This past week, I posted a book notice about Doug Coleman’s fine new book, A Theological Analysis of the Insider’s Movement.[1] Because the book notice prompted some vigorous discussion, I thought it might be helpful to post an excerpt from an essay I am writing on theological method. In the essay, I try to show how significant one’s theological method is for ministry and mission in general. In the excerpted portion, below, I try to … [Read More]
The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization
Mirabile Dictu. The long-awaited Blackwell Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization finally has been published. The Encyclopedia is a new four-volume hardback reference work on the history and impact of Christianity. Edited by George Thomas Kurian (President of the Encyclopedia Society), The Encyclopedia includes over 1,400 entries on Christianity and its historical, social, and cultural effect on the world. Entries are divided into seven classes: core articles are wide-ranging articles that define a field and include commentary, … [Read More]
The Mission of the Church: An Ecclesiological Question
We were pleased to host Christopher J.H. Wright at Southeastern Seminary last week as he delivered the annual Page Lectures. His theme for the lectures was “The Bible and the Mission of God,” which is an important and somewhat controversial topic among evangelicals. His two lectures were titled “Reading the Whole Bible for Mission: What Happens When We do?” and “God, Israel, and the Nations: The Old Testament and Christian Mission.” Both of his excellent lectures … [Read More]
How Many Chinese Christians Are There?
Estimates of the number of Christians in China vary from 16 million to 200 million. Because of the Chinese government’s often hostile approach to religion, getting a credible count has been nearly impossible. Now, in a recent First Things article (First Things, May 2011, pp. 14-16), three Baylor sociologists claim they have arrived at a reasonably accurate count, and they place the number at 70 million.
When the Communists came to power in 1949, there were about one million … [Read More]
Global Context Series (Central Asia): The Ayatollahs’ Democracy
By: Philip O. Hopkins
[Editor’s Note: This series of posts deals with the global context in its historical, social, cultural, political, economic, demographic, and religious dimensions in particular. We will provide book notices, book reviews, and brief essays on these topics. We hope that you will find this series helpful as you live and bear witness in a complex and increasingly hyper-connected world.]
About a year and a half has passed since … [Read More]
Man On a Global Mission
Over the past several years, Southeastern Seminary President Danny Akin has been a tireless advocate for reaching the nations with the gospel. Since 2004, he has led SEBTS to deepen her already considerable commitment to coupling orthodox theological education with a passion for the Great Commission. He has also been one of the most vocal proponents of Southern Baptists as a whole building upon the theological foundation laid by the Conservative Resurgence and embracing a Great … [Read More]
Akin Updates from Sudan
Southeastern Seminary president and Between the Times contributor Danny Akin is currently in Sudan along with his wife Charlotte and a couple dozen other believers. Dr. Akin is conducting a pastor’s conference and doing evangelistic work in local Sudanese villages. You can follow his periodic updates at Missions at Southeastern, the official blog of the Lewis A. Drummond Center for Great Commission Studies at SEBTS.
Book Brief: The Forever War
The Forever War by Dexter Filkins (Vintage Books, 2008): A Book Brief
by David Nelson
Returning from a trip overseas recently, I had one of those long layovers that was accompanied by the disappointment that I’d read every book I’d carried with me. That led me to the Borders bookstore in the Detroit airport where I picked up Dexter Filkins’ The Forever War.
The book has collected plenty of awards, so no one needs my review of the … [Read More]
When Words Aren’t Enough: A Report from the Field, Part 1
For much of the month of January, a colleague and I have been in an international setting serving with overseas workers. We have worked together daily in an educational context, and I have been reminded continually of the significance of the Great Commission. To say I am impressed by the workers of our mission board is an understatement, but I don’t want to embarrass my friends by being overly effusive about their labors. None of … [Read More]
Does God Hate Haiti?
Sometimes Christians with a public platform say foolish and irresponsible things that gain international attention and bring significant embarrassment to the cause of Christ and His gospel. Such is the case again with Pat Robertson’s declaration that God judged Haiti with an earthquake for having swore a pact with the devil in the 18th century to escape French rule and oppression. Such an outrageous statement quickly made its way around the world. I am currently … [Read More]
