In many ways Ted Koontz, a Professor of Ethics and Peace Studies at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, continues where Dyck leaves off. In the article, “Commitments and Complications in Doing Good,” Koontz covers a slew of some of the hardest questions when it comes to service. Although Koontz covers both theological and implantation issues, this section will look at only the theological problems. Koontz agrees with the theme, common with previous works, that Mennonites and in particular MCC have emphasized work over words. MCC is a major part of the “Recovery of the Anabaptist Vision” as Koontz puts it. He goes on to stress that the vision is being met by MCC in many ways. Like the Anabaptist vision, MCC is also primarily concerned about ethical living, not “words (worship, evangelism, mission) or religious experience (conversion, piety)…” MCC and the Anabaptist vision both emphasize how Christian discipleship is hard as well.
Koontz discusses some of the theological complications that come with the influence of the Anabaptist vision on MCC’s work. The main problem he identifies is about a term he uses called “serventhood” theology. A “servanthood” theology causes you to focus too much on your own work and makes you feel responsible for meeting other peoples’ deep needs. This feeling of obligation to finding the solution to someone elses
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When he looks at other Christians who worked for social justice outside of the Mennonite faith and MCC he noticed that their commitment and openness came from deep roots in their Christian traditions, not from ideologies or for seeking recognition. This led Schlabach to the conclusion that we cannot take our Mennonite traditions of service and peace for granted. Mennonites have had a strong sense of service because of the strong support of the church. Schlabach inserts that “our calling is not just to do service activities, but to be a people of
Mead, Loren B. The Once and Future Church Reinventing the Congregation for a New Mission Frontier . The Alban Institute, Inc., 1991. Kindle eBook file.
...14) More and more Mennonites are joining peacekeeping groups and are looking for ways outside of their church communities, to encourage the decrease of violence around the world.
John MacArthur is a well-known and sometimes controversial pastor that holds a strong conservative viewpoint of the Scriptures. As a graduate of Talbot Theological Seminary, MacArthur’s ministry has covered a wide spectrum of Christian fields including pastor, author and radio host. MacArthur currently serves as the Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sunny Valley, California. For over 45 years his pastoral ministry at Grace Community Church has given evidence of a deep abiding love for the exposition of the Scriptures. Beyond his role as pastor, MacArthur serves as the president of the Master’s College and Seminary, which functions to train men to work in various areas of Christian ministry. As a successful author, MacArthur continues to write many books ranging from culturally and theological relevant issues to New Testament expositional commentaries and study guides. Macarthur also serves as the lead teacher of Grace to You, an everyday radio and television ministry, which centers on verse by verse exposition of Scripture. MacArthur is not known for shying away from controversial topics that Christianity struggles with. He seeks to use scripture to help modern Christians think through these topics.
Naka, T. (2010). Faith At Work: Mennonite Beliefs and Occupations. Ethnology: An International Journal of Cultural and Social Anthropology 47. Retrieved January 27, 2014 from http://ethnology.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/Ethnology/article/view/6040/6217
In African American Pastoral Care: Revised Edition, Dr. Wimberly spoke about responding to God’s unfolding and continually changing times when dealing with healing and reconciliation. In this revision of his classic book, Dr. Wimberly updated his message by examining current issues in African American pastoral care, counseling, and outreach ministry in the community. Dr. Wimberly reminded us that we need to do more for our members and proposed new pastoral care approaches to the crisis of disconnection. Using his own narrative, he explained and described how pastors and church leaders can claim a new narrative method for reestablishing the African American village. His paradigm for African American pastoral theology is inspiring African Americans.
Terry Mangan served as chief of police of the Spokane the Washington Police Department (SWPD), from 1987 to1998. He was recruited by city manager Terry Novak. Mangan was the first person designated as a high ranking official to be selected from outside the division because Mr. Novak was not impressed with any in-house candidates. Not only was Mangan recognized for his approach to administrative modifications to policing within the public, but he also implemented the construction of headquarters for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The reason for community policing is to connect gaps and encourage societies and the police to work together in an effort to solve to solve problems effectively as a team. (Cordner, 2016). When Mangan
As many people will agree, Christ can be referred to, as Kierkegaard’s states it, “the prototype” (239). In other words, Christ lived in such an ethical and loving way that many people admire. Therefore, we can safely say that in following Christ’s “footprints” (238), we are closer to being more ethical and loving individuals. Consequently, in becoming involved with this service-learning project, I have come to realize that I, and everyone in general, do hold a moral responsibility towards complete strangers. This is most evident when regarding our religious background since I, and anyone else for that matter, cannot truly claim to being an ethical individual if we are stuck being admirers and do not alter in becoming imitators.
Goheen, Michael, and Craig Bartholomew. Living at the Crossroads: An Introduction to Christian Worldview. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008. Print.
Toward the end of his book, Hunter shares a phrase with a similar intent of the four domains of Blanchard and Hodges. He writes: “Thoughts become actions, actions become habits, habits become our character, and our character becomes our destiny.” (Hunter, 1998, p. 167). With this quote in mind, Hunter affirms Blanchard and Hodges’s perspective of servant leadership. Both authors concur that by centering one’s life on the love of Jesus Christ, servant leadership will come naturally. When a leader puts their own selfish needs aside and places their trust in God, they will be empowered to spread Christ’s light to all those they meet. Leading in this way mirrors the way Jesus led because it calls for service as a way of
Sometimes, we faith followers make jokes about shame in our religions. Shame in the church is a common experience for many church members. Though, not every church has this sort of approach in discipleship and behavioral training. Shame has long been a pronounced interest to me. Most church leaders want the church to be a place of hope and inspiration, but some of us have experienced a tremendous amount of shame, also. Growing up within a very conservative John Wesley style holiness church taught me some life-giving valuable faith lessons. We were taught incredible lessons of living one?s life in a way that reflects one?s values and belief system and being empowered to express such values to others. Great lessons in humility and giving all glory to God abound. The church taught a person is best when honoring a holy lifestyle as best able on Earth, including prayer,
Independently, as one grows in age, their actions should make a daily reflection to God. In “A Theology of Liberation,” Gutierrez avers that, "The present life is considered to be a test: one’s actions are judged and assessed in relation to the transcendent end. The perspective here is moralistic, and the spirituality is one of flight from this world...
“First, there is the call to be a Christian. Second, for each individual there is a specific call—a defining purpose or mission, a reason for being. Every individual is called of God to respond through service in the world. Third, there is the call that we face each day in response to the multiple demands on our lives—our immediate duties and responsibilities” (Smith, ...
In today’s day, it is said that women typically are more spiritual. Men seem to drop their relationship with God much more rapidly, as parker points out “count to ten, and man is bored” (6). In today’s generation, men are fickle. It’s not considered masculine to have an all out relationship with the Lord. Even in church today I see so many men holding back because they view it as womanly to live to serve the Lord. As I sat in my church pews, just this past Sunday, with my arms stretched towards the Heavens, openly praying and praising God, I looked to the men surrounding me and saw absent stares upon their faces. The room was filled with predominately women and the majority of the men appeared as if they were only there to appease their significant other. I can recall even seeing some dawdling on their cell phone. I recall valiantly pleading my ex-husband to come to church with me. I yearned, so badly, for him to have a relationship with the Lord and to be the spiritual leader of our home, as he once had. But, he too had become complacent and
Jones, Marge, and E. Grant Jones. Psychology of Missionary Adjustment. Springfield, Missouri: Logion Press, 1994.
The mission statement of the United Methodist Church ties in with Matthew 28:19-20 (CEB) as Jesus tells his disciples “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is the charge that Jesus gave to all people, not just to ministers. The commandment was for all believers to make disciples of all people regardless of their sex, race or where they live. “Jesus did not tell us to go into the world and discover disciples or evoke disciples” thus indicating that we are not born as disciples but are developed into disciples. A pastor therefore, “works with Christ to form the church.”