Van-guard (văn’gärd), noun: “The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement.”
the journey forward... exploring the emerging church... navigating spiritual formation... seeking to transform the world... ...through Christ
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Van-guard (văn’gärd), noun: “The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement.” the journey forward... exploring the emerging church... navigating spiritual formation... seeking to transform the world... ...through Christ |
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Neo-Calvinism Part 2: Introductory Reading by Derek Melleby I have selected five books that I think are good introductions to Neo-Calvinism. Originally, my thought was to list these books at the end, but I think it would be more appropriate now. The following books where chosen because (1) they are basic and not difficult to read, (2) they are introductory and written on the macro level, and (3) they have helped me the most, especially when I was hearing and reading about Neo-Calvinism for the first time. They are listed in alphabetical order by author…no other reason! Lectures on Calvinism, Abraham Kuyper. A compilation of Kuyper's "Stone Lectures" delivered at Princeton in 1898. From the back of the Eerdmans addition: "The word 'Calvinism' has many different meanings. In its broadest sense, as reflected in these six lectures, it refers to a life system of comprehensive and far-reaching effect. Like paganism, Islam, Roman Catholicism, and modernism, it offers humanity a set of options regarding life's three fundamental questions: How does a person relate to God, to other people, and to the world around? This is the classic expression of a vigorous and visionary stream of the Reformed faith." Heaven is Not My Home: Living in the Now of God’s Creation, Paul Marshall. This very simple introduction is well summarized by the title. Marshall writes in the preface, "You should know up front that this book is one-sided. The Bible portrays our world as good, destined for reunion with God in Jesus Christ. It is the goodness that I'll focus on here, and I make no apology for it. But the Bible also emphasizes the effects of sin on the world, and hence, creation's transitory character. Scripture teaches that God loves the world and cares for it (and always will), but also that we are sojourners in the present age. Here I have given much less attention to the second than the first." Engaging God’s World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living, Cornelius Plantinga Jr. This book was written with college undergraduates in mind. Plantinga attempted to put college learning into perspective for young students. He explains, "The point of all of this learning is to prepare to add one's own contribution to the supreme reformation project, which is God's restoration of all things that have been corrupted by evil… According to Scripture, God plans to accomplish this project through Jesus Christ, who started to make "all things new," and who will come again to finish what started. In the meantime, God's Spirit inspires a worldwide body of people to join this mission of God." The Transforming Vision: Shaping a Christian Worldview, Brian Walsh and J. Richard Middleton. The strength of this book is its section on dualism: the way many Christians have unfaithfully separated the world into false dichotomies, i.e. sacred vs. secular, nature vs. grace, soul vs. body, eternal vs. temporal. The authors argue for a radical discipleship that would cut through this dualism and offer an uncompromising Christian response to all areas of life. Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview, Al Wolters. "The sum of our discussion of a reformational worldview is simply this: (1) creation is much broader and more comprehensive than we tend to think, (2) the fall affects that creation in its full extent, and (3) redemption in Jesus Christ reaches just as far as the fall" (71). This is what I'm looking for: (1) What basic, introductory books have I missed? (2) How have you benefited from these books? (3) Do you think that any of these books are currently unhelpful? © Coalition for Christian Outreach 2005
Part 2: Introductory Reading Part 4: CREATION, Fall, Redemption Part 5: Creation, FALL, Redemption Part 6: Creation, Fall, REDEMPTION |
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Ministry Transformation- The Emerging Church Personal Transformation- Spiritual Formation World Transformation- Social Action Interact with Bob Robinson about the emerging church, spiritual formation, or social action by e-mailing vanguard church with your comments. |
