By: Sandy Bils on February 16, 2014
In previous posts I already addressed the issue of social media in the daily life of our churches (e.g. here and here). In one of the articles we read this week, the author Stephen Garner enfolded the more underlying and fundamental topic of theology and internet in general. Garner approaches the discussion by defining theology…
By: Michael Badriaki on February 16, 2014
A friend asked me to discuss the understanding of suffering from an African theological perspective and I was glad because it was a chance to think locally. I reflected back on my African context and was reminded that one ought to pay a significant amount of attention to any African historical context in order to…
By: rhbaker275 on February 15, 2014
We might think that Christianity, though scripture and tradition, has always been understood in terms of context. This, however, it seems is not the case. D.W. Bebbington, in his work on the history of evangelicalism,[1] provides the reader with a thread or theme that attaches the history of evangelicalism to culture. The rise and fall…
By: David Toth on February 15, 2014
Just before leaving the house my wife reminded me that I should steer clear of Independence Square. So much for wifely advice. Not that I do not take her words seriously, she has a tendency to allow her protectionist and motherly instincts take over if there is even a hint of threat. I was in…
By: Bill Dobrenen on February 15, 2014
While in a department meeting at my college this week, an opportunity raised its head for me to speak from this week’s reading, and I was excited to share. So I read: Public theology, as I understand it, is not primarily and directly evangelical theology which addresses the Gospel to the world in the hope…
By: Telile Fikru Badecha on February 15, 2014
Our readings for this week, especially the articles under the category of Practical and Contextual theology resonate with me a lot. I was reminded of my personal faith journey; the ways the Christian culture I was raised in informed my perspectives about my own identity, my place in my community and the world around me.…
By: Mitch Arbelaez on February 14, 2014
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. To incarnate (become flesh,) to flesh out Jesus into our world truly is the missionary, no, it is every believer’s calling. It is through…
By: John Woodward on February 14, 2014
I grew up in family that didn’t talk politics and to this day I still feel discomfort when conversations turn political. For years I silently witnessed the Church’s attempt at political involvement with much sadness and confusion, not quite sure how to respond but knowing that something was missing. After all its efforts, the Church…
By: Liz Linssen on February 14, 2014
Theology and culture – two seemingly incompatible fields at first glance, yet two voices that have much to learn from each other. In this whole examination of the relationship between theology and culture, it can almost appear as if we’re trying to mix oil and water, yet these two disciplines need to interact and find…
By: Sam Stephens on February 14, 2014
This blog is written and posted from Goerlitz/Zgorzelec one of the most beautiful and well preserved European cities I have been in, bordering Germany and Poland with the river Neisse separating the two. On the banks of this river rise two tall steeples of St. Peter’s and Paul’s Church, construction of which dates back to…
By: Julie Dodge on February 14, 2014
There’s a new pope in town and he’s making a splash. Time magazine named him Person of the Year for 2013. So did The Advocate, a magazine focused on lesbian and gay issues. What’s the big deal about Pope Francis II? Perhaps it is the fact that he ditched the red shoes, the papal mansion,…
By: Carol McLaughlin on February 14, 2014
Public theology, civil theology and private theology resemble intersections that connect with one another. But rather than a convergence of streets into a shared one way space, such as Trafalgar Square in London or traffic roundabouts designed to ease traffic flow in urban spaces, these resemble networks with hubs linking one to the other. It…
By: Richard Volzke on February 14, 2014
Apologetics and Theology This week’s readings reminded me of the apologetics courses that I took at Wesley Biblical Seminary. The section from Speaking of God in Public, by Graham, Walton, and Ward, reminded me of a book that I have previously read by Groothuis, called Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. Both of…
By: Fred Fay on February 14, 2014
Interacting with popular culture as a Christian has been an interesting journey. In the church of my youth we couldn’t dance, drink alcohol or go to movies and a few other abominations. We looked at pop culture with suspicion. When I was in middle school a friend asked if I had heard the song “I’m…
By: Ashley Goad on February 13, 2014
I grew up in North Carolina in a traditional Southern culture. Shrimp and grits, homemade biscuits, sweet tea, ladies in pearls and men in seersucker suits were everyday, normal ways of life. Religion and politics were “no-no’s” at dinner parties, and everyone always dressed in their Sunday best to go to Meeting for worship. And…
By: Richard Rhoads on February 13, 2014
This past week a good friend of Naomi and I lost their mom to cancer. In preparation to go to Costa Rica for a wedding, she wanted to have some upper chest issues looked at by her family Dr.. From that first appointment, hospitalization and diagnosis till today, it has been less than a month. …
By: Phil Smart on February 13, 2014
A new sermon series on the Holy Spirit began last weekend called “Catching Fire…Every revolution begins with a spark,” based on the Hunger Games books and movies. The pastor briefly summarized the movie and how one person can infect a whole population and in this case, create a revolution. He went on to discuss how…
By: Sharenda Roam on February 13, 2014
Our readings this week consist of several writings examining the topics of popular culture, technology, media, theology, and religion. One aspect I found intriguing was the study of how popular culture affects religion, and specifically Christianity in the United States. Forbes and Mahan, in their book Religion and Popular Culture in America ask the following…
By: Chris Ellis on February 13, 2014
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m skeptical of an online church, which is one reason I’ve chosen to reflect on Tim Hutchings article entitled Online Christian Churches: Three Case Studies. I’m skeptical because I really do believe in church. I believe that we’re better together than we are apart. I believe that the…
By: Deve Persad on February 13, 2014
When the apostle Paul stood among the statues and idols in the city of Athens, he took some time to understand not only his physical surroundings but, more importantly the people within that particular surrounding. He had a message that he needed to transmit, but he first needed to get some clarity about the frequency…
