When I say a “ronin theologian” and a “rogue missionary” what do I mean?
Ronin Theologian: First, the word rōnin literally means “drifting person”. The term originated in the Nara and Heian periods, when it referred to a serf who had fled or deserted his master’s land. It then came to be used for a samurai who had lost his master. The word was later developed to mean, a samurai with no lord or master (little ‘l’ little ‘m’). In today’s theological circles the majority of people are those who claim to be mastered by older theologians – They call themselves, ‘Calvinists‘ or ‘Arminians‘ or ‘Wesleyans‘. In other words, today we have theologians who name themselves after these men, they are their ‘masters’ in their theology. So for me to be a ‘Ronin’ theologian, means that I have walked away from holding to just one earthly-theological master. If we are ALL depraved, then how can one man’s way of viewing the Bible be so right, that I can call myself one of his followers (doesn’t Paul address this)? All of our systems have some error to them, including my own – period. But here is the point, I can’t nor will I accept one school of thought completely if it was developed by one man, the truth is. I do have a Master, but it is not John Calvin, John Wesley, Martin Luther or Jacobus Arminius…When I say, a ‘ronin’ theologian, I mean I am a student of the Bible and am willing to learn from all the great theologians under the guidance of the Holy Spirit no matter what team they played for….
Rogue Missionary: First, the word ‘rogue’ was first recorded in print in Fraternity of Vagabonds by John Awdeley. The 1572 Vagabond Act defined a rogue as a healthy person who has no land and/or no master. Today the word is used to describe an independently-minded person; one who rejects conventional rule of conduct in favor of following personal values. Second, let it be known, that my prayer is that one day, the word ‘rogue’ can be dropped as an adjective before missionary, and be exchanged for average. But for now, the type of missionary I believe we are called to be as disciples of Christ is very rogue compared to conventional ideas of missionaries. In fact my idea of missionary is best seen in the word, ‘activist.’ For many, a missionary is no more than pontificating a message, and while it is that, it is not that alone. For me a missionary is an activist of the very character of God; a man or woman who walks in journey with humanity to activate the faith, hope and love of Christ in their life, our culture, and God’s creation – for some this nothing more than the social gospel, for me, it is the effect of the Gospel of Jesus planted deep in our souls…
