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Julius J. Kim, Ph.D.
Dean of Students
Dear Students,
As I write this, I am hearing a lecture stating
unequivocally that a full-orbed biblical cosmology is an essential component of
a cogent apologetic to the ever-growing neo-pagan spirituality that dominates
our culture and has now begun to infiltrate our churches. Say what? Let me back
up: This week, Westminster California’s current scholar-in-residence, Dr. Peter
Jones, is hosting the second annual CWiPPThink Conference. What is CWiPP, what
is this conference, and why am I writing about this?
CWiPP is a Christian ministry that was
launched several years ago when Dr. Jones left his life-long academic career as
a professor of New Testament to establish a new ministry that specifically
attempts to equip the church of Jesus Christ to address issues related to the
resurgence of pagan spirituality.
According to their mission statement, CWiPP is “dedicated to equipping the
Church to bring the good news of the gospel to an increasingly pagan world."
Ahead of his time, Dr. Jones foresaw the penetration of pagan spirituality not
only within our culture, but also in our churches. As such, his ministry
attempts to describe “the two religious options vying for the modern mind
(Christianity and Paganism) in order to equip the Church to answer, in the power
of the gospel, the questions emerging in a culture dominated by planetary
paganism, for the sake of her evangelism and her intentional Christian living.”
What is CWippThink? In his desire to partner with other Christian scholars,
pastors, and leaders who also see the dangers of pagan spirituality in our
culture and church, Dr. Jones invited 56 participants to a think-tank meeting in
January 2006.
This year, more than 100 leaders from many disciplines and many continents
(Europe, Asia, Africa, South America) have come to Escondido to reflect upon the
implications of this new spirituality in a variety of academic and practical
fields. This is where I am right now listening to the lecture mentioned before,
thinking and praying with other Christian leaders in order to understand this
movement better so as to present to the church the challenge of global paganism.
So why is this so important? As has already been described, the issues presented
by Dr. Jones and the ministry of CWiPP are absolutely essential to presenting a
cogent defense of the Christian faith not only to the culture that is in
defiance of God, but also to the church that finds herself susceptible to new
forms of pagan spirituality. One does not need to look very far to see how this
new spirituality has brought much disorientation in a culture that was for many
years influenced by a Judeo-Christian worldview.
From priestesses in the San Francisco bay area who are leaders in both their
churches as well as their covens, to theologians from Divinity Schools who claim
that Jesus was a practicing homosexual, this movement presents a serious
challenge to the Christian church in the 21st century. In light of this,
Westminster Seminary California is thankful for the opportunity to partner with
CWiPP and Dr. Jones for the sake of Christ, his Gospel, and his Church.
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 September
07: Senior Reflections
May
07: Senior Reflections
March
07: CWiPPThink
January
07: Winter Term
November 06:
Reformation Day
September 06:
Welcome Back
August 06:
Summer Greek
July
06: CPR
June
06: Sign Up and Gear Up
May
06: Reflection by Michael Schout
April
06: den Dulk Lectures
March
06: Student Association
February
06: Preaching Christ
December
05: Mentors
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