In thinking about both theological and sociological orderings of society, we see that exclusion occurs and in some cases may even be necessary. Inclusion of those who threaten others within a given community can pose a threat and a very practical challenge to all who see to be inclusive in ministry.
In thinking about both theological and sociological orderings of society, we see that exclusion occurs and in some cases may even be necessary. Inclusion of those who threaten others within a given community can pose a threat and a very practical challenge to all who see to be inclusive in ministry.
We examine our theology of war and peace as well as our mission to be disciples of the Prince of Peace at the level of worldview. We take an historical approach to see how ideas about pacifism, just war theory and so on, gained a place in Christian theology.
We examine our theology of war and peace as well as our mission to be disciples of the Prince of Peace at the level of worldview. We take an historical approach to see how ideas about pacifism, just war theory and so on, gained a place in Christian theology.
As we think of our theology and mission around homelessness and hunger, we encounter a serious worldview problem: we have allowed ourselves to be persuaded that homelessness and hunger are acceptable and, indeed, inevitable. Within such a worldview, any serious attempt to eliminate them is futile. We develop an alternative approach based on Scripture, especially the words and deeds of Jesus, that lead us to the conclusion that it our responsibility to eliminate homelessness and hunger from the w...
As we think of our theology and mission around homelessness and hunger, we encounter a serious worldview problem: we have allowed ourselves to be persuaded that homelessness and hunger are acceptable and, indeed, inevitable. Within such a worldview, any serious attempt to eliminate them is futile. We develop an alternative approach based on Scripture, especially the words and deeds of Jesus, that lead us to the conclusion that it our responsibility to eliminate homelessness and hunger from the w...
We examine the interactions between theology and mission pertaining to poverty at the level of the worldview that generates them. The Christian worldview is at odds with the current, common worldview in the western world when it comes to meritocracy. Wealth and its distribution as well as poverty and its amelioration are issues of the covenant community, not attributable to the success or failure of individuals.
We examine the interactions between theology and mission pertaining to poverty at the level of the worldview that generates them. The Christian worldview is at odds with the current, common worldview in the western world when it comes to meritocracy. Wealth and its distribution as well as poverty and its amelioration are issues of the covenant community, not attributable to the success or failure of individuals.
Our explicitly Christian understanding of aging can easily become distorted by the effects of the bioethical and economic models of aging employed by the society around us. Such models see loss of personhood as part of the aging process. We instead see the faithfulness of God as central to affirming our ongoing humanity throughout the aging process.
Our explicitly Christian understanding of aging can easily become distorted by the effects of the bioethical and economic models of aging employed by the society around us. Such models see loss of personhood as part of the aging process. We instead see the faithfulness of God as central to affirming our ongoing humanity throughout the aging process.
Both our aims and intentions (mission) and our basic and consequent beliefs (theology) about children in Christianity are generally shallow and under-developed. We explore this problem as an issue of worldview and see how a distorted Christian worldview can easily lead to the marginalization of children while an authentic Christian worldview positions children centrally within the community and as our key expression of eschatological hope.
Both our aims and intentions (mission) and our basic and consequent beliefs (theology) about children in Christianity are generally shallow and under-developed. We explore this problem as an issue of worldview and see how a distorted Christian worldview can easily lead to the marginalization of children while an authentic Christian worldview positions children centrally within the community and as our key expression of eschatological hope.
We discuss the long and often disgraceful relationship between the church and mental illness/health at the level of worldview. What is it that has so often brought about such a strange rejection of those with mental illness by the church? We discover that the same distorted worldview that leads to a neglect of physical health as well a rejection of environmental concerns brings about this awful situation. We call for complete rejection of this paradigm.
We discuss the long and often disgraceful relationship between the church and mental illness/health at the level of worldview. What is it that has so often brought about such a strange rejection of those with mental illness by the church? We discover that the same distorted worldview that leads to a neglect of physical health as well a rejection of environmental concerns brings about this awful situation. We call for complete rejection of this paradigm.
A theology that asserts that the whole point of Christianity is to get from earth to heaven tends to devalue the physical and elevate the spiritual. Today, we examine the worldview that leads to such a theology and dismiss it in favor of one that focuses on a unified view of the human person that equally values body, spirit and soul, and that leads to a better understanding of concepts such as health and healing.
A theology that asserts that the whole point of Christianity is to get from earth to heaven tends to devalue the physical and elevate the spiritual. Today, we examine the worldview that leads to such a theology and dismiss it in favor of one that focuses on a unified view of the human person that equally values body, spirit and soul, and that leads to a better understanding of concepts such as health and healing.
The misreading God's plan for redemption and salvation as applicable only to humankind can lead to disastrous results for the created order. We examine theologies based upon worldviews that privilege heaven over earth and see the way in which they play out in the world today.
The misreading God's plan for redemption and salvation as applicable only to humankind can lead to disastrous results for the created order. We examine theologies based upon worldviews that privilege heaven over earth and see the way in which they play out in the world today.
The early followers of Jesus saw their work in living out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment as the natural extension of the earlier call on Abraham to be the solution to the problem engendered by Adam. The natural flow of the narrative shows us that our place in the story calls for us to spread the Good News such that all of God's people can find their way into the family of faith.
The early followers of Jesus saw their work in living out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment as the natural extension of the earlier call on Abraham to be the solution to the problem engendered by Adam. The natural flow of the narrative shows us that our place in the story calls for us to spread the Good News such that all of God's people can find their way into the family of faith.
Following our series on "worldview," we now look to the ways in which worldview is made public in the world: through aims and intentions (i.e. mission) and through basic and consequent beliefs (i.e. theology), both of which are closely coupled. Today, we explore the idea of "people groups" and how our mission and theology interact with groups, including the group of which we are a part.
Following our series on "worldview," we now look to the ways in which worldview is made public in the world: through aims and intentions (i.e. mission) and through basic and consequent beliefs (i.e. theology), both of which are closely coupled. Today, we explore the idea of "people groups" and how our mission and theology interact with groups, including the group of which we are a part.
As we conclude our series on "Worldview," we look at the Christian worldview as it emerged from that of 2nd-Temple Judaism, embedded in the surrounding Roman worldview, and see how it works today. We compare human needs (in the form of a needs hierarchy) with the essentials of the early Christian worldview and find that they fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
As we conclude our series on "Worldview," we look at the Christian worldview as it emerged from that of 2nd-Temple Judaism, embedded in the surrounding Roman worldview, and see how it works today. We compare human needs (in the form of a needs hierarchy) with the essentials of the early Christian worldview and find that they fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
In the overarching narrative we adopt to shape and view our lives and to understand the world around us, one of the key questions that our worldview must answer for us is, "What time is it?" In other words, where are we in the story and at what point in the plot do we find ourselves? In our modern worldview, the very way we think of time has separated it from creation and hence from the creator. As we rethink time, we reconnect and see our place in the flow of time from creation to today.
In the overarching narrative we adopt to shape and view our lives and to understand the world around us, one of the key questions that our worldview must answer for us is, "What time is it?" In other words, where are we in the story and at what point in the plot do we find ourselves? In our modern worldview, the very way we think of time has separated it from creation and hence from the creator. As we rethink time, we reconnect and see our place in the flow of time from creation to today.
A robust worldview answers for us the question, "How do we get out of this mess?" Today, we explore how the Romans of the first century, the people of second-Temple Judaism, and the early followers of Jesus had different ways of seeing this question and its answer. For today, the worldview we adopt should similarly answer this question. As you look at the world around you, how do you see the way out of the mess we are in? Can anything (or anyone) save us?
A robust worldview answers for us the question, "How do we get out of this mess?" Today, we explore how the Romans of the first century, the people of second-Temple Judaism, and the early followers of Jesus had different ways of seeing this question and its answer. For today, the worldview we adopt should similarly answer this question. As you look at the world around you, how do you see the way out of the mess we are in? Can anything (or anyone) save us?
A robust worldview should be able to provide an answer to the question, "What's wrong?" We examine the worldviews of 1st-century Rome, 2nd-Temple Judaism and early Christianity to probe this question. As we look at out at the world with its many troubles, how do we, today, answer the question, "What's wrong?"
A robust worldview should be able to provide an answer to the question, "What's wrong?" We examine the worldviews of 1st-century Rome, 2nd-Temple Judaism and early Christianity to probe this question. As we look at out at the world with its many troubles, how do we, today, answer the question, "What's wrong?"
