Have you ever heard of luxury beliefs? They are a significant shift in how we might understand cultural trends in contemporary society. Read more
Have you ever heard of luxury beliefs? They are a significant shift in how we might understand cultural trends in contemporary society. Read more
Matthew 13 gives a multifaceted view of God's Kingdom, defying and redefining the expectations of those who follow Him Read more
Bookstores are replete with self-help books. This is an individualistic approach focusing on how I as an individual can fix me an individual. Imagine with me what the opposite type of book might look like, a “community-help book.” A work dedicated to “community-help” would signify a departure from the solitary journey espoused by self-help manuals, steering us toward a collaborative pursuit of betterment and collective welfare. It would extol the virtues of mutual reliance and concerted endeavor over the solitary... Read more
This semester, I’ve been teaching students about how to read Scripture missionally. Reading the Bible missionally involves approaching the Scriptures with a focus on God’s overarching mission to redeem and restore the world through Christ. This perspective emphasizes the narrative of salvation history and God’s intent to bless all nations, as seen throughout the biblical text. Here are some key principles for reading the Bible with a missional hermeneutic: 1. The Metanarrative of Scripture Understand the Bible as the story... Read more
Americans now treat culture as a sacred creed. This sacralization of culture in American society has led to a notable shift in the social dynamics of the country (as I shared in my previous post). As cultural identity ascends to a place of sacrosanct significance, it fosters a robust in-group loyalty that is double-edged. When We Idolize Cultural Identity On one edge, this loyalty enhances the understanding and appreciation of one’s heritage, leading to a vibrant mosaic of community life... Read more
In contemporary American society, a striking phenomenon has emerged: the sacralization of culture and cultural identity. To put it more directly, culture has become a religion. Cultural identity has become a religious identity. Cultural and ethnic identities have ascended to positions of reverence and unassailable authority in the lives of many individuals. This shift is emblematic of a broader social transformation, where culture has, in some respects, supplanted traditional religion in its role as a moral and ethical compass. This... Read more
Here are 10 ways that honor and shame manifest in various aspects of American life. What would you add to the list? Read more
The Western church finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. With society becoming ever more individualistic, the church must grapple with the implications of this societal shift on its congregants, doctrines, and mission. The church, historically rooted in community and shared beliefs, faces challenges in maintaining its foundational values in an era where the individual reigns supreme. Identity amid Individualism Individualism is a double-edged sword. While it encourages personal responsibility and nurtures a direct relationship with God, it also skews perceptions... Read more
The concept of “name” in modern Western contexts has largely been reduced to a matter of personal identity or a mere label that stands for one’s reputation or achievement. However, diving into the depth of biblical narratives, particularly in passages like Genesis 12:1-3, reveals that the idea of a “name” encompasses much more. When God promises to make Abram’s “name great,” it’s not merely about attaining fame or renown. The breadth and depth of this concept are vast, interweaving themes... Read more
The following is a guest post based on Matthew Bennett’s Amazon review of Donald McGavran’s famous Bridges of God. Matt (Ph.D., SEBTS) is an Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology at Cedarville University in Cedarville, OH. Prior to taking this post, he and his family lived in North Africa and the Middle East for seven years. A Troubled Legacy In my estimation as a missiologist, this small book (Bridges of God) is responsible for most of the worst parts of... Read more
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