UPG methodology is suffering for similar reasons McGavran’s HUP concept was rejected. Sociological terminology was co-opted, instead of biblical terminology. The concept of people groups are baked into the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. Many terms are used throughout the Scriptures to explain the uniqueness of peoples around the world.
I would nuance this a bit more. It is more of a spectrum question than a binary one. McGavran's term is more sociological than Winter's. Winter's term, UPG, is more directly rooted in the grand biblical narrative than McGavran's. Instead of looking at "UPG" as a conversation's dessert, let's look at it as an appetizer with the hope that further nuance lies ahead.
James, I think the bigger picture here is that the conversation about UPGs will not happen at all. It won't be a matter of which is more sociological than the other. Rather, it will become irrelevant as this deconstruction process works its way through the church.
UPG methodology is suffering for similar reasons McGavran’s HUP concept was rejected. Sociological terminology was co-opted, instead of biblical terminology. The concept of people groups are baked into the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. Many terms are used throughout the Scriptures to explain the uniqueness of peoples around the world.
I would nuance this a bit more. It is more of a spectrum question than a binary one. McGavran's term is more sociological than Winter's. Winter's term, UPG, is more directly rooted in the grand biblical narrative than McGavran's. Instead of looking at "UPG" as a conversation's dessert, let's look at it as an appetizer with the hope that further nuance lies ahead.
James, I think the bigger picture here is that the conversation about UPGs will not happen at all. It won't be a matter of which is more sociological than the other. Rather, it will become irrelevant as this deconstruction process works its way through the church.
I agree. I simply wanted to nuance the distinction a bit more. The "bigger picture" needs framed with nuance and precision. Both matter.
Thanks for the post, Ted.