T Hoogsteen

The essays in this collection, as in the previous volume, run the gamut, from the very personal to the academic. From struggling with the three Forms of Unity and the Heidelberg Catechism, to finding troublesome Greek mythology in the Nicene Creed, and discovering discomfort in the book of Jonah, this book comes out for then and now. Other themes, too, function in this collection. On the basis of the examples given here, may this collection whet your appetite for these and more.

The essays in this collection, as in the previous volume, run the gamut, from the very personal to the academic. From struggling with the three Forms of Unity and the Heidelberg Catechism, to finding troublesome Greek mythology in the Nicene Creed, and discovering discomfort in the book of Jonah, this book comes out for then and now. Other themes, too, function in this collection. On the basis of the examples given here, may this collection whet your appetite for these and more.

Christianity, or what is called Christianity, conforms largely to Western humanism. Together and individually, believers draw the whole of the West into themselves, accommodating its dreams, loves, greeds, and hurts, as well as its indulgences, contradictions, perversions, and stupidities. All who identify corporately and personally as Christian commit themselves to this world conformity. The fMRI-like files in the first part of Self-Examination may please you, even polish your self-esteem. This whole system of pictures may displease you. But each analysis of the West scrutinizes all church people, the whole gazing, staring intensely back into you. This Self-Examination therefore is about dispassionate self-examination--you peering sharply and persistently into your Westernizing soul, daringly exposing its innermost workings. You thus see in yourselves all the errors of imperialism and racism, including injuries to minority people; these you will own, plus sharing in the responsibilities for mammonism. You thus will see your stewardship, or lack thereof, of the environment. Westerners please the powers of the age; to make yourselves look good, you justify yourselves in the presence of the Western gods and goddesses. By living the standards of the West, you are good for a purpose; you live and work to make your self-esteem glow, and thereby you please the current deities, and in this paradox you still identify as Christian.

Christianity, or what is called Christianity, conforms largely to Western humanism. Together and individually, believers draw the whole of the West into themselves, accommodating its dreams, loves, greeds, and hurts, as well as its indulgences, contradictions, perversions, and stupidities. All who identify corporately and personally as Christian commit themselves to this world conformity. The fMRI-like files in the first part of Self-Examination may please you, even polish your self-esteem. This whole system of pictures may displease you. But each analysis of the West scrutinizes all church people, the whole gazing, staring intensely back into you. This Self-Examination therefore is about dispassionate self-examination--you peering sharply and persistently into your Westernizing soul, daringly exposing its innermost workings. You thus see in yourselves all the errors of imperialism and racism, including injuries to minority people; these you will own, plus sharing in the responsibilities for mammonism. You thus will see your stewardship, or lack thereof, of the environment. Westerners please the powers of the age; to make yourselves look good, you justify yourselves in the presence of the Western gods and goddesses. By living the standards of the West, you are good for a purpose; you live and work to make your self-esteem glow, and thereby you please the current deities, and in this paradox you still identify as Christian.

The call of the Lord Jesus in the Scriptures for sanctification goes out to the churches and catches at the heart of all believers. The Head of the church commands holiness not only for his people individually, but also congregationally. Together we live before him and soon enough will stand before him. Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of the Christ.

The call of the Lord Jesus in the Scriptures for sanctification goes out to the churches and catches at the heart of all believers. The Head of the church commands holiness not only for his people individually, but also congregationally. Together we live before him and soon enough will stand before him. Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of the Christ.

Everyone, younger or older, sooner or later comes face to face with the question, ""Why am I here?"" Asking about the purpose of living at this time and in this world creates focus and requires light. For younger people this probing is part of growing up. Still maturing people in times of change are also searching for motivation. In The Christ Light you will find the resolve to live summed up simply: Glory to God. Rather than self-satisfactions as fame, wealth, power, opioids, or a hedonistic drift to the end, the good way opens up before you. In fact, upon reflection you will see the Way in distinction from other ways. ""The Christ Light is an artful sketch of the history of redemption with a survey of the central teachings of the Christian faith and of Christian living. It is an impressionistic recitation of the grand storyline of the Trinity's work in creation and redemption. Key theme words are woven together in the telling: purpose and meaning; life, food, and space (God's promises). Hoogsteen provides an abundance of scriptural references to underscore his semi-poetic telling. Even if a reader might not agree with every formulation, still this fascinating recitation will provoke imagination and thoughtful reflection."" --M. VanderHart, Mid-America Theological Seminary ""Steeped deeply in the authority of the Word of God, T. Hoogsteen weaves the biblical covenantal overview with both theological excellence and form. In his latest work, The Christ Light, prose and poetry combine to elicit both deep thought and feeling as we observe God in all His revelatory roles throughout history. The radiant splendor of 'Christ, who is the Light' is unmistakable as the reader is immersed in revelation that flows from the original creation to God's future kingdom; or as Hoogsteen writes, 'from Eden's gate onwards, He (God) moved history for the reformed Eschaton.'"" --Brian D. Beattie, Lead Pastor, Freedom House International Church T. Hoogsteen served in parish ministries for twenty-five years. Currently he works in, on, and for covenantstudies.com. He holds degrees from Calvin College and Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as from De Theologische Hogeschool van de Gereformeerde Kerken, Kampen, The Netherlands, an institution now amalgamated with Amsterdam's Free University. He published The Tradition of the Elders, Covenant Works, and Covenant Essays: One.

Everyone, younger or older, sooner or later comes face to face with the question, ""Why am I here?"" Asking about the purpose of living at this time and in this world creates focus and requires light. For younger people this probing is part of growing up. Still maturing people in times of change are also searching for motivation. In The Christ Light you will find the resolve to live summed up simply: Glory to God. Rather than self-satisfactions as fame, wealth, power, opioids, or a hedonistic drift to the end, the good way opens up before you. In fact, upon reflection you will see the Way in distinction from other ways. ""The Christ Light is an artful sketch of the history of redemption with a survey of the central teachings of the Christian faith and of Christian living. It is an impressionistic recitation of the grand storyline of the Trinity's work in creation and redemption. Key theme words are woven together in the telling: purpose and meaning; life, food, and space (God's promises). Hoogsteen provides an abundance of scriptural references to underscore his semi-poetic telling. Even if a reader might not agree with every formulation, still this fascinating recitation will provoke imagination and thoughtful reflection."" --M. VanderHart, Mid-America Theological Seminary ""Steeped deeply in the authority of the Word of God, T. Hoogsteen weaves the biblical covenantal overview with both theological excellence and form. In his latest work, The Christ Light, prose and poetry combine to elicit both deep thought and feeling as we observe God in all His revelatory roles throughout history. The radiant splendor of 'Christ, who is the Light' is unmistakable as the reader is immersed in revelation that flows from the original creation to God's future kingdom; or as Hoogsteen writes, 'from Eden's gate onwards, He (God) moved history for the reformed Eschaton.'"" --Brian D. Beattie, Lead Pastor, Freedom House International Church T. Hoogsteen served in parish ministries for twenty-five years. Currently he works in, on, and for covenantstudies.com. He holds degrees from Calvin College and Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as from De Theologische Hogeschool van de Gereformeerde Kerken, Kampen, The Netherlands, an institution now amalgamated with Amsterdam's Free University. He published The Tradition of the Elders, Covenant Works, and Covenant Essays: One.