How long will this planet go on? How long will the universe last? Scientists give projected answers based on knowledge of universal physical laws. They talk of billions of years. When Christians take part in worship they express belief in what are called the Last Things–Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell, concepts based on the Scriptures. Can these beliefs be held on to? Concerning future events the Bible presents diverse and even incredible ideas th ...
In The End of Evangelicalism? David Fitch examines the political presence of evangelicalism as a church in North America. Amidst the negative image of evangelicalism in the national media and its purported decline as a church, Fitch asks how evangelicalism's belief and practice has formed it as a political presence in North America. Why are evangelicals perceived as arrogant, exclusivist, duplicitous, and dispassionate by the wider culture? ...
The crucial challenge for theology is that when it is read the reader thinks, «This is true.» Recognizing claims that are «true» enables readers to identify an honest expression of life's complexities. The trick is to show that theological claims–the words that must be used to speak of God–are necessary if the theologian is to speak honestly of the complexities of life. The worst betrayal of the task of theology comes when the theologian fe ...
"I desire mercy, not sacrifice." Echoing Hosea, Jesus defends his embrace of the «unclean» in the Gospel of Matthew, seeming to privilege the prophetic call to justice over the Levitical pursuit of purity. And yet, as missional faith communities are well aware, the tensions and conflicts between holiness and mercy are not so easily resolved. At every turn, it seems that the psychological pull of purity and holiness tempts the church into pr ...
What is the spiritual condition of infants? According to the Augustinian-Calvinist view, all people inherit from the first Adam both a sinful nature and his guilt. The result is that all infants are subject to the judgment of God against their nature before they knowingly commit any sinful actions. But is this the clear teaching of Scripture? In The Spiritual Condition of Infants, Adam Harwood examines ten relevant biblical texts and the writin ...
Accosted by hatred and living out a dismal existence in Dirt Place, we humans have tried and failed to find the source of love. Many philosophies of love have proved powerless in satisfying our need for this pure and true thing. One after another, the world's religions fail to illuminate its reality and beauty. All the while, the overwhelming presence of evil has forced love into the shadows of elusiveness. But through the barrage of attemp ...
From the first episode to the latest feature film, two main symbols provide the driving force for the iconic television series The X-Files: Fox Mulder's «I Want to Believe» poster and Dana Scully's cross necklace. Mulder's poster may feature a flying saucer, but the phrase «I want to believe» refers to more than simply the quest for the truth about aliens. The search for extraterrestrial life, the truth that is out there, is a met ...
At a recent conference entitled Ancient Wisdom–Anglican Futures, theologians from across the denominational spectrum considered the question, «What does it mean to inhabit the 'Great Tradition' authentically?» As an expression of what C. S. Lewis called «Deep Church,» Anglicanism offers a test case of Tradition with a capital "T" in late modernity. Of particular interest is the highly dynamic transmission that has preserved a recogniza ...
Have you ever wondered, «Why am I here? What's gone wrong with the world? What is the answer? How will it all end? What do I have to do to know God?» What's God up to on Planet Earth? offers a no-strings-attached presentation of the Christian message written for those who are seeking answers to questions like these. Mark Keown gives a compelling vision of a loving God whose desire is the restoration of the whole world. The book ...