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
Bruce Barron is a well-known Christian author of many books on the Christian faith, as well as the author of the essay, “PUTTING WOMEN IN THEIR PLACE: 1 TIMOTHY 2 AND EVANGELICAL VIEWS OF WOMEN IN CHURCH LEADERSHIP”. Barron starts off his essay giving some background on the current battle going on in churches today and how various denominations are deciding to go in different paths when it comes to a woman’s role in the church.
In the Earley book, the author started to talk about the history of mental illness in prison. The mentally ill people were commonly kept in local jails, where they were treated worse than animals. State mental hospitals were typically overcrowded and underfunded. Doctors had very little oversight and often abused their authority. Dangerous experimental treatments were often tested on inmates.
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
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.
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...
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.
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.
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
Goheen, Michael, and Craig Bartholomew. Living at the Crossroads: An Introduction to Christian Worldview. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008. Print.
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,
“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, ...
Mead, Loren B. The Once and Future Church Reinventing the Congregation for a New Mission Frontier . The Alban Institute, Inc., 1991. Kindle eBook file.
...s distributed in Theology 101 at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle on 22 April 2008.
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.”