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The Name: An Exploration of Christian Identity and the Calling that Arises from it
The Name explores Christian identity and the calling that arises from it. It claims that Christianity uniquely affirms both the personhood and particularity of individuals and it introduces the spiritual formation path called Identity Mapping, which helps people discover the unique person God has designed them to be, and the calling that arises from it.
The Name is broken into four parts: PART ONE introduces Christianity's unique and powerful view of identity, and the spiritual formation path of Identity Mapping. It roots the knowing of one's identity in terms of relationship to God, and argues that without God's grace it is impossible for us to really know ourselves. Finally, it sets forth the thesis that God who is infinitely glorious, represented by His many names, designed each person to know Him and show Him in a unique way, that our purpose as people is to "name God" so to speak, by being the unique reflection and representation of God that He has made us.
PART TWO sets forth the claim that we can't know ourselves unless we know the true story that we are in. It looks Identity through the lens of the Bible's story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Under Creation, there are chapters on "Conferred Personhood", "Crafted Particularity", and "Identity in God." Under Fall, there are chapters on "Primal Wound", "Fragmented and False Identities", and "Wounds, Wounding, and Particular Depravity". Under Redemption there are chapters on "Cosmic War," "Covenant LORD", and "Conversion". And under Restoration there are chapters on "Christian Identity", "Life in the Covenant" and "Written in the Story."
PART THREE walks a person through the Identity Mapping process using the story of Jacob as a paradigm for understanding God's grace and Christian identity. Through listening carefully to the life of Jacob and God's grace to Jacob, we learn to listen to and map God's design and grace in our own lives. Through the personal interaction tools people Map the presence of God in their life, their personhood and particularity, wounds and wounding, and false identities. They track God's pursuit of them, and their conversion to God. They take stock of their life in the covenant, and grow in an understanding of how they have been written into the Mission of God in the world.
In the last section, PART FOUR, the specific path of Identity Mapping is laid out: This includes, (1) Receiving the grace of God, (2) Repenting of False Identities, (3) Role Artistry, (4) Establishing Boundaries and Setting Goals, (5) Barriers and Blockages, (6) Partnering with the Holy Spirit, (7) Community Collaboration, (8) The Missional Life, and (9) Thisness.
In short: The Name is a comprehensive summary of Christian Identity, including theological foundations, guides for personal reflecting on one's own unique, God-designed, crafted and redeemed identity, and practical tools to live out one's identity and calling to the glory of God's Name.
The Name is broken into four parts: PART ONE introduces Christianity's unique and powerful view of identity, and the spiritual formation path of Identity Mapping. It roots the knowing of one's identity in terms of relationship to God, and argues that without God's grace it is impossible for us to really know ourselves. Finally, it sets forth the thesis that God who is infinitely glorious, represented by His many names, designed each person to know Him and show Him in a unique way, that our purpose as people is to "name God" so to speak, by being the unique reflection and representation of God that He has made us.
PART TWO sets forth the claim that we can't know ourselves unless we know the true story that we are in. It looks Identity through the lens of the Bible's story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Under Creation, there are chapters on "Conferred Personhood", "Crafted Particularity", and "Identity in God." Under Fall, there are chapters on "Primal Wound", "Fragmented and False Identities", and "Wounds, Wounding, and Particular Depravity". Under Redemption there are chapters on "Cosmic War," "Covenant LORD", and "Conversion". And under Restoration there are chapters on "Christian Identity", "Life in the Covenant" and "Written in the Story."
PART THREE walks a person through the Identity Mapping process using the story of Jacob as a paradigm for understanding God's grace and Christian identity. Through listening carefully to the life of Jacob and God's grace to Jacob, we learn to listen to and map God's design and grace in our own lives. Through the personal interaction tools people Map the presence of God in their life, their personhood and particularity, wounds and wounding, and false identities. They track God's pursuit of them, and their conversion to God. They take stock of their life in the covenant, and grow in an understanding of how they have been written into the Mission of God in the world.
In the last section, PART FOUR, the specific path of Identity Mapping is laid out: This includes, (1) Receiving the grace of God, (2) Repenting of False Identities, (3) Role Artistry, (4) Establishing Boundaries and Setting Goals, (5) Barriers and Blockages, (6) Partnering with the Holy Spirit, (7) Community Collaboration, (8) The Missional Life, and (9) Thisness.
In short: The Name is a comprehensive summary of Christian Identity, including theological foundations, guides for personal reflecting on one's own unique, God-designed, crafted and redeemed identity, and practical tools to live out one's identity and calling to the glory of God's Name.
384 pages, Spiral-bound
Published September 1, 2015
4 people want to read
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February 8, 2016
I had a lot of fun writing this book on Camano Island during a writing sabbatical I was given in July, 2014. Most of the content was either written, or rewritten, at that time. My friend, W. David Lichty, then read each chapter and helped me edit, clarifying and simplifying its prose. David completed these week after week, just in time for the Identity Mapping class to work through. Barb Knuckle's added the illustrations which are amazing; I call them "theological illustrations" because Barb packs so much deep (and practical) truth into each one. The aim of the book is to introduce people to the Christianity's unique and breathtaking understanding of personal identity, to help people understand their unique God-designed, crafted and redeemed "particularity", and to provide practical guidance, tools, and gospel motivation to step into the calling that arises from their identity.
Displaying 1 of 1 review