There is a wonderful book by Aussie Christian philosopher, Christopher Watkin. He wrote one of the best books of recent years in my view. Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible’s Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture (2022)
It’s not light reading. But it is superb.
This Sunday we’re focusing on Nehemiah. Watkin’s book has relevance. Nehemiah doesn’t think only as an individual. He thinks as part of God’s people. We are more than just individual billiard balls bumping into one another from time to time, we are deeply connected.I put together this table, based in part on Watkin’s work. Why? Because I realised how both Nehemiah’s story and Watkins book speak profoundly to our present cultural moment.
The individual is everything.The individual has infinite dignity within God’s covenant community.The community is everything.
We are called, not merely to think individually about our faith, but also what it looks like to be connected to others and our broken world. This is challenging for westerners, but crucial if we are to enter into God’s heart for the world.
If this feels a bit complicated, don’t worry. Come along this Sunday. We’ll hear how Nehemiah moved from ‘me, myself and I’ to a faith that connects us with God, his people, and his world.
Julian Holdsworth
BSBC Pastor
