The Church and Western Tribalism  is a collection of essays by Rev. Dr. Rollin G. Grams on the challenge that postmodern, post-Christian, Western culture poses for the Church and Christians.  Part of the shift in Christian missions in the 21st century has been to stop thinking of missions as 'from the West to the rest,' and part of this change in thinking involves a clear understanding of what the Church's mission to the West (and all those areas of the world that have been shaped by it) is.  Persons interested in this book will find it on this blog's book shop (https://bibleandmission.blogspot.com/p/bookstore.html).  What follows is the book's preface and table of contents. Preface   Seismic shifts in Western culture have taken place since the 1960s.   We struggle to understand what these changes are and how to articulate them.   The argument in this book is that the present state of Western culture might be described as ‘postmodern tribalism’—a developed and lat

  In some circles today, ‘equity’ is being used over against the word ‘equality’ to suggest a different sort of social justice.  ‘Equality’ is used in reference to individuals being treated equally and not according to who they are or what group they belong to.  Thus, ‘equality’ means equal opportunity.  ‘Equity’ is now being used to mean ‘equal outcomes’ for certain groups, and therefore this form of social justice does pay attention to who people are in terms of the group to which they belong.  The word ‘equity’ does appear in translations of the Old Testament, and so we now need to ask if this new understanding of social justice for ‘equity’ is intended in the Old Testament.  Does it mean ‘equality’ before the Law or some special administration of justice for marginalized groups so that there are equal outcomes for all?  Or, is there a different understanding? The word translated as ‘equity’ in the English Standard Version is, in the Hebrew,  mêšār/mêšārim, [1]  which the Septuagint

   What is Progressive Theology?  is a collection of essays (189 pages) written by Rollin G. Grams (available from the book shop on www.bibleandmission.blogspot.com for $1.99).  See https://bibleandmission.blogspot.com/p/bookstore.html. Through 28 essays, this book explores how progressivism is dominating Western culture and being embraced by some Christians, including some Evangelicals.  The book aims to understand what this latest challenge to orthodoxy is.  After an anchor essay, 'What is Progressive Theology?,' the essays address various features of progressivism and provide some alternative responses in a variety of areas. Many Christians have felt like deer in the headlights as the four-wheel, off-road, hunter's vehicle of Progressivism has suddenly appeared over the hill.  Some have melted in place, believing all the accusations against them.  Others have joined the hunt, as though they had no 'deer-identity' of their own.  And others have darted this way and