Robert K Johnston

Biblical inspiration and interpretation in conflict? Evangelicals assert that the Bible is the infallible source and sole authority for Christian beliefs and living. This premise is currently under fire from social and cultural mores AND, more importantly, from differences of biblical interpretation. Contradictory opinions have arisen on several issues. --What exactly does the Bible claim? --What is the rightful role of women in the church and at home? --How do Christians evaluate homosexuality (is it always a sin)? --What is the church's role in social ethics? Evangelicals at an Impasse considers these burning issues and offers helpful guidelines. Robert K. Johnston seeks to bridge the gaps among the biblical writers, the church fathers, and contemporary humanity. He offers an effective way for Christians, and more specifically, evangelicals, to understand the Bible as it relates to theology, tradition, and culture. Johnston considers the issues, the facts surrounding them, social practices, the pros and cons on each question, and provides striking insights in his conclusions--conclusions, NOT solutions. Evangelicals and other Christians--in fact anyone interested in religion in America--will find this a fascinating and remarkable book.

Biblical inspiration and interpretation in conflict? Evangelicals assert that the Bible is the infallible source and sole authority for Christian beliefs and living. This premise is currently under fire from social and cultural mores AND, more importantly, from differences of biblical interpretation. Contradictory opinions have arisen on several issues. --What exactly does the Bible claim? --What is the rightful role of women in the church and at home? --How do Christians evaluate homosexuality (is it always a sin)? --What is the church's role in social ethics? Evangelicals at an Impasse considers these burning issues and offers helpful guidelines. Robert K. Johnston seeks to bridge the gaps among the biblical writers, the church fathers, and contemporary humanity. He offers an effective way for Christians, and more specifically, evangelicals, to understand the Bible as it relates to theology, tradition, and culture. Johnston considers the issues, the facts surrounding them, social practices, the pros and cons on each question, and provides striking insights in his conclusions--conclusions, NOT solutions. Evangelicals and other Christians--in fact anyone interested in religion in America--will find this a fascinating and remarkable book.

Born during the Great Depression and the height of the modernist/fundamentalist controversies, Paul Emanuel Larsen entered pastoral ministries in the late fifties. Rooted in historical evangelical theology, he embarked on church planting through expository preaching and evangelism. In the mid-sixties, he also became politically involved in the civil rights movement. For over twenty-seven years, he pastored three churches while pursuing advanced pastoral doctoral studies. In 1986, he was elected president of his denomination, the Evangelical Covenant Church. During his twelve years of service, he became involved in both national and international ecumenical affairs. For twelve years, he served as chair of the Annual Meeting of all United States Church Leaders. This included heads of Roman Catholic, Orthodox, mainline Protestant, and evangelical denominations. He aided his church in its emergence from its Swedish immigrant culture and its efforts to become an ethnically inclusive church body. During his tenure, the church grew by more than 50 percent. Retiring at age sixty-five, he spent the next twenty years pursuing evangelization and social justice on behalf of more than a half billion Indian Other Backward Castes and Dalits. He was the founding chair of both Truthseekers International USA and the William Carey Heritage Foundation. The former worked among the poorest of the poor, while the latter developed the first Indian university-accredited evangelical PhD in Christian studies. This book chronicles the way one pastor has sought to navigate the harsh ongoing polarizations in theology, race, and politics. Paul Emanuel Larsen resides with his wife Elizabeth in Rancho Mirage, California.

Born during the Great Depression and the height of the modernist/fundamentalist controversies, Paul Emanuel Larsen entered pastoral ministries in the late fifties. Rooted in historical evangelical theology, he embarked on church planting through expository preaching and evangelism. In the mid-sixties, he also became politically involved in the civil rights movement. For over twenty-seven years, he pastored three churches while pursuing advanced pastoral doctoral studies. In 1986, he was elected president of his denomination, the Evangelical Covenant Church. During his twelve years of service, he became involved in both national and international ecumenical affairs. For twelve years, he served as chair of the Annual Meeting of all United States Church Leaders. This included heads of Roman Catholic, Orthodox, mainline Protestant, and evangelical denominations. He aided his church in its emergence from its Swedish immigrant culture and its efforts to become an ethnically inclusive church body. During his tenure, the church grew by more than 50 percent. Retiring at age sixty-five, he spent the next twenty years pursuing evangelization and social justice on behalf of more than a half billion Indian Other Backward Castes and Dalits. He was the founding chair of both Truthseekers International USA and the William Carey Heritage Foundation. The former worked among the poorest of the poor, while the latter developed the first Indian university-accredited evangelical PhD in Christian studies. This book chronicles the way one pastor has sought to navigate the harsh ongoing polarizations in theology, race, and politics.

Three media experts guide the Christian moviegoer into a theological conversation with movies in this up-to-date, readable introduction to Christian theology and film. Building on the success of Robert Johnston's Reel Spirituality, the leading textbook in the field for the past 17 years, Deep Focus helps film lovers not only watch movies critically and theologically but also see beneath the surface of their moving images. The book discusses a wide variety of classic and contemporary films and is illustrated with film stills from favorite movies.

Three media experts guide the Christian moviegoer into a theological conversation with movies in this up-to-date, readable introduction to Christian theology and film. Building on the success of Robert Johnston's Reel Spirituality, the leading textbook in the field for the past 17 years, Deep Focus helps film lovers not only watch movies critically and theologically but also see beneath the surface of their moving images. The book discusses a wide variety of classic and contemporary films and is illustrated with film stills from favorite movies.

What are we to make of those occasional yet illuminating experiences of God's presence that occur outside both church and Scripture? We may encounter God's revelatory presence as we experience a beautiful sunset, the birth of a child, or a work of art, music, or literature. While theologians have tended to describe such experiences abstractly as mere traces or echoes, those involved often recognize such moments of transcendence as transformative. Here senior theologian Robert Johnston explores how Christians should think theologically about God's wider revelatory presence that is mediated outside the church through creation, conscience, and culture. The book offers a robust, constructive biblical theology of general revelation, rooting its insights in the broader Trinitarian work of the Spirit. Drawing in part from the author's theological engagement with film and the arts, the book helps Christians understand personal moments of experiencing God's transcendence and accounts for revelatory experiences of those outside the believing community. It also shows how God's revelatory presence can impact our interaction with nonbelievers and those of other faiths.

How should Christians relate to the difficult and contradictory messages of modern movies? In "Useless Beauty, " Robert K. Johnston presents the bold position that films can be our "eyeglasses and hearing aids" in understanding the Book of Ecclesiastes. Taking up movies such as "American Beauty, Magnolia, " and "About Schmidt, " he addresses such biblical issues as life and death, chance and choice, loneliness and connection, and God's presence and absence to deepen our understanding of life's beauty amid its confusion and pain. Christian filmgoers, pastors, and youth leaders will find Johnston's book a valuable source of insight into the relationship between Christianity and popular culture.

You love movies. Who doesn't? In Finding God in the Movies Catherine Barsotti and Robert Johnston show you how to combine your love of movies with your desire for God. Introducing thirty-three films of faith--ranging from Tender Mercies to X-Men--the authors identify and explore key biblical themes like forgiveness, faith, and repentance. An enthusiastic guide for the individual movie lover or small group, this resource contains production notes and film synopses, relevant Scripture texts, theological reflection, recommended video clips, discussion questions, and more. It will deepen your fervor for film and for God.