Review of "Charity: The Place of the Poor in the Biblical Tradition" by Gary A. Anderson (original) (raw)
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"This thesis argues that God is interested in something more than conversion alone for his fallen and seditious creation: God calls his disciples to spiritual transformation as the intended and natural progression of the Christian new birth. However, data show that this natural progression is sometimes frustrated; and therefore, a basic premise of this thesis is that God does not leave his disciples to their own devices but encourages transformation and provides the means for its development. What is more, this work emphasizes that Christian disciples are, in the new birth, spiritually inclined to God’s call and provision for transformation.The direction of this work is rooted in the two greatest commandments to love God and to love man (Matthew 22:36-39). It is in obedience to Jesus’ commission to make disciples (Matthew 28:19)—equipping them for the work of ministry, building the church, and finishing well the race set before them—to which this present work is directed. Spiritual transformation is the God-intended development of Christians for kingdom living in love. In support, this work examines the evidences for Christian spiritual transformation and kingdom living. The research and observations of this study reveal a great need within the church for life-renewal through spiritual transformation, therefore, the need and emphasis of this thesis. The present work argues that Christian spiritual transformation involves knowing oneself honestly, openly, and truthfully before the living God. And therefore, it argues that practices aimed at spiritual transformation facilitate intimacy and obedience to God through a spiritual walk. Spiritual transformation is discussed as a development of the whole person. Although this research employs a historico-grammatical hermeneutic (interpretation), related experiential outcomes are heavily weighted. Finally, this work argues for a life that is best lived in touching the lives of others and the world in general, by and with the loving power of God, and what that might look like (1 Corinthians 2:13; 14:37; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 2:22). This thesis concludes with a challenge to Christ’s church to facilitate a passionate response to God’s call and provision."
Douglas Petersen - Kingdom Rules: Upside-Down Discipleship (pp. 31-50)
Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies and APTS Press, 2013
Jesus’ teachings in the Gospel of Mark provide the marching orders for holistic ministry, i.e., discipling people to faith in Jesus Christ, and demonstrating our own faith through our actions and service among the needy. The purpose of this article is to establish that the transformational experience of salvation, the ethical actions of social concern, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, as they are seen primarily in the Gospel of Mark, are inextricably linked together in any expression of holistic ministry.
The Nature of the Church\u27s Mission in LIght of the Biblical Origin of Social Holiness
2018
This paper intends to find missiological implications that the biblical origin of social holiness has for the church’s mission. In order to accomplish this purpose, this paper, first, identifies the biblical origin of social holiness in the Old Testament narrative and its development in the New Testament narrative. Then, the relationship between the image of God in Genesis 1 and the development of social holiness in the biblical narrative will be discussed. Lastly, in light of the biblical origin of social holiness, missiological implications for the church’s mission are suggested. The thesis of this paper is that social holiness- as a biblical concept that is theocentric, relational, and missional in nature- provides a biblical framework for the church to integrate different dimensions of its holistic mission. In conclusion, this paper suggests that the church’s mission, in light of the biblical origin of social holiness, is both social and spiritual, involves the whole life of the...