Toward an Adventist Theology of Social Witness: Covenant-keeping in the “Already-not yet
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19141/1809-2454.kerygma.v20.n1.pe1675Keywords:
Church, Social witness, Social issues, Covenant-keeping, Already-not yetAbstract
This article aims to explore selected implications of covenant-keeping in the 21st century, framed through the theological lens of the church’s social witness within the “already-not-yet” framework of the kingdom of God. Drawing on the work of Miroslav Volf and Matthew Croasmun, I sustain that the “already-not-yet” theological framework both energizes and provides boundaries for the church as it embodies its witness regarding relevant social issues. This position will be enriched by selected examples from conversation partners such as Padilla de Borst (social marginalization and poverty), McCaulley (racial and ethnic discrimination), Richter (environmental stewardship), Yong (disability), and Swinton (mental health). Further, I will conclude that the social witness of the church should be central to Adventist theology, rather than positioned at its margins or as a supplementary aspect. These insights aim to encourage the church to more fully embrace its role as a covenantal community in today’s social context.
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