Asbury Hosts Faith & Culture Lecture Series
October 29, 2019
Asbury University’s Faith & Culture Lecture Series seeks to answer the hard questions of modern culture with a biblical perspective. Last week, the series focused on Faith in a Culture of Outrage. With the goal of creating space for courageous conversation, Faith in a Culture of Outrage highlighted the anger that has permeated culture in the last few years and how Christians can respond.
Dr. Ed Stetzer visited campus for the series. Stetzer holds the Billy Graham Chair of Church, Mission and Evangelism at Wheaton College and also serves as the dean of the college’s School of Mission, Ministry and Leadership. He is a contributing editor for Christianity Today, a columnist for Outreach Magazine and contributor for outlets such as USA Today and CNN.
Faith in a Culture of Outrage events began on Thursday, Oct. 24 with a panel discussion in the Miller Screening Room. During the panel, faculty members Michelle Kratzer, Professor Rich Manieri, Dr. Ketrell McWhorter and Dr. Mike Yoder dialogued with Stetzer about his recent book “Christians in the Age of Outrage.”
Stetzer also spoke in Chapel on Friday morning about the “Four Commissions of Jesus” and opened the message by examining the words of John 20:21, which states, “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’” Stetzer spoke extensively about how Christians are sent to impact the world in every social, political and people group.
“Jesus’ commissions matter in a very divine and broken age,” Stetzer said. “We are sent to all different kinds of people with a message empowered by the Spirit.”
The dialogue continued with a talkback session held in the Dougherty Dining Room on Friday afternoon. Students Demarion Johnson ‘21, Seth Kinyua ‘21, Caleb Norris ’20 and Maggie Richwine ’20 spoke in a panel with Stetzer during the talkback.
“The center of Jesus’ message is not on the external realities of our lives,” Stetzer said during his visit. “It’s His death upon the cross for our sin and in our place. Jesus said that repentance is forgiveness of sins and proclaiming His name to all nations.”
The Faith & Culture Lecture Series was designed to take a social issue and view it through the lens of scripture to help students better assess and critique its impact on our lives.
The lecture series is one of many opportunities for Asbury students to engage with culture. Students are challenged to partake in Cross-Cultural Engagement, discuss social change at the Embrace Conference and engage culture through the arts at Highbridge Film Festival.