Lexham Press recently published Every Square Inch: An Introduction to Cultural Engagement for Christians by Bruce Ashford, the first book in a partnership with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. This short but meaty book is generating some buzz, and we thought we’d share a couple of links where it’s being discussed.
From The Gospel Coalition, Justin Taylor interview Bruce Ashford about his new book and some of the theological underpinnings therein. Regarding his views on nature and grace, Ashford had this to say:
A fourth view, and the one I prefer, is “grace renews and restores nature.” This view is associated with Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck and, I think, is the best way to describe the views of Irenaeus and Augustine. In this view, sin does not have the power to corrupt the natural realm structurally. Instead, it corrupts the natural realm directionally. God’s still-good-structurally creation is misdirected toward false gods and idols. When Christians receive God’s grace in salvation, they are liberated from their idolatry, liberated to shape their cultural activities toward Christ rather than toward false gods and idols. Their cultural activity is redirective.
He goes on to discuss some of his doctrinal building blocks and cultural engagement’s place in the Christian mission. See what else he has to say.
Ed Stetzer also had the opportunity to interview Bruce Ashford for his blog, The Exchange. There, Ashford addresses some of the challenges we may face in a post-Christian society:
As evangelical Christians become increasingly marginalized, we will be tempted to respond in sub-Christian ways. If our response is fearful, we’ll tend to treat the church as a bomb shelter in which we can hide from the world. If we respond primarily in anger, we will attack our society and its culture relentlessly, as if the church were an Ultimate Fighter®. If our response is one of compromise, we will treat the Christian faith as a wax nose, continually adjusting the nose as we see fit. These and other options are unfaithful.
Check out the full interview to see what else he had to say.
Every Square Inch is currently available in print, digital, and Logos formats—get it today!
Get a free eBook of