Communication Theory for Christian Witness

by Charles H. Kraft

In this revision of a long-enduring classic, Kraft draws upon faith experience and the social sciences to make pastors, preachers, missionaries, and religious educators aware of the mystery of human communication in the service of God who calls all into communion. The question is how to communicate with these other cultures so that the message is effectively transmitted and received? How to we recognize the gaps--of language, tradition, life experience--that separate us and build bridges over them.

Genres: Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 1983

About the author

Rev. Dr. Charles H. Kraft is an anthropologist and linguist whose work since the early 1980s has focused on inner healing and spiritual warfare. He is the Sun-Hee Kwak Professor of Anthropology and Intercultural Communication in the School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, teaching primarily in the school's spiritual dynamics concentration. He joined Fuller's faculty in 1969. In the 1950s he served as a Brethren missionary in northern Nigeria. He has been a professor of African languages at Michigan State University and UCLA, and taught anthropology part-time at Biola University. He holds a BA from Wheaton College, a BD from Ashland Theological Seminary, and a PhD from the Hartford Seminary Foundation.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This resource is valuable for individuals engaged in Christian ministry overseas, offering a framework, heavily theoretical for understanding and improving communication practices in the context of spreading the Christian faith. It places great emphasis on using Jesus' life as an example for intercultural communication and as the communicative message himself. Kraft leads us to question the reliability of many of the Christian beliefs and practices that we considered Scriptural based, only to conclude them as conceptions strongly influenced by our Western worldview.

[Daryl Densford · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author, Charles H. Kraft, delves deep into the theory of communication, specifically as it relates to communicating the Gospel message. Kraft maintains the Jesus was the prime example for effective communication. He suggests that both Jesus’ message and method can be emulated for successful Christian witness.

I don't think that I would recommend this book, however. Not unless the reader is going to teach communication theory. Kraft gets very deep into theory, the how’s and why’s of the act of communication. I would liken his treatment of communication in this text as similar to my doctor fully explaining the intricate internal workings of my digestive system from my eating to final disposal only to suggest to me to try Tums for my heartburn. Or like my mechanic diagramming in minute detail how an internal combustion engine works only to recommend that I use a higher grade of gasoline. Kraft’s chapter eleven (possibly as part of another cross-cultural ministry volume) would have been sufficient to help me be a better communicator.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book on the importance of understanding culture in communicating the message of Christ. At first, I wasn't sure where the author was going, but I found many of the things he said useful in understanding cross-cultural communication . . . and understood communication with people in the states too. Fairly dense book, but all in all worth the read.