Introduction In international relations, three theories provide contrasting analyses and perspectives on governance in general.   This essay will introduce each theory, discuss it further in terms of governance, and then conclude with some contrasting thoughts about the Kingdom of God.   To some readers' consternation, I will equate the Kingdom of God with the Church on the grounds that Christ's reign as Lord is through His 'body', the Church, 'the fullness of him who fills all in all' (Ephesians 1.22-23).   The essay is intended as a discussion of the relationship of Church and State.   The argument is that some forms of government are more amenable to the Church, but the Church, insofar as it represents the Kingdom of God on earth, is an alternative community to government that does not replace government but is constructively critical of it. Realism Realism has a variety of forms, but its key tenets are, according to Tim Dunne and Brian Schmidt, statism

Christian missions, if Jesus’ ministry is any indication (!), is not about offering a ‘soft’ message in order to be winsome.  His mission was, rather, a prophetic ministry.  Prophecy, if the Old Testament prophets offer us any indication (!), is justice-seeking according to God's Law.  If you wish to find missions in the Old Testament, you will find it primarily in the prophets.  The prophets were covenant enforcement officers, calling people back to obedience to God’s commandments, pointing out where they had gone wrong, and delivering harsh warnings of judgement to those who continued in their disobedience of God’s commandments—and even harsher warnings of judgement to those leaders who were leading people astray.  The essence of false prophecy is affirmation of people as they are, having no need of repentance and no need of God. The prophetic character of missions sits so shockingly at variance with the expectations of our world today, with the popularity of seeker sensitive ser

Introduction The following presentation of John Colet’s (1466-1519) lectures on Romans [1] covers his arguments in some detail for Romans 1-11.  Colet, an English priest and professor who advocated for Church reform, produced these lectures about the year 1497.  One can find in his work on Romans a basis for theological reform in his day, although he does not engage in contemporary theological discussion.  Nor does he engage much in standard Church teaching but determines to understand the Biblical text before him.  He turns to recently made available works on Plato or Platonic philosophy, but he does so in an attempt to explain Paul’s ‘inner man’ and ‘outer man’ teaching.  Colet is considered a humanist, acquainted with Erasmus and perhaps influencing him, and significantly affected, after studies in Florence, Italy by Renaissance scholarship and reforming preachers like Savonarola. [2] Colet’s understanding of Romans focuses on God’s grace alone as the means of salvation, a discover