The First Step in Missions Training: How our Neighbors are Wrestling with God’s General Revelation PDF
Preview The First Step in Missions Training: How our Neighbors are Wrestling with God’s General Revelation
“A stimulating discussion of the problems of general revelation--particularly de- T Thomas K. Johnson h signed for those engaged in the missionary task.” o m a Dr John Warwick Montgomery s K PUrnoifveesrssoitry Eomf Bereidtufos,r dshire, England . Jo h n s “This is a significant book on one of the most important subjects confronting o n Cmhersisstaiagne sis t omdeaayn: inHgolwes tso o br rdinagn gthereo ubsib?l Tichaol mmaess Jsoahgnes toon ’as wexoprlods itthioant tohfi Rnoksm tahniss G o 1-2 is a highly needed resource on general revelation, clearly written, eye-ope- d ning, compelling. I recommend this book most strongly.” ‘s G The First Step in e Ron Kubsch ne r Missions Training: Lecturer in Apologetics and Contemporary Theology a Martin Bucer European School of Theology and Research Institutes l R e v e la Thomas K. Johnson received his Ph.D. in ethics from tio the University of Iowa (1987) after a research fellow- n ship at Eberhard-Karls Universität (Tübingen). He re- How our Neighbors ceived a Master of Divinity (Magna Cum Laude) from Covenant Theological Seminary (St. Louis, 1981) and a BA from Hope College (Michigan, 1977). Af- are Wrestling with ter serving as a church planter in the Presbyterian Church in America he became a visiting professor of philosophy at the European Humanities University God’s General Revelation in Minsk, Belarus, 1994–1996. (EHU is a dissident, anti-Communist university, forced into exile by the Belarusian dictator in 2004.) Since 1996 he and his wife have lived in Prague, where he taught philoso- phy at Anglo-American University (4 years) and at Charles University (8 years). He is now Vice President for Research, Martin Bucer European School of Theology and Research Institutes; Academic Council, International Institute for Religious Freedom (WEA); Professor of Philosophy, Global Scholars, and Senior Advisor to the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance. His wife, Leslie P. W Johnson, is director of the Christian International School of Prague. o r ld o f T ISBN 978-3-86269-084-8 sponsored by: h e o ISSN 1436-0292 (World of Theology Series) lo g y S e r ie s 1 Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft V (Culture and Science Publ.) K World of Theology Series 1 Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher W Thomas K. Johnson The First Step in Missions Training: How our Neighbors are Wrestling with God’s General Revelation World of Theology Series Published by the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance Volume 1 Vol 1 Thomas K. Johnson: The First Step in Missions Training: How our Neighbors are Wrestling with God’s General Revelation Vol 2 Thomas K. Johnson: Christian Ethics in Secular Cultures Vol 3 David Parker: Discerning the Obedience of Faith: A Short History of the World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission (in preparation) Vol 4 Thomas Schirrmacher (Ed.): William Carey: Theologian – Linguist – Social Reformer Vol 5 Thomas Schirrmacher: Advocate of Love – Martin Bucer as Theologian and Pastor Vol 6 Thomas Schirrmacher: Culture of Shame / Culture of Guilt Vol 7 Thomas Schirrmacher: The Koran and the Bible Thomas K. Johnson The First Step in Missions Training: How our Neighbors are Wrestling with God’s General Revelation Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft Culture and Science Publ. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher Bonn 2014 Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbib- liothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available in the Inter- net at http://dnb.d-nb.de © Copyright 2014 by Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft (Culture and Science Publ.) Prof. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher Friedrichstraße 38, D-53111 Bonn Fax +49 / 228 / 9650389 www.vkwonline.de / [email protected] ISSN 1436-0292 ISBN 978-3-86269-084-8 Printed in Germany coverdesign and manufacturing: BoD Verlagsservice Beese, Friedensallee 44, 22765 Hamburg www.rvbeese.de / [email protected] Publishing Distribution Center: IC-Medienhaus D-71087 Holzgerlingen, Tel. 07031/7414-177 Fax -119 www.icmedienhaus.de catalog for book stores: www.vkwonline.de/gesamtprospekt Private costumers: in any book store or at www.vkwonline.de “In a time when Euro-American culture has lost confidence in its rich her- itage, we need more than ever a work such as this by a theologian such as Thomas Johnson. This should be required reading in every seminary and graduate program that deals with the meaning of culture.” Gerald R McDermott Jordan-Trexler Professor of Religion Roanoke College, USA “A stimulating discussion of the problems of general revelation-- particularly designed for those engaged in the missionary task.” Dr John Warwick Montgomery Professor Emeritus, University of Bedfordshire, England “A must read for all Christian students in higher education. Prof. Johnson provides a biblical framework for the foundational philosophical questions that every person wrestles with and the lacking but all-framing theological idea for my own worldview. This book will contribute to the long needed reversal in apologetics: from defense to offense!” Daniel Ellenberger Director, Martin Bucer Seminary, Zurich, Switzerland “This important new book by Thomas K. Johnson casts new light on the meaning of Romans 1. By treating the passage as a missions training man- ual, he draws out surprising new interpretations for evangelism and apolo- getics. Johnson shows how we can join Paul in being proud (‘not ashamed’) of the gospel, full of confidence that it continues to speak to the human condition even in a postmodern age.” Nancy R. Pearcey Director, Francis Schaeffer Center for Worldview and Culture Professor and Scholar in Residence, Houston Baptist University “This is a significant book on one of the most important subjects confront- ing Christians today: How to bring the biblical message to a world that thinks this message is meaningless or dangerous? Thomas Johnson’s expo- sition of Romans 1-2 is a highly needed resource on general revelation, clearly written, eye-opening, compelling. I recommend this book most strongly.” Ron Kubsch Lecturer in Apologetics and Contemporary Theology Martin Bucer European School of Theology and Research Institutes “Prof. Thomas Johnson is a unique person, since he is first rate theologian, a well-read philosopher, and a missionary at heart. In this latest book he has borrowed from all three disciplines to form logical arguments for the evangelical position on revelation. His involvement with the WEA has been very much appreciated, as has his work in the doctoral program at Olivet University. His book will definitively have far reaching influences in the future.” William Wagner Co-president, Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies Olivet University, California “Thomas Johnson has written an excellent book on a subject that is very important but so often ignored in recent Protestant theology. Johnson pre- sents a clear introduction to Paul’s teaching on general revelation in Ro- mans 1-2 and shows, so crucially, why general revelation does not reveal the gospel of Christ but is absolutely foundational for understanding it. Johnson’s years of experience in mission work and university teaching shine through as he winsomely explains how God’s general revelation haunts the unbeliever and provides the Christian evangelist with many op- portunities to speak with them of the true human condition. I strongly rec- ommend this fine volume.” David VanDrunen Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics Westminster Seminary California Contents Contents ....................................................................................................... 7 Part I: Wrestling with God in the Book of Romans ................................... 10 Introduction ............................................................................................... 10 Romans 1:16-2:5 (original translation) ................................................ 15 Chapter One: The Human Condition ......................................................... 17 The Content of General Revelation ..................................................... 21 The Normal Human Response to God’s General Revelation .............. 22 Internal Contradictions Resulting from Simultaneously Accepting and Rejecting God’s General Revelation ...................................... 25 Religious Reversals .............................................................................. 28 Missions Training ................................................................................ 29 Chapter Two: The Human Condition, part 2 ............................................. 31 God’s common grace is his call to repentance. .................................... 38 The Solution: Thoughtful Pride in the Gospel ..................................... 43 Interlude on contemporary theology: representative distortions from the twentieth century that Christians must avoid in the twenty first century ................................................................................................. 45 Part II: Faith Seeks Understanding ............................................................ 51 A Missionary Philosophy of the Divine-Human Wrestling Match ............ 51 Chapter Three: Angst and General Revelation .......................................... 53 Chapter Four: Moral Angst ....................................................................... 63 Chapter Five: Existential Angst ................................................................. 67 Chapter Six: Ontological Angst ................................................................. 73 Chapter Seven: General Revelation and the Human Quest ....................... 79 8 General Revelation Chapter Eight: Selected Questions in the Philosophy of Religion in Light of God’s General Revelation ...................................................... 97 A. Religions as Replacements ............................................................. 97 B. General Revelation and “Proving God” ....................................... 100 C. General Revelation and Reason ................................................... 103 D. General Revelation and the Problem of Evil ................................ 106 E. General revelation provides the background for perceiving special revelation and the reality of the Christian Life. ................ 108 F. The Rejection of General Revelation and False Absolutizing ...... 109 G. Absolutizing within a Particular Field of Learning ...................... 110 H. Conclusion: Who is wrestling with God’s general revelation? .... 112 Appendices for students of theology and the humanities ........................ 115 Appendix I: The Rejection of General Revelation and the Natural Moral Law in Twentieth-Century Protestant Theology ............... 115 Appendix II: Types of Beliefs ............................................................ 130 Appendix III: The Missions Training Structure of the Epistle to the Romans......................................................................................... 132 Questions for study and discussion ......................................................... 133 Introduction ........................................................................................ 133 Chapter One: The Human Condition, pages 17ff............................... 133 Chapter Two: The Human Condition, part 2, pages 31ff ................... 134 Interlude on Contemporary Theology, pages 45ff ............................. 135 Chapter Three: Angst and General Revelation, pages 53ff ................ 136 Chapter Four: Moral Angst, pages 63ff ............................................. 136 Chapter Five: Existential Angst, pages 67ff ...................................... 137 Chapter Six: Ontological Angst, pages 73ff ...................................... 138 Chapter Seven: General Revelation and the Human Quest, pages 79ff ............................................................................................... 138 Chapter Eight: Selected Questions in the Philosophy of Religion in Light of God’s General Revelation, pages 97ff ............................ 139 About the Author ..................................................................................... 141 Contents 9 Biography .......................................................................................... 141 Publications by Thomas K. Johnson which are readily available online, in libraries, or from the publisher: .................................... 142
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