scholarly journals Should the Church Love the (God’s) World? A Response to the Cape Town Commitment Point Seven

Kairos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-71
Author(s):  
Gregory S. Thellman
Keyword(s):  
Cape Town ◽  
Human Relationships ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
Biblical Texts ◽  
The Church

This paper is a response to point seven, sub-points A) and B) of The Cape Town Commitment (TCTC), and attempts to answer the question “is love the proper Christian response to the nonhuman creation, and/or to human nations and culture?” Based on a summary of the concepts of “love” and the “world” in the biblical texts, it is shown that the biblical concept of “love” strongly emphasizes heartfelt and caring commitment for another within human relationships and divine-human relationships. The “world” in scripture can be construed in positive, neutral or negative senses, depending on the term and context, and Christians find themselves both in a fallen creation which awaits liberation and within human nations and cultures in a state of sin and rebellion against God. While the Bible never commands believers to love the nonhuman creation or collective human entities like nations and cultures, Christians may yet appropriate love for God and neighbor through their attentive care of creation and through their contribution to culture in a way that glorifies God. In these ways, Christians may “love” creation and culture, but only in a contingent sense with their foundational love focused on God and neighbor.

Reading the Bible from Below in the Era of Globalization

2020 ◽  
pp. 111-128
Author(s):  
Rainer Kessler
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Historical Process ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Asynchronous Development ◽  
Ancient Israel ◽  
The World ◽  
Biblical Texts ◽  
Globalized World

It is evident that the world of the Bible is pre-modern and thus distinct from the globalized civilization. This chronological gap challenges readers, whether they are feminist or not. Mainly three attitudes can be observed among scholarly and ordinary readers. For some readers, the Bible is a document of the losers of a historical process of modernization that already began in ancient Israel. For other readers, the Bible is outdated and of no use to confront the challenges of globalization. A third readerly position challenges both of these views. This essay offers four arguments to orient biblical readers in the contemporary globalized world. First, the essay posits that globalization is an asynchronous development. Thus, even today, most people living in the impoverished regions of the world face conditions similar to those dominant in the Bible. Second, the essay asserts that women are the first victims in biblical times and still nowadays. Third, the essay maintains that biblical texts display social relations that still unveil contemporary relations. Fourth, the essay suggests that intercultural Bible readings give hope, as they nurture biblical readings from “below” to strengthen people to overcome the fatal consequences of today’s globalization.

Inspiration and Textual Preservation: A Catholic Essay on the Bible

Pro Ecclesia ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 106385122199391
Author(s):  
James B. Prothro
Keyword(s):  
Textual Criticism ◽  
Multiple Forms ◽  
Theological Interpretation ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Single Text ◽  
Biblical Texts ◽  
The Church

The doctrine of inspiration grounds Christian use and interpretation of Scripture, making this doctrine at once theoretical and practical. Many theoretical accounts, however, restrict the “inspired” status of biblical texts to a single text-form, which introduces problems for the practical use of Scripture in view of the texts’ historical multiformity. This article argues that such restrictions of inspiration are theologically problematic and unnecessary. Contextualizing inspiration within the divine revelatory economy, this article argues that the Spirit’s same goals and varied activities in the texts’ composition obtain also in their preservation, so that we can consider multiple forms of a text to be inspired while acknowledging that not all forms are inspired to equal ends in the history and life of the church. The article concludes with hermeneutical reflections affirming that we, today, can read the “word of the Lord” while also affirming the place of textual criticism in theological interpretation.

Moral Injury and Biblical Studies: An Early Sampling of Research and Emerging Trends

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-144
Author(s):  
Brad E. Kelle
Keyword(s):  
Biblical Studies ◽  
Moral Injury ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Moral Beliefs ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Biblical Scholarship ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
New Meanings ◽  
The World ◽  
Biblical Texts

Moral injury emerged within clinical psychology and related fields to refer to a non-physical wound (psychological and emotional pain and its effects) that results from the violation (by oneself or others) of a person’s deepest moral beliefs (about oneself, others, or the world). Originally conceived in the context of warfare, the notion has now expanded to include the morally damaging impact of various non-war-related experiences and circumstances. Since its inception, moral injury has been an intersectional and cross-disciplinary term and significant work has appeared in psychology, philosophy, medicine, spiritual/pastoral care, chaplaincy, and theology. Since 2015, biblical scholarship has engaged moral injury along two primary trajectories: 1) creative re-readings of biblical stories and characters informed by insights from moral injury; and 2) explorations of the postwar rituals and symbolic practices found in biblical texts and how they might connect to the felt needs of morally injured persons. These trajectories suggest that the engagement between the Bible and moral injury generates a two-way conversation in which moral injury can serve as a heuristic that brings new meanings out of biblical texts, and the critical study of biblical texts can contribute to the attempts to understand, identify, and heal moral injury.

scholarly journals Sejarah Penafsiran Ajaran Paulus Mengenai Pembenaran Oleh Iman

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-175
Author(s):  
Warseto Freddy Sihombing
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Son Of God ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
Justification By Faith ◽  
History Of ◽  
To Come ◽  
Wrath Of God ◽  
The Church

AbstractNo one can be justified before God for doing good deeds. No matter how good a man is, if he does not believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, he will not be saved from the wrath of God to come. There is no human being who is right before God, and no sinful man can save himself in any way. The only way out is in the way that God has given to the problem of all sinners, by sending Jesus Christ to the world to die for sinners. "And for this he came, so that every man believed in him, who was sent by God" (John 6:29). The Bible teaches that salvation is only obtained because of faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the object of that faith. This salvation is known as the statement "Justified by faith. Paul explained this teaching in each of his writings. This teaching of justification by faith has been repeatedly denied by some people who disagree with Paul's opinion. The history of the church from the early centuries to the present has proven the variety of understandings that have emerged from this teaching, but one important thing is that sinful humans are justified by their faith in Jesus Christ before God.Keywords: Paul;history; justified by faith.AbstrakTidak ada seorang pun yang dapat dibenarkan di hadapan Allah karena telah melakukan perbuatan baik. Sebaik apa pun manusia, jika dia tidak percaya kepada Yesus Kristus, Anak Allah maka ia tidak akan selamat dari murka Allah yang akan datang. Tidak ada seorang pun manusia yang benar di hadapan Allah, dan tidak ada seorang manusia berdosa yang dapat menyelematkan dirinya sendiri dengan cara apa pun. Satu-satunya jalan keluar adalah dengan cara yang Allah telah berikan untuk masalah semua orang berdosa, yaitu dengan mengutus Yesus Kristus ke dunia untuk mati bagi orang berdosa. “Dan untuk itulah Dia datang, yaitu supaya setiap orang percaya kepada Dia, yang telah diutus oleh Allah” (Yohanes 6:29). Alkitab mengajarkan bahwa keselamatan hanya diperoleh karena iman kepada Yesus Kristus. Yesus Kristus adalah obyek iman tersebut. Keselamatan ini dikenal dengan pernyataan “Dibenarkan karena iman. Paulus menjelaskan ajaran ini dalam setiap tulisannya. Ajaran pembenaran oleh iman ini telah berulang kali disangkal oleh beberap orang yang tidak setuju dengan pendapat Paulus. Sejarah gereja mulai dari abad permulaan sampai pada masa sekarang ini telah membuktikan beragamnya pemahaman yang muncul terhadap ajaran ini, namun satu hal yang terpenting adalah bahwa manusia berdosa dibenarkan oleh iman mereka kepada Yesus Kristus di hadapan Allah.Kata Kunci: Paulus; sejarah; iman; dibenarkan oleh iman.

scholarly journals Exploring the Relevance of Feminist Leadership in Theological Education of Nigeria

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-40
Author(s):  
Adesanya Ibiyinka Olusola
Keyword(s):  
Theological Education ◽  
Gender Justice ◽  
Women And Gender ◽  
Theological Schools ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Feminist Leadership ◽  
The World ◽  
Church And Society ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Church

Feminist leadership is very important in theological education as it would seek to deconstruct stereotypical assumptions about women and gender in Christian theological traditions. Unfortunately, most of the theological schools in Nigeria do not have feminist as leaders. Five reasons why feminist leadership are needed in theological schools have been identified as, the bible teaching that women brought sin and death to the world, servant hood notion of women, scandal of particularity, male domination of ministries and theological methods and process that are full of stereotypes. All this does not provide women a unique opportunity to discover and develop their potential in the church and society. Also, women’s relevance and contributions can be hampered if not allowed to put in their optimum. To avoid this, the researcher suggests that theological education should not discriminate against any gender, but should work to bring about gender justice by involving the feminist leaders in theological education in Nigeria. It is hoped that by pursuing these steps, theological education in Nigeria would be preparing the way to sustainable development of the mission of Christ on earth.

scholarly journals Rethinking the message of the church in the 21st century: An amalgamation between science and religion

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk G. Van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Science And Religion ◽  
Western World ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church ◽  
Theological Training

Throughout its history, Christianity has stood in a dichotomous relation to the various philosophical movements or eras (pre-modernism, modernism, postmodernism and post-postmodernism) that took on different faces throughout history. In each period, it was the sciences that influenced, to a great extent, the interpretation and understanding of the Bible. Christianity, however, was not immune to influences, specifically those of the Western world. This essay reflects briefly on this dichotomy and the influence of Bultmann’s demythologising of the kerygma during the 20th century. Also, the remythologising (Vanhoozer) of the church’s message as proposed for the 21st century no more satisfies the critical Christian thinkers. The relationship between science and religion is revisited, albeit from a different perspective as established over the past two decades as to how the sciences have been pointed out more and more to complement theology. This article endeavours to evoke the church to consider the fundamental contributions of the sciences and how it is going to incorporate the sciences into its theological training and message to the world.

scholarly journals Do You Understand What You’re Reading? Lasting Religious Education as a Response to the Contemporary Challenges in Reaching the World for Christ

Kairos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-96
Author(s):  
Mario Kushner
Keyword(s):  
Religious Education ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
The Third ◽  
The World ◽  
Educational Ministry ◽  
The Church

The fundamental thought of the Lausanne congresses and The Cape Town Commitment (TCTC) statement as the final product of the third congress, could be summarized by these words: “The Church needs to evangelize the world.” From that battle cry come the challenges of knowing the Gospel and mastering the skills necessary for implementing that plan. This article points out that both challenges can be overcome only through a consistent educational ministry within local fellowships of believers.

scholarly journals Teologi Keluarga: Kajian Terhadap Kejadian 1-3 Sebagai Dasar Pemahaman Esensi Keluarga Kristen

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-103
Author(s):  
Bakhoh Jatmiko
Keyword(s):  
The Bible ◽  
The Family ◽  
The World ◽  
Genesis 1 ◽  
The Church

Family is an intersting entity to study. Theologically, a family is a God established intitution in the marrital bound between a man and a woman. The family that designed by God himself has been through many threads and challenges from the world that promoting new values for the family that makes the family origin values put by God are being faded out. Many distortions in the family have become challenges for the church and the believers to set the focus to a family as mentioned in the Bible especially Genesis 1-3 as a resources where Christians capture the picture of the first family that have ever existed.

scholarly journals Upaya Meningkatkan Etos Kerja Jemaat melalui Pengajaran Hakikat Kerja Menurut Kolose 3:22-24

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-75
Author(s):  
Innawati Teddywono
Keyword(s):  
Work Ethic ◽  
Quantitative Approach ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Research Model ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
Level Of Understanding ◽  
The Church

The Bible teaches about the nature of work as an activity that is meaningful for humans and others. That is why Christian workers must have a biblical work ethic in the world of work. This research uses a quantitative approach with a survey method. The research objective was to determine the level of understanding of the GPdI Wlingi congregation in Blitar regarding the nature of work according to Colossians 3:22-24 and the work ethic. This study found the magnitude of the influence of teaching about the nature of work according to Colossians 3: 22-24 on work variables among the GPdI Wlingi congregation, Blitar was 18.5%, while other causes explained the remaining 81.5% outside of this research model. It means that teaching about the nature of work, according to Colossians 3:22-24, must be taught and implemented by the church to improve its congregation's work ethic.AbstrakAlkitab memberikan pengajaran tentang hakikat kerja sebagai suatu aktivitas yang sangat bermakna bagi manusia dan sesamanya. Itulah sebabnya, pekerja Kristen harus memiliki etos kerja yang alkitabiah di tengah dunia kerja. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan metode survei. Tujuan penelitian hendak mengetahui seberapa besar tingkat pemahaman jemaat GPdI Wlingi, Blitar, mengenai hakikat kerja menurut Kolose 3:22-24, dan terhadap etos kerja. Penelitian ini menemukan besarnya pengaruh ajaran tentang hakikat kerja menurut Kolose 3:22-24 terhadap variabel kerja di kalangan jemaat GPdI Wlingi, Blitar adalah 18,5%, sedangkan sisanya sebesar 81,5% dijelaskan oleh sebab-sebab lain di luar model penelitian ini. Ini berarti pengajaran tentang hakikat kerja menurut Kolose 3:22-24 harus diajarkan dan diimplementasikan oleh gereja untuk meningkatkan etos kerja jemaatnya. 

scholarly journals PERSEKUSI TERHADAP GEREJA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adi Putra
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
General Public ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Historical Literature ◽  
The World ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Will ◽  
The Church

This article explains that persecution is not only happening or experienced by the general public, but it is also experienced by the Lord's Church. This opinion is evidenced by evidence of information obtained from the Bible, especially the New Testament and also in the Church's historical literature. Then discussed further with the church because the church fellowship is different from the world or does not come from the world. Because the Church has been chosen and set apart by God to live differently from the world or live like Christ. And because Christ had already experienced it, then the later Church which is a follower of Christ also experiences similar things. And this writing is endowed with perspectives that have many benefits for the Church. As described above, there are at least five benefits. Such as: the empowerment of the Church may imitate the suffering that Christ has undergone or rather the Church has done the will of Jesus; persuasion helps spread the gospel in the world, persecution of the church can be a means of God to filter and filter out which true believers and non-believers, the quality of the church's faith will be further enhanced through persecution, and persecution of the church can help the church to bear fruit.

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