God's Purpose for the Church

1967 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-412
Author(s):  
William Strawson
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
The Other ◽  
Divine Revelation ◽  
Satisfactory Answer ◽  
The Church

It is impossible for any man to give a satisfactory answer to the question ‘What is God's purpose for the Church?’ We can only turn with expectation to Holy Scripture and to the other vehicles of divine revelation. The letter to the Ephesians declares the purpose of God as follows: ‘He destined us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ, as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. … To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, that through the Church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places’ (Eph 1.5, 9; 3.8–10).

Christ in Gospel and Creed

1955 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-237
Author(s):  
James Barr
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
The Other ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Son Of God ◽  
Essential Nature ◽  
Definitive Statement ◽  
Christian Century ◽  
The Church

It was not until the fifth Christian century that the Church reached at the council of Chalcedon a definitive statement of its belief concerning the nature of Jesus Christ. This decision was preceded by a long era of controversy, first that in which against the Arians it was affirmed that the Son of God is not a created being but is of the essential nature of God Himself, and secondly that in which there was hammered out the relation between this divine, uncreated nature of the Son of God on one hand and the human nature of the Man Jesus on the other. To this latter question the Chalcedonian formula gave what was for the main body of the Church the nearest approach to an adequate answer, and it reads as follows:‘One and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, inconvertibly, indivisibly, inseparably.… ’

scholarly journals "With Sincere Reverence": A Christological Perspective for the Interreligious Dialogue Envisioned by Nostra Aetate

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Gamberini, SJ
Keyword(s):  
Religious Experience ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Interreligious Dialogue ◽  
The Other ◽  
Experience Of God ◽  
First Moment ◽  
The Church ◽  
Third Moment ◽  
Practical Dimension

Theologians have a particular task to provide discernment when expressing in interreligious dialogue the Christological proclamation that Jesus Christ is "'the way, the truth, and the life,' (Jn 14:6), in whom people may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself" (Nostra Aetate, §3). Therefore, there is a need to renew the spirit of the Conciliar Declaration Nostra Aetate,, which reminds us that the Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in the other religions. The Church acknowledges with sincere reverence ("sincera cum observantia") that the other often religions reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all people. In this article, I highlight three different moments in which this sincere reverence towards other religions may be realized. The first moment may be called methodological and refers to the Ignatian tradition of the Spiritual Exercises. I develop first of all the praesupponendum (presupposition) as an attitude of being able to listen to the religious experience of the other; then the contemplatio ad amorem (contemplation in attaining love), as awareness and recognition of the action of the Spirit: being able to distinguish the religious experience of God from its theoretical and practical interpretations; finally the magis, the continuing transcending of the religious conscience in reaching out God: Deus semper maior (God is always greater). The second moment of my paper is more theoretical. I deal with the question of Truth within the interreligious dialogue and how God’s ineffable transcendence and otherness have been revealed in this Jesus of Nazareth; "No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him" (Jn 1:18). The humanity of God, Jesus’ particularity, is not a limitation for interreligious dialogue, but constitutes an adequate perspective for determining the universality of Jesus Christ. The third moment considers the practical dimension of the dialogue. I relate the inner otherness of God (Trinity) with God’s becoming other than himself (Incarnation), showing how the evangelical praxis of the believer, who makes himself everything for everybody, is able in the praxis, more than in theory, to sustain the eschatological tension between the already and not yet that is characteric of interreligious dialogue.

The Realignment of Mormon Religious Authority

2019 ◽  
pp. 189-210
Author(s):  
Jana Riess
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Religious Tradition ◽  
The Other ◽  
Religious Authority ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Ecclesiastical Authority ◽  
Traditional Institutions ◽  
The Church

This chapter examines how young adult Mormons regard ecclesiastical authority differently than older Mormons do. Mormons stand apart from many other faiths because they believe their leaders are the only men authorized by Jesus Christ himself to exercise all the authority of the holy priesthood. Given this belief—that Mormonism's uniqueness stretches from its ecclesiastical authority in the form of prophets and apostles—it is not surprising that the religion strongly emphasizes obeying the teachings of those leaders. Indeed, millennial Mormons have grown up in a religious tradition that places a premium on obeying the leaders of the Church and have inherited modern Mormonism's expanded view of the role of the prophet. On the other hand, they're also embedded within a generation that takes a dim view of many traditional institutions, including religious ones, and has tended to qualify claims to exclusive truth. The chapter then considers how young adult Mormons reconcile these tensions within themselves.

‘Satis est — Necesse est’

Exchange ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina Hellqvist
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
The Other ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Practical Tool ◽  
Apostolic Succession ◽  
The Church ◽  
Common Vision ◽  
The Way

The task of the current paper is to compare two important, ecclesiological documents to each other, namely, the document The Church of Jesus Christ (cjc, 1994) of the Leuenberg Church Fellowship to the Faith and Order document The Church: Towards a Common Vision (ctcv, 2012). The first one, cjc, outlines an ecclesiology of one, specific confessional church family and church fellowship, in a geographical area. ctcv, on the other hand, reflects the global situation, and seeks to express convergence between churches living in very different societies and cultural spheres. By comparing the two documents, this paper explores themes such as church as a community of Saints, the Leuenberg methodology of unity, legitimate diversity, apostolic succession and requirements for unity. The paper argues that the Leuenberg model of ‘reconciled diversity’ could be understood as a step and a practical tool on the way to the full, visible unity, which, according to ctcv, is the ultimate goal of the ecumenical movement.

Scripture and Tradition

1953 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-135
Author(s):  
Oscar Cullmann
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Other ◽  
Knowing How ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

The problem of the relationship between Scripture and Tradition is in the first place a problem of the theological relationship between the apostolic period and the period of the Church. All the other questions depend on the solution that we give to this problem. The alternatives—co-ordination or subordination of Tradition to Scripture—derive from the question of knowing how we must understand the fact that the period of the Church is the continuation and unfolding of the apostolic period. For we must note right away that this fact is capable of divergent interpretations. That is why agreement on the mere fact that the Church continues the work of Christ on earth does not necessarily imply agreement on the relationship between Scripture and Tradition. Thus in my thesis developed in Christ and Time as well as in my studies on the sacraments in the New Testament I came considerably nearer to the ‘Catholic’ point of view. In fact I would affirm very strongly that through the Church the history of salvation is continued on earth. I believe that we find this idea throughout the New Testament, and I should even consider it the key for the understanding of the Johannine Gospel. I would maintain, moreover, that the sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist, take the place in the Church of the miracles performed by Jesus Christ in the period of the Incarnation. And yet I am going to show in the following pages that I subordinate Tradition to Scripture.

scholarly journals ‘n Kerk wat getuig, is ‘n kerk wat leef. ‘n Ekklesiologiese perspektief op die missionêre karakter van die kerk - Deel II

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 423-441
Author(s):  
D J Dreyer
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Kingdom Of God ◽  
Vantage Point ◽  
The Other ◽  
Western World ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
The World ◽  
Missionary Church ◽  
Biblical Perspective ◽  
The Church

In the first of these two articles  we focused on  the Biblical perspective of the missionary church. The focus in the second article is on the ecclesiology. It is essential to remember that the church is rooted in the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ himself and his ministry was the beginning of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). The church exists not  for her own sake, but  for the world for whom Jesus was crucified. This is the vantage point  for a missionary church at the end of the Christendom paradigm. The missionary character of the church (the church as an apostolic church) and eschatology were not always in die focus of the theology of the reformed churches in the Western world. Of the four notes or marks of the church as one, holy, catholic and  apostolic, apostolic is  the norm for the other three. Apostolicity is a precondition and a result for the church as a missionary church. The message of a missionary church  is the only real answer in the search for meaning in this world.

scholarly journals Bergoglio among the Phenomenologists: Encounter, Otherness, and Church in Evangelii gaudium and Amoris laetitia

Open Theology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 316-324
Author(s):  
Kristóf Oltvai
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Moral Theology ◽  
The Other ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
Theological Turn ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Church ◽  
Amoris Laetitia

Abstract Because Jorge Bergoglio’s (Pope Francis’s) pontifical texts depart from his predecessor’s Thomistic vocabulary, critics claim his works deploy an “improvisational” style. Closer analysis reveals, however, that Francis deploys the terminology of French phenomenology after the “theological turn.” In fact, Evangelii gaudium and Amoris laetitia frame the event of interpersonal encounter using three concepts drawn from Emmanuel Levinas’s and Jean-Luc Marion’s philosophical projects: the gaze, the face, and the other. Without ruling out a direct textual influence, I argue that Bergoglio’s theology of encounter highlights recent phenomenology’s implications for Catholic moral theology and ecclesiology. Faith is born of an encounter with the merciful gaze of a specific other - Jesus Christ. The Church, as the community that bears witness to this gaze, is thus called to eniconize this same gaze for “the least of these” (Matt 25:40). Not obviating the need for moral precepts, the encounter with the particular other becomes the condition of their possibility; moral norms only cohere within the context of the pastoral “face-to-face.” The main ecclesiological consequence of the “pastoral turn” Bergoglio initiates is thus a “kerygmatic hermeneutic” of the Church: the community of believers turns outward to encounter the other in mercy, evangelizing by example and charity.

scholarly journals “Hey there, Brian”: Voicing Mormon Cosmopolitanism in a College Apartment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-75
Author(s):  
Clayton Van Woerkom
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Linguistic Anthropology ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
The Other ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Brigham Young University ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church ◽  
Tools And Methods

In this paper, I discuss a humorous form of voicing called Brian Voice (BV) used by myself and my former roommates, all of whom are students at Brigham Young University and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bringing the tools and methods of linguistic anthropology together with the anthropology of morality (especially ordinary ethics), I demonstrate the ways in which my roommates and I use this voicing to simultaneously inhabit the two seemingly contradictory identities of, on the one hand, a reverent Mormon and, on the other, a modern cosmopolitan. BV facilitates this identity by enabling speakers to voice both irreverence and anti- cosmopolitanism without incurring the normal social consequences associated with those stances. I contend that BV accomplishes this mitigation of negative consequences through indexing ridiculousness and absurdity. By situating BV within its Mormon context, I demonstrate that in distancing speakers from both hyper-reverence and irreverence, BV entails a practical engagement with the ethics, principles, and ideals of both Mormon morality and cosmopolitan morality, thus allowing speakers to inhabit a simultaneously Mormon and cosmopolitan self.

scholarly journals Kolegialitas: Suatu Bentuk Formasi Berkelanjutan Imam

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (29) ◽  
pp. 351-366
Author(s):  
Edison R.L. Tinambunan
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
The Other ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
High Priest ◽  
Lay People ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
Ongoing Formation ◽  
The Church

Ongoing formation is a subject which is very actual at this present time in relation with priesthood which has been pointed out by the Second Vatican Council. The church has promulgated various documents to this urgent need. One aspect of the ongoing formation is priesthood collegiality to Jesus Christ as high priest, to church where is incardinated, to hierarchy as his institution, to the other priests as his colleagues and to lay people who is also his peer of pastoral service. The intention this writing is to revive priest that the effectiveness and efficacy of pastoral service is collegiality.

scholarly journals PROPHETESSES MAXIMILLA AND PRISCILLA WOMEN’S HERESIES IN THE PATRISTIC PERIOD

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
Edison R.L Tinambunan
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
The Other ◽  
Absolute Truth ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
The Church

On his journey, the Church faces many heresies which try to deviate the orthodoxy teaching. One of these heresies was founded by Montanus and his teaching is known as Montanism. Montanus together with Maximilla and Priscilla claimed that they were filled by Holy Spirit and called themselves as a prophet and prophetesses who had to be followed and heard. The main teaching of this heresy is the promise of the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the promise of the end of the world. This theme is always interested by many people. The reason people attracted to the teaching of this heresy is the establishment of the coming of Jesus Christ which was promised by himself. Many of their followers became disappointed, because though the promised date had passed, Jesus Christ did not come yet. The other teaching of Montanism is about prophecy of the future which actually blinded the followers. If the prophecy failed to happen, it was because of the fault of the followers who lived less ascetic life and did many sins. The Prophets of Montanism had enthusiasm given by the Holy Spirit. It made them have to be obeyed and heard. They even claimed that the absolute truth was on their hand. Therefore, the hierarchy of the Church had to submit themselves to their teaching. Maximilla and Priscilla are two false prophetesses who had great influence in the Montanism period. In this heresy time, the Church had to work hard to fight Montanism teaching and prophecy, especially to defend its orthodoxy teaching of the Church from the false prophetesses.   Sepanjang perjalanan, Gereja menghadapi banyak eresi yang berusaha mendefiasikan ajaran resmi. Salah satu di antara eresi yang banyak itu dikembangkan oleh Montanus yang alirannya dikenal dengan Montanisme. Ia bersama dengan Maximilla dan Priscilla mengaku kepenuhan Roh Kudus dan menyebut diri mereka sebagai Nabi yang harus diikuti dan didengarkan. Ajaran pokok mereka adalah menjanjikan kedatangan Kristus yang mau tidak mau juga menjanjikan akhir dunia yang biasanya diminati oleh banyak orang. Salah satu alasan ketertarikan orang lebih akan ajaran eresi ini adalah penetapan kedatangan Kristus yang dijanjika-Nya, walau akhirnya banyak orang menjadi kecewa, karena waktu yang ditetapkan tidak kunjung datang. Ajaran mereka lainnya adalah ramalan masa yang akan datang yang berusaha mengelabui pengikutnya. Jika ramalan tidak terpenuhi atau tidak kunjung datang, maka kesalahan berdada di tangan para pemohon karena kurang askese dan disposisi diri tidak baik. Para nabi ini memiliki sikap antusiasme berlebihan yang menekankan peran Roh Kudus yang mereka terima. Dengan alasan ini, mereka harus ditaati dan didengarkan. Bahkan kebenaran absolut berada di tangan mereka, bahkan pemimpin Gereja sendiri harus tunduk pada pengajaran mereka ini. Maximilla dan Priscilla adalah dua nabi perempuan yang sesat. Mereka sangat berpengarauh pada periode Montanisme. Gereja harus berjuang keras pada periode mereka untuk meluruskan ajaran dan ramalan Montanisme, terlebih membela ortodox Gereja dari nabi perempuan yang palsu tersebut.

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