Article Archive for August 2015
by Jin H. Han
Many will recognize the question as a parody of Tertullian, De praescriptione haereticorum, chapter 7: “What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?” So, to answer our question, we must first ask, “What does Jerusalem represent?”
by Aiou C. Niang
Starting about 1649, French colonialists in Africa attempted to infuse French culture to the native inhabitants of Dakar, Goree, Rufisque, and Saint Louis in order to assimilate French language and culture—to “Frenchify” them. This notion was meant to imitate the experiences of ancient Greece where citizenship was conferred on those born in Greece and therefore superior to non-citizens in recognition and rights. France’s goal was to spread its culture and Christianity, much as St Paul had done with the building of Christian churches and communities.
by Jean-Pierre Ruiz
The author presents the point that John sets before his audience visions of two imagined cities, one the mighty city that was a distant presence looming large through its local surrogates in Asia, the other a holy city descended from above. He urges them to choose between them, to decide their allegiance. This decision is a matter of who is the proper object of worship: the emperor or the Christ. John positions his readers at the intersection of power and praise.
by Chris A. Lawrence
Pastoral leadership and community organizing in East Harlem require patience and urgency. Jeremiah 29:5-7 and Isaiah 65:17-25, examples of “the city in the Bible,” can help shape our vision for contemporary urban church planting.
by Campbell B. Singleton
This idea-filled article is based on a seven week, interfaith ecumenical community study held earlier this year designed to focus on issues of race, justice, and liberation led by Christian clergy, an Imam and a Rabbi. They each examined their own sacred texts to exegete each to discern and confront the erroneous belief that any one group has racial superiority and/or entitlement over another group. The participants learned some of the history and origins of racial discrimination. This article will serve any group wishing to expose the roots of discrimination to the harsh light of truth.
by Tamara Henry
This brief essay explores some specific challenges and opportunities that accompany the study of the Bible within an urban youth context. In particular, it argues for rethinking biblical engagement in urban youth ministry and suggests three ways in which practitioners can attend more deliberately to the nuanced dynamics taking place in these contexts when teaching scripture.
by Jill Schaeffer
The author offers us a challenge: to read and interpret for ourselves her unique rendition of how an imagined breakdance might be performed on a city street. Her style is rhyming poetry that gives the choice to go with it or hang back. Going with it can be interesting and revealing—hanging back is an opportunity missed.
Reviewed by Samuel Cruz
This publication offers a wealth of information of Latino Pentecostalism within the Assemblies of God denomination, and of the denomination in general. One major contribution of the book is Espinosa’s emphasis and his providing documentation of the important and often-neglected fact of the instrumental roles played by Latinas in the origins and formation of the Pentecostal movement.
selected by Darla Turlington
Here are quotations from the Bible and from secular writings that pastors and others may find useful in sermons, essays, or other venues.
by Efrain Agosto
What in the Bible relates or refers to, or constitutes issues of “the City in the Bible”? Where is the “urban” or urbanization evident in the First and Second Testaments, and what do those instances say and teach? This Fall issue of The Living Pulpit includes some of the October 2014 presentations plus several additional reflections in order to continue to explore how urbanization and urban issues depicted in the Bible helps us do ministry today.