From the ancient tale of Guo Ju burying his son to modern family tragedies, the child has often been treated as a possession rather than an individual. How can faith redeem this broken family dynamic?
Brother Enhui is a minister serving in a church in Northern China. Based on his extensive interactions with Reformed, Baptist, Charismatic, and Presbyterian groups, he holds to a simple philosophy: "As long as it does not violate the fundamental truths of the Gospel, you are my brother."
How do we step out of egocentrism to respect and understand the local contexts of other churches? The participants of the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order demonstrated to me that only under the same faith, within the gospel, can those who hold power and voice take the initiative to bow their heads and humble themselves, thereby achieving unity.
What happens after we die? Dr. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen argued for an "optimism of salvation" which rejects both the certainty of universal salvation and traditional views of eternal torment.
Dr. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen argued for a "world-embracing, multi-layered pneumatology" that extends the Holy Spirit's work beyond the church into all public domains. His lecture explored the Spirit's role in society, science, and other religions, advocating for a "post-critical" engagement with these spheres.
Prof. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen delivered a lecture on the intersection of Christian eschatology and scientific cosmology. He contrasted the scientific prediction of the universe's eventual heat death with the theological hope for a divinely initiated new creation.
Ne Zha’s story tells us that everyone has unique value and significance. We should learn to respect and embrace differences as this is essential for building a more harmonious and inclusive society.