I'm excited to hear your voice in the conversations about NAR! It seems to me that "personal Lord and Savior" Jesus can really strengthen an individual's commitment to either Social Gospel Jesus or Superhero Jesus, depending on the community they find themselves in. I wish more progressive spaces would find the language to talk about what a 'personal relationship' with Social Gospel Jesus looks and feels like .
Hi Katy, good to hear from you! Yes, they really can go together, but so few churches manage to make that happen. A big part of it is being comfortable with spiritual and other forms of diversity. The church I'm currently in has managed to blend Mennonite social justice with evangelical/charismatic spirituality, and one thing that really makes that work is that Black members have brought Black church traditions that already connect those kinds of approaches together. Racial segregation (and white-dominant leadership in multi-racial churches) has done a lot of damage to US Christianity.
Have you ever read Stephen Nichol's "Jesus, Made in America"? It looks at different public concepts and uses of Jesus across periods of American history.
Nicely done, and well thought out.
Fascinating and so helpful. Thank you!
I'm excited to hear your voice in the conversations about NAR! It seems to me that "personal Lord and Savior" Jesus can really strengthen an individual's commitment to either Social Gospel Jesus or Superhero Jesus, depending on the community they find themselves in. I wish more progressive spaces would find the language to talk about what a 'personal relationship' with Social Gospel Jesus looks and feels like .
Hi Katy, good to hear from you! Yes, they really can go together, but so few churches manage to make that happen. A big part of it is being comfortable with spiritual and other forms of diversity. The church I'm currently in has managed to blend Mennonite social justice with evangelical/charismatic spirituality, and one thing that really makes that work is that Black members have brought Black church traditions that already connect those kinds of approaches together. Racial segregation (and white-dominant leadership in multi-racial churches) has done a lot of damage to US Christianity.
Have you ever read Stephen Nichol's "Jesus, Made in America"? It looks at different public concepts and uses of Jesus across periods of American history.
I haven't. Thanks for the recommendation!