The Gender of Piety is an intimate history of the Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe, or BICC, as related through six individual life histories that extend from the early colonial years through ...the first decade after independence.
It is always a challenge to review the relation between evangelism and election. Biblical views are essential. Important exponents of evangelism such as Bosch, Bevans and Schroeder, Christopher ...Wright, and Kirk are presented, but also the challenging view of Tutu. Especially Bosch’s comprehensive view of evangelism is important. He explains that evangelism is not presenting the gospel to those in need to hear it again after rejecting it, but presenting the gospel of salvation to all. Calvin’s view on election is always extremely important because of his views on election and rejection. He explains his view that God elects in freedom in Christ because He is the living God and that He has the right to reject those who are not in Christ because of their sins. Ephesians
1 and Romans 9 call for intensive scrutiny in this regard. Election is always in Christ, and one should emphasise the mercy and love of God. Evangelism and election go together, for both proclaim the glory of God in his love. The call to come and convert to God in evangelism is essential for the church. Election and evangelism are about the love of God in Christ, the crucified and resurrected one. Therefore, the missional church should always proclaim new life in Christ in the future in God’s mercy and love. Election and evangelism are not mutually exclusive but call for radically honouring the living God in his total redemption of humankind.
One of the unique aspects of the religious profession is the high percentage of those who claim to be called by God to do their work. This call is particularly important within African American ...Christian traditions. Divine Callings offers a rare sociological examination of this markedly understudied phenomenon within black ministry. Richard N. Pitt draws on over 100 in-depth interviews with Black Pentecostal ministers in the Church of God in Christ--both those ordained and licensed and those aspiring--to examine how these men and women experience and pursue the call. Viewing divine calling as much as a social process as it is a spiritual one, Pitt delves into the personal stories of these individuals to explore their work as active agents in the process of fulfilling their calling. In some cases, those called cannot find pastoral work due to gender discrimination, lack of clergy positions, and educational deficiencies. Pitt looks specifically at how those who have not obtained clergy positions understand their call, exploring the influences of psychological experience, the congregational acceptance of their call, and their response to the training process. He emphasizes how those called reconceptualize clericalism in terms of who can be called, how that call has to be certified, and what those called are meant to do, offering insight into how social actors adjust to structural constraints.
The Author of the paper looks for a key to the theological thought of the Apostle Paul. The fact that it lacks a clear definition results in authors radically differing in their perception, for ...instance, regarding the relationship between the Old and the New Testament, and as a result, whether or not the Old Testament has a decisive influence on the Pauline thought, continuing along this line: whether the Apostle in his view always remained a Jew, or whether he distanced himself from Judaism. The fact that we do not have a category clearly defining the relationship between the Old and New Testament salvific reality results in an abundance of contradictory opinions. That is also transferred to other areas of the Pauline theology. The interpretation of Paul’s theology tends to be determined by preconceptions, built upon various ways of understanding the significance of the Old Testament, or various relationship to Judaism and its thought. The author of the paper indicates a concept, treated as marginal by scholars, of a new creation in Christ as the key to understanding the Pauline thought. It lays in the background of all themes treated by Paul and connects them into a single, coherent entity.
Paul often uses the phrase ‘in Christ’ in his letters. Teresa Morgan has written an important book that rejects a participatory interpretation of this phrase, suggesting an encheiristic ...interpretation instead (that it means ‘in his hands’). I provide a participatory view, in terms of a sharing of divine and human minds, in experience, feeling and action. By considering Professor Morgan’s account of ‘en Christo’ in Galatians, I argue that a participatory view adds something important to, without detracting from, an encheiristic view.
This article argues that human flourishing is grounded in relationships of mutual judgement according to which we live and grow as characters in the stories of others. More specifically, it will make ...a theological case that true human flourishing emerges in a world governed by the judgement of the triune God who creates us to find fulfilment in Jesus Christ, by the Spirit, according to the will of the Father. In so doing, it contends that human flourishing is both grounded in and brought about by relationships of accountability.
This article explores burnout, and constructs related to burnout, in relation to pastors. Burnout has been found to exist in a multitude of occupations that are service-, or people, oriented. As a ...large portion of the role of a pastor involves contact with individuals, pastors may experience burnout. It is through a pastoral lens that burnout, and concepts related to burnout such as emotional labour, role salience, differentiation of self, and differentiation of self in Christ, are examined. Methods to cope with burnout such mindfulness and prayer are also reviewed.
The Covid-19 virus has led to crises on many levels. Not only is the pandemic a serious medical issue, but also a huge challenge on many other levels. Economically, politically, socially, religiously ...and ethically, the pandemic is changing all previously held ideas and understanding. At present, the whole world is struggling to find a solution on these levels. It is useful to ask theological questions regarding the pandemic. Opinions differ concerning the theological implications of the pandemic. Some regard the virus as an evolutionary development, while others view it in the light of God’s wrath against sin. It can also be regarded as a sign of the second coming of Christ as we speed up towards the end times. Christ’s death on the cross, his resurrection and his salvation for humankind must also be emphasised. One should consider sin and God’s wrath against it as well as the call to conversion, but the glorious redemption in Jesus Christ is considered to be the final answer for humanity.
Despite increasing numbers of converts from Islam, there are still difficulties for Believers in Christ from Muslim Backgrounds (BMBs) to become part of their local churches. Their understanding and ...expectation of churches are often vastly different from the reality on the ground. In addition, they also often have diverse practical issues that prevent a smooth integration within their adoptive Christian communities. This article reflects on the perspectives of BMBs related to their difficulties and barriers to fully embracing their new faith or belonging in local churches in North America. It also outlines the normative shape of faith communities in Islam and Christianity and suggests how local churches may better serve converts by encouraging closer belonging and informed discipleship.
This article examines the question of when the resurrection of the body begins. Matthew 27:51–53 testifies to the resurrection of bodies on Good Friday; and 2 Corinthians 5:1 speaks of those who die ...in Christ receiving a building/body from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Eternal life begins for Christians with baptism into Christ’s death; they become members of his Body, the Church. Through the presence of Christ’s Spirit, our bodies undergo a spiritual transformation up to the moment of death. Those who die in Christ pass from resurrected life in the physical body to the fullness of resurrected life at death in Christ’s spiritual body. Whether one is in the (physical) body and away from the Lord or with the Lord and away from the (physical) body, one remains in Christ.
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