Publisher's Synopsis
The global issues of our day - whether economic, social, political, religious, health, environmental or others - occur in the context of two competing visions. One vision was established before the beginning of time by God, the Creator of all things. Revelation is his perspective on global issues as recorded in the Bible. Faith is the response he seeks from humankind. The Kingdom is his overall plan that begins from these central features and extends to all of life. The other vision was established at the beginning of time and has diversified wildly in multiple ways ever since. It always has people at the center, depends on their unique world views or interpretations of the world, becomes evident in their religious myths, beliefs, values, symbols, themes and rituals, and results in competing human plans called cultures. Global issues cannot avoid these conflicts. The Bible's book of Genesis, Chapters 1-3, describes the origin of these conflicts. Genesis Chapters 1-2 are about God's Kingdom plan in which his LIFE plays the central part. Genesis Chapter 3 is about the first cultural plan as Adam and Eve place their life at the center of their world, their viewpoint determinative with their preferred religious solutions, and the first cultural plan the result. The replacement of God's Kingdom Plan with their cultural plan had consequences far beyond their expectations and control. They faced "global issues" - the way we do today when we operate by human plans with no regard for God's eternal plan. Cultural plans continue with their focus on human life. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was all about cultural plans. The tree still thrives today. It nurtures many dreams. Genesis Chapter 3 ends with hope, however, because God protects "the way to the Tree of LIFE" that nurtures his divine dream. God's plan from before the beginning of time continues to focus upon the place of his LIFE at the center of human life responding in faith. Human plans can leave God out but God's plan will never leave humans out. We need to face global issues with this understanding. The book's chapters walk us through Genesis 1-3: The Other Side of Our Beginning God's Kingdom Before the Beginning Discovering Our Destiny in Genesis 1-2 The Kingdom and the Tree of LIFE Cultures and the Tree of Knowledge Ensnared in Cultural Personalities The Limits of Our Cultural Efforts The Enduring Kingdom Plan of God Written by a qualified and experienced Christian anthropologist, the book provides a foundational way to look at the global issues of our day. It is designed to provide fresh perspectives, provoke thought, generate hope, and suggest creative solutions. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter contribute to these provisions. The book is a taste not a full meal, however. It is a beginning not the whole course. Two subsequent volumes flesh out this series on "Kingdom Perspectives on Global Issues" a seen in the opening Chapters of Genesis.
