Download or read book Christ and Counter Christ written by Carl E. Braaten and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2016-10-19 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The apocalyptic Jesus speaks directly to the crises of our time, Carl E. Braaten contends. Yet few modern theologians have come to terms with this aspect of Jesus' message. In these brief and provocative essays, Braaten reappraises theology and society from the point of view of apocalypticism. The author points out the relevance for contemporary Christians of the dualities found in apocalyptic thought: Christ and Counter-­Christ, freedom and slavery, the present realm and future kingdom. People in today's counterculture are even seen to possess a vision of freedom similar to that in the apocalyptic sections of the Bible. The reader will discover that apocalypticism opens up fascinating new dimensions of such issues as ecology, revolution, and secular Christianity. Each chapter displays a double emphasis on theological concerns and on concrete problems facing Christians today. Those who read in the fields of religion, ethics, or American culture will find this book intriguing. The breezy style and careful thinking will appeal to everyone from college student to systematic theologian.

Download or read book Counter Culture written by David Platt and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2017-02-07 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Revised and updated, with a new chapter on the refugee crisis. Welcome to the front lines. Everywhere we turn, battle lines are being drawn—traditional marriage vs. gay marriage, pro-life vs. pro-choice, personal freedom vs. governmental protection. Seemingly overnight, culture has shifted to the point where right and wrong are no longer measured by universal truth but by popular opinion. And as difficult conversations about homosexuality, abortion, and religious liberty continue to inject themselves into our workplaces, our churches, our schools, and our homes, Christians everywhere are asking the same question: How are we supposed to respond to all this? In Counter Culture, New York Times bestselling author David Platt shows Christians how to actively take a stand on such issues as poverty, sex trafficking, marriage, abortion, racism, and religious liberty—and challenges us to become passionate, unwavering voices for Christ. Drawing on compelling personal accounts from around the world, Platt presents an unapologetic yet winsome call for Christians to faithfully follow Christ into the cultural battlefield in ways that will prove both costly and rewarding. The lines have been drawn. The moment has come for Christians to rise up and deliver a gospel message that’s more radical than even the most controversial issues of our day.

Download or read book The Triumph of the Cross written by Richard Viladesau and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2008-04-22 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a sequel to Richard Viladesau's well-received study, The Beauty of the Cross: The Passion of Christ in Theology and the Arts from the Catacombs to the Eve of the Renaissance. It continues his project of presenting theological history by using art as both an independent religious or theological "text" and as a means of understanding the cultural context for academic theology. Viladesau argues that art and symbolism function as alternative strands of theological expression sometimes parallel to, sometimes interwoven with, and sometimes in tension with formal theological reflection on the meaning of crucifixion and its role in salvation history. This book examines the two great revolutionary movements that gave birth to the modern West: the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation. This period was eventful for both theology and art, and thus particularly fruitful for Viladesau's project. Using individual works of art, over sixty of which are reproduced in this book, to epitomize particular artistic and theological models, he explores the contours of each paradigm through the works of representative theologians as well as liturgical, poetic, artistic, and musical sources. To name a few examples, the theologies of Savonarola, Luther, Calvin, and the Council of Trent, are examined in correlation to the new situation of art in the era of Fra Angelico, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Dürer, Cranach, and the Mannerists. In this book, Viladesau continues to deepen our understanding of the foremost symbol of Christianity.

Download or read book The Case Against the Case for Christ written by Robert M. Price and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Gentle and Lowly written by Dane C. Ortlund and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2020-03-18 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christians know that God loves them, but can easily feel that he is perpetually disappointed and frustrated, maybe even close to giving up on them. As a result, they focus a lot—and rightly so—on what Jesus has done to appease God’s wrath for sin. But how does Jesus Christ actually feel about his people amid all their sins and failures? This book draws us to Matthew 11, where Jesus describes himself as “gentle and lowly in heart,” longing for his people to find rest in him. The gospel flows from God’s deepest heart for his people, a heart of tender love for the sinful and suffering. These chapters take readers into the depths of Christ’s very heart for sinners, diving deep into Bible passages that speak of who Christ is and encouraging readers with the affections of Christ for his people. His longing heart for sinners comforts and sustains readers in their up-and-down lives.

Download or read book Union with Christ written by J. Todd Billings and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2011-11 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An accomplished theologian recovers the biblical theme of union with Christ, showing how it affects current theological and ministry issues.

Download or read book Christ City written by Jon M. Dennis and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2013 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over half of the world's population now lives in cities, but the gospel has not yet flourished in many important urban centers. Dennis calls Christians to reach city-dwellers through passionate proclamation and whole-life engagement.

Download or read book Partners in Christ written by John G. Stackhouse Jr. and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2015-10-08 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When it comes to understanding what Scripture says about men and women, those on both sides of the debate can and do marshal strong evidence from the Bible. Does the Bible contradict itself then? Not so. John Stackhouse describes the single approach in Scripture that guides us with clear direction and moves us beyond the impasse in this important debate.

Download or read book Christ and Calamity written by Harold Senkbeil and published by Lexham Press. This book was released on 2021-03-31 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lord, do you not care if we perish? That's what the frightened disciples shouted to Jesus as he slept in the stern of a storm-tossed boat. In the midst of suffering and uncertainty, we're all prone to think that God has forgotten us, he doesn't care, or he's powerless to do anything. And that's true of us in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Christ and Calamity, Harold L. Senkbeil speaks pastorally to our suffering and uncertainty. Senkbeil shows God's constant and faithful grace to us. With Paul he encourages us: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess 5:16-18). Calamities come in many different sizes, and God addresses them all in his word and by his Spirit. Even when we don't see or feel it, God is always faithful. "If I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me" (Ps 139:9-10). The disciples' faith in the midst of the storm may have been weak, but Jesus was mighty to save. And he will save you, too. No matter how small your faith, you can count on him to hear your anguished cry and to answer.

Download or read book The Faith of Jesus Christ written by Richard B. Hays and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 2002 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this important study Hays argues against the mainstream that any attempt to account for the nature and method of Paul's theological language must first reckon with the centrality of narrative elements in his thought. Through an in-depth investigation of Galatians 3:1-4:11, Hays shows that the framework of Paul's thought is neither a system of doctrines nor his personal religious experience but the "sacred story" of Jesus Christ.

Download or read book Following Christ written by Joseph M. Stowell and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 1998-02 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do you want your life to count for Christ? Would you like to make a real impact for God's kingdom in this world? You can -- and you don't have to be a great leader for it to happen. Just a good follower. In Following Christ, Joseph Stowell shows why Christ's command to "Follow me" isn't merely the starting point of Christianity. It's the very heartbeat of vibrant, effective faith. And it's not just for a few gifted leaders, but for all believers. Stowell shows you what happens when an ordinary man or woman pursues not the trappings of Christianity, but Christ himself. You'll discover - What a "non-negotiated follower" looks like - Why God does his best work through followers - Why self-directed living is a recipe for emptiness - What makes Christ so worth following - What it means to pick up your cross - Why a close walk with Jesus is the key to effective living -- Following Christ paints a compelling portrait of Christianity the way God intended it, marked by simplicity, vigorous faith, purpose and direction, soul-winning impact on others . . . and above all, a joyous, growing closeness with Christ.

Download or read book Telling the Christian Story Differently written by Francis Watson and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-06-25 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume examines the 'counter-narratives' of the core Christian story, proposed by texts from Nag Hammadi and elsewhere. A noteworthy body of highly respected scholars examine material that is sometimes difficult and often overlooked, contributing to the ongoing effort to integrate Nag Hammadi and related literature into the mainstream of New Testament and early Christian studies. By retracing the major elements of the Christian story in sequence, they are able to discuss how and why each aspect was disputed on inner-Christian grounds, and to reflect on the different accounts of Christian identity underlying these disputes. Together the essays in this book address a central issue: towards the end of the second century, Irenaeus could claim that the overwhelming majority of Christians throughout the world were agreed on a version of the core Christian story which is still recognisable today. Yet, as Irenaeus concedes and as the Nag Hammadi texts have confirmed, there were many who wished to tell the core Christian story differently. Those who criticized and rejected the standard story did so not because they were adherents of another religion, 'Gnosticism', but because they were Christians who believed that the standard account was wrong at point after point. Ranging from the Gospels of Judas and Mary to Galatians and Ptolemy's Letter to Flora, this volume provides a fascinating analysis of how the Christian story as we know it today developed against counter-readings from other early Christian traditions.

Download or read book Encounters with Christ written by Richard Exley and published by . This book was released on 2006-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This exquisite and compelling book by best-selling author, Richard Exley, helps readers experience the miracles of Jesus in a marvelously fresh way. Encounters With Christ gives readers an eye-witness view into the familiar stories of such figures as the woman at the well, Zacheus the tax collector, the woman taken in adultery, and so many others.

Download or read book Knowing Christ written by Mark Jones and published by . This book was released on 2015-09-10 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Claim of Humanity in Christ written by Alexandra S Radcliff and published by James Clarke & Company. This book was released on 2017-05-25 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Much of the preaching and teaching today demands that people actively earn their relationship with God. This prevailing understanding runs counter to the theology of the brothers Thomas F. Torrance (1913-2007) and James B. Torrance (1923-2003), who promoted the radical notion that all of humanity has its true being in Christ. In The Claim of Humanity in Christ, Alexandra Radcliff refutes the Torrances' many critics, asserting the significance of their controversial understanding of salvation for the interface between systematic and pastoral theology. Radcliff then widens the scope of her argument, constructively applying the implications of the Torrances' work to a liberating doctrine of sanctification. The Christian life is conceived as the free and joyful gift of sharing by the Spirit in the Son's intimate communion with the Father, revealing the reality of who we are in Christ.

Download or read book The Monstrosity of Christ written by Slavoj Zizek and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2011-02-25 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A militant Marxist atheist and a “Radical Orthodox” Christian theologian square off on everything from the meaning of theology and Christ to the war machine of corporate mafia. “What matters is not so much that Žižek is endorsing a demythologized, disenchanted Christianity without transcendence, as that he is offering in the end (despite what he sometimes claims) a heterodox version of Christian belief.”—John Milbank “To put it even more bluntly, my claim is that it is Milbank who is effectively guilty of heterodoxy, ultimately of a regression to paganism: in my atheism, I am more Christian than Milbank.”—Slavoj Žižek In this corner, philosopher Slavoj Žižek, a militant atheist who represents the critical-materialist stance against religion's illusions; in the other corner, “Radical Orthodox” theologian John Milbank, an influential and provocative thinker who argues that theology is the only foundation upon which knowledge, politics, and ethics can stand. In The Monstrosity of Christ, Žižek and Milbank go head to head for three rounds, employing an impressive arsenal of moves to advance their positions and press their respective advantages. By the closing bell, they have not only proven themselves worthy adversaries, they have shown that faith and reason are not simply and intractably opposed. Žižek has long been interested in the emancipatory potential offered by Christian theology. And Milbank, seeing global capitalism as the new century's greatest ethical challenge, has pushed his own ontology in more political and materialist directions. Their debate in The Monstrosity of Christ concerns the future of religion, secularity, and political hope in light of a monsterful event—God becoming human. For the first time since Žižek's turn toward theology, we have a true debate between an atheist and a theologian about the very meaning of theology, Christ, the Church, the Holy Ghost, Universality, and the foundations of logic. The result goes far beyond the popularized atheist/theist point/counterpoint of recent books by Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and others. Žižek begins, and Milbank answers, countering dialectics with “paradox.” The debate centers on the nature of and relation between paradox and parallax, between analogy and dialectics, between transcendent glory and liberation. Slavoj Žižek is a philosopher and cultural critic. He has published over thirty books, including Looking Awry, The Puppet and the Dwarf, and The Parallax View (these three published by the MIT Press). John Milbank is an influential Christian theologian and the author of Theology and Social Theory: Beyond Secular Reason and other books. Creston Davis, who conceived of this encounter, studied under both Žižek and Milbank.

Download or read book Freedom Justice Christian Counter Culture written by Michael C. Elliott and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2013-02-19 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Michael Elliott has had a more than unusually varied career. Born in New Zealand, he first did postgraduate studies in Boston with Harvey Cox and Joseph Fletcher, at the same time joining the Berrigan brothers in protest action against the Vietnam War and taking part on a march on Washington. He then moved to London's South Bank to work with Bishop John Robinson in the inner city, from where he went with the Church Missionary Society to the Middle East, before returning to England to work in race relations. Eventually back home in New Zealand, he worked in development education, which also involved a stay in Cuba. From all this has grown his book. It is not an autobiography, but rather the beginning of a handbook for activists, indicating the issues that need to be addressed and the strategies that need to be tested by Christians in the modern world. Firmly rooted in the Bible, written in the tradition of liberation theology but arising out of the living conditions of the United States and Britain, it offers specific guidelines for the thought and practice of Christians who are dissatisfied with the world and the churches as they are today.