The Ministry of Helps is a vital structure within the church responsible for the support and maintenance of the smooth operation of the church. The support provided by the ministry can take various forms. Typically, such support includes manual work in the church, such as ushering, cleaning, and providing security; it could also involve communications, care, and hospitality services. Finally, the Ministry of Helps can also assist with teaching and paperwork. These services are performed primarily to support the church, as its own resources may not be enough. While supporting the church is significant, there are more reasons why the Ministry of Helps is an essential part of the church.
Firstly, if the Ministry of Helps is established and functions appropriately, those who lead the church have more time to fulfill their higher-ranked duties. For example, in 1 Kings 4:1-25 (New International Version, 2011), even wisest Solomon had eleven officials who helped him with administrative issues. Likewise, apostles, who shared part of their responsibilities with others, did the same. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word (New International Version, 1984, Acts 6:2-7). As a result, the spread of Gods word accelerated, and many new people were turned into the faith. Therefore, the correct distribution of responsibilities through the Ministry of Helps supports the church leaders, and it has direct benefits regarding the spread of the faith.
Secondly, the Ministry of Helps is essential, as it helps build a community around the church. You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lords people (Modern English Version, 2014, 1 Corinthians 16:15-18). Therefore, people who answer the call of the Ministry of Helps can be valuable not only in their service to the church. These people can also involve their communities and further spread the word of God in their local area. Moreover, these people can be a reason why others could understand that service through the Ministry of Helps is what they wanted and needed, therefore building a bigger, stronger, and more effective community. Moreover, as the mentioned scripture tells, the coming of these new people and strengthening the community also refreshes its leaders, thus making them more capable.
Finally, recruiting people to the Ministry of Helps may bring its most significant results later, as those people becoming closer to the church can later be raised as the new leaders. In Acts 13:1-5 (New King James Version, 1982), it is said that Barnabas and Saul were sent on a trip by the Holy Spirit, and they took John Mark as their helper. Later, John Mark wrote one of the four canonical gospels the Gospel of Mark. The people brought closer to the church and God through their service in the Ministry of Helps may also find themselves full of desire to take their service to the next level. These people will have the best opportunity to do so, as they will already be a part of a supportive community and have teachers to help them follow their path.
Overall, the Ministry of Helps is critical for the church, as it provides various advantages for the organization and its leaders. The Ministry of Helps can support the church in everyday chores, freeing pastors time for praying, studying, and other activities to help build a community around the church. Finally, the ministry can also attract people who can later be raised as future spiritual leaders and bring in much more than just services.
References
New International Version. (1984). Biblica, Inc.
New International Version. (2011). Biblica, Inc.
New King James Version. (1982). Thomas Nelson.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. (2014). Charisma House.
The Black Church has long played a significant role in the life of the African American community. The church was for the Black people, not only a place of spiritual enlightenment and development but also a center of support, education, public gatherings, and an inspirer of change. However, the church plays an increasingly diminishing role in modern society as many people question religious rules and rituals, especially religious institutions. However, since the historic Black Church was more for Black people than a place of spiritual enlightenment, its role may still be significant in the United States of the 21st century. For this reason, this literature review aims to explore the function of the Black church in modern society to clarify its role in the 21st century.
The Black Church as an Agent of Change in the US Public Sphere
The role and participation of the Black church in the US public life determine Barber in her article. The author reviews the role of the black church in history, noting that it went from an invisible institution during the time of slavery to an organization that played a central role in the struggle for Black peoples rights (Barber, 2020). Analyzing the current position of the Black Church, Barber (2020) argues that government policy forces the church to participate in the public sphere. For example, neoliberalism suggests that the private sector should take responsibility for the provision of social services. Hence, the church organizes support centers for its parishioners without adequate federal assistance or connects them with secular social services. Simultaneously, the Black Church remains one of the few institutions that deal with racially specific problems in a colorblind era by providing legal services or internship and training programs to Black (Barber, 2020). Thus, the author notes the importance of the participation of the Black church in the public sphere as an agent of change and a connecting link for people of color who need help from the state.
The Black Church as an Agent of Change and Internationalization
Hopkins speaks about the role of the Black Church in the struggle for global change. According to Hopkins (2016), the Black Church must follow a path of internationalization that will lead to equality and prosperity for all people for several reasons. Firstly, the Black community is international in nature as it was created from people of different cultures and nationalities and remains so today. Secondly, the Black Church has a long tradition of fighting for the well-being of black people, not only in the United States but globally. This fact is confirmed by the activity of Black pastors like King and Fannie Lou Hamer and organizations like the Black Theology Project in Africa, Asia, and Latin America (Hopkins, 2016). Thirdly, the Black Church follows Jesus mission by bringing good news and preaching the liberation of the oppressed and the poor (Hopkins, 2016). Thus, in the authors opinion, the primary role of the Black Church is to internalize for the sake of helping black communities around the world overcome the consequences of oppression. However, he does not reject the main mission of religion to achieve equality and justice in society as a whole.
The Black Church as Influencer of Politics
The role of the Black Church in politics also remains significant, as Augustine demonstrates in his article. Augustine (2020) examines the reasons and conditions for the church to be politicized and act as an agent of political change in society. The author explores the sources and compares the current situation of the Black community with the conditions of the Civil Rights Movement to determine the role of the church in modern politics (Augustine, 2020). The analysis demonstrates that in the Trump era, the Black Church must influence political decision-making, since the position of the president jeopardizes the rights of racial and ethnic minorities. In addition, Augustine (2020) notes that the Black Community needs to hire lobbyists to form legislation and professionals to bring about public change or partner with government agencies to achieve equality of opportunity. These facts demonstrate that the Black Church must be involved in politics. In other words, the author concludes that the socio-political conditions dictated by Trumps rhetoric require the intervention of the Black community, and the church, as one of the main centers of its unification, must support it financially and ideologically.
The Black Church in Education Improvement
In his essay Closing the educational gap , Latimore talks about the role of the Black church in improving education. Latimore (2017) examines the historical role of the Black church and notes that it was the primary source and organization that promoted literacy in the population during and after slavery. Only the church had sufficient resources and interest to initiate educational change, since it was a place where parishioners could pool their efforts and money (Latimore, 2012). The modern education system also creates a knowledge gap for Black children as most schools are located in areas that do not have sufficient resources to provide children with everything they need and hire highly qualified teachers. For this reason, Latimore (2017) talks about the need to use the experience and resources of the Black Church to close the educational gap and also notes that reducing this gap contributes to solving structural racial inequalities. In this way, the Black church can also play a significant role in improving education, and hence, the employment of Black people.
The Black Church Role in HIV Prevention
Black churches can also play a role in improving public health, including HIV prevention among gay and bisexual men, as noted by Jeffries et al. The authors suggest that since the church has a significant influence on the opinion of its parishioners, the promotion of preventive measures by various methods is necessary (Jeffries et al., 2017). For example, regardless of preachers attitudes toward homosexuality, they can educate congregations about prevention, contraception, and testing and link them to appropriate healthcare resources. In addition, scripture and the liberation theory traditionally used by Black Churches preach compassion, love, and respect for the oppressed and suffering (Jeffries et al., 2017). Consequently, preachers can use these ideas to reduce stigma and thereby stimulate the use of preventive measures. Thus, the Black church can play a role in HIV prevention by using the opportunity to convey information to its congregations.
Discussion
The literature review demonstrates that most authors see the role of the Black Church in its participation in the public life of the population to improve the situation of the Black community. All authors analyze and use the experience of the past to substantiate the possibilities and role of the church in the modern context, which is an appropriate approach as ideas adapt according to current realities. Nevertheless, in most cases, the authors focus on the political and public functions of the church rather than on its religious purpose. This factor can mean a shift in the perception of the church by people or the perception of a religious function as fundamental and integral. Consequently, the literature review concludes that the Black Church plays a significant role in the religious, political, and social life of the US population.
The reviewed sources are of high quality and relevant to the study of the topic, but they have some drawbacks. For example, while Augustine (2020) highlights several important factors, Trumps presidency is now over, requiring a revision of some ideas. Simultaneously, although Jeffries et al. (2017) talk about the different attitudes of preachers towards homosexuality, they do not consider the situation in which priests condemn sex outside of marriage and STDs as its consequences. Nevertheless, each of the sources analyzes and evaluates the various roles of the Black Church in the life of the Black community based on historical facts and current data, which indicates the reliability of the authors ideas.
Conclusion
Therefore, the literature review shows that the Black church plays a significant role in society. First, the authors state the need for the Black Church to participate in the public sphere of the United States and the world to contribute to the empowerment of the Black community. Secondly, the church must also influence political trends and decisions in the state to protect the rights of Black citizens and combat racial and social inequality. Thirdly, the church must use its resources and expertise to close the educational gap between children of color and white students. Finally, the Black Church can use its influence on parishioners to spread HIV prevention information, reduce stigma, and promote testing. Thus, this diversity of roles demonstrates that, in addition to its religious function, The Black Church remains one of the central unifying element of the Black community.
References
Augustine, J.C. (2020). And when does the Black church get political?: Responding in the era of Trump and making the Black church great again, Hastings Race & Poverty Law Journal, 17(1), 87-132.
Hopkins, D. W. (2016). The Black church and its mission for the twenty-first century. In A. B. Pollard III and C. B. Duncan (Eds.), The Black church studies reader (pp. 265-278). Palgrave Macmillian.
Latimore, C. H. (2017). Closing the education gap: The hidden potential of the Black church. In E.W. Gordon, B. Jean-Louis, & N. Obiora (Eds.), Strengthening families, communities and schools to support childrens development (pp. 83-100). Routledge.
There are countless various books in the world, and each person can learn something new from most of them. Some books provide knowledge on different religions, such as Center Church, in which the author, Timothy Keller, talks about Christianity and modern ministry. Like many other sources of information, this work brings out discussions and disputes between those who support its main ideas and those who do not. As each persons opinion is unique, one has to critically analyze a book to share their thoughts and make a point.
Summary
The first step in analyzing a book upon reading it is summarizing its contents and main ideas. Center Church starts with modern criteria for ministry, which are identified as success, basically meaning popularity, and faithfulness with the focus on ministers being competent (Keller 11). However, the author suggests that ministers these days have to be evaluated based on their fruitfulness implying that the ministry has to meet peoples demands (Keller 14). After the introduction, the book is divided into several sections and parts. The first section is about the gospel, in which the author shares his perceptions of the gospel, referencing various sources and connects it to certain aspects of life. The second section is called City and explains contextualization concerning Christianity, cultural differences, and the city with its dual nature. The last section is named Movement, and it talks about the mission, problems of the missional church, and how to overcome those problems. As Center Church represents an impressive work on religion, it is challenging to summarize briefly and requires further discussion.
Reflection
The book contains an intense amount of knowledge as the author refers to multiple various sources explaining his ideas, and some major takeaway points for me may seem not as serious. For example, the author tells how some sermons can be biblically sound but too monotonic, so they fail to engage people, which is an aspect that I have not thought as much about (Keller 89). Some other takeaways for me are related to contextualization and different cultures in relation to how to approach those cultures and especially how to challenge them properly (Keller 120-132). One more takeaway for me is based on the connection between globalization and religion, which can be seen in the example of daughter churches in New York City (Keller 159). Although I have learned new information, I think it is more important that I have noticed some gaps in my way of thinking and some aspects that I did not realize before.
Critique
I do not completely agree with some parts of the book, which may be due to some weaknesses in the execution of thoughts. For example, when Keller states that one is either in Christ or not and then says that the gospel leads us to care for the poor, I felt slightly perplexed (Keller 28). In my opinion, the former statement may be harsh as many people are yet to find God, but they will at some point in their lives, and they may be considered poor until they do. However, this idea made me think for a moment that the book could have shown more acceptance towards those who are only beginning their journey to Christianity which it does but closer to its end. It is important to mention, though, that I am not referring to not very religious, but good people example of whom is provided later in the book (Keller 32). I mean those who may be confused about their beliefs and genuinely want to understand God better and may be scared away if they do not feel supported.
In my opinion, the main strength of the book is how meticulous and comprehensive it is. As mentioned before, the author references numerous sources explaining his ideas and also brings out a lot of questions to which he then provides answers. For example, his discussion about changing culture or explanation of the problems of the missional church (Keller 226, 266-274). The strengths of this book are based on a detailed explanation of Christianity in the modern world with different examples.
Application
I can apply this book to my life currently by learning how to connect Christianity to various cultures. At the beginning of the second section, the author mentions distinctions between cultures (Keller 90). This mention made me think more about how I can explain religion to different people and also made me want to obtain more information which is provided further in the City section. I can apply this book in my future ministry by explaining Christianity to people the way Keller does by employing certain aspects to more common examples from life. For instance, how he compares Jesuss sacrifice to A Tale of Two Cities or how he states that the gospel is not just the ABCs but the A to Z of the Christian life (Keller 33, 46). In my opinion, such comparisons and statements can be useful in my future ministry.
Conclusion
Upon reading Center Church, I can say that I was impressed with this work in terms of details and connection to life. Although for me there were some concerning points at the beginning of the book, as it progressed, my opinion of it was improving. Center Church can bring many thoughts and make people rethink their views on some aspects of religion in the modern world.
Work Cited
Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City. Zondervan, 2012.
The concept of the human sin and the propensity toward making errors in their judgment as the core characteristics of people can be considered one of the foundational ideas of Christianity. While the concept in question is perpetuated in both the Old and the New Testament, is treated differently in each. In contrast to the Old Testament, wherein the concept of the human error and the unavoidable probability of making a mistake are presented rather matter-of-factly, the New Testament suggests that the specified description of the human nature should inform the relationships within a Christian community. Thus, the foundational principle of the New Church aligns with the Missional Theology theory, offering an accurate description of its function.
Examining the ways of using the Missional Theory in encouraging compliance with the principles of the New Testament Church, one should focus closer on the values and ideas that the aid New Testament Church invites. For instance, the cornerstone concept of Christianity, namely, the opportunity for salvation, is interpreted in a much more hopeful manner in the New Testament Church. Specifically, implying hat unity and compliance with the traditional Christian values will lead to better outcomes and contribute to ones salvation, the missional Theory encourages the acceptance of the Christian religion. As a result, one of the core functions of faith, namely, attracting new followers and promoting the development of a bond between them, is achieved. Moreover, the community-based nature of the New Testament Church can be considered as the direct extension of the Missional Theology principles. Since the Missional theology theoretical framework encourages collaboration, it can also be seen as one of the direct forces behind the enhancement of unity among its members.
The promotion of the New Testament principles and practices also becomes significantly easier with the introduction of the Missional Theology doctrine. It is noteworthy that the New Testament centers primarily the life of Christ in its narrative, which suggests that the ideas that Jesus Christ held as essential for Christianity and promoted actively should also be laced at the forefront of the New Testament Church. Specifically, one will need to consider traditional Christian values as the cornerstone of the New Testament Church. In turn, the adoption of the Missional Theory perspective into the spiritual framework of the church will allow one to maintain the ecclesiology of the New Testament without deviating into other areas. Namely, the Missional Theory encourages one to develop guidance to repentance as the foundation for salvation and the basis for the promotion of Cristian values within the community.
Consequently, the inclusion of missional structures into the New Testament Church needs to be acknowledged as the main step toward building a profound theoretical framework and a practical guide for leading a community in its spiritual development. The missional Theory involves parish members to accept the ideas promoted by Christ in the New Testament easier. Overall, the transformative function of missional structures and the Missional Theory is the main justification of the reason for integrating it into the church framework, in general, and the New Testament church environment, in particular. The leadership potential of the missional structure and the impetus for change that I provides are so vast that thy can be used to center the necessary value as the focus of peoples attention, thus reinforcing their effect and encouraging people to accept them wholeheartedly. In the wake of fast information and knowledge sharing, planting the seed of doubt into the minds and hearts of parish members becomes quite a tangible possibility, which is why reinforcing Christian values and unity among Christians is essential.
Arguably, the emphasis on the Missionary principles in the church setting may also lead to certain difficulties in advancing certain principles and ideas. For example, McGrath warns that the focus on the Missionary Theory will inevitably cause the church to adopt the trinitary position, which, in turn, will obscure the mission of establishing what McGrath referred to as the universal lordship of the Christ within a Christian community. Although acknowledging the importance of the ideas and principles that Jesus established in the New Testament is crucial for allowing people to accept the values such as unity, piety, and compassion, negative effects may ensue. For instance, the resounding effects of the ideas in question being implemented in the church setting may imply that the specified framework could displace the implementation of a mission, thus reducing the effectiveness of the traditional approach without offering a high-quality substitute.
However, the introduction of the Missionary strategy into the New Testament church will also help to place the trinitary position at the forefront, encouraging Christians to return to the traditional Christian values, while simultaneously embracing change. The inclusion of the specified principles will allow incorporating the notion of the Transformational Leadership into the Christian Church, thus breathing a new life into its values and ideas. By transforming the approaches for communication and management of peoples spiritual needs, one will be able to increase engagement without changing the essence of the core message significantly. As a result, the crucial postulates of the Christian leadership will remain in their place, whereas innovative approaches toward instilling the said values and ideas into the target community will be created. Moreover, the incorporation of the Transformational Leadership approach will help to ignite enthusiasm in parish members and motivate them to participate in the process of spreading the word about Christianity. Thus, the unity among Christians will be reinforced, whereas the ideas of the Christian faith will reach other demographics, allowing other people to consider and even accept Christianity as their source of spiritual growth.
Moreover, the integration of the Missional Theory principles into the New Testament church will help to build a healthier environment in it. The introduction of a homogenous set of Christian values and ideas, as well as the creation of a single goal, will erase the threat of conflicts developing within the target setting among members of the church. Moreover, the confrontations that cannot be avoided will be resolved peacefully and in the way that will keep all parties satisfied. Thus, the members of the church will have an opportunity to focus on the issues of major importance, such as the strategies for inspiring people to accept the authority and importance of the Scripture as the guiding set of ideas and the foundation for their philosophical beliefs. Armed with the principles of the Transformational Leadership, a pastor can become a powerful leader capable of changing peoples mindset and influencing the extent of their motivation, encouraging them to become more active churchgoers and community members.
The suggested changes will help to set a new model of managing change within a church. Namely, with the incorporation of the suggested framework of the Missional Theory and the creation of the New Testament church, one will address the problem of change that has been in existence in the Christian context for centuries. Retaining core values and philosophies while introducing innovative thinking is a rather difficult task, especially for the Christian faith, where traditional approaches may easily clash with innovative solutions. Therefore, as a leader of the New Testament church, one will need the Missional framework as the tool for uniting community members and reminding them of the shared values while performing change. In turn, the proposed framework will help to create urgency and reconcile traditional approaches with innovative ones, at the same time abandoning the strategies that have worn out their welcome.
By allowing one to reinterpret the traditional notion and perception of sin in the Old Testament as the cause of the fall of a human being into its more sympathetic reiteration of the New Testament, the Missional Theology encourages one to promote Christian values not only within the community but also globally. With the focus on spreading the principles of Christianity on the worldwide level, the Missional Theory creates perfect premises for furthering the agenda of the New Testament Church. Indeed, with the focus on salvation as one of its primary goals, the New Testament Church can be considered a much milder and more flexible one than the Old Testament Church with its unmovable and unchangeable principles. Thus, the Missional Theory can be used to promote the notions of Christian values and the principles of Christianity, including unity and collaboration, far beyond the community, thus increasing its reach.
Bibliography
Herrington, Jim, Mike Bonem, and James Harold Furr. Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2000.
Lewis, Phillip V. Transformational Leadership: A New Model for Total Church Involvement. Broadman & Holman, 1996.
McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology: An Introduction. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.
Richardson, Ronald W. Creating a Healthier Church: Family Systems Theory, Leadership, and Congregational Life. Fortress Press, 1995.
Roxburgh, Alan, and Fred Romanuk. The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World. Volume 17. John Wiley & Sons, 2006.
Roxburgh, Alan. Missional Map-Making: Skills for Leading in Times of Transition. Volume 43. John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
According to this article, religious organizations are viewed as a product that can only be obtained through time and resources. Attendance and financial contributions can be used as proxies for time and money spent in congregations and denominations to predict membership growth. Because of the wide variation in resource mobilization rates across denominations, those who arent familiar with the subject are frequently taken aback when they learn about it. To put it simply, liberal and mainstream denominations have been dwindling for more than two decades, while the growth of conservative denominations has come about because members of these two groups devote vastly different amounts of resources to each. Rites of passage and other ceremonial practices foster and govern the relationship between humans, deities, or other supernatural beings. Spiritual and physical well-being is a priority for most religious organizations; however, some are also involved in promoting specific religious practices such as devotional singing and sermonizing.
Religious and non-religious organizationshave many characteristics, including focusing on worship and doctrine. For the duration of this article, well be focusing on both the unique and the generic. The investigation into the hierarchical structure of religion began in one of two ways. An inquiry into religious organizations various types and subtypes found that they all shared the same traits. Another paper dealt with the dynamics of religious organisations and the people who belong to them. A significant influence on the polity of religious organizations and leadership roles in religious organizations, local groups in religious organizations, and patterns of recruitment and training in religious organizations comes from the authority of religious leaders. Finally, three questions regarding the future of religious organisations are addressed at the conclusion of the article.
Reference
Laurence R. Iannaccone, Daniel V.A. Olson, Rodney Stark. 1995. Religions Resources and Church Growth, Social Forces, Volume 74, Issue 2, Pages 705 731, Web.
According to Lukes descriptions in the first chapters of Acts, the Jewish setting and context of the early church are characterized as follows. Foremost, miracles and signs are the key basis for describing the early church in which God acted. In Lukes picture of the worlds perception, this church is presented as a place in Jerusalem where people filled with the Holy Spirit and enlightenment are unable to explain the miraculous events taking place. During the feast of Pentecost, the Spirit of Christ was revived, and about three thousand people, including Jewish pilgrims, were converted to Christ in just one day (Elwell and Yarbrough 179-192). The risen Christ not only poured out the Spirit but also healed the lame, thus showing the power of His name to those who believed in Him (Hiesberger, 1508-1558). The church filled with the Spirit, in the first Acts, studies, worships, shares with neighbors and testifies, as well as suffers persecution but also prays and shares its testimony.
Lukes descriptions also mention the Jewish environment and certain religious dogmas, norms, and values. For example, in The Day of Pentecost, the second chapter of the Acts states that the Jewish capital of Israel Jerusalem: Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem (Hiesberger, 1508-1558). In the same chapter, one of the Apostles, Peter, addresses the people: Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, [am]know this, and pay attention to my words (Hiesberger, 1508-1558). In fact, the Apostle identifies the Jewish people as the dominant part of the entire population of Jerusalem and the main church workers.
I think Luke went to great lengths to portray the early church as genuinely Jewish for the next moments. In Acts, Luke tries to demonstrate clearly that the Jews are also part of the people of God. Thanks to numerous conversions, the Christian community is growing. Its piety and strength, unselfishness, and harmony are visible in it and it causes universal admiration and reverence. In addition, Christianity is partly a continuation of the Jewish concepts and motives that were originally laid down in the minds and hearts of people. Moreover, Christianity, which has in mind to gather everyone around one, appears to the Jew as an impracticable idea and, for this reason alone, false. Consequently, it is possible to prove to the Jews that they are wrong only in fact, that is, by implementing the Christian idea in practice, consistently bringing it into actual life (Stacy 2021). Hence, Luke imagined the Christian idea of a spiritual and universal theocracy so that it would be possible to introduce Jews to Christian views.
Today, it is especially important for Christians to understand and realize the Jewish roots of their faith due to the following aspects. Primarily, such measures are necessary to ensure social justice, peace, and harmony at all levels, including the local and global scale of manifestation. In addition, it is especially important to understand the correct interpretation of texts and excerpts from them, where the acts of the Jews and their significance for modern believers occur. Often, the Jewish people are shown in an unfavorable light in many sources this moment should be eradicated when studying the roots of faith. Such knowledge can enrich a Christian with a deep and comprehensive understanding of the heritage they have in their faith. Being objective and reliable, the information allows a person to determine their attitude to the problem of personal salvation and, therefore, take decisive steps towards freedom and happiness.
Bibliography
Elwell, Walter E. and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey (Encountering Biblical Studies). Ada, Michigan: Baker Publishing Group, 2013.
Hiesberger, Jean Marie. The Catholic Bible: The New American Bible: Including the Revised New Testament and Psalms Translated from the Original Languages with Critical Use of All the Ancient Sources. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Stacy, Robert W. Presentation: The Jewish Setting of the Early Church in Acts. Course Video, 2021.
Stacy, Robert W. Presentation: Pentecost & the Eschatological Setting of the Early Church in Acts. Course Video, 2021.
The choice of an optimal research methodology is a responsible task since this procedure determines the quality of the work done and the value of the outcomes obtained. When applied to qualitative studies, there are different designs that aim to elicit research results through distinctive data collection and analysis tools. As the purpose of this proposal, a case study methodology will be applied to justify the research questions, and the rationale for this approach will be provided. The research questions are as follows: why does the Indian Church of God (an ethnic-centered church) retain its young adult population (18-25), and what role is the senior pastor playing in achieving this? Does, and if so, how does an ethnic-centered metropolitan church in the southwest region of the United States retain and engage its young adults (18-25) in the ministries of the church? A case study methodology is optimal for answering the proposed questions due to the practical nature of the issue and an opportunity to analyze a specific topic within a concrete entity.
Rationale for the Methodology
A case study methodology is a research approach that makes it possible to assess a real situation from a practical perspective without using theoretical assumptions or abstract correlations. According to Creswell and Poth (2018), questions are common research tools, which allow applying such a methodology within this proposal. The statement of the problem plays an important role since, to carry out relevant and in-demand research work, a specific situation should cause ambiguous or controversial views. In this case, the retention of the young population by the Indian Church of God is an issue that requires analyzing from the standpoint of assessing the entire situation, including the prerequisites and accompanying factors. The role of the senior pastor, in turn, can be determined by evaluating the problem as a whole and presenting contextual information. This practice, as Creswell and Poth (2018) note, allows identifying specific research boundaries and provides opportunities to analyze a specific case comprehensively. Therefore, in relation to the given topic, a case study methodology is appropriate and can help determine the premises of the issue, the current nuances affecting it, and the perspectives for all the stakeholders involved.
Justification for the Research Questions
In the context of the formation of an ethnic-centered religious movement, interaction with the target audience is a mandatory aspect of retaining parishioners. According to Michna (2020), for the pastorship of the Indian Church of God, interaction with the younger generation provides an opportunity to expand influence and promote specific ideas more successfully. One of the reasons for this is the active attitude of young people aged 18 to 25 and their developed communication skills, including the habit of interacting both directly and remotely via social media. In an ethnic-centered program, theological doctrines involve creating communities and groups that bring people together through a single spiritual idea (Michna, 2020). A case study approach gives a chance to assess how strong the impact of the Indian Church of God is and to evaluate the role of individual members of the church, in particular, the senior pastor. In addition, specific local traditions can be considered in the context of the proposed issue, which also helps uncover the topic and address the issue related to youth retention. Therefore, from the standpoint of impact, spiritual work with the young population is an objective measure.
A senior pastors role in engaging young adults is significant. As Michna (2020) notes, this church ministers mandate allows coordinating major development processes, including congregation expansion. Samuel (2018), in turn, states that since an early age, the parishioners of the Indian Church of God are involved in theological learning, with an emphasis on cultural heritage. For young people, the historical background of service to God is a strong motivational factor that stimulates interest in religion. A senior pastor organizes educational workshops and courses that aim to expand the target audiences knowledge of the missions and resource base of the Indian Church of God. Engaging young people through interpersonal communication and progressive interaction practices are powerful tools. Therefore, the role of a senior pastor is essential and can be defined from the standpoint of a coordinating party directing relevant theological ideas to a specific population and developing the interest in religious learning.
With regard to the ethnic-centered metropolitan church in the southwest region of the United States, similar principles of engaging younger adults are promoted. At the same time, Jung (2019) notes that, compared to the Indian principles of interacting with the target audience, involving young people in the United States is more challenging due to a broader cultural background. However, individual principles of communication have been developed ideological work with young families and studying the traditional aspects of parishioners cultures (Jung, 2019). For American society, such a principle may be considered non-standard due to mass assimilation. Nonetheless, the southwestern regions of the country, which are located at a distance from large metropolitan areas and administrative-territorial units, have more opportunities to interact with the target audience. By following a case study methodology and utilizing an interview as a data collection tool, communication with a senior pastor can be established to find out the specifics of an intermediary role between the church and parishioners. Therefore, both in the Indian Church of God and the American ethnic-centered metropolitan church, engaging young adults is a significant aspect of the theological idea.
Site Selection Rationale
The analysis of the Indian Church of God, the southwestern metropolitan church in the US, and the aspect of engaging young adults to specific religious doctrines due to a case study methodology is a convenient approach in relation to choosing the site for the assessment. In the context of expanding social contacts, ethnic-centered theological teachings that are promoted locally make it possible to consider specific practices in detail. This, in turn, allows highlighting both anthropological and sociological aspects of the issue, which, as Creswell and Poth (2018) state, corresponds to the principle of a case study methodology. Thus, the choice of specific locations simplifies the evaluation procedure and makes it more accurate in terms of covering the basic prerequisites.
Conclusion
A case study methodology is a convenient approach to analyzing the proposed research questions related to the activities of the Indian Church of God and the southwestern metropolitan church in the US. Engaging young adults is an ethnic-centered approach that addresses the cultural background of the youth, thereby involving the target audience. The emphasis on the selected locations is due to an opportunity to assess the unique manifestations of the issue in question due to the applied case study design, which is an accessible form of research.
References
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Jung, G. (2019). Ethnic church meets megachurch: Indian American Christianity in motion by Prema A. Kurien. Journal of Asian American Studies, 22(3), 452-454. Web.
The Protestant Reformation was caused by the opposition between the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant reformers. It spread to most of the European countries, including Germany, England, and Italy, and shaped the future development of the Church, giving rise to new religious movements and schools. Four main factors influenced the start of the Reformation, both short- and long-term.
Short-Term Causes: Indulgencies and the Leipzig Debate
Indulgences became a common practice during the Middle Ages and caused a lot of controversy in society. Whereas the believers saw it as a way to avoid the punishment for their sins or to reduce their time in Purgatory, the Church officials saw it as a promising way of commercializing their practice. Indulgences were sold to the people who were willing to pay and denied to those who could not afford them, thus causing an uproar among the masses. The Roman Catholic Church was unable to respond to these incidences of corruption, which gave power to the Protestant theologians such as Martin Luther to address the issue using a reformation.
The Leipzig Debate, on the other hand, occurred in 1519 between John Eck, Martin Luther, and Andreas Bodenstein von Karlstadt. Eck was defending the Catholic doctrine after the writings of Martin Luther on the indulgences were released. Karlstadt, on the other hand, was a Christian theologian who wrote a repudiation of Ecks treatise and collaborated with Luther to oppose Eck in an official debate. The debate was crucial to the development of the Reformation thought, as it was during this debate that Luther for the first time argued that the Pope had no official power since the Bible alone (sola scriptura) was the basis of the Christian faith, and the Bible did not establish the existence of the Pope.
Long-Term Causes: The Corruption of the Church and the Development of Humanism
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was becoming more and more political, which did not go unnoticed by the theologians. Church officials occupied high positions in the hierarchy and had the power to influence certain political activities, such as the initiation of the Crusades. Many theologians, including Luther, felt that the role of the Church has changed and it was no longer there for the benefit of the people. One of their primary aims was to stop the corruption and the division of the Church into many political units, thus ending the engagement of the Church with political matters and ensuring its care for people and God instead.
The development of Humanist thought during the Early Renaissance period was also associated with an investigation into the values and role of the Church. Many humanists wrote on the need to reform the Church and on the obsoletism of the exercised faith in general. For instance, Erasmus of Rotterdam offered a revised edition of the New Testament, which was later used by Martin Luther as a basis for his German translation, thus influencing his later thoughts on the subject.
Overall, some of the causes of the Reformation can be traced back to the Middle Ages, whereas others led to an immediate development of religious reformation movements. A combination of both the long-term and short-term factors ensured the peoples insistence on reforming the Church, thus strengthening the impact of the entire reformation process.
Church Effectiveness and the Church Mission Statement
According to the readings on peoples integrity and reason in the context of their religious views, it is also necessary to focus on their affections. Following I Peter 2:12-17, humans are expected to live as free people and act as Gods slaves. Furthermore, people should show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor (Valliant & Fahy, 2016, p. 112). According to I Corinthians 14:20, individuals should also think and act like adults, thus, referring to their reason, as it is accentuated by John Wesley (Clapper, 2011).
All these details allow for concluding about the role of the church in forming persons visions concerning both the reason and feelings or affections, as well as about church effectiveness. From this perspective, the church can be effective to improve an individuals reason with the help of religion, and the mission statement for the church can be formulated concerning the Biblical words, as well as Wesleys and Clappers ideas.
The reviewed readings can be integrated into the mission statement for the church that will be based on the accentuation of the role of the heart and mind. The following mission statement can be proposed: The church proclaims the principles of the Christian faith to help people understand Gods words and will and improve their reason to act as adults against the evil, renew their heart, and demonstrate the worship of God and love for people and the world around.
This mission statement directly depends on interpreting I Peter 2:12-17 and I Corinthians 14:20. Besides, the statement reflects Wesleys ideas and conceptions regarding religious affections and reasoning (Clapper, 2011). Thus, this mission statement can be discussed as addressing the duties and responsibilities of the church and its specific role in the 21st century.
Walter Brueggemann and Postmodernism
Nowadays, the Christian church develops in the context of Postmodernism that influences its progress and adaptation to modern reality. Walter Brueggeman noted that a specific new context for the church should be found in the midst of radical otherness (Beach, 2015, p. 13). According to Kelly and Dew (2017), postmodernity is associated with the focus on a human being and his or her reasoning, the relativity of truth, and questioning morality and faith, and the researchers discuss these aspects in detail in their work. They make conclusions on how people develop their spirituality in the postmodern world. From this perspective, the church needs to inspire people to become spiritual in the reality where radical otherness is typical and the role of Christianity for today is questioned.
The words about radical otherness can also be viewed from the focus on the concept of exile concerning Christianity. Being the other one in some consequences can mean being exiled, and Christians in the postmodern era need to adapt their traditions to new environments referring to their past experiences, as it is noted by Susan (1998) and Beach (2015). Furthermore, it is possible to understand Brueggemans statement regarding Veith and Suttons (2017) ideas.
Today, the church seems to be less influential for Christians than earlier, and they try to believe in God without going to church. Thus, there is a kind of exile and the impact of the postmodern tradition on Christianity that can make people speak about the church existing in the middle of radical otherness that can influence their faith and vision.
Assessing my current ministry context from the perspectives of the reviewed literature and principles of postmodernism, it is possible to state that I should make more efforts to motivate people to find their God and unite them in the church. The focus on personal motivation and individual visions about God and His Kingdom can help people adapt to new realities in which their faith grows and develops. I am also focused on reaching those people who are diverse and who have not selected the church for them because they can require support and guidance.
Furthermore, in a newly changed context, I also demonstrate the commitment to the healthy church that can help in renewing an individuals heart. My other principles include the focus on being responsive to the communitys needs, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability, and showing gifts and benefits associated with joining the church. Additionally, I understand and accept the importance of building group cohesiveness, referring to resilience and exercising faith to find the revelation and redemption. Thus, in a new ministry context, I am ready to help people on their paths to God.
References
Beach, L. (2015). The church in exile: Living in hope after Christendom. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Clapper, G. S. (2011). The renewal of the heart is the mission of the church: Wesleys heart religion in the twenty-first century. Cambridge, UK: The Lutterworth Press.
Kelly, S. E., & Dew, J. K. (2017). Understanding Postmodernism: A Christian perspective. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Susan, R. S. (1998). Exile and creativity: Signposts, travelers, outsiders, backward glances. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
Valliant, J. S., & Fahy, C. W. (2016). Creating Christ: How Roman emperors invented Christianity. New York, NY: Crossroad Press.
Veith, G. E., & Sutton, A. T. (2017). Authentic Christianity: How Lutheran theology speaks to a postmodern world. New York, NY: Concordia Publishing House.
Where Do You See Yourself in the Process of Change?
In the era of postmodernism, people tend to be less committed to God, which is caused by a focus on material benefits and comfort. A human being is much more complicated than it may seem at first glance. The visions with which God and people view the world differ (Brick, 2014). While the latter pays attention to appearance and superficial characteristics of each other, God considers humanity as a whole. In other words, He knows how one event may affect the other one and what consequences may one or another action promote. The Bible includes various stories that depict the integrity and omniscience of God.
When God rejected Saul because of his pride and self-will, He appealed to Samuel and stated that He found a new king among Jesses sons. Samuel did as the Lord commanded: he came to Bethlehem and was met by anxious elders at the entrance to the city (Samuel 16: 6, NIV). They asked about the prophets intentions for coming there, and he replied that he should sacrifice to the Lord and perform a rite of consecration. After that, Samuel consecrated Jesse and his sons, inviting them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived, he saw Eliab, the eldest son of Jesse, and believed that he was to be anointed one before God (Samuel 16: 6, NIV). At this moment, the Lord said to Samuel that it is not correct to look at his beauty and height only and that he did not choose him. God emphasized that He does not consider the way a person looks, while people do stress their appearance.
The described Bible excerpt illustrates that the vision of people may be rather limited, and there is an urgent need to take action to extend it. Today, more and more young persons become not aware of their lives and what happens around them in the world. Their level of consciousness seems to be restricted by their affairs that are driven by postmodernist features such as maximalism, fragmentation, hyperreality, and pastiche (Susan, 1998).
In this connection, a minister should understand the behaviors of young people to formulate the ideas of attracting them to the church. By knowing how consistent and regular attendance looks like, it is possible to engage the community members and empower them to volunteer more. The worship style that will be appealing to the identified population should be selected properly. The pivotal goal of implementing change processes concerning the church is to achieve the convergence in how God and people view others.
The church does not have to compete with entertainment organizations and places. Probably, the most appropriate way to attract a person is to tell a little about oneself, personal thoughts, feelings, and why one is Christian. The church is a collection of believers, which is composed of people with various preferences and characters, yet they are integrated by a common goal and concern (Susan, 1998). The church ensures that a young person grows to be able to accept and love others, be patient, forgiving, compassionate, and responsible for keeping his or her word to help other people and comprehend his or her role in their lives.
Today, the church tries to attract young people to the righteous life and increase attendance. The process of change may be facilitated by offering participation in and temple services, charity projects, and promotions, thus assisting them in understanding the aspiration to have a life that is important for others. Step by step, they would gain knowledge and skills in apprehending their abilities and talents not for their egoistic pleasure yet for their close ones and people in general.
How Do You Feel About the Church?
Postmodernism is often associated with openness to spirituality, experience, and mystery, while religious institutions tend to be distrusted. People, especially young persons, put authenticity and uniqueness at the core of the concept of truth (Beach, 2015). Instead of following the word of God through obedience and learning the Holy Scripture based on the authority, they believe that it is a genuineness that identifies the actuality, thus doubting the relevance of the church. As a result, they often refer to other means of seeking or receiving assistance in various situations, and the popularity of the church decreases.
Concerning Christianity, postmodernism has consolidated its status as an undoubted threat. The most frequent associations that emerge in connection with postmodernism are perspectivism, relativism, and, ultimately, nihilism. However, in a series of brilliant essays on Jean-Francois Lyotard, Jacques Derrida, and Michel Foucault, the scholars who focused on the given topic, James Smith challenges such interpretations.
In his book called Whos Afraid of Relativism? (The Church and Postmodern Culture): Community, Contingency, and Creaturehood , he shows that postmodernism has attention to the textual, narrative, and rooted nature of truth in the community (Smith, 2014). It not only gives Christianity a new intellectual toolkit but also allows it to return to the very center of modern intellectual life. This point is important to understand how the ideas of postmodernism can serve faith revival.
Initially, Christianity was practiced by Jews only, but it was expanded to become a universal religion. The Acts of the Apostles book describes that the apostles were gathered and instructed in the city of Jerusalem to spread Gods teaching (Luke 24:49, NIV). Thus, Christianity freed from ethnic and cultural barriers, and the original proposal was evidently to make all people Christians so that they can have greater religious commitment and understanding of how people should live their lives. Accordingly, today, the church should continue this primary intent and attract more people to the tithe.
What Do You See in Your Future Based upon What You have Read and Learned This Week?
The future of Christians is closely related to that of understanding the dilemma between the church and postmodernism-driven attitudes of people. In comprehending and resolving this situation, the minister is expected to employ his or her congregational experience to achieve young persons and increase church attendance. The cultural shift that is evident should be considered by the minister as the context for further actions. The meaning of discipleship and discipline should be considered in terms of modern social changes and challenges to identify and, if necessary, adjust the mission of the church.
It is essential to emphasize that the vision of God is comprehensive, while people have a limited view of a person and judge him or her by appearance at the given moment. One should remember that God knows about the changes that will occur with everyone and that He selects those who may seem nothing for others. The chosen people are to be made great in His hands, and this should be taken into account by ministers and ecclesiastics while planning and implementing solutions to the postmodernism dilemma.
References
Beach, L. (2015). The church in exile: Living in hope after Christendom. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Brick, M. (2014). A postmodernists progress: Thoughts on spirituality across the David Foster Wallace canon. Christianity & Literature, 64(1), 65-81.
Smith, J. K. (2014). Whos afraid of relativism? (The church and postmodern culture): Community, contingency, and creaturehood. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Susan, R. S. (1998). Exile and creativity: Signposts, travelers, outsiders, backward glances. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.