Author: Jonathan Dodson

The Lausanne Theology Working Group recently convened in Africa to discuss various issues facing the global Evangelical church. A “radical incarnational ecclesiology” was proposed as a way forward.  Read the summary here.  Here is a list of issues they have chosen to address:

1. Following Jesus as unique Lord and Savior in the context of pluralism
2. Following Jesus as his community in the context of ecclesiology and ethnicity
3. Following Jesus in the context of power and violence
4. Following Jesus in a world of suffering and disaster
5. Following Jesus in the globalized marketplace
6. Following Jesus as the truth in the context of postmodernity and relativism.

The current issue of the Lausanne newsletter is contextualization.  Check out the articles by some great thinkers and practioners.

The following quote is excerpted from Bonhoffer’s ruminations on reading the Scriptures in community in Life Together, particularly as a family.

As a whole the Scriptures are God’s revealing Word. Only in the infiniteness of its inner relationships, in the connnection of Old and New Testaments, of promise and fulfillment, sacrifice and law, law and gospel, cross and resurrection, faith and obedience, having and hoping, will the full witness to Jesus Christ the Lord be perceived.

He concludes that readings from Psalms is not sufficient. In addition, he argues for chapter length readings from both Old and New Testaments. Aversion to such lengthy readings, he claims, should “fill us with profound shame” and that “both adult and child wil never finish aquiring knowledge of its (Scripture) story.” Agree or disagree?

These are days of lean community, and singles are in search of ways to connect. I recently sat next to the creator of Pimp Your Friend at a local coffee shop. Her desire is to ultimately create couple connections that last. She includes various venues for connecting points, including churches.

Would you post your website/singles ministry on Pimp Your Friend? Why or why not?

Check out the Jools Holland and His Rythm and Blues Orchestra single with Bono singing “If You Where That Velvet Dress” from POP.