Evangelism’s Hidden Assumptions: When Theory & Praxis Contradict
Central to the Christian faith is the task of evangelism. Orthodox Christians affirm this need for witnessing in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth (cf. Acts 1:8). Nonetheless, bearing witness to the cross of Christ comes with its own unique challenges and principles about its content, as well as its approach or method. Among these challenges are some important basic assumptions. For example, the...
Clarifying the ‘Culture’ Debate
Culture is unquestionably a buzzword of the contemporary era. Evangelicals seek to “engage the culture” for Christ, while PBS journalists aim to capture the cultural moment in documentaries. Even politicians speak of cultural developments and trends in public speeches [1]. However, when using the term ‘culture’, do these parties mean the same thing? Whether it is T.S. Eliot’s classic Notes Toward the Definition of Culture, Alan...
The Church and the Pragmatic Impulse
Those who have a vested claim in Christ’s kingdom have the crucial task of discerning the voice of the Spirit amid the whispers of the world. All true servants of Christ are interested in the same thing: serving the church and fulfilling the Great Commission. Along the way, however, questions arise concerning the means to that end. It would seem that the truly spiritual mantra “whatever it takes” says it all and in many ways, this...
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