Christianity Commons^™

Accessible Spiritual Practices Through Classic Forms Of Prayer, Clyde Vernon Hartline

Doctor of Ministry

But Jesus often withdrew to the lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

When God-followers feel distant and disconnected, they often describe their experience as a “lonely place.” The feeling of being distanced from God is exacerbated by a lack of knowledge on how to resolve the distance. Retreats and resources might help one reconnect with God; however, the means for connection is often housed in the deep recesses of books or is hidden in the teachings of spiritual sages far away on desert retreats. Simple classic prayer practices remain largely unknown in evangelical circles as a result of inaccessibility, unfamiliarity, …

Using Storytelling (Including Image, Metaphor And Narrative) In Cross-Generational, Cross-Cultural Twenty-First Century Evangelism, Rick D. Mckinney

Doctor of Ministry

Generational and cultural diversity within twenty-first century society has created great challenges to both professional clergy and laypersons in communicating the gospel. In addition, a postmodern, post-Christian culture has created a hostile environment for those sharing the message of Christ using the formulaic, propositional evangelism methods of the Twentieth century. Section One of this dissertation will elaborate on the problem. Section Two discusses why these methods, written primarily for a period of time when Judeo-Christian absolutes and regard for the sacred were staples in society, are increasingly ineffective. As the church struggles with a steady decline in its membership, the …

Toward An Ecotheological Anthropology, Peter Garcia

Seminary Masters Theses

The image of God has carried with it a special designation for humanity within the panoply of life on earth. This project attempts to reorient and expand theological anthropology to include the ecological dimension in Christian perspective to cultivate an understanding of the ecological self. This project will place traditional interpretations of what it means to be human into conversation with twentieth-century ecological philosophies and Native American spirituality in order to broaden the Christian imagination for understanding ourselves within creation. Vine Deloria’s analyses of Western temporal thinking and spatial thinking demonstrated by Native worldviews provides perspective for necessary theological shifts …

Trinitarian Theorizing And Mystery As A Way Forward: A Critical Examination Of The Forms Of Trinitarian Hypothesizing, Why They Fail, And Why Mystery Is A Way Forward, Matthew J. Conniry

Seminary Masters Theses

Scholarship reveals that there are at least two primary ways of handling the issue incumbent within Trinitarian theorizing. Most theologians resolve the issue by addressing the inconsistencies, finding various ways to make important distinctions to eliminate apparent contradictions. This is no doubt the most popular route. Among these are social Trinitarians and Latin Trinitarians. A rough distinction can be made here, wherein social Trinitarians start with the Threeness of God and reason from that stance that God is one by an inexorable and eternal loving relationship. Oppositely, Latin Trinitarians start with God as one and reason how God can possibly …

Review Of Paul Buckley, The Essential Elias Hicks, T. Vail Palmer

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Existential Reasons For Belief In God: A Defense Of Desires And Emotions For Faith (Book Review), Mark Mcleod-Harrison

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

Review of Clifford Williams, Existential Reasons for Belief in God: A Defense of Desires and Emotions for Faith, Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0830838998

"The Harmony Way:" Integrating Indigenous Values Within Native North American Theology And Mission, Randy Woodley

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Given that Western models of mission have failed among Native Americans and that colonial practices have devastated native communities, this research sought a better way of pursuing Christian mission among Native Americans by asking two questions: (1) Do Native Americans have a generally shared set of values that could guide the construction of new models for mission in North American Native communities, and, if so, to what degree are these values shared among Native American communities? and, (2). What resources (particularly values) are available within the Native American communities themselves for developing appropriate models of mission and could such resources …

Whither Quaker Theology In The 21st Century? A Response To David Johns And Paul Anderson, Stephen W. Angell

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Noticing The Duck: The Art Of Asking Spiritual Questions, Marykate Morse

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

No abstract provided.

Aspects Of Historicity In John 5-12: A Response (From John, Jesus And History, Vol. 2), Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

In responding to the eight essays in Part 2 of this volume, I am impressed at the variety of approaches to aspects of historicity in the Gospel of John.

Introduction To Part 1: Aspects Of Historicity In John 1-4 (In John, Jesus, And History, Vol.2), Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

"Distinctive features of the Johannine presentation of the beginning of Jesus' ministry raise questions-- both for and against-- aspects of historicity in John 1-4."

Defining Legalism, Kent Yinger

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

"No one wants to be labeled a legalist. It is resoundingly negative and is used in polemics solely of others, never of oneself. The accused, of course, reject the label. To give just one example from many, Seventh-day Adventists are often said to be extreme legalists, because of their views of the Sabbath, dietary regulations, advocacy of tithing, and prohibition of drinking and smoking. Denying that they are legalistic, they insist that out of thankfulness to Christ, by whose grace they have been saved through faith, they obey his will as the Scriptures reveal it.3 Further instances of this strongly …

Relational Atonement: Covenant Renewal As A Wesleyan Integrating Motif, R. Larry Shelton

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

No abstract provided.

Wealth And Discipleship In Affluent America, Jeffrey T. Lincicome

Doctor of Ministry

The question addressed by this dissertation may be stated as follows: How do wealth and affluence affect individual and communal Christian discipleship? In response, we propose that while wealth and affluence provide some discipleship opportunities, there are many more dangers and risks to Christian discipleship connected to wealth and affluence. To be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ in the midst of affluence, people must be aware of its dangers, and have a church home committed to wrestling with the challenges together. In Chapter 1, the ministry challenge is described through the narrative account of church members and a description of …

Aspects Of Interfluentiality Between John And The Synoptics: John 18-19 As A Case Study, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

The focus of the present essay is thus to pose a series of theses regarding the interfluential character of the JohnSynoptic relationships and to assess the degree to which each of those particular relationships is confirmed or disconfirmed by the material in the Johannine Passion Narrative. Implications will then follow at the conclusion of the essay.

"Gotta Serve Somebody": The Challenge Of Christian Scholarship, Paul Otto

Faculty Publications - Department of History and Politics

No abstract provided.

Psychological Implications Of The Doctrine Of Christian Perfection With Special Reference To John Wesley's View, Irv Brendlinger, Eric E. Mueller

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

The doctrine of Christian Perfection is viewed by some as a wonderful and liberating doctrine, but by others it is seen as producing false expectations and guilt. John Wesley, the first major theologian to develop a theology of Christian Perfection, encountered misunderstandings and problems with this doctrine. He wrote and preached to correct the misunderstandings. Unfortunately, misunderstandings persist and sometimes have psychological effects on individuals. This article explores common understandings, beliefs, and experiences regarding Christian Perfection among evangelical Christians from the holiness tradition. The material was gathered by means of interviews that were recorded. The interviews were then studied by …

One Response After Another, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

No abstract provided.

A Historical Analysis Of Howard Thurman's Theology Of Brotherly Love, Robert L. Marshall

Seminary Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Petrine Ministry And Christocracy: A Response To Ut Unum Sint, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

No abstract provided.

Transformative Dimensions Within Wesley’S Understanding Of Christian Perfection, Irv Brendlinger

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

After seeing four of Wesley's foundational assumptions, we shall look briefly at his description of Christian Perfection and then develop transformative dimensions within Christian Perfection.

Public Theology In Central Europe, Charles C. West

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Theology Between Yesterday And Tomorrow, Milan Opoensky

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Valliere's "Modern Russian Theology: Bukharev, Soloviev, Bulgakov--Orthodox Theology In A New Key" - Book Review, James R. Payton Jr.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Lnterfluential, Formative, And Dialectical - A Theory Of John's Relation To The Synoptics, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

No abstract provided.

Torrance, Thomas Forsyth (B. 1913), Roger Newell

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

As active in the church as in the academy, Torrance has diligently served the ecumenical movement, especially in relations and discussions with the Anglican and the Orthodox communions. His many honours include appointment as moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1976 and being awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion in 1979.

Response To Five Reviews By Robert Kysar, Sandra Schneiders, Alan Culpepper, Graham Stanton And Alan Padgett) Of The Christology Of The Fourth Gospel; Its Unity And Disunity In The Light Of John 6, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

No abstract provided.

Dunn's "The Theology Of Paul The Apostle" - Book Review, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

Review of Dunn, James D.G. The Theology of Paul the Apostle. Grand Rapids/Cambridge, UK: Eerdmans, 1998. ISBN-13: 978-0802844231

The Sitz Im Leben Of The Johannine Bread Of Life Discourse And Its Evolving Context, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

The thesis of this study is that because the Johannine Bread of Life Discourse reflects an exhortative homiletical unit, connecting the ministry of Jesus with ongoing crises affecting the Johannine community of faith, an investigation into the rhetorical thrust of its message will illumine—and be illumined by—one’s understanding of the Johannine situation and its evolving context. More specifically, as the central exhortative thrust of the discourse is “Work not for food that is death-producing, but for the food that is life-producing—eternally, which the Son of Man shall give you” (v. 27), the misunderstanding dialogues between Jesus and four groups of …

Antidocetic Christology In The Gospel Of John: An Investigation Of The Place Of The Fourth Gospel In The Johannine School -- Book Review, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

Review of Antidocetic Christology in the Gospel of John: An Investigation of the Place of the Fourth Gospel in the Johannine School, by Udo Schnelle. Trans. Linda Maloney. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992. Pp. xii + 275. N.P. ISBN-13: 9780800625924