This article advances an argument for an explicitly Christian approach to higher education in general, and to the teaching of Communication in particular. The author argues that the relationship between secular learning and Christian vocation, hammered out over long centuries by the early Fathers of the Church, has been transposed in the early 21st century by Christians who fail to grasp the intellectual and spiritual necessity of integrating all learning within a framework of Christian truth. Ideas for integrating Christian faith with the subject of Communication, especially in the teaching of public speaking, are offered.
Thinking Theologically About Religious Diversity in the West
Societies in the West are increasingly religiously diverse, and awareness of this diversity prompts some fresh questions for Christian faith and practice. This essay argues that the Church in the West must become intentionally missiological in its approach to surrounding cultures, and that doing so involves developing an appropriate theology of religions that enables Christians to understand religious diversity properly in light of Christian themes and to respond to religious others appropriately as followers of Jesus. Some distinctives of a Christian theology of religions are explored, with brief attention given to some Biblical themes that help to explain religious phenomena; the relation between religion and culture; the place of apologetics in a Christian response to religious diversity; and some issues related to Christian presence in the public sector.
Click HERE to download the full article.
Christus Victor, Postmodernism, and the Shaping of Atonement Theology
Integrated into every theological investigation ought to be a culture question like, “What characteristics of my culture may be shaping my perspective on this particular theological issue?” Moreover, theologians ought always to be posing this question most circumspectly when working on a theological issue considered an essential of historic Christian orthodoxy. Of particular note should be any time when an essential area of theology experiences attempts at significant revision. All too often, conservative Evangelical Christians have viewed Christ’s atoning work exclusively through the lens of penal substitution. The thesis of this article is that postmodern culture has created an environment amenable to the reconsideration of the Christus Victor model; a model which has its roots in the ancient church and connects well with the postmodern sensibilities of many today. Wary of the tenuousness of making historical causal connections, the point is not to prove that postmodernism has resurrected Christus Victor but simply to demonstrate how some of the key categories of postmodern culture make it an attractive option. Finally, this article argues that evangelicals can embrace the long-discarded theology of Christus Victor without capsizing the boat of evangelical orthodoxy.
Green Christianity: A Response to ‘The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis’
The environmental movement and world of evangelical Christianity often seem to be at odds. The article attempts to respond to some of the complaints against Christianity by the environmental movement by presenting a theological framework based on the Triune God and the Biblical story. The starting point is exploring the argument put forth by Lynn White Jr., in his article, “The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis,” through which he traces historic Christian thought and how it led to the ways of thinking and behaving that have contributed to the current ecological crisis. Then, in response to White’s critique, the rest of the paper develops a theology that seeks to place God, man, and the creation in their proper relationships. When taken seriously, this theology of creation requires that Christians care for the earth as part of their testimony and witness to the world. It is argued that ultimately, the only proper response to the ecological crisis is found within the context of Christian theology and the Biblical story because these are the places of true hope and redemption.
Facts & Fictions About Homosexuality: Debunking the Socio-Biblical Myths
Of all the challenges that we face as evangelicals in today’s society, the same-sex challenge is surely one of the most daunting. In part, this is because the gay community has been meticulously implementing a 35 year-old agenda largely unknown both to the average academic and the person in the pew. Gay rights groups have their highly trained lobbyists, frequent gay awareness celebrations, widely circulating educational materials, and nationwide reconciling facilitators. Of all the myths that need debunking today, the one that poses the most urgent challenge for evangelicals is the myth that homosexuality is genetic and that change is impossible. What makes the task particularly difficult is the legitimizing presence of evangelical associations such as Evangelicals Concerned, Other Sheep and the Metropolitan Community Churches and prominent speakers such as Mel White, Ralph Blair, David Frenchak and Bill Wylie-Kellermann. The intent of this essay is provide a socio-political update, to respond to the biblical fictions that are most commonly put forward by the religious gay community and to propose effective academic and pastoral strategies and resources for tackling the same-sex challenge today.