Retrato do autor

Thomas White (3) (1973–)

Autor(a) de Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches

Para outros autores com o nome Thomas White, ver a página de desambiguação.

3 Works 294 Membros 3 Críticas

About the Author

Dr. John M. Yeats is the assistant professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served churches in Texas, Indiana, and Illinois in a variety of pastoral roles. John, his wife, Angie, and their four children reside in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Thomas White is the mostrar mais vice president for student services and communications, as well as associate professor of systematic theology, at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as pastor of theology at The Cross Baptist Church. Thomas, his wife, Joy, and their daughter, Rachel, live in Crowley, Texas. mostrar menos

Obras por Thomas White

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Data de nascimento
1973
Sexo
male

Membros

Críticas

An extremely robust Evangelical critique of modern church practices, particularly the multi-site campus movement.

The authors use McDonald's as the metaphor to discuss the tendency in modern Evangelicalism toward efficiency, higher numbers, the entertainment experience, and the association of church membership and participation in terms of consumption rather than shared effort. They critique the move away from effectiveness toward efficiency, as if efficiency is really the goal; they warn against the downsides of predictability and control, the reduced content of teaching, and how it ends up feeding the consumerist mentality that the people of God ought to be challenging.

All of these critiques are brought to bear on the multi-site campus idea which continues to proliferate, pointing out the Biblical difficulties with such a setup in terms of autonomy and the nature of the ekklesia as one group assembling. The authors then suggest ways to quit "McChurch".

The authors are Evangelical and some of the standard caveats about denominationalism, etc. apply; I was disappointed in their elevation of the sermon above singing in terms of their power to instruct and exhort in light of Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16. Nevertheless, I was surprised to find such a thoroughgoing and Biblically rooted critique of the overwhelming success of the consumerist/corporate mentality among Evangelical churches and found it extremely refreshing to see it.

Yes, there are times when the plain and evident issues before the people of God demand them to stand firm and be faithful, but how many times are the real problems with the people of God in those things which they blithely accept without necessarily reflecting on the implications of what they are doing? In the face of secularism it seems that far too many have imbibed consumerism and the mentality of the Industrial Revolution without much meditation on what it means Biblically. Pragmatics have too often trumped "thus saith the Lord"; the fact that it seems to "work" numerically overwhelms any lingering doubts about what is being given up in order to satisfy "consumer demand."

The authors' chosen metaphor is extremely appropriate: the goals of the Industrial Revolution and consumerism are well summed up in fast food and the "McDonaldization" of culture, and it is sad to see so many religious people think the way forward for Christianity must be a similar path. Meanwhile, true discipleship is not being cultivated, joint participation is a mockery, and the people of God languish in an unhealthy diet.

Worthy of consideration and deliberation.
… (mais)
½
 
Assinalado
deusvitae | 1 outra crítica | Mar 12, 2015 |
Thomas White, Jason Duesing, and Malcolm B. Yarnell III edit this volume that contains contributions from leading scholars in Southern Baptist life, including Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Daniel Heimbach, professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; and Paul Pressler, retired member of the Texas legislature, district court judge, and justice for the 14th court of appeals. This work arose from the first annual conference in the Baptist Distinctives Series held at the Riley Center at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in September 2005.

As indicated in the title, this book seeks to discuss the Baptist perspective on religious liberty, especially as it relates to the freedom established in the First Amendment. The contributors provide theological, historical, philosophical, cultural, and legal arguments for the Baptist understanding of religious liberty. In addition, the contributors seek to remind “Baptists in the twenty-first century of the price that was paid by their forefathers for the establishment and defense of religious liberty” (4).

The book contains several excellent chapters on the development of religious liberty in Baptist thought. One major strength presented by this work is the theological development of the concept of religious liberty. While some would say that the concept of religious liberty is grounded in the social order, Barrett Duke, vice president for research and director of the Research Institute of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and Paige Patterson offer a theological foundation for such liberty. Patterson traces religious liberty in relation to the exclusivity of Christ. His conclusions are pertinent for contemporary American culture, which faces the dilemma of trying to provide freedom while maintaining a status of “political correctness.” Patterson notes, “Christians embracing the exclusivity of Christ as the only saving and accurate expression of the true and living God are properly the most effective advocates of absolute religious liberty” (46). He accurately depicts Christians who believe in the exclusivity of Christ as ones who would have a strong desire to see religious liberty for all religions because it would allow for the opportunity of non-believers to come to faith in Christ without governmental persecution.

Another strength of the work is how it traces the historical development of religious liberty and the involvement of Baptists in promulgating this liberty. White, Yarnell, and Land provide a thorough historical perspective of religious liberty in early Baptist traditions, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the founding development of America, respectively. Their contributions to the volume are crucial for a proper understanding of the development of religious liberty from the days of the Anabaptists through the founding of the Southern Baptist Convention. As a result of their work, one can see how Baptists played a role in shaping culture in the area of religious freedom.

Heimbach’s chapter on the difference between religious liberty and religious autonomy is the “city set on a hill” for this book. His work delineating the value, views, and recipients of religious liberty is worth the cost of the book itself. Heimbach opens by warning his readers, “It is difficult to have a casual discussion of religious liberty because discourse on the subject is highly charged and rightly so” (125). He then proceeds to apply the paradigms of ordered vs. autonomous and institutional vs. individual to the concept of religious liberty. Heimbach states, “Ordered liberty is a concept of freedom that is restrained by moral obligations” (133). In contrast, autonomous liberty has “no limitations, no responsibility, no accountability” (134). Next he applies these two concepts to institutions and individuals. Ultimately, he promotes the concepts of ordered liberty for institutions and individuals as a proper understanding of religious liberty because they strengthen society. Heimbach concludes, “When a government hinders ordered religious liberty, it cannot be stable, and it eventually destroys itself because it loses the respect and support of the responsible, public-minded segment of its citizenry that produces and strengthens social cohesion” (142).

First Freedom provides an insightful look at the theology, history, and cultural implications of religious liberty. Written primarily from the Baptist perspective, this work provides a unique understanding of how Baptist doctrine and belief has shaped government and culture regarding religious freedom. The book demonstrates the role Baptists have played in the development of this concept in Western thought and informs Baptists of the challenges they may face in protecting this liberty in the future.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
Lenow | Nov 15, 2010 |
NCLA Review - This book is about the dangers of church as business or entertainment, likely a reaction to the church growth movement. The authors argue that in adopting a “consumerist” approach, many churches have lost their Christian orientation. A church is not a business and some of the things that make a business (like McDonald’s) successful such as efficiency and predictability, aren’t really applicable when doing the work of the church. The authors include discussions of Internet churches, live video feed sermons and multisite church campuses. This book is aimed at pastors but it would be useful to any church leader whose church is wrestling with these issues. The authors were passionate about the subject, and it may represent a pendulum swing that is too far away from what is happening today, but it is well worth reading. Rating: 3 —JC… (mais)
 
Assinalado
ncla | 1 outra crítica | Dec 22, 2009 |

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Estatísticas

Obras
3
Membros
294
Popularidade
#79,674
Avaliação
4.1
Críticas
3
ISBN
58
Línguas
3

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