UNITING CONSERVATIVES & LIBERALS AROUND GOD'S ORDER OF THINGS

'At present "conservative" Christians are often vociferous on issues like abortion and homosexuality while embodying a Western consumer lifestyle and laughing off global warming. Liberal Christians tend to take environmental issues more seriously but are more cautious on "sin" and tend to be pro-choice and in favor of blessing same-sex unions. A recovery of the biblical notion of creation order and its allied motif of the antithesis that runs through the whole of creation would go a long way toward challenging this polarity. God's order applies as much to marriage and sexuality as it does to how we care for the earth. So, just as it is important that Christians hold onto God's order for marriage and sexuality and thus refuse to affirms same-sex relationships as normative, and just as they uphold the sanctity of human life and refuse to condone most practice of abortion, so too Christians must be clear that environmental destruction and Western-style consumerism is downright sin.' 

Craig G Bartholomew, Where Mortals Dwell, p.312. 

CHURCH BUILDINGS

'...it is to be expected that as a worshiping community takes root in a place, it will need a building of its own set apart for worship and institutional church activities. Worship of God clearly does not demand a place set apart for the gathered church, but then neither is a house essential to a family or an auditorium to an orchestra. However normal cultural development as we experience it would require that a church would sooner or later require a building of its own.' 

Craig G Bartholomew, Where Mortals Dwell, p.293. 

HOMES NOT HOUSES

'An essential ingredient in the redemption of our towns, cities and countryside is a proliferation of houses that are in fact homes.' 

Craig G Bartholomew, Where Mortals Dwell, p.284. 

INCARNATION, RESURRECTION & CREATION

'The incarnation and resurrection are the ultimate affirmation of creation.'

Craig G Bartholomew, Where Mortals Dwell, p.245. 

THEOLOGY OF PLACE

'The doctrine of creation is fundamental to a theology of place. Indeed the failure of Christians to attend to place is largely owing to the eclipse of the doctrine of creation.'

Craig G Bartholomew, Where Mortals Dwell, p.244.  

THE IMPORTANCE OF RITUAL

'To have any hope of resisting the worst elements of Western consumer culture, we Christians will need an arsenal of rituals to keep us alert to the story of the world that really matters.' 

Craig G Bartholomew, Where Mortals Dwell: A Christian View of Place for Today, p.75.