NextGenKent

Paul Hiebert wrote, "Conversion to Christ must encompass all three levels: behavior, beliefs, and the worldview that underlies these. Christians should live differently because they are Christians." With so many in our nation today stating they are Christians, or they believe in God or the Bible but when pressed on the matter, they don't really know or understand what it is they profess. Hiebert challenges this position of people and thinking they are converted when it is very likely that they are not. He continues to expand these three lines of thought: "However, if their behavior is based primarily on traditional rather than Christian beliefs, it becomes pagan ritual. Conversion must involve a transformation of beliefs, but if it is a change only of beliefs and not of behavior, it is false faith (James 2). Conversion may include a change in beliefs and behavior, but if the worldview is not transformed, in the long run the gospel is subverted and the result i...

A fter studying the dropout problem for the past three years (up to 70% of post-high school graduates defect from church/the faith), I decided to put into positive words what the local church should be about in its focus and ministries. These ten points are not exhaustive but are counter-cultural (sometimes even to the local church). I find them very challenging myself and hope and pray that I might give what it takes to accomplish these things--and see my Savior smile. I hope you agree. 1. Stop concerning yourself with looking religious and become totally committed to Jesus Christ in your lifestyle—this means: a. Developing habits of spiritual disciplines that authentically deepen your love for Jesus Christ; b. Learning the language of faith and speaking it with a group of faith-growing believers. c. seeking biblical transformation that connects you with God, through Jesus by the Spirit; c. Being totally converted in heart, mind, body and soul; d. Doing what it takes to desi...

            Not long ago I could tell something was out of sync with my son. He is thirteen now and I believe is coming to the rude awareness that his innocent elementary days are behind him. He is observing his friends who said they were Christians make hurtful choices that show they are not at least acting that way and he is trying to walk through the confusion that brings. That is a tough place. But something God is showing me is that this really is normal. So normal I need to anticipate that this occurrence would and will happen. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the entire school system disappoints us let alone our friendships in that system. There will always be the feeling for the children brought up since child birth in a Christ honoring home to sense that something is a little off in school. And that can be a major awakening, and one parents need to be prepared for.             The sch...

William D. Romanowski, Eyes Wide Open: Looking For God In Pop Culture (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press) 2009. Remarking about the kind of faith informed engagement with popular art and culture, Romanowski states that, “Our aim should be to preserve the best features, improve the weakest parts, and eliminate the worst traits of popular art” (23). This is really what the entire book sets out to show us how to do—practically, emotionally, spiritually, but most of all with great discernment. This really is a very good book! At each turn with the author’s setting up of his point-illustration-principle-vision layout, many times I found myself guessing correctly which movie he was going to be citing next. I found this statement on paradigm shifts needing to happen very interesting: “The change is signified by a remaking of cultural perceptions and the introduction of new questions and standards for acceptable solutions” (p35). With the fast pace of technological advancements and media’s barra...

A reaction to H. Richard Niebuhr's, Christ and Culture, 1951. This book seems to leave us to choose and that in itself is both puzzling yet refreshing. It leaves us to choose what to DO with the truth we possess. But it also shouldn’t lead us to believe we must choose one of the five typologies Niebuhr gives. There may be another answer and I believe there is. Niebuhr also leads his readers into desiring to choose the (his?) fifth type even though he makes it seem like any of them would be okay to choose. There is also the choosing of being more biblical in our own response to culture rather than just following the philosophy of those who have gone before. The problem we all live in is: How do we relate to the culture around us and to those within that culture. There must be a hammered out way of doing this by now with so much church history behind us! And I would agree—the way we live our life reveals our loyalties and the objects of our devotion—it is either “Christ or cul...

A reaction to, The Culturally Savvy Christian, by Dick Staub. Dick Staub does a great service to us in several ways with this piece of work. Not only does he layout the cultural agenda of our day (in a Thesaurus-like manner), he attacks it with spiritual fervor and gives the weaponry needed. Boy can this man write! For a 200 page book, Staub weighs in with an impressive bibliography at seventeen pages. I was inspired to do a Christmas sermon series based on his “Ten Truths You Need to Know About God’s Presence”. He pulls lyrics straight from the ever beloved Christmas hymn, “Joy To The World” and teaches its theology as his main points. This is something I wonder if Pastors could get back to doing with not just the hymns but praise songs in general—an explaining of what we sing and why we sing it. Couple that with how we can sing it best and it is poised for great joy! Several of his introductory quote pull-outs left me several times putting the book down to sip and ponder. I ...