Overview

The task of reconciliation with God, ourselves and others is an integral element of the mission of God that has been entrusted to his people and leads us to be peacemakers in our societies. Dealing with the grand vision of peace and reconciliation, this book unlocks the biblical story of reconciliation and challenges churches to widen their scope of mission and become a healing and restorative community. With a particular focus on case studies from the Philippines, this book gives insight on the work of reconciliation in different parts of the world. Dealing with themes such as repentance, forgiveness, partnership, and multiculturalism, How Long, O Lord? offers a thorough, academic investigation of the ministry of reconciliation that will be useful for pastors, counsellors, and scholars in various contexts.

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9781783684939

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Reviews

It is hard to overstate the timeliness and importance of this urgent call to peacemaking and reconciliation. While such discussions too often stay at an abstract and general level this collection presents a richly textured and moving account of on-the-ground efforts and proposals, alongside biblical and historical resources. Once you begin reading this book you will not easily put it down, and you will come away with renewed inspiration to be part of God's program of reconciliation. William Dyrness, PhD Senior Professor of Theology and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA Author of Insider Jesus Can peace and justice embrace in our violent and unjust world? This rich compilation probes the depths both of the biblical narrative as well as the stories of contemporary peacemakers in a hope-inspiring and practically rooted response to that urgent question. I have no doubt that readers will share my gratitude to the editors and authors for opening up new vistas and laying new stepping stones for our shared journey as followers of the Prince of Peace. Ruth Padilla DeBorst, PhD Provost, Center for Interdisciplinary Theological Education Coordinator, International Fellowship for Mission as Transformation (INFEMIT) We live in a world of conflict and in need of peace, yet a great number of the followers of Jesus are ill-equipped, ineffective, and in some cases even uninvolved in the task of peacemaking, despite the Beatitudes reminding us that peacemakers will be called the children of God. Too often, Christian believers do not appreciate the importance of this divine task or do not feel competent to carry it out. This compendium presents an invaluable tool that will enable the Body of Christ to overcome our deficiencies in the realm of peacemaking and fulfill the mission of our Lord, the Prince of Peace. Bishop Efraim Tendero Secretary General/CEO, World Evangelical Alliance How Long, O Lord?: The Challenge and Promise of Reconciliation and Peace is a collection of engaging essays presented at a theological forum sponsored by the Asian Theological Seminary in Manila in 2016. This book takes the Western evangelical into another world - a world almost ignored in popular evangelical literature. The primary focus of the book is the Philippines, where the churches are strong in numbers, but great disparity continues in wealth, poverty, injustice, the abuse of women, and civil war. Nevertheless, the wider world is never ignored. Thus, for example, the injustices and pain of the Israeli-Palestine conflict and the Rwanda genocide have chapters. The constant question put to the reader is, What does the Bible say about peace and reconciliation in a world where division, injustice, and conflict prevail? What struck me most forcibly was that the essay writers turned to the Bible, often the Old Testament, to find perspectives and answers. This is a wonderful book, but the pain it reflects makes it a challenging read. Rev Kevin Giles, DTh Pastor, Theologian, Writer Melbourne, Australia It is a must for us to be equipped in biblical knowledge by all means possible, especially on subjects like peace, a foreign concept in many parts of the world. How we can extend peace to a war-stricken world? This book presents to various Christian leaders and theologians, God's revelations on the reconciliation and healing brought about by Christ in different contexts. I highly encourage every pastor and church leader to have a copy of this book. Bishop Noel Pantoja National Director, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches

Author Information

Athena E. Gorospe, PhD, is the PHD Program Director and Associate Professor at the Asian Theological Seminary, Manila, Philippines, and specializes in Old Testament Narrative Ethics. She has published scholarly articles tackling various social issues from a biblical perspective. Charles R. Ringma, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Mission and Evangelism at Regent College, Vancouver, Canada, and Honorary Research Associate Professor at The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Previously, Charles spent several decades in urban missions and as a researcher in social sciences.

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