Veritas: Jurnal Teologi dan Pelayanan

The Covenant of Works: The Origins, Development, and Reception of the Doctrine

Wilson Jeremiah — 2024-06-01

Front Matter Volume 23 Issue 1

David Alinurdin — 2024-06-01

Back Matter Volume 23 Issue 1

David Alinurdin — 2024-06-01

Accommodating Generation Z’s Need for Unconditional Acceptance Based on Client-Centered Therapy Theory and Jesus’ Ministry

Winarsih Winarsih — 2024-06-01

The assumption by some evangelical Protestants that psychology is a threat to God's people is not evident in Generation Z Christians. They are very open to psychological concepts for their mental health. One of them is the need for unconditional positive regard (UPR). The difference between the two assumptions motivated the literature research on Generation Z’s need for UPR based on the theory of Client-Centered Therapy (CCT) and the ministry of Jesus. In this article, the author examines the two concepts to find common ground so that Generation Z spiritual coaches are equipped with biblically aligned psychological concepts in ministering to Generation Z. The results show that the needs of Generation Z are worth accommodating because they can improve mental health and be used as a means of translating the gospel to them. The accommodation process in line with God's Word can be done with the psychology-theology integration approach of “plundering from Egypt,” which produces guidelines on how to accommodate these needs, especially according to the principles of Jesus’ ministry. Thus, spiritual mentors serve Generation Z with a holistic approach that provides a sense of security for them to continue to grow and actualize. It is hoped that this literature review will be the beginning of further research to develop holistic ministry for Generation Z, especially in the context of the Protestant evangelical community.

Fear of Death as a Constituent of Authentic Christian Spirituality According to Existentialism of Søren Kierkegaard

Abe FFB Loupatty — 2024-06-01

Death can cause horror in humans even if they believe in an afterlife as in Christian beliefs. The horror of death encourages humans to strive for a temporal life. The fear of death also makes man aware of his mortality, so that he has a trembling that encourages him to be submissive and dependent on God. This paper aims to show that fear of death is a constituent of authentic Christian spirituality according to Søren Kierkegaard’s existentialism. To that end, this paper will present the paradox of human relations with finite things in Kierkegaard’s concept of faith which consists of the double movement of resignation and repetition. In Kierkegaard’s concept of faith, there is a paradox in man's relationship with finite things, where he simultaneously resigns and expects repetition. In this paradox, fear of death forms an authentic spirituality, as death becomes the agent that ends the relationship. In this spirituality, fear of death comes with gratitude to God for the relationship in a fragile temporal life. Fear of death shows the sincerity of love for God expressed in human relationships with finite things. This spirituality enables people to be happy with the fragility of temporal life. Feelings of fear and happiness are present in the double movement towards finite things that occur in faith, resulting in an emotional paradox in human attitudes towards the fragility of finite relationships. Thus, as an existential struggle, fear of death is a constituent of authentic spirituality expressed in relationships with God, others, and other relationships in temporal life.

The Impact of Chinese Political Movements in The Unification of Chinese Congregations in West Java 1926-1940

Yogi Fitra Firdaus — 2024-06-01

This article aims to examine the impact of Chinese political movements on the unification of Chinese congregations in West Java. There has been an assumption that the independence of Chinese congregations is solely a gift from Dutch zending, when in fact it was born from the awareness of Chinese Christian leaders due to the influence of Chinese nationalism. The political movement among the Chinese community in West Java was a response to the discriminatory policies of the Dutch East Indies Government in both the socio-economic and educational fields. At this time, the Chinese community itself was divided into political factions according to their respective orientations. Some were oriented towards mainland China, the Dutch East Indies Government or participated in the Indonesian independence efforts. This situation of division also occurred among Chinese congregations in West Java with Calvinist and Methodist characteristics. This prompted Chinese Christian leaders to seek independence and unity. Thus, the author uses the historical method with four steps, namely heuristics, criticism, interpretation and historiography to document the influence of Chinese nationalism on efforts to unite Chinese congregations in West Java in 1926-1940.

From Christopraxis to Anthropopraxis: Incarnation, History, and Being Human through the Lens of the Poor in the Theology of Ignacio Ellacuría, S.J. and Daniel Lucas Lukito

Nindyo Sasongko — 2024-06-01

The purpose of this article is to relate the incarnation, the cross, and what it means to be human in the struggle for justice. Amid the suspicions of some U.S. theologians against the use of Marxist derivative theories, this article argues otherwise. Christian theology can be enriched by these theories, even if they seem to contradict certain Christian interpretations. This is due to the interdisciplinary nature of theology which is always in dialogue with different scientific disciplines. By focusing on the doctrines of the incarnation and the cross in the theology of Ignacio Ellacuría, S.J. and Daniel Lucas Lukito, this article shows that Christian theologians can use non-Christian concepts, including those of Marxist thinkers, to build contextual theology. Firstly, it will be shown how contemporary thinkers discuss the nexus between incarnation, the cross, and history especially in the thought of Slavoj Žižek, Jürgen Moltmann, and Eberhard Jüngel who were influenced by Hegel and the social theory of Marxism. Then, this article will expound how Ellacuría and Lukito take the Marxist vocabulary and intertwine it with the doctrine of the incarnation, the cross, and history. If the crucified Jesus in history unites with the poor then, in the last part, humanity is not only defined in Christ, but Christ is also defined in crucified humanity, which I call “anthropopraxis.”

Becoming Human: An Evangelical Proposal

Billy Kristanto — 2024-06-01

This article presents a proposal for evangelical anthropology amidst the diversity of existing theological anthropological views. Proposing central tenets in evangelical theology to be developed anthropologically is subject to lengthy debate. This article limits itself to a few tenets drawn from Evangelical soteriology and Reformed Christology. First, the author discusses a brief history that presents various anthropological alternatives, especially in relation to the concept of the image of God, one of the central topics in Christian anthropology. The second part presents the anthropology of Michael Welker as one of the representatives of contemporary theological anthropology. The last section presents a proposal for evangelical anthropology which can be further developed and applied in various aspects. The author then provides exemplary applications in only two aspects, namely in education and ecological responsibility. Methodologically, this article attempts to present various historical anthropological views in dialogue with evangelical theology, before completing with an evangelical proposal that essentially argues that human being is in one’s becoming like Christ.

The Understanding of the Synod Leaders of the Church of Christ the Lord Regarding Reformed Ecclesiology as the Basis for the Church's Digital Service Policy

Handoko — 2024-06-01

The COVID-19 pandemic has made a difference to the world. Changes that have forced the Synod of Christ the Lord Church (GKT) to engage in digital ministry. For the GKT Synod, digital ministry is a new and unfamiliar ministry model. As a church that adheres to Reformed theology, the GKT Synod needs to respond to this digital ministry within the understanding of Reformed ecclesiology. Therefore, the research in this article aims to find out the GKT Synod leaders’ understanding of Reformed ecclesiology as the basis for the church’s digital ministry policy. To achieve this goal, the research method used is basic qualitative research. In this study, twelve leaders of the GKT Synod were interviewed. They consist of synod officials and pastors who serve in the GKT from various locations. This research resulted in four findings related to digital ministry policies from the understanding of Reformed ecclesiology. The digital ministry policies from the understanding of Reformed ecclesiology are related to Sunday worship activities, fellowship, the implementation of the sacrament of Holy Communion, and evangelistic mission policies.

Spiritual Seeking and Flourishing of Seminary Students in Indonesia: A Contribution from Managing Identity

Yonathan Aditya — 2024-06-01

Spiritual education and growth often involves a searching and struggling phase that can be disruptive to one’s well-being. However, if these questing phases are indeed a natural part of the spiritual journey, then strategies are needed to manage them. This article examines the relationship between the psychological phase of seeking (Quest) and well-being (Flourishing), as well as the contribution of the Managing Identity dimension of the concept of Self-Differentiation. Data were collected from 303 seminary students from 28 theological colleges in Indonesia. Multilevel regression analysis found that Quest did negatively predict seminary students’ well-being (β=-.13, p<.01), however Managing Identity of Self-Differentiation contributed more positively to well-being (β=.61, p<.01). The implications of these findings will be discussed. The Quest and Self-Differentiation dimensions were found to be closely related to Reformed theology, soteriology and ecclesiology, and the focus on the reality of the Trinity that models Christian life.

The Correlation between Emotional Intelligence and Internet Addiction in Christian Young People

Tabita Davinia Utomo — 2024-06-01

Previous research has found Internet addiction to be negatively related to emotional intelligence. This study aims to examine the relationship between these two variables in young Christians during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Internet is frequently used for a long duration. This study used a quantitative correlational method through the Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire instrument (α = 0.890) based on Goleman's emotional intelligence theory, and the Internet Addiction Test (α = 0.893) based on Young's Internet addiction theory. There were 223 respondents aged 15-24 years (Age = 19.91; SD = 2.929) obtained through convenience sampling, with 62.8% female and 37.2% male. There was no correlation between emotional intelligence and Internet addiction (r = -0.104; Sig. = 0.120), although there was a negative correlation between managing emotions and salience (r = -0.156; Sig. = 0.020), as well as motivating oneself and neglect of duty (r = -0.234; Sig. = 0.000). These findings reinforce the assumption that the increasingly prevalent use of the Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the phenomenon of human interaction with the Internet, because the Internet is not only a means of coping strategies for negative emotions, but also supports daily activities. The results provide a new perception of the Internet for researchers, parents and coaches in helping young Christians to recognize their emotions so that they do not rely on the Internet when they want to express or suppress them.