The Christian Witness in a Secular Age
Overview
This volume presents an evangelical appraisal of modern theological thinking. It examines the views of nine leading theologians on the apologetic task today, from Karl Barth and Reinhold Niebuhr, to Harvey Cox and Thomas Altizer. The strengths and weaknesses in the theology of each are set forth. Donald G. Bloesch contends that modern apologetics is often anchored in the spirit of the age and the values of the culture rather than in biblical revelation. This book calls on Christians to place their trust not in imperfect human reason, but in God’s self-revelation in Christ, which can be discerned only by faith.
For more by Donald G. Bloesch, see Select Works of Donald G. Bloesch (9 vols.).
Key Features
- Contains an evangelical appraisal of modern theological thinking
- Examines the views of nine leading theologians as their work relates to the apologetic task
- Contends that modern apologetics is often anchored to modern sentiments and not the Bible
Top Highlights
“The ‘new morality’ upheld by Robinson, Cox, Fletcher, and others makes love the final criterion for action, but their description of love is not really related in any organic way to the revealed law of God given in the Bible. The secular revolution in sexual mores today is reflected in the theological revolt against a morality of authority. When the reality of a transcendent God is doubted, the ‘good’ is also called into question.” (Page 26)
“My view is that what is most needed is a reformation of the church, a reformation which will involve doctrinal restatement as well as new forms of witness and service. Yet there can be no public reformation apart from personal transformation, just as there can be no new forms of church life apart from new men. This is why an authentic reformation must grow out of personal confrontation with the Word of God in Scripture.” (Page 11)
“I maintain that the minister of the Gospel is to be neither a salesman nor a showman, but rather a spokesman for Christ.” (Page 11)
“Despite the general heavenward and Godward orientation of this culture, heteronomy (the centering of authority in an external standard or institution) tended more and more to replace theonomy (the grounding of authority in God).” (Page 17)
“Although he held that Christianity is the highest of the religions, he saw a time when the faith of the church would be supplanted by new and more vital religions.” (Page 22)
- Title: The Christian Witness in a Secular Age: An Evaluation of Nine Contemporary Theologians
- Author: Donald G. Bloesch
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Print Publication Date: 2002
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Pages: 160
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Apologetics › History--20th century; Theology, doctrinal › History--20th century; Theologians
- ISBNs: 9781579108540, 1579108547
- Resource ID: LLS:CHRSTNWTNSSSCLG
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:42:23Z