THE CHARGE with Dennis Metzler

Neither Antiracism Nor Colorblindness: Beyond Racial Division with Dr. George A. Yancey

George Yancey defines America's race problem, considers the meaning, strengths, and weaknesses of antiracism and colorblindness, takes a look at systemic racism and racial disparities and examines how diversity, equity, and inclusion programs often function. Yancey explains his alternative view as mutual accountability and marshals evidence to support it. He presents a biblical and theological basis for his view and describes how it can look in daily life. Using affirmative action as an example, Dr. Yancey considers how antiracism, colorblindness, and mutual accountability would approach it. Dr. George A. Yancey is Professor of Sociology at Baylor University.
I would love to hear from you. Please send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Dr. Yancey's books: Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Racial-Division-Alternative-Colorblindness/dp/1514001845/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1PG4E1RFL2F3R&keywords=George+A.+Yancey&qid=1666224301&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=george+a.+yancey%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-3
Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Racial-Gridlock-Embracing-Responsibility-ebook/dp/B001IDXXYS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1PG4E1RFL2F3R&keywords=George+A.+Yancey&qid=1666224401&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=george+a.+yancey%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
One Faith No Longer: The Transformation of Christianity in Red and Blue America
https://www.amazon.com/One-Faith-Longer-Transformation-Christianity/dp/1479808687/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1PG4E1RFL2F3R&keywords=George+A.+Yancey&qid=1666224401&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=george+a.+yancey%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-3

Christian Intentional Community and Religious Vitality with Dr. Mark Killian

We discuss the nature of Christian intentional communities, religious vitality, the 5 historic waves of Christian intentional communities (CIC) in the U.S., the biblical basis for CICs, the components of CICs, the key strengths and weaknesses of CICs, as well as the structural, organizational, and individual explanations for religious vitality. We also consider the relationship of CICs to society and the greater church and examine the theme of alienation. The issues of economic sharing, agency, charisma, authority, in-group and out-group orientation, strictness, leniency, and commitment are all covered. Finally, as a pastor, church planter, and sociologist Dr. Killian offers his ideas on how churches can grow in vitality. Intentional communities play such a vital role in the church yet they can easily overdo it in their effort to foster greater togetherness. Killian includes both beautiful examples of the church as family as well as absurd examples of overreach and oversharing. Dr. Mark Killian is Professor of Sociology at Whitworth University and the author of Religious Vitality in Christian Intentional Communities: A Comparative Ethnographic Study
I would love to hear from you. Please send me (Dennis) an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Mark Killian's book:
https://www.amazon.com/Religious-Vitality-Christian-Intentional-Communities/dp/1498546609/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2J2EGTURQ1V7M&keywords=Religious+Vitality+in+Christian+Intentional+Communities%3A+A+Comparative+Ethnographic+Study&qid=1664918572&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjgwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=religious+vitality+in+christian+intentional+communities+a+comparative+ethnographic+study%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-1

God’s Word For Us: Psalm19:8-10

Cultural Identity, Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality Meet Biblical Theology--with Dr. Steven Bryan

New Testament scholar, Steve Bryan (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) defines culture, ethnicity, nations, states, and race. He explains how identity as the people of God is foundational for making sense of life rather than ethnicity or race. We also cover the creation story and other primal stories in Genesis to understand God's plan in human diversity. Dr. Bryan discusses how the Abrahamic covenant and the conquest of Canaan are related to cultural identity. Bryan covers themes of privilege and hospitality in Matthew and describes how Israel is restored in Jesus. Finally, we discuss how diversity and culture are dealt with in Romans and Revelation and consider how cultural identity, purpose, and hope are related.
I would love to hear from you. Send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Checkout Dr. Bryan's book which just came out in July of 2022: "Cultural Identity and the Purposes of God: A Biblical Theology of Ethnicity, Nationality, and Race"
https://www.amazon.com/Cultural-Identity-Purposes-God-Nationality/dp/1433569736/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?crid=2NCRY8OPALBC9&keywords=Steven+Bryan+ethnicity+culture+race&qid=1663624479&sprefix=steven+bryan+ethnicity+culture+race%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Peace, Justice, & Supernatural Spiritual Gifts: A New Manifesto & the Kingdom of God w/ Bob Ekblad

Bob's personal story as well as the theology of the kingdom of God, supernatural spiritual gifts including healing and words of knowledge, ministry to the poor and marginalized, resisting the powers including militarism, racism, and nationalism, interpreting Romans 13, justice, non-violence, forgiveness, love, and the cross are topics all dealt with here in our discussion about Dr. Ekblad's book "A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God". Most importantly, he discusses how the church can unite its ministry of peace and justice with its ministry of supernatural spiritual gifts.
I would love to hear from you. Send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Bob Ekblad's books: A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God
https://www.amazon.com/New-Christian-Manifesto-Pledging-Allegiance-ebook/dp/B002LE88L6/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2OR18WZBIYXU1&keywords=bob+ekblad+books&qid=1662306901&sprefix=%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-5
The Beautiful Gate: Enter Jesus' Global Liberation Movement
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Gate-Global-Liberation-Movement/dp/1540815668/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2OR18WZBIYXU1&keywords=bob+ekblad+books&qid=1662306950&sprefix=%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-3
Reading the Bible with the Damned
https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Bible-Damned-Bob-Ekblad/dp/0664229174/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2OR18WZBIYXU1&keywords=bob+ekblad+books&qid=1662306950&sprefix=%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-2
Guerrilla Gospel (Guerrilla Gospel and Bible Studies Series)
https://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Gospel-Bob-Ekblad/dp/1546671366/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OR18WZBIYXU1&keywords=bob+ekblad+books&qid=1662306950&sprefix=%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-1

Jesus as Teacher

Intentional Christian Community: Intimacy, Mission and Radical Discipleship-Dr. Luther E. Smith, Jr.

The biblical basis, plus issues of ecclesiology, historical circumstances, orientation to place, covenant, convictions, structures, commitment, membership, authority, outreach, spiritual growth, and ecclesial practices are all considered in relation to intentional Christian communities. Dr. Smith spent years researching five Christian communities: Church of the Messiah, Koinonia Partners, Patchwork Central, Sojourners, and Voice of Calvary. He goes into detail about these communities in his book "Intimacy and Mission: Intentional Community as Crucible for Radical Discipleship".
Follow the link below to check it out:
https://www.amazon.com/Intimacy-Mission-Intentional-Community-Discipleship/dp/1556355378
I would love to hear from you. Send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com

A Theology of Nonviolence, Peacemaking, Pacifism, and Jesus: Fr. John Dear and ”The God of Peace”

Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Desmond Tutu, Fr. John Dear offers his thoughts on violence, the nonviolent Jesus, the Christ of peace, the Trinity, violence as sin, human suffering, soteriology, the cross, eschatology, ecclesiology, nonviolent resistance, and personal spirituality. John Dear is a peace activist, Catholic priest, and author of 35 books including "The God of Peace: Toward a Theology of Nonviolence".
Click on the link to check it out:
https://www.amazon.com/God-Peace-Toward-Theology-Nonviolence/dp/1597521124/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2B5GJXJ4IPX1H&keywords=Dear+John+God+of+Peace&qid=1659406478&sprefix=dear+john+god+of+peace%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-1
I would love to hear from you. Email me at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out John Dear's ministry: https://beatitudescenter.org/

Christian Martyrdom and Violence: Just War, Pacifism, and Nonviolence with Dr. Matthew Lundberg

In this interview, based on Matthew Lundberg's "Christian Martyrdom and Christian Violence: On Suffering and Wielding the Sword", the strengths and weaknesses of both just war and pacifism are considered along with their biblical and theological foundations and logic, especially as they relate to Christian martyrdom. We look at the criteria for martyrdom, martyrdom of confession and action, the early church and other pacifistic traditions, restraining the necessities of realism, Augustine, Neibuhr, and Bonhoeffer, and especially Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount and the kingdom of God.
Check out "Christian Martyrdom and Christian Violence: On Suffering and Wielding the Sword" at:
https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Martyrdom-Violence-Suffering-Wielding-dp-0197566596/dp/0197566596/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1657990248
I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment or email me at thecharge.info@gmail.com

The Book of Hebrews with Dr. George Guthrie: Theology, Ethics, Background, and Structure

Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and ethical exhortation as well as genre, date, authorship, and social situation are all topics we tackle in this interview. We also examine the question of Jesus learning obedience and becoming perfect and consider what the book of Hebrews has to say about persecution, faith, and faithfulness.
I would love to hear from you. Please email me at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Dr. George Guthrie is Professor of New Testament at Regent College.
He is the author of The NIV application Commentary on Hebrews
https://www.amazon.com/NIV-Application-Commentary-Hebrews-Hardcover/dp/0310493900/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WH9EOT1IE33R&keywords=The+NIV+application+Commentary+on+Hebrews&qid=1656285931&s=books&sprefix=the+niv+application+commentary+on+hebrews%2Cstripbooks%2C279&sr=1-1