Gudina Tumsa wrote extensively on holistic theology, according to him holistic theology can be defined as, “An effort in rediscovering total human life.” (Witness and Discipleship Pg.70). Where did Gudina Tumsa’s understanding of holistic ministry come from? One specific thing can not be pinpointed to answer this question, rather we have to look at his life as a whole. At first Gudina Tumsa understood the Bible according to (Matthew 5,11 ) these scriptures gave him the inclination to believe that the gospel should and could reach all parts of people’s lives. Gudina’s claim that a holistic ministry is necessary, comes from him experiencing and seeing the lack that the people he ministered to lived in. His belief that the Gospel was the most powerful force, influenced his view on the living situation of his people. The only way he saw out of the desperation, was a holistic ministry: a ministry to the body, soul and development of man.
In his later life, Gudina began to understand that the Gospel transcended everything, along with his understanding of the Gospel he also began to understand the systems developed by mankind such as politics, economics etc… His holistic view allowed him to acknowledge that the systems impacted the individuals that lived within them. Gudina’s perspective of viewing everything through the Gospel then expanded to include the economy, politics, and social issues. It clicked in Gudina’s mind that the Gospel was independent and superior to these things and since the Gospel was in itself Jesus Christ, it had dominion of the earthly concepts developed by mankind. Gudina wirtes on this in his last will and testament “The Role of a Christian in a Given Society”, “The Chrisitan Gospel refuses to be identified or to be considered as part of Feudalism or Capitalism, and as such it cannot fade away with these systems, since by its nature the Gospel of Christ is totally different from them. Christ himself is the Gospel. There is no Gospel apart from his presence with us in our daily labor.” (Witness and Discipleship Pg.9)
From his writings it is clear that the holistic approach is how Gudina chose to understand, explain and apply the Gospel in all contexts. Gudina’s zeal for Christ cannot be separated from his holistic understanding of the Chrsitan’s commission from the Lord. We cannot discuss his ideas on politics, youth, Western and African theology, Ethiopian church growth and ethnicity etc… without understanding the high regard he viewed the holistic gospel in. Gudina shows the value he has placed on holistic theology when he writes this, “In wholistic theology both the spiritual and physical are taken seriously in an inseparable manner.” (Witness and Discipleship Pg.15).
Holistic theology explains why Gudina Tumsa had such strong positions on inclusivity, spritualization and secularizations, missionary aid in the Church and serving the “whole man”. His holistic understanding made it evident to him that the Gospel was not there just to save the spirit but also serve the physical, “There is no distinction between curing from malaria, pneumonia, or saving from sin. “Jesus Christ saves''means that he literally cures from physical diseases, as well as from the burden of sin.” (Witness and Discipleship Pg.136).
The holistic Gospel or theology is the only accurate approach that Gudina Tumsa believed could save the world. And today we agree that there can be no other way to approach our call to Christ. We must minister with a holistic approach as our Lord Jesus Christ did. To conclude we leave you with Gudina’s ultimate reasoning to pursue a holistic ministry, “The ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ can be summarized under three aspects which together fulfilled one purpose, namely, to restore man to what he should be according to God's plan in creation… He (Jesus Christ) was seeking those who were lost to bring them back to fellowship with God… He involved himself in all genuine human suffering to heal and make people whole… He gave His life to redeem sinner and offer forgiveness on the basis of his redemptive death…” (Witness and Discipleship Pg.122)