We Answer to Another

We Answer to Another PDF Author: David T. Koyzis
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1625640455
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 261

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Book Description
The quest to escape authority has been a persistent feature of the modern world, animating liberals and Marxists, Westerners and non-Westerners alike. Yet what if it turns out that authority is intrinsic to humanity? What if authority is characteristic of everything we are and do as those created in God's image, even when we claim to be free of it? What if kings and commoners, teachers and students, employers and employees all possess authority? This book argues that authority cannot be identified with mere power, is not to be played off against freedom, and is not a mere social construction. Rather it is resident in an office given us by God himself at creation. This central office is in turn dispersed into a variety of offices relevant to our different life activities in a wide array of communal settings. Far from being a conservative bromide, the call to respect authority is foundational to respect for humanity itself.

We Answer to Another

We Answer to Another PDF Author: David T. Koyzis
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1625640455
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 261

Get Book Here

Book Description
The quest to escape authority has been a persistent feature of the modern world, animating liberals and Marxists, Westerners and non-Westerners alike. Yet what if it turns out that authority is intrinsic to humanity? What if authority is characteristic of everything we are and do as those created in God's image, even when we claim to be free of it? What if kings and commoners, teachers and students, employers and employees all possess authority? This book argues that authority cannot be identified with mere power, is not to be played off against freedom, and is not a mere social construction. Rather it is resident in an office given us by God himself at creation. This central office is in turn dispersed into a variety of offices relevant to our different life activities in a wide array of communal settings. Far from being a conservative bromide, the call to respect authority is foundational to respect for humanity itself.

Gregory of Nyssa Against Eunomius

Gregory of Nyssa Against Eunomius PDF Author: Saint Gregory of Nyssa
Publisher: Aeterna Press
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 491

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Book Description
It seems that the wish to benefit all, and to lavish indiscriminately upon the first comer one’s own gifts, was not a thing altogether commendable, or even free from reproach in the eyes of the many; seeing that the gratuitous waste of many prepared drugs on the incurably-diseased produces no result worth caring about, either in the way of gain to the recipient, or reputation to the would-be benefactor. Rather such an attempt becomes in many cases the occasion of a change for the worse. The hopelessly-diseased and now dying patient receives only a speedier end from the more active medicines; the fierce unreasonable temper is only made worse by the kindness of the lavished pearls, as the Gospel tells us. I think it best, therefore, in accordance with the Divine command, for any one to separate the valuable from the worthless when either have to be given away, and to avoid the pain which a generous giver must receive from one who treads upon his pearl,’ and insults him by his utter want of feeling for its beauty.

Putting God Second

Putting God Second PDF Author: Donniel Hartman
Publisher: Beacon Press
ISBN: 0807063347
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 194

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Book Description
Why have the monotheistic religions failed to produce societies that live up to their ethical ideals? A prominent rabbi answers this question by looking at his own faith and offering a way for religion to heal itself. In Putting God Second, Rabbi Donniel Hartman tackles one of modern life’s most urgent and vexing questions: Why are the great monotheistic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—chronically unable to fulfill their own self-professed goal of creating individuals infused with moral sensitivity and societies governed by the highest ethical standards? To answer this question, Hartman takes a sober look at the moral peaks and valleys of his own tradition, Judaism, and diagnoses it with clarity, creativity, and erudition. He rejects both the sweeping denouncements of those who view religion as an inherent impediment to moral progress and the apologetics of fundamentalists who proclaim religion’s moral perfection against all evidence to the contrary. Hartman identifies the primary source of religion’s moral failure in what he terms its “autoimmune disease,” or the way religions so often undermine their own deepest values. While God obligates the good and calls us into its service, Hartman argues, God simultaneously and inadvertently makes us morally blind. The nature of this self-defeating condition is that the human religious desire to live in relationship with God often distracts religious believers from their traditions’ core moral truths. The answer Hartman offers is this: put God second. In order to fulfill religion’s true vision for humanity—an uncompromising focus on the ethical treatment of others—religious believers must hold their traditions accountable to the highest independent moral standards. Decency toward one’s neighbor must always take precedence over acts of religious devotion, and ethical piety must trump ritual piety. For as long as devotion to God comes first, responsibility to other people will trail far, far behind. In this book, Judaism serves as a template for how the challenge might be addressed by those of other faiths, whose sacred scriptures similarly evoke both the sublime heights of human aspiration and the depths of narcissistic moral blindness. In Putting God Second, Rabbi Hartman offers a lucid analysis of religion’s flaws, as well as a compelling resource, and vision, for its repair.

Gospel-Centered Discipleship

Gospel-Centered Discipleship PDF Author: Jonathan K. Dodson
Publisher: Crossway
ISBN: 1433530244
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 178

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Book Description
Reflecting on the practice of disciple making in young adult, college, graduate, and local church contexts, Jonathan Dodson has discerned some common pitfalls. For many, discipleship is reduced to a form of religious performance before God. For others, it devolves into spiritual license and a loose adherence to spiritual facts. Both approaches distort biblical motivations for Christian obedience and are in need of reform. By explaining various motivations for discipleship, Dodson charts a biblically faithful, grace-driven alternative. Additionally, he provides a practical model for creating gospel-centered discipleship groups—small, reproducible, missional, gender-specific groups of believers that fight for faith together. This book blends both theology and practice to inspire and equip Christians to effectively fight sin, keep Jesus central, and make gospel-centered discipleship a way of life. Both new and growing Christians will learn to trust the gospel in community as they fight together for holiness as well as how to start gospel-centered community groups in any local church.

The Second Promise

The Second Promise PDF Author: Gary Edward Hopkins
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 1098097572
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 99

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Book Description
Eddie Hopkins had many proverbs that he enjoyed sharing. The following proverb was the most important one he ever kept. When I was a teenager, he instructed me to "never, ever make a promise to someone that you can't or will not keep." Dad only made two promises to me during his entire life, and I thank you, Lord, he kept both. The first promise he made stopped him from committing suicide. The second promise he made not only stopped him from trying to take his life again but also opened the door that led him to Jesus Christ where he found deliverance, saving grace, and eternal life.

Is that Really You, God?

Is that Really You, God? PDF Author: Loren Cunningham
Publisher: YWAM Publishing
ISBN: 9781576582442
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 212

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Book Description
In a time before youth were welcomed in short-term missions, Loren Cunningham founded Youth With A Mission to unlock the world for millions. He called young and old, women and men, and every ethnicity to go. Loren Cunningham's dream began with a vision - waves of young people from every nation going to every nation, telling everyone, everywhere about Jesus. How did God move Loren's dream from vision to reality and take him to every country on earth? Loren and his wife, Darlene, grew through tough lessons on hearing and obeying the Lord. This exciting story of Youth With A Mission shows how hearing God's voice is for every believer. Translated into 150+ languages, Is That Really You, God? is a practical guide to hearing God's voice and following His direction to change our hearts and our world. In this legacy edition, read a special new chapter On to Eternity, on "the biggest vision I can imagine" where Loren unveils his final call, to rally this generation to translate the Bible orally into every mother tongue on earth. In addition, see a special tribute called 'Grateful Reflections" on Loren's life from dear friend and senior YWAM leader David Joel Hamilton from his up close and personal experience serving Loren over the decades.

Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To

Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To PDF Author: Anthony DeStefano
Publisher: Image
ISBN: 0385522924
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description
There have been thousands of books written about prayer and millions of sermons preached about it, yet people continue to wonder: Why doesn’t God answer me when I cry out to him? In light of all the problems we face in life, we want to know why God is often so “silent” when we pray to him. Anthony DeStefano, author of the bestselling A Travel Guide to Heaven, knew there had to be an answer to this mystery, so he set out on a quest to find prayers that God says yes to all the time. The result is an extraordinary new book that has the ability to dramatically change the lives of readers of all faiths. Each short, powerful prayer in Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To addresses a particular problem people commonly face in life—from accepting the existence of God to trying to make ends meet; from getting through terrible suffering to coping with everyday stress; from overcoming fear to finding your God-given destiny. Presented with a certainty and vigor that are sure to pique the interest of even those who are not spiritually inclined, these prayers will help readers find solutions to life’s most difficult situations and provide meaningful and inspiring answers to the vexing questions we have about the purpose of our time on earth. In a world awash with superficial self-help books and deceptive gimmicks, Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To is the real thing. Using hundreds of scriptural references to support his claims, DeStefano writes in a simple, straightforward, and uplifting manner that makes the most profound theological matters understandable to all. In the words of the author, “This is a spiritual treasure chest that is available to everyone….This book is about prayers that work—really, truly work.”

God Is a Question, Not an Answer

God Is a Question, Not an Answer PDF Author: William Irwin
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1538115891
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 159

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Book Description
Uncertainty is the essence of the human condition, and nothing is more uncertain than God. Yet passions run hot when it comes to God, both among believers and non-believers. God is a Question, Not an Answer aims to unsettle readers on both sides of the issue. William Irwin argues that because belief occurs along a continuum of doubt and we can never reach full certainty, believers and non-believers can find common ground in uncertainty. Beginning with the questions of what we mean when we talk about God and faith, Irwin shows that from a philosophical perspective, the tendency to doubt is a virtue, and from a religious perspective there is no faith without doubt. Rather than avoid uncertainty as an uncomfortable state of emotional despair, we should embrace it as an ennobling part of the human condition. We do not have to agree about the existence of God, but we do need to practice intellectual humility and learn to see doubt as a gift. By engaging in civil discourse we can see those who disagree with us as not only fully human but capable of teaching us something.

Knocking on Heaven's Door

Knocking on Heaven's Door PDF Author: David Crump
Publisher: Baker Academic
ISBN: 080102689X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 352

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Book Description
Offers a cohesive New Testament theology of petitionary prayer.

Political Visions & Illusions

Political Visions & Illusions PDF Author: David T. Koyzis
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 083087206X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 339

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Book Description
In this freshly updated, comprehensive study, political scientist David Koyzis surveys the key political ideologies of our era, unpacking the worldview issues inherent to each and pointing out essential strengths and weaknesses. Writing with broad international perspective, Koyzis is a sensible guide for Christians working in the public square, culture watchers, and all students of modern political thought.