In the larger context of this section’s interest in the nexus between “scripture and theology” and social and cultural systems of meaning and legitimation, this paper takes up Christopher Watkin’s invitation at ETS 2023 to biblical interpreters (and others) to contribute to biblical critical theory. It begins by arguing that prophetic critique of Israelite and … Read more
The hard-fought battle for American freedom of religious expression in the 17th and 18th centuries was not a monolithic one, but was in general peopled by (1) Baptists and (2) premillennialists, both minority positions in their day. Taking cues from Roger Williams and Isaac Backus, this presentation argues that the foundation upon which religious liberty … Read more
Recent theological scholarship has increasingly emphasized the missional church movement as a vital response to contemporary cultural contexts, including postmodernism, post-Christianity, and globalization. This movement fundamentally shifts from previous strategic models of missionary engagement, focusing instead on God’s mission (missio Dei). Four key characteristics define this missional approach: recognizing God as the initiator who sends … Read more
There are various secular theories as to the origins of government, but among Christians the debate has centered around either creation or the Fall as the primary source of government and politics. This paper will explore the historic debate, contending that government was rooted in various dimensions of creation, but then had further functions due … Read more
This proposed paper examines Carl F. H. Henry’s vision for evangelical engagement with society, arguing that his model of biblical orthodoxy and orthopraxy remains essential for contemporary evangelical witness. Henry insisted that evangelicals must actively shape civilization by adhering to biblical truth and applying it in every sphere of life, ensuring that Christian conviction fosters … Read more
The Megiddo Mosaic, excavated in 2005 within a third-century CE Roman military base at Legio, northern Israel, bears the inscription “To the God Jesus Christ”—the earliest known public Christian worship space and Eucharistic table in the Levant. Far from a clandestine assembly, this community thrived in a strategic nexus of Roman command and special operations, … Read more
Navigating our deeply divided world, both sacred and secular, leaves those on the left, middle, and right exhausted and demoralized. Online “news,” driven by algorithms, fuels conflict without concerns for truth and critical reflection. This paper will consider how Christians can recover a trustworthy epistemology by considering paradigms proposed by Dr. Francis Collins: physician, geneticist, … Read more
This paper explores the trend of conversions out of Protestantism (especially evangelical Protestantism) into Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. First, the paper explores factors contributing to this phenomenon, especially areas where Protestants are underdeveloped in their responses to the arguments of these other traditions. Then the paper proposes strategies for how Protestants can offer more … Read more