd op 'n georganiseerde wyse by evangelisasiewerk betrokke is; - 0,38% van die totale lidmaattal van die Kerk is toegerus vir evangelisasiewerk, en gebruik hulle opleiding; - Die Kerk het egter reeds die regte besluite in sy vergaderings geneem, soos bv dat die gemeente die evangelis is en dat elke lidmaat betrokke moet wees. Hierdie besluite moet geimplementeer word. Myns insiens kan dit alleen gebeur wanneer daar op gemeentevlak met harde teologiese arbeid deelgeneem word aan die huidige gesprek random 'n prakties-teologiese ekklesiologie. / When the annual reports of the Hervormde Kerk are being studied, it becomes clear that the church finds itself in a crisis. The essence of this crisis manifests itself in the fact that the church is not evangelising the world as it is suppose to do. This study was undertaken to ask what is really going on in the field of evangelisation in the church; to look at the paradigm shift that is taken place at the moment; and, to ask for a new theory to try to alter the current praxis. The results of this study are: - Only 15% of the congregations of the church are involved in organised evangelisation activities; - 0,38% of churchmembers are trained and are using their training to do evangelisation; - The church has already realised that the congregation is suppose to be the evangelist and that every member must be involved in this ministry. But it has not yet come from the ground. This can only happen, I believe, when the congregation starts to participate in finding an ecclesiology for the time and context that we are living in. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / Th. D. (Praktiese Teologie)

Text in Afrikaans / Evangelisasiewerk het in die Hervormde Kerk nog nooit regtig van die grand af gekom nie. Jaar na jaar word daar op vergaderings verslag gedoen dat daar in die meeste gemeentes op hierdie gebied nie·veel gebeur nie. Hierdie studie het gevra na die werklike stand van sake tans in die Kerk; die paradigmaverskuiwing wat besig is om plaas te vind; en na 'n moontlike nuwe teorie om die huidige praxis mee te probeer wysig. Die resultate van die ondersoek het die volgende opgelewer: - Tans is daar ongeveer 15% van die gemeentes wat hoegenaamd op 'n georganiseerde wyse by evangelisasiewerk betrokke is; - 0,38% van die totale lidmaattal van die Kerk is toegerus vir evangelisasiewerk, en gebruik hulle opleiding; - Die Kerk het egter reeds die regte besluite in sy vergaderings geneem, soos bv dat die gemeente die evangelis is en dat elke lidmaat betrokke moet wees. Hierdie besluite moet geimplementeer word. Myns insiens kan dit alleen gebeur wanneer daar op gemeentevlak met harde teologiese arbeid deelgeneem word aan die huidige gesprek random 'n prakties-teologiese ekklesiologie. / When the annual reports of the Hervormde Kerk are being studied, it becomes clear that the church finds itself in a crisis. The essence of this crisis manifests itself in the fact that the church is not evangelising the world as it is suppose to do. This study was undertaken to ask what is really going on in the field of evangelisation in the church; to look at the paradigm shift that is taken place at the moment; and, to ask for a new theory to try to alter the current praxis. The results of this study are: - Only 15% of the congregations of the church are involved in organised evangelisation activities; - 0,38% of churchmembers are trained and are using their training to do evangelisation; - The church has already realised that the congregation is suppose to be the evangelist and that every member must be involved in this ministry. But it has not yet come from the ground. This can only happen, I believe, when the congregation starts to participate in finding an ecclesiology for the time and context that we are living in. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / Th. D. (Praktiese Teologie)

Michael Cassidy and Albert Nolan both develop their understanding of evangelism and social action within the context of the struggle for a democratic South Africa. This understanding is determined by their own personal contexts and their social analysis of the South African situation. Within these contexts they develop their views of sin and salvation. These underlying issues, contexts and analyses are crucial to and part of their understanding of the relationship between evangelism and social action. This thesis sets out to consider the relationship between evangelism and social action in their theologies by considering the underlying issues that determine this relationship, before finally defining the exact nature ofthis relationship. It considers each theology individually first as each has developed over time in context and needs to be seen as a unified whole as it relates to the . issue of the relationship between evangelism and social action. It then compares their views with each other with insights from other views. Michael Cassidy and Albert Nolan both see sin and hence salvation as personal and social, but Nolan understands these concepts as primarily social. Hence his understanding ofevangelism and social action expressed in evangelization is primarily social. It sees them relating in evangelization in an integrated, holistic way. However, in practice his emphasis on the need to take sides in the struggle and on salvation as primarily in and through the struggle leads to salvation becoming sometimes indistinguishable from human liberation. Thus evangelization also sometimes becomes indistinguishable from the struggle. Cassidy sees these concepts as firstly spiritual and then social and this determines his understanding of the relationship between evangelism and social action. He emphasises these as transforming every level of human relationships, but starting with a right relationship with God. Cassidy achieves a more balanced Evangelical view of partnership in mission but with an emphasis on evangelism and Nolan a somewhat more holistic liberationist theological view of an integrated relationship between evangelism and social action in evangelization but with an emphasis on social action. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1996.

German text / Die vorliegende wissenschaftliche Arbeit befasst sich mit den amaZioni, die den größten Teil der südafrikanischen AIC-Bewegung („African Independent/Indigenous/Initiated Churches“) ausmachen. Für die meisten Theologen stellen die amaZioni eine synkretistische christliche Kirchenbewegung dar, die in ihren Ritualen und Gottesdienstformen starke Einflüsse von traditionellen afrikanischen Religionen (ATR) aufweist. Nicht desto trotz öffnen sich viele der amaZioni-Kirchen gegenüber biblischer Lehre durch Missionare. Um eine solide Grundlage für die Missionsarbeit zu schaffen, befasst sich die vorgeschlagene Arbeit damit, wichtige Bedürfnisse der amaZioni zu erforschen, so dass diese als Anknüpfungspunkte für die weitere Evangeliumsverkündigung genutzt werden können. / The proposed research examines the needs of the amaZioni, who are part of the South African AIC-movement. The amaZioni, as one of the largest religious groups in South Africa, are viewed by most theologicans as syncretistic christian churches. It is obvious that their common believe system as well as their rituals show a strong influence of african traditional religions (ATR). But nevertheless, many of the members of the Zion-churches are opening up for bible teaching provided by missionaries. In order to establish a solid base for the future mission work the proposed research focuses on finding out the amaZioni's needs, so that this needs can be used as reference points in the endeavour of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the missionaries. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

German text / Die vorliegende wissenschaftliche Arbeit befasst sich mit den amaZioni, die den größten Teil der südafrikanischen AIC-Bewegung („African Independent/Indigenous/Initiated Churches“) ausmachen. Für die meisten Theologen stellen die amaZioni eine synkretistische christliche Kirchenbewegung dar, die in ihren Ritualen und Gottesdienstformen starke Einflüsse von traditionellen afrikanischen Religionen (ATR) aufweist. Nicht desto trotz öffnen sich viele der amaZioni-Kirchen gegenüber biblischer Lehre durch Missionare. Um eine solide Grundlage für die Missionsarbeit zu schaffen, befasst sich die vorgeschlagene Arbeit damit, wichtige Bedürfnisse der amaZioni zu erforschen, so dass diese als Anknüpfungspunkte für die weitere Evangeliumsverkündigung genutzt werden können. / The proposed research examines the needs of the amaZioni, who are part of the South African AIC-movement. The amaZioni, as one of the largest religious groups in South Africa, are viewed by most theologicans as syncretistic christian churches. It is obvious that their common believe system as well as their rituals show a strong influence of african traditional religions (ATR). But nevertheless, many of the members of the Zion-churches are opening up for bible teaching provided by missionaries. In order to establish a solid base for the future mission work the proposed research focuses on finding out the amaZioni's needs, so that this needs can be used as reference points in the endeavour of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the missionaries. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)