The Cross in Context is Published Today!!

November 22, 2022 By Jackson Wu

Today is finally here! After years of labor, The Cross in Context: Reconsidering Biblical Metaphors for Atonement is officially published!! (This is the second book that I’ve released this fall. Seeking God’s Face was published in September.) As a way of introducing the book to you, it’s fitting that I post an adapted excerpt from the Introduction. Please share the news with others! Three Goals of This Book The Cross in Context has three interconnected purposes.[1] First, it attempts to guard... Read more

The Atonement is a Shibboleth

November 15, 2022 By Jackson Wu

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I’m honored that Joshua McNall accepted my request to write the foreword to my forthcoming book The Cross in Context: Reconsidering Biblical Metaphors for Atonement. You might have read his book The Mosaic of Atonement: An Integrated Approach to Christ’s Work (2019). In this post, I share his Foreword and the book’s Table of Contents. See my previous post for an introduction to the book, several endorsements, and an excerpt. Foreword (by Joshua McNall) “Say Shibboleth!” Unfortunately, that menacing line... Read more

The Cross in Context is Coming Soon!

November 8, 2022 By Jackson Wu

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For years, I wanted to write a book about the atonement. In just a few weeks, it’ll finally be published, and you can pre-order it today! Read more

Think Broadly on Contextualization and Biblical Theology

November 1, 2022 By Jackson Wu

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We previously considered several studies that highlight the benefits of “broad thinking” on creativity. Scholars note how a “broad perceptual scope” of attention fosters original thinking. Non-Western cultures often have broader “perceptual scopes” but other cultural factors inhibit certain types of creativity. How might such observations impact contextualization? What do these findings suggest about the value and use of biblical theology? I’ll briefly touch on two points worth discussing. Contextualization Requires Broad Thinking Without belaboring the point, I’ll reiterate an... Read more

Why did China Humiliate Hu Jintao?

October 29, 2022 By Jackson Wu

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My jaw dropped. I have never seen Chinese leaders act in such a way. However, last week, Xi Jinping gave a full demonstration (against Hu Jintao) of the tactics used during the cultural revolution. At the recent Chinese Communist Party’s twice-a-decade meeting, the congress convened to anoint President Xi to a third term, an unprecedented since the death of Mao Zedong. The move was made possible because Xi removed term limits several years back in preparation for this year’s gathering.... Read more

The Psychology of Broad and Eastern Thinking

October 25, 2022 By Jackson Wu

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Have you ever thought about the link between cognitive psychology, Eastern thinking, and biblical theology? Yeah, me too. For everyone else, let me share with you how psychological studies yield significant insights that can help us think through contextualization, whether for missions or theology. Broad versus Narrow Focus I’ll begin by summarizing a study that has since been replicated several times by others. Researchers gave participants one of two maps. In the first group, people received a state map (e.g.,... Read more

How do we bridge theology and missions?

October 18, 2022 By Jackson Wu

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To bridge the gap between theologians and missionaries, we need imagination. Here are ideas about what an integrated approach might look like. Read more

Why Don’t Theologians and Missionaries Talk?

October 11, 2022 By Jackson Wu

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Why do theologians and missionaries rarely engage each other's work? Wouldn't collaboration help everyone? Here are at least three reasons why the chasm exists. Read more

Treating People Like Objects (an excerpt from SGF)

October 4, 2022 By Jackson Wu

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Today’s post offers an excerpt adapted from our new book, Seeking God’s Face: Practical Reflection on Honor and Shame in Scripture, which is now available! I introduced it first here and then here. I previously posted an adapted excerpt. Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good dowry; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons”; so she named him Zebulun. (Genesis 30:20) Imagine being sold to a man by your father. For... Read more

Seeking God’s Face releases today!

September 27, 2022 By Jackson Wu

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It’s official! Seeking God’s Face: Practical Reflection on Honor and Shame in Scripture is released today! I previously introduced the book and noted some of the endorsements. Last time, I posted an excerpt from it. Today, I will elaborate further concerning why we wrote the book and how it can prove useful to readers. First of all, it’s neither a typical academic nor a popular-level work. It’s a true hybrid. Reasons for Seeking God’s Face The book has 101 practical... Read more