Urban Apologetics

Urban Apologetics examines the legitimate issues that Black communities have with Western Christianity and shows how the gospel of Jesus Christ—rather than popular, socioreligious alternatives—restores our identity. African Americans have long confronted the challenge of dignity destruction caused by white supremacy. While many have found meaning and restoration of dignity in the black church, others have found it in ethnocentric socioreligious groups and philosophies. These ideologies have grown and developed deep traction in the black community and beyond. Revisionist history, conspiracy theories, and misinformation about Jesus and Christianity are the order of the day. Many young African Americans are disinterested in Christianity and others are leaving the church in search of what these false religious ideas appear to offer, a spirituality more indigenous to their history and ethnicity. Edited by Dr. Eric Mason and featuring a top-notch lineup of contributors, Urban Apologetics is the first book focused entirely on cults, religious groups, and ethnocentric ideologies prevalent in the black community. The book is divided into three main parts: Discussions on the unique context for urban apologetics so that you can better understand the cultural arguments against Christianity among the Black community. Detailed information on cults, religious groups, and ethnic identity groups that many urban evangelists encounter—such as the Nation of Islam, Kemetic spirituality, African mysticism, Hebrew Israelites, Black nationalism, and atheism. Specific tools for urban apologetics and community outreach. Ultimately, Urban Apologetics applies the gospel to black identity to show that Jesus is the only one who can restore it. This is an essential resource to equip those doing the work of ministry and apology in urban communities with the best available information.

Much of the New Testament was written in urban settings, in which the Christian communities had to deal head-on with issues such as race, equality, justice, sexuality, money, and economics. But much of today’s apologetics (engagement with the questions that people are asking about Christianity) come from suburban churches and academic studies. Urban believers—those who live and minister in America’s inner cities—often face unique issues, not often addressed by the larger Christian community. These questions aren’t neat or easy to answer but need to be addressed by applying biblical truth in the culture and challenges of urban life. Author Chris Brooks has ministered for years in the urban environment as well as received extensive theological training. In Urban Apologetics, he seeks to connect the riches of the Christian apologetic tradition with the issues facing cities—such as poverty, violence, and broken families. He brings an urban rhythm and sensitivity to the task of demonstrating the relevance of faith and the healing truth that Christ provides.

We know that Urban isn't just a place but a culture now. Followers of Jesus face many challenges to their faith, among them the rising influence of contemporary cults, alternative theologies, and ethical issues that challenge traditionally held beliefs and practices. Urban Apologetics: Cults and Cultural Ideologies, is a follow-up to the bestselling Urban Apologetics, and it provides a guide to addressing these challenges with grace and wisdom. In addition, throughout the book are short essays by leaders in the church sharing their convictions on successful ministry and reflection on today's challenges in light of the past. This all-new volume addresses several of today's most-talked-about issues, including: Jehovah Witnesses The Prosperity Gospel Black Liberation theology LGBTQ+ Issues Critical Race Theory (CRT) White Nationalism Faith Deconstruction Edited by Dr. Eric Mason and featuring a top-notch lineup of contributors such as Anthony Bradley, Brandon Washington, and Thabiti Anyabwile, Urban Apologetics: Cults and Cultural Ideologies equips pastors, churches, and everyday believers to engage the most common ethical, biblical, and theological challenges faced by Christians and the church today.

Street-Level Apologetics is an encouraging resource for anyone who wants to sharpen their skills in urban apologetics and street-level evangelism. Vocab Malone is a Christian apologist with two decades of experience, both online and on the street. He offers this book as a practical, theological, and biblical guide to modern day urban apologetics and street-level evangelism. This book will challenge you and ignite your passion to display God's glory in your apologetics and evangelism. After reading Street-Level Apologetics, you'll feel inspired to engage your city context with the life-changing truth of the gospel. ABOUT THE AUTHOR VOCAB MALONE holds a Master's from Phoenix Seminary. His ministry focus is urban contextualized apologetics. He hosts a regular livestream show, Street Apologist LIVE. Vocab has participated in many public debates and dialogues with Muslims, atheists, Kemetics, and "Hebrew Israelites". He's the author of a book on Hebrew Israelism and a contributing author to Our God is Triune. Vocab resides in downtown Phoenix, Arizona with his crazy boys and even crazier Doberman.

Diversity is a high value for younger generations—but too often, they’re not finding it in the church. Emerging generations in the West are more diverse than ever—ethnically, socioeconomically, educationally, and politically. And as church attendance among younger generations declines rapidly, research shows that one of their primary sticking points is the lack of diversity in most churches. In Church for Everyone, pastors Dan Kreiss and Efrem Smith address this phenomenon head-on. In this research-based, theologically informed, and practical book, they explore the younger generations' expectations and disappointments with church and hold out a vision for true diversity taken from the pages of Scripture. As experienced church leaders themselves, Kreiss and Smith share a wealth of practical experience and stories from the trenches of multiethnic ministry. The good news is that God has already called the church to diversity. As we seek to live out this calling in our own local contexts, we can become the demonstration of God’s love for all humanity that he has designed the church to be—and that the younger generation is so desperately looking for.

Urban Apologetics equips pastors, churches, and everyday believers to engage, understand, and love African Americans who are involved in ethnocentric ideologies and black mystery cults.

This book is the next volume in Levering's Engaging Doctrine series. The prior volume of the series examined the doctrine of creation. The present volume examines the purpose of creation: the marriage of God and humans. God created the cosmos for the purpose of the marriage of God and his people--and through his people, the marriage of God and the entire creation. Given that the central meaning or "prime analogate" of marriage is the marriage of God and humankind, the study of human marriage needs to be shaped by this eschatological goal and foregrounded as a dogmatic theme. After a first chapter defending and explaining the biblical witness to the marriage of God and his people, the book explores various themes: marriage as an image of God, original sin as the fall of the primordial marriage, the cross of Jesus Christ and marital self-sacrificial love, the procreative and unitive ends of marriage, marriage as a sacrament, and marriage's importance for social justice and for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God. Along the way, the book provides an introduction to the key biblical, patristic, medieval, modern, and contemporary thinkers and controversies regarding the doctrine of marriage.