political theology & society

"Return from Exile: The Sequel to Black Liberation Theology and Its Implications for Mark’s Use of the Son of Man" proposes that Mark’s use of the "Return from Exile" motif in the Hebrew Bible serves as a theological sequel and expansion to Black Liberation Theology, which traditionally focuses on the Exodus narrative as a paradigm for Black self-understanding and liberation. 

This work focuses on the broader paradigms of covenantal function. The author identifies five key functions of divine covenant in forming what is called “divine covenantal society,” distinct from secular society. These functions are examined through four major covenants—Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, and Mosaic. The paper also emphasizes the exclusive nature of divine covenant, especially through Deuteronomy 32:8, which highlights God's unique election of Israel. 

"A Bitter Ordeal: Evangelical Polemic and Jewish Thought in Reflections on Elective Abortion" argues that American Evangelicals' pro-life arguments are incomplete without consideration of Jewish thought.

Contrary to the notion that African culture did not survive the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, African culture did survive and contributed significantly to American religion, especially revivals and American Christianity.  

This study explores why monarchy, more than any other form of government, is glorified in creative literature, especially within the British literary canon. Though it's difficult to empirically prove monarchy as the most beautiful or majestic form of government, its appeal may lie in its reflection of the divine order Christians believe will culminate in Christ’s eternal kingship. Creative writing has a unique ability to express beauty, and monarchy has inspired far more poetry, myth, and folktale than other forms of government. 

The COVID-19 pandemic reignited debates over religious freedom as government restrictions temporarily limited in-person worship to protect public health. Many churches complied initially, but some, like Grace Community Church (GCC) in California, defied ongoing mandates, claiming such rules overstepped civil authority and infringed on biblical and constitutional rights. This paper argues that while GCC’s stance may be constitutionally valid, it falls short biblically. It explores the constitutional and biblical separation of Church and State, Supreme Court rulings, historical parallels from the 1918 Spanish flu, and ultimately calls for a balance between religious freedom and biblical love for others. 

This work was a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. It distinguishes between two types of power: “practical” (management of people and resources) and “abstract” (shaping cultural identity and exercising moral authority). Despite the loss of practical powers, Queen Elizabeth II retained significant abstract power due to her moral authority and role as a symbolic representative of the nation. Via this model of virtuous symbolic leadership, the work invites theological reflection on the Christ King.

The church has historically welcomed people through group conversions rather than individual ones. In the early church, whole households were often converted together. This pattern continued for centuries. However, over time—especially after the Reformation and in North America—Christianity became focused on individual conversions, shaped by a cultural emphasis on personal autonomy and pioneer individualism. This shift has led to skepticism about group conversions and the assumption that true faith must come from isolated personal decisions. Today, the church is experiencing a paradigm shift away from rigid models of salvation focused solely on individual conviction and baptism.

The Black church in North America developed in response to racism and exclusion within white churches. Early Black leaders like Andrew Bryan and Richard Allen established independent congregations after facing discrimination and limited autonomy. Though some biracial worship existed, it often upheld white control, leading many Black Christians to form their own churches, especially during and after the Civil War. This history explains ongoing racial divides and mistrust in churches today. 

This article explores the Apostle Paul’s analogy of the church as a body in 1 Corinthians 12:12–27, emphasizing the unity and indispensability of each member within the Body of Christ. It applies Paul’s message to the marginalization of families with special needs in church communities. Research shows that many families with special needs feel unwelcome, unsupported, or unable to fully participate in church life. 

The article introduces a report card of seven spiritual markers and church assessment as an evaluative model for spiritual vibrancy. The PEPLEAD model focuses on persistent prayer, proactive evangelism, biblical preaching, godly servant leadership, intentional equipping of believers for service, ongoing and strategic church assessments, and intensive discipleship. The

spiritual markers are built on a biblical foundation to focus on particular areas of vibrancy within the local assembly. 

An interview with a pastor who navigated ministry in a multi-ethnic context following the 2020 murder of George Floyd

Traditional churches must change to reach Millennials while still ministering to older generations in order to fulfill the biblical call to make disciples across all ages. While many churches adopt business-style leadership strategies, these often neglect deep relational needs important to Millennials. Successful churches build a common community identity by fostering cross-generational relationships, valuing Millennial input, and creating intergenerational learning environments. A relational culture—not just strategy—is crucial for spiritual growth and unity across generations.

While some claim the Church in America is dying, others argue it’s simply being redefined or thriving in immigrant and minority communities. Particularly, despite the historic role of the Black church in empowering communities, limited research exists on church health and revitalization within Black Baptist churches. Additionally, many churchgoers are unfamiliar with the Great Commission, indicating a need for renewed focus on discipleship and mission. 

This paper challenges traditional church-centered evangelism models and calls for a shift toward a Spirit-led, relational, and missional approach rooted in the New Testament paradigm of going rather than inviting. It critiques the emphasis on seeker-friendly services, apologetics-heavy methods, and individual-focused conversions. 

This text explores the distinction between pastoral care and pastoral counseling, particularly within the Black church. While pastoral care involves broad spiritual leadership—such as preaching, guiding, and tending to congregational needs—pastoral counseling is a more specialized, one-on-one engagement that addresses personal, psychological, or situational concerns, often blending Scripture with elements of modern counseling. The Black church has historically emphasized Scripture for healing emotional and psychological wounds, often through worship rather than formal counseling.

With an average tenure of only 4.6 years in the Southern Baptist Convention, short pastorates can hinder a church’s spiritual development. The paper argues that longer pastorates (5+ years) are more fruitful and examines foundational principles—drawn from the Apostle Paul’s example—that contribute to enduring and effective pastoral ministry. 

Caleb’s story shows that even under the law, blessings come through faith—unlike Moses, who failed due to disbelief. Positioned between Abraham (who obeyed by faith before the law) and Moses (who failed under it), Caleb exemplifies the Pentateuch’s core theme: faith, not law, is the key to receiving God’s promises. 

How should Christians respond to persecution? The New Testament gives much detail about the persecution of the Apostle Paul (Acts 9, 13-28; 2 Cor. 11:23-24); therefore, this paper examines the ministry of Paul as an example. Persecuted Christians today, like Paul, need to utilize available human rights for the propagation of the gospel, follow biblical instructions, and endure persecution for the glory of God. 

This paper explores textual criticism as a scientific process used to uncover the original meaning of biblical texts, focusing mainly on the eclectic method over the majority text method. It outlines the origins, benefits, and challenges of eclecticism and addresses key aspects such as evaluating manuscript evidence and applying consistent interpretation principles. The goal is to help readers, especially Bible students, understand the complexities of textual variants and the importance of accurate translation from Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. 

This paper explores why Paul references Adam and Eve in 1 Timothy 2:13–14, particularly in relation to his instructions on women’s roles in the Ephesian church. It examines how Paul uses the creation and fall narratives (Genesis 2–3) to support his statements in 1 Timothy 2:11–12. The study includes linguistic analysis of key Greek terms, a review of Genesis 2–3, insights from Second Temple Jewish literature, and the broader biblical context, including 1 Corinthians 14.  

This essay gives an introductory survey of the Jehovah's Witnesses' views of the Trinity. By examining key aspects of the Jehovah's Witnesses' thought process, one can determine the driving factors as to their belief system. The "response" is based on a comparative analysis of historical and Scriptural data related to the Fourth Century Arians, which is reflected in the teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses of the Twenty-First Century. 

This qualitative phenomenological case study was performed in three Seventh Day Adventist schools in Texas and provides valuable insight into the education system of the SDA tradition. The study explored which servant leadership qualities teachers value in their principals to foster a supportive work environment. Nine Seventh-day Adventist teachers from three Texas schools participated in focus group interviews. 

As preaching enters a new era, technology has become a significant part of the preaching moment. While some seasoned preachers see such tools as undermining the holiness and authenticity of preaching, others embrace them for their efficiency and access to vast resources.

This reflection contrasts the commercialism of Christmas with its true meaning: the birth of Christ as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Christmas began not in Bethlehem but in Genesis, with prophecies pointing to a Savior who would redeem mankind from sin. Mary’s journey and Jesus’ humble birth fulfilled centuries of divine promises. 

This reflection uses a business framework of "value-added (VA) vs. non-value-added (NVA)" activities to assess the spiritual relevance and impact of Advent in the Christian life. In business, value-added actions are those that directly contribute to customer satisfaction, while non-value-added actions are considered wasteful. The same principle is applied to the Christian walk and church activity, with the goal of streamlining spiritual life to better facilitate transformation and mission. 

This piece critiques modern understandings of identity, particularly gender identity, arguing that feelings have overtaken observable biological reality and biblical truth in defining who we are. It explores the implications of this shift and provides a Christian response to navigating identity confusion, especially in children. 

This Advent reflection explores Joseph’s emotional and spiritual journey in Matthew 1:20–25, as he moves from agitation to anticipation of Christ’s coming. The focus is on how Joseph responds to the divine disruption of his plans when he learns Mary is pregnant.