The Christian Mystery: The Economy of Salvation

Complete teaching notes with handouts for module God, Christ and Salvation delivered for the module's supplementary classes in Hilary Term 2015, Oxford University.

Brill Research Perspectives, 2022

This work presents key features of the engagement of Christian theology, ethics, and related disciplines with the market and economic concerns. It surveys ways that the dialogue has been approached and invites new models and frameworks for the conversation. It contends that economy and Christian thought have long been interconnected, and recounts aspects of this relationship and why it matters for how one might engage the economy ethically and theologically. Finally, it highlights a number of sites of emerging research that are in need of development in light of pressing social, political, economic, and conceptual issues raised by modern life, including money, debt, racial capital, social reproduction, corporations, and cryptocurrency.

History οf Economic Ideas Vol. VIII No 2, 2000

The purpose of this paper is a reconstruction of the main economic ideas expressed in the three Synoptic Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark and Luke). The teachings of the 'Jesus Movement' expressed in these works form the basis of much later economic analysis, particularly amongst the Medieval Schoolmen. Because of the problems inherent in carrying out economic analysis directly on theological texts, the present paper attempts the process in reverse, outlining briefly the main theological message of the three Synoptic Gospels of the New Testament, as a means of accessing any economic content to be found therin. In general, the peril of wealth as a barrier to the appropriate spiritual perspective is found to be emphasized. Renunciation of capital accumulation and denouncement of a retention of surpluses is supported incontrovertibly within the narrative, but appears not to have been developed into a general normative principle binding upon all would-be Christians. Not unexpectedly, alms-giving remains the fundamental imperative associated with individual consumption patterns.

Theological Studies, 1976

The Novatianists and Donatists insisted that their converts be rebaptized, thus denying all salvific power to the rival communion. 61 Life of Martin 7. In contrast, a story from the Greek tradition about Macarius' raising a man from death shows no interest in his lack of baptism; he is sent back to sleep until Christ comes. See Cassian, Conferences 15, 3. 32 Ep. 60, 4. 63 This is the major point of Augustine's controversy with Pelagius.

Religious Studies Review, 2020

Christian mission and economic systems: A critical survey of the cultural and religious dimensions of economies, eds. John Cheong and Eloise Meneses. Pasadena, CA: William Carey., 2015

The book makes a significant contribution in rethinking the relationship between Christian mission and economics. The studies introduce fresh approaches like reciprocity in economic understanding, learning from Islam's approach to free-market capitalism, the moral logic explaining "bribes" in some cultures, and the economic struggles of pastors in the developing world. The studies set a benchmark for empirically grounded, theoretically informed research about the contexts of Christian mission. Its innovative research approaches are a good model for those researching Christian mission. Vinay Samuel, founder and director emeritus of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies This book is a treasure chest filled with information providing invaluable help for understanding the laws, folkways, and mores governing economic practices cross-culturally. It also enables us to gain perspectives on our own capitalistic systems and to judge them according to Scripture. Those who believe that missionaries are obligated to contextualize the essential gospel message, while avoiding the tendency to impose Western socioeconomic values on those in other cultures, will find this book extremely helpful. I read these essays twice and still did not distill all the gems they hold. Tony Campolo, speaker, evangelist, and founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education An important contribution by gifted scholars and practitioners to our understanding of how economics intersects with every aspect of Christian mission. A better grasp of the crucial issues raised in this book will greatly strengthen and improve contemporary missions. Ronald J. Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action and author of Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity Christian Mission and Economic Systems is a grand world tour of the fiscal and relational realities of the world's amazing diversity in how transactions are made, how enterprise is financed, and how communities thrive. This book is an indispensable research volume for people undertaking cross-cultural mission. R. Paul Stevens, professor emeritus of marketplace theology, Regent College, and author of Doing God's Business: Meaning and Motivation for the Marketplace Frampton F. Fox, Associates in Community Training Solutions CHRISTIAN MISSION & ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

Journal of Religion and Society, 2020

This more biographical essay will attempt to bring together theory about Economy of Communion (EoC) practices with the real life experiences the author has had as an EoC entrepreneur. While Gustafson rehabs and then rents out properties in midtown Omaha, he is motivated by the vision of EoC in his business practices. Here he explains how the EoC vision impacts who he employs, how he treats them, who he rents to, his typical rental practices, and finally how he himself has been impacted spiritually through his business activities, trying (imperfectly) to live out gratuity and reciprocity in his day to day practices. Ultimately, he has come to see his work as lived-out theology – practicing redemption by rehabilitating run down properties, and providing grace and mercy and living out his faith through his business activities.

As a work intended to reflect the culminating point of my Master's studies, this thesis has proven the norm in intellectual pursuits in that, at best, it more closely resembles a snapshot in time than a terminus. It is a look into the ongoing process of my education and reflection on the life of the Church.

The publication of this book has been made possible through financial aid by the 450 ème Fund, the Section des Sciences des Religions and the Interfacultary Department of the Study of Religions (all University of Lausanne).

International Journal of Social Economics, 2000

Over the past century explicit discussion of theology has all but disappeared from economic discourse, while economics has been largely ignored by theologians. This paper argues that this separation is neither desirable nor possible, and calls for a theological economics. The argument is in two parts -a primary argument for the necessity and primacy of theology coming from the nature of orthodox Christian theology, and a secondary argument based on points of contact between economics and theology. Acceptance of the argument does not lead to a separatist "Christian" economics, but rather to discussion of theology implicit in contemporary economics and better relations between the two disciplines. Some existing work along these lines is briefly surveyed.