Confronting The Idols Of Our Age

Author : Thomas P. Power
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
Page : 82 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2017-02-20
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9781532604331

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Confronting the Idols of Our Age by Thomas P. Power Pdf

An idol is a good thing. It is good because God created it. Nothing exists that God did not create and God created all things good. So sex can be an idol, but before it was an idol it was a good creation of God. Materialism is an idol, but to have a material world was God's idea in the first place. Workaholism is an idol, but work is itself a good gift of God. What turns these good gifts of God into idols is what we have done with them. So we have common forms of idolatry expressed in consumerism, individualism, narcissism, careerism, and hedonism; while there are less familiar expressions found in omnism, fatalism, Gnosticism, relativism, positivism, and reductionism. We have put these and other things on a pedestal and made them into mini-gods. In the end they fail to deliver what they promise. These twelve mediations on a scriptural passage by faculty members of Wycliffe College, Toronto, emphasize that the good news is that God can redeem idols. Each one can be restored to its proper place in God's created order and placed under God's authority.

Author : Daniel J. Mahoney
Publisher : Encounter Books
Page : 175 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2018-12-04
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781641770170

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The Idol of Our Age by Daniel J. Mahoney Pdf

This book is a learned essay at the intersection of politics, philosophy, and religion. It is first and foremost a diagnosis and critique of the secular religion of our time, humanitarianism, or the “religion of humanity.” It argues that the humanitarian impulse to regard modern man as the measure of all things has begun to corrupt Christianity itself, reducing it to an inordinate concern for “social justice,” radical political change, and an increasingly fanatical egalitarianism. Christianity thus loses its transcendental reference points at the same time that it undermines balanced political judgment. Humanitarians, secular or religious, confuse peace with pacifism, equitable social arrangements with socialism, and moral judgment with utopianism and sentimentality. With a foreword by the distinguished political philosopher Pierre Manent, Mahoney’s book follows Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in affirming that Christianity is in no way reducible to a “humanitarian moral message.” In a pungent if respectful analysis, it demonstrates that Pope Francis has increasingly confused the Gospel with left-wing humanitarianism and egalitarianism that owes little to classical or Christian wisdom. It takes its bearings from a series of thinkers (Orestes Brownson, Aurel Kolnai, Vladimir Soloviev, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn) who have been instructive critics of the “religion of humanity.” These thinkers were men of peace who rejected ideological pacifism and never confused Christianity with unthinking sentimentality. The book ends by affirming the power of reason, informed by revealed faith, to provide a humanizing alternative to utopian illusions and nihilistic despair.

Author : Kelly Minter
Publisher : David C Cook
Page : 204 pages
File Size : 53,5 Mb
Release : 2008
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN : 0781448972

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No Other Gods by Kelly Minter Pdf

Minter explores what happens when good desires become false gods, robbing people of an intimate relationship with the heavenly Father. (Christian)

Author : Dennis Newkirk
Publisher : Cross Books Pub
Page : 176 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 2012-11
Category : Religion
ISBN : 1462722237

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No Gods But God by Dennis Newkirk Pdf

Why is it that so many of us settle for a less-than-satisfying Christian life? We suffer the symptoms—spiritual dryness, dissatisfaction, and unanswered prayers—of a yet-unidentified problem that creates an obstacle between God and us. We seem unable to connect the dots between our symptoms and the problem causing them: God is no longer first in our hearts. Pastor Dennis Newkirk tells the story of how God showed their church what their problem was—God was no longer first in their hearts. Newkirk brings experience and a pastor’s heart as he teaches us about the dangers of modern-day idolatry. But he also offers hope by showing us how to deal with our idols and the reward of doing so. The four-step pattern God uses to call hearts back to him isn’t some cookie-cutter approach, but seeing the steps spelled out can help Christians recognize how God might be applying them in his or her life. Examining our own lives before God and admitting that our hearts have strayed isn’t easy, and it is most certainly humbling. But that’s what God wants—a humbled, repentant person standing before Him and willing to be used in service for Him. For the sincere Christian who wants an answer to the question “Is there more to the Christian life?” No gods but God will provide an answer.

Author : Thaddeus J. Williams
Publisher : Zondervan Academic
Page : 282 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2020-12-22
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780310119494

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Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth by Thaddeus J. Williams Pdf

God does not suggest, he commands that we do justice. Social justice is not optional for the Christian. All injustice affects others, so talking about justice that isn't social is like talking about water that isn't wet or a square with no right angles. But the Bible's call to seek justice is not a call to superficial, kneejerk activism. We are not merely commanded to execute justice, but to "truly execute justice." The God who commands us to seek justice is the same God who commands us to "test everything" and "hold fast to what is good." Drawing from a diverse range of theologians, sociologists, artists, and activists, Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth, by Thaddeus Williams, makes the case that we must be discerning if we are to "truly execute justice" as Scripture commands. Not everything called "social justice" today is compatible with a biblical vision of a better world. The Bible offers hopeful and distinctive answers to deep questions of worship, community, salvation, and knowledge that ought to mark a uniquely Christian pursuit of justice. Topics addressed include: Racism Sexuality Socialism Culture War Abortion Tribalism Critical Theory Identity Politics Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth also brings in unique voices to talk about their experiences with these various social justice issues, including: Michelle-Lee Barnwall Suresh Budhaprithi Eddie Byun Freddie Cardoza Becket Cook Bella Danusiar Monique Duson Ojo Okeye Edwin Ramirez Samuel Sey Neil Shenvi Walt Sobchak In Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth, Thaddeus Williams transcends our religious and political tribalism and challenges readers to discover what the Bible and the example of Jesus have to teach us about justice. He presents a compelling vision of justice for all God's image-bearers that offers hopeful answers to life's biggest questions.

Author : Thaddeus J. Williams
Publisher : Zondervan Academic
Page : 143 pages
File Size : 42,9 Mb
Release : 2022-06-28
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780310142577

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Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth Study Guide by Thaddeus J. Williams Pdf

Enacting social justice is essential to the Christian faith. But the Bible's call to seek justice is not a call to superficial activism. True justice requires biblical wisdom and communal discernment. Maybe you're frustrated with a version of Christianity that doesn't seem to take justice seriously. Perhaps you've witnessed the rise of ideologies that brand themselves as 'social justice,' but you have a sense that something is off about them. Maybe you have a hunch that God offers a better way to do justice than what's offered by the snarky memes on our news feeds. In this 14-session, video-based study guide, teacher and lecturer Thaddeus Williams furthers the case he made in his book, taking study groups and individuals deeper into complex question of how to pursue a path of justice without compromising the truth of the gospel. Participants will watch video segments (DVD/streaming video sold separately), hear from a diverse range of experts, interact in group discussions, and answer personal reflection questions to discover what the Bible and the example of Jesus have to teach us about justice. Williams confronts religious and political tribalism and challenges participants to discover a compelling vision of justice for all God's image-bearers that offers hopeful answers to life's biggest questions and a way forward. Sessions Include: What is Social Justice The God Question The Imago Question The Idolatry Question The Collective Question The Splintering Question The Fruit Question The Disparity Question The Color Question The Gospel Question The Tunnel Vision Question The Suffering Question The Standpoint Question Conclusion

Author : Jeffrey K. Salkin
Publisher : U of Nebraska Press
Page : 177 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2013-04-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780827611429

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The Gods Are Broken! by Jeffrey K. Salkin Pdf

The story of Abraham smashing his father’s idols might be the most important Jewish story ever told and the key to how Jews define themselves. In a work at once deeply erudite and wonderfully accessible, Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin conducts readers through the life and legacy of this powerful story and explains how it has shaped Jewish consciousness. Offering a radical view of Jewish existence, The Gods Are Broken! views the story of the young Abraham as the “primal trauma” of Jewish history, one critical to the development of a certain Jewish comfort with rebelliousness and one that, happening in every generation, has helped Jews develop a unique identity. Salkin shows how the story continues to reverberate through the ages, even in its connection to the phenomenon of anti-Semitism. Salkin’s work—combining biblical texts, archaeology, rabbinic insights, Hasidic texts (some never before translated), philosophy, history, poetry, contemporary Jewish thought, sociology, and popular culture—is nothing less than a journey through two thousand years of Jewish life and intellectual endeavor.

Author : John P. Bowen
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2021-01-05
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781725288614

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God is Always Bigger by John P. Bowen Pdf

For forty years, John Bowen has been a popular speaker, teacher, and preacher on university campuses, in churches and in classrooms, and at conferences across Canada. This book brings together forty of his best sermons, talks, and articles. You will be encouraged and you will be challenged. You will laugh and cry, think and pray--sometimes all at the same time. The topics are wildly various: "The Spiritual Quality of Craziness," "Vacuum Cleaner Church," "The Vocation of a Garbage Collector," "Spirituality in my Sixties," "What's Wrong with Amazing Grace?" and "Strong and Weak" (a reflection on his bypass surgery in 2017). The audiences are as varied as the subjects: a conference of Christians in science, the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Wycliffe College, a camp reunion, a diocesan conference, a church planting conference, his mother's funeral, and (not least) his own parish church in Hamilton, Ontario. This is a book to dip into or to read from cover to cover. You will not be disappointed.

Author : Jen Oshman
Publisher : Crossway
Page : 196 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2022-03-03
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781433576355

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Cultural Counterfeits by Jen Oshman Pdf

Jen Oshman Helps Women Reject Idols and Discover God's Good Purpose for Their Lives In today's culture, women and girls are influenced by idols that promise purpose and meaning for their lives—outward beauty and ability, sex, abortion, and gender fluidity. Christian women aren't exempt from these temptations either, and can even elevate good things like marriage and motherhood to the status of idolatry. Women may sense that these idols are hollow and leave them feeling unsettled, but where should they turn instead? In Cultural Counterfeits, Jen Oshman encourages women to reject the empty, destructive promises these idols offer and embrace something much more satisfying. She casts a vision for women to experience real hope and peace in Jesus, calling them to recognize their unshakable and eternal identities in him. This timely and compelling resource will help women find freedom and joy as they explore God's good design and purpose for their lives. Culturally Relevant: Addresses current topics such as the #MeToo movement, LGBTQIA+, social media, and feminism Explains "How We Got Here": Gives a brief history of the sexual revolution up to today Written by Jen Oshman: Author of Enough about Me: Find Lasting Joy in the Age of Self For Group or Individual Study: Includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter

Author : Caleb Gundlach
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
Page : 114 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2020-01-31
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781532695018

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Hard Words for Desperate Times by Caleb Gundlach Pdf

The challenge of reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture is nowhere more evident than in the book of Ezekiel. Its judgmental attitude, harsh words, and bizarre imagery provoke Christian readers who, familiar with the gospel, are unsure of what to do with such a strange book. This volume from the Wycliffe Studies in Gospel, Church, and Culture series offers some Christ-centered reflections on the book of Ezekiel, showing us that, even here, the same God present to us in Jesus Christ can be heard through an attentive listening to what Ezekiel is saying to us. From words of judgement and bizarre imagery of heaven, to redemptive forecasts of a hopeful future, these meditations cover the difficult terrain of Ezekiel’s visions and draw out a life-giving and Christ-centered reading of his strange message.

Author : John P. Bowen
Publisher : Augsburg Fortress Publishers
Page : 229 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2021
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781506471679

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The Unfolding Gospel: How the Good News Makes Sense of Discipleship, Chu by John P. Bowen Pdf

Many congregations and their leaders are discouraged about the future of the church. John Bowen's conviction is that the solution is to be found not in new programs or strategies but in a recovery of theological vision--that of Jesus and his gospel, which transforms every aspect of life. This vision restores hope in the only way realistically possible. Words like mission, discipleship, church, evangelism, renewal, and church planting are used like billiard balls--all rolling around a single table, unconnected and bouncing randomly off one another. This book pulls these ideas together into a coherent and organic whole. The gospel is the hermeneutical key for understanding each of these topics and what draws them together. Thus, chapter 1 is an exposition of the gospel (God's determination to make all things new through Jesus Christ). Chapter 2 discusses discipleship (we only understand discipleship in light of the gospel), and chapter 3 covers church (we only understand church if we understand discipleship). Chapter 4 considers culture as the arena in which the gospel is lived and talked about, and chapter 5 builds on that with a discussion of translation, not only as a missional necessity but as a ministry which itself incarnates the nature of the gospel. The remaining chapters (on evangelism, the future of ""inherited churches,"" church planting, and leadership) demonstrate how the gospel is the integration point for all. The author's hope is that church leaders--evangelical and mainline, young and old, emerging and traditional, present and future--will have a transformative ""Aha!"" moment as this gospel hypothesis unfolds.

Author : Caris Kim
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
Page : 106 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2021-09-09
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781666716887

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Strange Land by Caris Kim Pdf

Over the past year, we have seen that the fear of death caused by the pandemic has stopped the world. In this book, each contributor not only tries to narrow the gap between the book of Psalms and the contemporary reader but also encourages us to endure and enjoy our lives in our life settings in this “strange land.” The authors recognize our weaknesses and remind us about the saving power of Jesus’s death for us. They try to make the “difficulties and impediments,” as one contributor says, “constitutive of the saving power of Jesus Christ” that transforms our hearts.

Author : B. Goudzwaard
Publisher : IVP Books
Page : 124 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 1984
Category : Church and the world
ISBN : PSU:000010260845

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Idols of Our Time by B. Goudzwaard Pdf

Author : Jason N. Yuh
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
Page : 94 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2021-08-16
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781666714609

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Kingdom Manifesto by Jason N. Yuh Pdf

Even a cursory read of the Gospel of Matthew makes clear that it is concerned with the identity of Jesus Christ. These meditations attempt not to focus on tangential topics that relate to Jesus, even though these are important. Rather, they seek to focus simply on who Jesus is. Because 2020 exposed the fragility, corruption, and misery of humanity, such a focus is not only welcome but sorely needed. Humanity does not merely require self-help books that provide practical steps for improvement or philosophical musings that explain away suffering. Humanity is in dire need of something outside of itself: a Savior. The authors of these chapters are soberly aware of this truth, and they resist the temptation to reduce Jesus to a miracle worker who provides temporary relief or a commendable example that is to be imitated. Instead, in their own distinctive ways, they affirm the bold and ever-urgent proclamation that Jesus is the exclusive Savior of all people.

Author : Don Collett,Mark Elliott,Mark Gignilliat,Ephraim Radner
Publisher : SBL Press
Page : 500 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2021-01-29
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780884144724

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The Identity of Israel’s God in Christian Scripture by Don Collett,Mark Elliott,Mark Gignilliat,Ephraim Radner Pdf

A broad, sweeping volume that breaches the walls separating biblical and theological disciplines Biblical scholars and theologians engage an important question: Who is Israel’s God for Christian readers of the Old Testament? For Christians, Scripture is the Old and New Testament bound together in a single legacy. Contributors approach the question from multiple disciplinary vantage points. Essays on both Testaments focus on figural exegesis, critical exegesis, and the value of diachronic understandings of the Old Testament’s compositional history for the sake of a richer synchronic reading. This collection is offered in celebration of the life and work of Christopher R. Seitz. His rich and wide-ranging scholarly efforts have provided scholars and students alike a treasure trove of resources related to this critical question.