We as a network do not endorse all the material presented or linked on this page. By the nature of our diverse network, some members would agree with any particular item and some members would likely disagree at some points. This material is part of our ongoing discussion.
2015 Pre-readings and Presentations
Articles related to Integrity/Ethics:
- Biblical Overview of Integrity
What does the Bible say about Truth, Trust, Integrity, Openness and Boldness as they might relate to the issues we’re discussing? Here is a brief overview of some relevant verses. - Biblical Perspectives on Deception
What does the Bible say about Deception as it might relate to the issues we’re discussing? Here is a brief overview of some relevant verses. - Questions for Interacting with the Deception & Integrity Bible Studies
These are some questions for thought and discussion about biblical teaching and examples concerning Truth, Trust, Integrity, Openness, Deception and Boldness. - Integrity and Transparency of the Minister – Karkkainen
Outline of a presentation on Paul’s description of his own ministry, relative to issues of Integrity and Transparency.” - One God Means Peaceful Coexistence
This excerpt from Mark Durie’s book Which God? critiques Miroslav Volf’s methodology in arguing that Islam and Christianity worship the same God. - On Truth & Lies in Islam – Durie
This excerpt from Mark Durie’s book The Third Choice: Islam, Dhimmitude and Freedom draws from original sources such as the Qur’an and the Sharia manual, the Reliance of the Traveller, to address the subjects of lawful lying, misleading impressions, harm prevention and taqiyya. - Integrity in Interpretation – Durie
In this presentation on “Integrity in Interpretation of the Qur’an (and other Authoritative Islamic Sources),” Mark Durie notes that in order to achieve integrity in dealing with a sensitive subject, one must be committed to both truth and love. Among other topics, Durie addresses Bias in Religious Statements, Cross-cultural Observer Bias, The Risk of Islamophobia – and its opposite, and The Need for a Systematic Reasoned Evidence-Based Approach. - Christian Witness in Muslim Settings – Hyatt EMQ January 2009
Available here to those with an online EMQ subscription.
“What do I say to this dear co-worker who is using the Qur’an so much in his attempts to share the gospel that the local Muslims believe he (and the rest of us, by implication) is interested in becoming a Muslim?”
- Did Jesus Die on the Cross? The History of Reflection on the End of His Earthly Life in Sunni Tafsir Literature – Cumming (no link available) Did Jesus die on the cross and then rise from the dead? This paper shows what a rich and diverse range of answers to this question have historically been seen as legitimately supported within the Muslim community throughout the centuries. Cumming concludes that there is plenty of room to explore common ground in the multiple different interpretation options which the Muslim commentary tradition has preserved throughout the centuries.
- Al-Ash‘ari’s Doctrine of God, and Possible Christian Parallels – Cumming (no link available) Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī ibn Ismāʿīl Al-Ashʿarī (d. 324/935) is one of the three or four most influential and orthodox thinkers in the history of Islam. His description of God is remarkably similar to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity as expounded by Patristic and Scholastic Christian writers. The issues he raises concerning the Trinity are bridgeable differences. Furthermore, apart from these differences there is a huge amount of common ground between Muslims and Christians on the fundamental issues at stake in the ṣifāt and in the Trinity – far more common ground than is generally supposed by either Muslims or Christians.
- MBB Church, Inc. in Bangladesh: Overcoming the Destructive Effects of Naïve Western Funding – Smith
The biggest issue facing the young church in Bangladesh is not persecution, nor the various approaches to contextualization, but rather the destructive flow of well-intentioned but naïvely distributed Western funding.
- Ministry & Money: A Case Study from South Asia
Includes elements in the context which influence economic aid and make it delicate and potentially harmful, plus guidelines and recommendations for foreign workers so as to have a positive impact.
- Case Studies Involving Money and Mission in the Buddhist World
Two Case studies designed for discussion, involving challenging issues of money and mission in the Buddhist world.
- Are We Nourishing or Choking Young Plants with Funds?- Meydan & Harris (Chapter 17 of From Seed to Fruit: Global Trends, Fruitful Practices, and Emerging Issues among Muslims – ed. Woodberry)
Articles related to ekklesia/church
- Kingdom and Church in the New Testament – Karkkainen
An overview of NT teaching on Kingdom and Church, including usage of terms, diversity of NT ecclesiological traditions and marks of the church.
- Unity and Diversity in the New Testament – Karkkainen
An overview of unity and diversity in the NT, including the emergence of the church in relation to Judaism and the resources of Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 for dealing with ethical and cultural Issues.
- “What is Church? From Surveying Scripture to Applying in Culture” – Waterman. EMQ October 2011.
Available here to those with an online EMQ subscription.
Where no church yet exists, what does Jesus intend to build in our day? This article considers why this discussion is needed, looks at “church” in the context of scripture, and evaluates the biblical data. It then identifies applications for participating in Jesus’ work to establish his Church where it has never before existed. - Insider Movements and Ekklesia: Response to PCA 2014 – Higgins
A response to the PCA Report “A Call to Faithful Witness,” addressing concerns about ecclesiology and Insider Movements.
- Summary of An Introduction to Ecclesiology – Karkkainen
A brief (4 page) summary of highlights from Dr. Karkkainen’s book. - Kingdom Circles – Lewis
A brief description of the “Kingdom Circles” concept, with diagrams. - Kingdom Circles
A longer and more complete description of the “Kingdom Circles” concept, including step by step instructions for its use.
- Kingdom Circles, the Kingdom, and the Church – Dixon
A critique of Lewis’ IJFM description of Kingdom Circles.