Journal Of Spirituality And Practical Theology

He Became What We Are: A Patristic and Dogmatic Analysis of the Incarnation as the Path to Theosis

Andrew Lucas Tjong — 2025-07-31

The doctrine of the Incarnation has often been treated as a historical or abstract Christological doctrine, while its soteriological, ecclesiological, and anthropological significance within the Eastern Orthodox tradition has received comparatively limited attention, particularly in Indonesian theological scholarship. This article re-examines the Eastern Orthodox understanding of the Incarnation through a qualitative library study employing patristic and dogmatic theological approaches by analyzing the writings of the Eastern Church Fathers together with Orthodox dogmatic sources. The study argues that, for the Church Fathers and later Orthodox theologians, Christology is inseparable from soteriology, and that the hypostatic union serves not merely as a doctrinal definition but as the theological foundation of theosis, through which humanity participates in the divine life. The findings demonstrate that the Incarnation integrates Christological, Trinitarian, ecclesiological, liturgical, and anthropological dimensions into a unified vision of salvation centered on humanity's restoration and communion with God. By re-centering the Incarnation on its soteriological purpose, this study contributes to contemporary theological discourse by highlighting the enduring relevance of Eastern Orthodox theology for interdenominational dialogue and for addressing the secularization of Christmas.

Contemporary Church Management: Reframing Ministry through Theological, Economic, and Business Insights for a Sustainability Future

Stephanus Liem — 2026-07-31

This study addresses this gap by constructing and proposing a Theologically Grounded Integrative Management Framework as a novel conceptual contribution. A systematic literature review methodology was adopted, guided by the PRISMA protocol, drawing on 52 peer-reviewed sources indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and reputable theological databases published between 2000 and 2024. Sources were thematically coded and synthesized across three analytical dimensions: theological stewardship, faith-based economics, and church organizational management. Results: The analysis reveals that sustainable church management requires the coherent integration of three pillars: (1) servant-leadership theology as the normative foundation, (2) transparent and missionally oriented economic stewardship, and (3) adaptive business governance strategies. Each pillar reinforces the others and, when aligned, produces measurable gains in congregational trust, ministry effectiveness, and organizational resilience. The TGIM Framework offers an original interdisciplinary contribution by providing church leaders, governance bodies, and theological educators with a structured, operationalizable model for contemporary church administration. Unlike prior models, TGIM explicitly positions theology as the governing logic of economic and managerial decisions, ensuring that institutional professionalism remains anchored in Christian mission.

Argumen Petrus sebagai Fondasi Teologi Misi Inklusif: Kajian Eksegesis Historis-Kritis atas Kisah Para Rasul 15:6-11

Syahdin Syahdin — 2026-07-31

Sidang Yerusalem (Kis. 15:6-11) menyelesaikan perselisihan penting mengenai apakah orang percaya non-Yahudi harus tunduk pada Taurat dan sunat untuk masuk ke dalam komunitas perjanjian. Petrus menegaskan bahwa Allah menyucikan hati mereka melalui iman dan mencurahkan Roh Kudus tanpa prasyarat ritual. Menggunakan pendekatan eksegesis historis-kritis yang dipadukan dengan teologi misi kontekstual, penelitian ini mengeksplorasi implikasi misional yang selama ini belum banyak digali. Argumen Petrus bertumpu pada tiga langkah teologis utama: preseden pneumatologis melalui pencurahan Roh Kudus, deklarasi soteriologis mengenai keselamatan semata-mata oleh kasih karunia melalui iman, serta mandat eklesiologis untuk membentuk komunitas perjanjian lintas etnis. Ketiga langkah ini membangun paradigma misi inklusif yang berakar kuat pada missio Dei, bukan sekadar strategi institusional. Keputusan ini menjadi model normatif bagi gereja dalam konteks masyarakat plural seperti Indonesia kontemporer, di mana Injil wajib dikontekstualisasikan tanpa menuntut asimilasi budaya.

Homiletika Digital dalam Era Media Sosial: Analisis Tantangan dan Peluang Praktik Berkhotbah Kontemporer

Ayub Sugiharto — 2026-07-31

This article examines how preaching practices are evolving alongside the rapid expansion of social media. Rather than merely shifting platforms, preaching today is undergoing deeper changes in how messages are structured, communicated, and received by audiences. While many previous studies have focused on technological or communicative aspects, this paper attempts to bring those changes into a more integrated theological-homiletical reflection. Using a qualitative literature-based approach, this study identifies both the emerging challenges and the new opportunities within digital preaching practices. The findings indicate that adapting to digital media is not simply a matter of technical adjustment. It requires a rethinking of homiletical methods so that theological depth can be maintained while still engaging meaningfully with digital culture. This study, therefore, offers a more integrative perspective on preaching in the digital era.

Kontribusi Pendidikan Agama Kristen terhadap Kesehatan Mental Remaja Kristen Indonesia di Era Digital

Sri Radandima — 2026-07-31

Indonesian adolescents spend an average of 8.8 hours per day online (APJII, 2024), driving rising anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and identity crises. Research on adolescent digital mental health has concentrated on psychological interventions and platform regulation, while overlooking the strategic role of Christian Religious Education (CRE) as a system for holistic mental health formation. This study analyses CRE's contribution to adolescent mental health in the digital era through three mechanisms: identity formation grounded in theological values, spiritual resilience building, and self-control development. The method combines a descriptive qualitative design with library research and semi-structured interviews with 12 informants (4 CRE teachers, 5 adolescents, 3 parents). Findings show that CRE implemented integratively through family-school-church collaboration builds measurable and consistent psychological resilience in adolescents.