Jesus Cropped from the Picture

Chapter 16: How Jesus Was Cropped from the Picture

T HE TRADITIONAL, PRAGMATIC, and Emerging methods are three distinct expressions of SLIM, each of which has cropped Jesus from the picture . Figure 16 summarizes the approaches and assumptions of each method:

Traditional

Pragmatic

Emerging

Starting Point

Reaction to liberalism Individual consumer

Postmodern culture

Cultural assumptions

Rationalism, one- dimensional (cross- centered) view of atonement

Postmodernity, personal relevance

Marketing Concept, therapeutic approaches

Foundational principle

My personal relationship

Jesus’ teaching and example (missional)

Reformation

Communication emphasis

Rationalistic Bible; Personal salvation (Cross)

Reduction of message for mass appeal

My narrative meets God’s narrative

Era of nostalgia

A personally meaningful decade or season of life

1950s

Pre-Constantine

Common antagonist

Liberalism, Roman Catholicism

Competing forces for church attendance

Modernity, Christendom

Figure 16: The Three Methods

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