LITMIR.BIZ

Isaac Mbabazi makes a major contribution to the field of New Testament by arguing that the relevant Matthean theme of interpersonal forgiveness is quite central to the first Gospel. In The Significance of Interpersonal Forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew, he delineates five sets of evidence in support of his argument. Beginning with a survey of all Matthean forgiveness and forgiveness-related texts, he then carries out an in-depth exegesis of two key Matthean texts in which the idea of interpersonal forgiveness is explicit. Discourse analysis informs his discussion, offering valuable insight into Matthew's point of view. Mbabazi notes that the forgiveness pattern that emerges from contemporary Greco-Roman literature differs remarkably from the pattern found in Matthew, where granting forgiveness appears not only as a reasonable act, but reluctance or failure to grant it makes the unforgiving person accountable to God.

Подробнее

This book uses a gender perspective to examine sermons and other officially endorsed discourses of the Catholic Church in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Mexico City. Analyzing the different ways that, over time, gendered images, metaphors, and hagiographical examples were used in sermons and other documents, the book examines how the church negotiated challenges to its cultural and ideological hegemony. Beginning with sermons from the early eighteenth century, the author follows the evolution of church discourses as preachers reveled in Baroque analogies, embraced ideals of the Enlightenment, targeted women's alleged moral vices at times of political crisis, and ultimately turned to notions of women as «the devout sex» in order to combat incipient liberalism. Put another way, liberals after independence were not the only ones to assert a kind of «republican motherhood»: preachers countered with a vision of «Catholic motherhood» that had great resonance in Mexico even into the twentieth century.

Подробнее

Church-going in most Western societies has declined significantly in the wake of the social and cultural changes that began in the 1960s. Does this mean that people in these societies are losing any religious dimension in their lives, or is it being expressed in other forms and places? This study begins by looking at comparative data on how church-going patterns have changed in five countries–Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand–examining reasons for the decline, how churches have responded to these changes, and why some churches have shown greater resilience. It then explores some of the particular challenges these changes pose for the future of churches in these societies and some of the responses that have been made, drawing on both sociological and theological insights. The conclusion is that, despite the loss of belonging, believing persists and religion continues to play a significant role in these societies, mediated in a variety of diffuse cultural forms. Cases illustrating these changes are largely drawn from New Zealand, which as the country most recently settled by Europeans has always been «secular» and thus provides helpful insights.

Подробнее

The Eastern Christian liturgical tradition of Lent has long included the chanting of the Songs of Ascents (Pss 120-134) as «entrance songs» of not only the special penance service known as the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, but also of the season of repentance. Ruckhaus' commentary in As Though We Were Dreaming provides theological insight and exegetical breadth to this group of Psalms. Even more so, Ruckhaus drives the reader to engage the Songs of Ascents and participate in the descent and ascent of meaningful and life-changing repentance.
The commentary here does more than just compare the struggle of the ancient Jews reflected in the Songs of Ascents with that of the early Christian community and our own experience. Ruckhaus insists on a «gutteral connection» between the anxiety and hope of reconstituting the people of God after the disaster of the exile and that of the passion of Jesus. «The gospel story is already genetically encoded in the story of Israel.»
The liturgical incorporation of the Songs of Ascents in the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts «grounds» the Church's participation in the Great Story. We don't borrow the ancient psalms of the Jews' struggle to reconstitute a kingdom of God; we share in that struggle.

Подробнее

As the charismatic movement penetrated the Protestant churches and then impacted the Catholic Church, great hopes for Christian unity were aroused among many. These hopes peaked with the great Kansas City conference of 1977 and the «Pentecost over Europe» gathering in Strasbourg, France, in 1982. After these high points, the Renewal's unity dynamic weakened at the same time as the ecumenical movement was losing momentum.
Dr. Hocken argues that the charismatic movement was always a grace for unity, and that this can be seen from how it began and spread. Its deep orientation to unity finds its foundation in the «end-times» significance of baptism in the Spirit poured out on Christians from so many traditions that reinforces the «one hope» for the coming of the Lord. Many developments of the last twenty years indicate that the time is now ripe for an ecumenism of the Spirit within which the charismatic impulses of the Holy Spirit can purify and deepen the wider movement for Christian unity. Growing reconciliation between Evangelicals and Catholics suddenly seems less utopian as Pope Francis shows the servant face of a humbler Catholic Church.

Подробнее

Hermeneutical Theology and the Imperative of Public Ethics is a groundbreaking attempt to present constructive missional theology in an integrative and interdisciplinary framework as it provocatively utilizes and contextualizes Reformation theology and hermeneutics concerning ethical theology embedded within the wider horizon of World Christianity. Mission as constructive theology is explored and refined in an hermeneutical and interdisciplinary fashion, underlying a new horizon of postcolonial theology and mission in light of God's act of speech. Missional church founded up God's grace of justification and Christ's diakonia of reconciliation becomes ethically oriented public church as it is engaged in mutireligious diversity of people's lives and lifeworld in the postcolonial context of World Christianity.

Подробнее

Christian ministers working in congregations and with nonprofits seek to discern what it is that God has been doing and where it is that the «Spirit» might be leading them. In Living Spiritual Praxis Eric Kyle looks to address the lack of resources on the work and dynamics of Christian spiritual formation that actually develop a specific process for spiritual formation programs. Kyle strives to provide a guide for spiritual formation by using the «praxis-oriented» fields of action research and practical theology. He explores a process for understanding the nature and dynamics of a situation, discerning specific formative interventions, assessing various approaches, and continually assessing and modifying these understandings and approaches. Living Spiritual Praxis will be an invaluable resource for all Christians, leaders and laity alike, who are challenged by the spiritual formation of church members, communities, groups, and individuals.

Подробнее

This book is a historical-theological study of the Reformed doctrine of Justification. After providing a brief history of the doctrine, the work focuses on analyzing the writings of John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, and N. T. Wright to discern points of development, continuity, and discontinuity within the Reformed tradition itself. Drawing upon their works, this book argues for a «living» theological practice and identity for those who work to formulate Reformed Doctrine.

Подробнее

Discipleship is the heartbeat of the Christian Church. This book explores how «following Jesus» was understood and lived by the Lutheran Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Baptist Arnold Koster during the Third Reich era.
Baptists and Lutherans often define the tension of being in the world but not of it in terms of two separate realms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world. However, their understanding of these and their delicate connection is quite nuanced. Within the Lutheran tradition, the two kingdoms are held in tension, which in turn leads to a precarious interaction of state and church. In the (Ana)Baptist tradition, a much stricter duality is emphasized, resulting in a more radical and separatist stance. This book seeks to understand and compare the historical development of these two viewpoints and to discover how these traditions, represented in the lives of two individual followers, responded to the ideological onslaught of neopaganism and the enforced political conformity of the Third Reich.
Compared to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, little is known of the Baptist preacher Arnold Koster. His ministry as a pastor of the Baptist church in Vienna lasted from 1928-1960. During the Nazi regime, he consistently preached critically and prophetically against its underlying ideology.

Подробнее

David Simon's The Wire lays out before us a city in which people struggle under the weight of poverty, political corruption, economic despair, educational collapse, and the drug trade. This volume explores the various theological, ethical, and philosophical challenges presented by The Wire. As each season of The Wire unfolds, the moral complexities of life in the city deepen, as the failures of one system have unforeseen effects in other corners of the city. Fleshing out the ongoing tension between the «earthly city» and the City of God, Corners in the City of God is a theological companion to David Simon's masterpiece, inviting the reader to wrestle with the implications of belonging fully to the cities of the world, in all of their splendor and tragedy.

Подробнее