Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

A Review Essay: The Church And Postmodern Culture Series, Aaron Perry

The Asbury Journal

The Politics of Discipleship: Becoming Postmaterial Citizens
Graham Ward
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic
2009, 317 pp. softcover, $24.99

Whose Community? Which Interpretation?: Philosophical Hermeneutics for the Church
Merold Westphal
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic
2009, 160 pp. softcover, $19.99

Editorial: Bible, Theology, And Mission, Terry C. Muck

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Conversion, Justification, And The Experience Of Grace In The Post-Aldergate Wesley: Towards An Understanding Of Who Is "A Child Of God.", Marlon D. De Blasio

The Asbury Journal

Aldersgate is highlighted from the angle of its significance on Wesley's theological thinking and subsequent ministry, rather than from an emphasis on his point of conversion. The Post-Aldersgate Wesley developed a soteriological understanding that identified a "child of God" with distinct qualifications, namely justification by faith, the experience of grace, and the indwelling Spirit. A theology of conversion also emerges with definitive markers that constitute a new standing from non-Christian to Christian. Shifts in Wesley's theological understanding of Christian faith are evaluated. Justification by faith remained a strict soteriological principle in the mind of the mature Wesley. As well, the …

From Saul To Paul: The Apostle's Name Change And Narrative Identity In Acts 13:9, David Wenkel

The Asbury Journal

It has long been accepted as a safe conclusion that the difference between the names Saul and Paul in the Book of Acts merely reflects cultural accommodation in a Hellenistic milieu. This study challenges this conclusion by examining the literary pattern and narrative usage of names. This study concludes that the name change reflects the true identity of Paul amidst conflict with Bar-Jesus/Elymas. The name 'Paul' is significant because of its etymology and the information provided by the narrative.

Leading A Polytheistic Faith To The Monotheistic God: A Study In Identifying Barriers To The Gospel In A Chinese Buddhist Community And Ways To Overcome Those Barriers, Agnes Wood

The Asbury Journal

This article is written for the purpose of exploring a way to lead a polytheistic faith, prevalent in the local Chinese Buddhist community (LCBC) in Brunei, to the reality of a monotheistic God as revealed in the Bible (1 Corinthians 8:6). It serves as a guide for the local Chinese church (CC) to lead the LCBC to see that God as a Creator is sufficient to be their God.

This article identifies the need of a missiological package in order to lead the LCBC to Christ. The CC needs to assist the LCBC to become receptive before the core of …

Book Reviews, Desiree Segura-April, Meesaeng Lee Choi, Joseph R. Dongell, Michael D. Matlock, Jason R. Jackson, Stephen Seamands, Wm. Andrew Schwartz, Ben Witherington, Laurence W. Wood

The Asbury Journal

Catherine Stonehouse and Scottie May
Listening to Children on the Spiritual Journey: Guidance for Those Who Teach and Nurture
2010. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic
Reviewed by Desiree Segura-April

Dyron B. Daughrity
The Changing World of Christianity: The Global History of a Borderless Religion
2010. New York: Peter Lang
Reviewed by Meesaeng Lee Choi

Derek Tidball
The Message of Holiness: Restoring God's Masterpiece
2010. Downers Grove, IL Inter-Varsity, Press
Reviewed by Joseph R. Dongell

Accordance. Scholars Collection
DVD-ROM and CD-ROM, version 8
2008. OakTree Software, Inc.
Reviewed by Michael D. Matlock and Jason R. Jackson

Paul L. Gavrilyuk, Douglas M. …

Green Eggs And Shawarma: Reinterpreting The Bible, Reforming Mission, With Leviticus' "Non-Indigenous Resident" As A Test Case, Mark A. Awabdy

The Asbury Journal

This article encourages Christians to revisit and reinterpret the Bible in order to more faithfully align with God's mission in the world. As a test case, the article reinterprets the socio-religious status of the "non-indigenous resident" in Leviticus and concludes with some possibilities for reforming mission theology and praxis. The first section of the article reviews the conventional interpretation of Leviticus' as one granted absolute religious freedom. Against this view, the body of the article contends that the in Leviticus was bound in covenant to Yahweh, yet free to practice some foreign customs and practices. To argue for this, the …

The Pannenbergzan Retroactive Significance Of Resurrection, Brian M. Ebel

The Asbury Journal

According to Wolfhart Pannenberg the Scriptures are born out of the historical acts of God in salvation history. It is this focus upon history, most importantly from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that sets Pannenberg apart from his contemporaries. Previous attempts to hurdle these historical issues such as theological positivism have given way in the postmodern era to the recognition that there are few uninterpretable facts as modernity claimed. As such, hermeneutics are key to the manner in which the Scriptures are interpreted. It is therefore the purpose of this paper to consider how Wolfhart Pannenberg, an important theologian of …

United We Sing: Union Hymnals, Holiness Hymnody, And The Formation Of Korean Revivalism (1905-2007), William T. Purinton

The Asbury Journal

The history of Christianity long has recognized the transatlantic revival connections in both the First and Second Awakenings, with preaching being noted as the primary means of communicating the revival message. During the past century, transpacific revivalism has become a significant part of the world history of Christianity. In Korean Protestantism, revivalism has been rooted within the majority religious experience, with hymns and gospel songs as an important medium. "While North American denominations have used separate hymnals and have tended to exclude revival hymns from their selections, Korean Protestants have used the same hymnal from the beginning and have retained …

A Transnational Faith: El Salvador And Immigrant Christianity, Robert A. Danielson

The Asbury Journal

Immigration is radically shaping the makeup of the United States; however immigration today is radically different than in previous generations. Modern immigration is characterized by transnationalism, where more immigrants are maintaining connections with their homelands. These connections have both positive and negative impacts on both the United States and the immigrant's countries of origin. El Salvador is one example of this trend. Financial remittances and gangs are representative of the way transnational migration affects a country of origin, like El Salvador, as well as the United States. The Church needs to adapt to this global trend and recognize its impact …

Missional Holiness In A Post-Christendom World, Timothy C. Tennent

The Asbury Journal

The following address was given by Dr. Timothy Tennent, president of Asbury Theological Seminary as the Fall 2010 Convocation Address, first on the Florida-Dunnam Campus (September 7, 2010) and then on the Wilmore (Kentucky) Campus of Asbury Theological Seminary (September 9, 2010). It has been left in its oral form of address.

Spanish Language Christian Academic Publishing, Robert A. Danielson

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Journal In Entirety

The Asbury Journal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editorial
Terry C. Muck

Colloquium Essays:

Inhabiting the Garden: Bible, Theology and Mission
Lawson G. Stone

Green Eggs and Shawarma: Reinterpreting the Bible, Reforming Mission, with Leviticus' as a Test Case
Mark A. Awabdy

The Pannenbergian Retroactive Significance of Resurrection
Brian M. Ebel

Exegetical and Extispicic Readings of the Bible in Turkana, Kenya and North America
Kevin P Lines

Essays:

Missional Holiness in a Post-Christendom World
Timothy C. Tennent

Methodology and Grace in Wesleyan Theology
Kyle Blancbette

Features:

Review Essay
Aaron Perry

Book Reviews
Desiree Segura-April
Meesetlg Lee Choi
Joseph R. Dongell
Michael D. Matlock and Jason …

Book Reviews, Anthony J. Headley, Nathan Crawford

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

A Review Essay: Four Views On Church And Politics, Brian Edgar

The Asbury Journal

Good and Bad Ways to Think about Religion and Politics

Robert Benne

2010. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans

Politics According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture

Wayne Grudem

2010. Grand Rapids: Zondervan

Christianity and Politics: A Brief Guide to the History

C.C. Pecknold

2010. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books

The Challenge of Pluralism: Church and State in Five Democracies, 2nd ed.

Stephen Monsma and J. Christopher Soper

2009. Lallham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers

Marriage And Ministry: Conflicts And Occupational Conflicts In Wesley’S Life And Ministry, Tony Headley

The Asbury Journal

In this article, the author explores John Wesley's perspectives on marriage and how these views related to his practice of ministry. Specifically, the author examines Wesley's developmental journey from believing he could not marry to actually contracting a marriage with Mary Vazeille. Following exploration of Wesley's perspectives on marriage, the author discusses these issues in relation to two observed patterns in his significant intimate relationship with Sophy Hopkey, Grace Murray and Mary Vazeille; namely that for the most part, Wesley cultivated these relationships out of travel and illness. The author concludes that even though Wesley moved from a position of …

Editorial: No Religious Preference, Terry C. Muck

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Racial And Ethnic Identity: Social Scientific And Biblical Perspectives In Dialogue, Ruth Anne Reese, Steven Ybarrola

The Asbury Journal

The first part of the paper lays out our understanding of ethnicity and race in light of current research from sociology and anthropology. The paper then turns to the New Testament material, and it examines "the Jews" as one ethnic group in the first century. This material is used to demonstrate that Christians also took on the language of ethnicity. The paper raises the question, "is there a Christian identity that both supersedes and subsumes ethnic identity?" It proposes that the answer to that question is, ''Yes, there is a Christian identity and ethos that supersedes ethnic identity." And, this …

Book Notes, Kenneth J. Collins

The Asbury Journal

William B. Lawrence

Methodism in Recovery: Renewing Mission, Reclaiming History, Restoring Health

2008. Nashville: Abingdon Press

Charles Yrigoyen, John G. McEllhenney, and Kenneth A. Rowe

United Methodism at Forty: Looking Back Looking Forward

2008. Nashville: Abingdon Press

Scott J. Jones

Staying at the Table: The Gift of Unity for United Methodists

2008. Nashville: Abingdon Press

Justification By The Faithfulness Of Jesus Christ, Chad Harrington

The Asbury Journal

This essay focuses on Paul's description of justification by faith in Galatians 2:16. Scholars such as J.D.G. Dunn and N.T. Wright have recently challenged more traditional perspectives on justification. This essay appropriates some of these challenges to Paul's letter to the Galatians. The problem for Paul is that some Christians are distorting the gospel (Gall:7) and excluding Gentiles Christians (2:12-13). Paul's solution is gospel reorientation. Instead of being a Torah-focused church, he instructs the Galatian church to be Christ-centered. This essay examines justification, works of law, and faith/fulness to reveal Paul's rhetorical purposes by analyzing socio-rhetorical backgrounds and literary, grammatical, …

Journal In Entirety

The Asbury Journal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editorial
Terry C. Muck

Justification by the Faithfulness of Jesus Christ
Chad Harrington

From "Cults" to Cultures: Bridges as a Case Study in a New Evangelical Paradigm on New Religions
John W Morehead

The Most Indispensable Habits of Effective Theological Educators: Recalibrating Educational Philosophy, Psychology, and Practice
Mark A. Lamport

Bridging the Gap: Understanding Knowledge of God in Gregory of Nyssa'sCommentary on the Song of Songs
Nathan Crawford

John Wesley's Question: "How Is Your Doing?"
David Werner

Book Notes
Kenneth Collins

Review Essay
Kenneth M. Loyer

Book Reviews
Michael Matlock and Bradley Johnson
Charles Meeks
Amos …

John Wesley's Question: "How Is Your Doing?", David Werner

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Notes, Kenneth Collins

The Asbury Journal

James L. Schwenk
Catholic Spirit: Wesley, Whitefield, and the Quest for Evangelical Unity in Eighteenth-Century British Methodism
2008. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press

Scott Kisker
Mainline or Methodist: Discovering Our Evangelistic Mission
2008. Nashville: Discipleship Resources

L. Faye Short and Kathryn D. Kiser
Reclaiming the Wesleyan Social Witness: Offering Christ.
2008. Franklin, Tennessee: Providence House Publishers

Book Reviews, Michael Matlock, Bradley Johnson, Charles Meeks, Amos Yong, Joseph Okello, Kandace Brooks, J. Ellsworth Kalas

The Asbury Journal

BibleWorks. DVD-ROM and CD-ROM, version 8 2009. BibleWorks, LLC. $349
Reviewed by Michael D. Matlock and Bradly T. Johnson

Paul A. Hartog, ed.
The Contemporary Church and the Early Church: Case Studies in Ressourcement
Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2010
Reviewed by Charles Meeks

Gary B. McGee
Miracles, Missions, and American Pentecostalism
American Society of Missiology series 45
2010. Maryknoll: Orbis Books
Reviewed by Amos Yong

John R. Levison
Filled with the Spirit
Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2009.
Reviewed by Joseph B. O. Okello

Constance M. Cherry
The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and …

Identity Formation For Conciliatory Existence: How We Perceive The Other, Chris Kiesling, Lalsangkima Pachuau

The Asbury Journal

In this article we interface mission, theology and psychology in an exploration of what hinders and what enables conciliatory existence. Whereas common approaches to reconciliation focus on redressing past wrongs, we propose identity formation that would prevent such wrongs. We consider how people integrate elements of their social context into a social identity that influences how they perceive "the other."

Understanding this to be divine action that transforms psychological processes, we draw from all three disciplines to understand the dynamics of how we come to see the other.

Biblical theology provides penetrating narratives into the nature of fallen humanity and …

An Aboriginal Missiology Of Identity Reclamation: Towards Revitalization For Canada's Indigenous Peoples Through Healing Of Identity, Wendy Peterson

The Asbury Journal

This essay concerns the failure by Canada's Indigenous people to fully apprehend and embrace the Christian doctrine of imago Dei. The concern is founded upon the negative self-perception and perceived inferiority of Aboriginal peoples as less-than the Caucasian majority. Is this a failure of transmission on the part of missionaries, or is it a failure of reception on the part of Aboriginals? The premise is that both the theology of mission and the practice of mission with Aboriginal people must take into account the issue of self-perception and the problem of identity formation. The question is asked, Is there a …

Journal In Entirety

The Asbury Journal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editorial

Terry C. Muck

Our Personal Core Identity: A Wesleyan Perspective

Jim Boetcher

Identity Formation for Conciliatory Existence: How We Perceive the Other

Chris Kiesling and Lalsangkima Pachuau

An Aboriginal Missiology of Identity Reclamation: Towards Revitalization for Canada's Indigenous Peoples through Healing of Identity

Wendy Peterson

Racial and Ethnic Identity: Social Scientific and Biblical Perspectives in Dialogue

Ruth Anne Reese and Steven Ybarrvla

Marriage and Ministry: Conjugal and Occupational Conflicts in Wesley's Life and Ministry

Tony Headley

Book Notes

Kenneth Collins

Book Reviews

Frances Adenry

Gwinyai Muzorewa

Laurence W. Wood

Editorial, Terry C. Muck

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

From "Cults" To Cultures: Bridges As A Case Study In A New Evangelical Paradigm On New Religions, John W. Morehead

The Asbury Journal

The increased awareness of the new religions with the counterculture of the 1960s saw various responses, including a "counter-cult" approach by evangelicals. The counter-cult approach has tended to view new religions as "cults" and to respond to them as heretical systems of belief in need of refutation by doctrinal and apologetic arguments. Over the last decade or so a new evangelical paradigm has emerged based in missiology which, while recognizing theological disagreements that the new religions have with Christianity, approaches new religions as religious cultures rather than as cults. Various resources have been produced as a result of the new …

Book Reviews, Frances Adeney, Gwinyai Muzorewa, Laurence W. Wood

The Asbury Journal

Ogbu U. Kalu, ed., Alaine Low, Associate ed.

Interpreting Contemporary Christianity: Global Processes and Local Identities

2008, Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Reviewed by Frances Adeney

Afe Adogame, Roswith Gerloff and Klaus Hock, eds.

Christianity in Africa and the Africa Diaspora: the Appropriation of a Scattered Heritage

2008. London: Continuum International Publishing Group

Reviewed by Guinyai Muzorewa

Jehu J. Hanciles

Beyond Christendom: Globalization, African Migration, and the Transformation of the West

2008. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books

Reviewed by Guinyai Muzorewa

Thomas Jay Oord, ed.

Divine Grace and Emerging Creation, Wesleyan Forays in Science and Theology of Creation …