1. Write an essay, which sets out as clearly as possible your present understanding of the Christian Church and the Christian faith and life. Along the way, discuss how Buechner and English have/or have not been helpful to you in formulating your own statement.
             The Christian church has unique goals and purposes which, by definition, the world not committed to the Jesus, as savior does not honor or share. The church has been called to be a "people for God's own possession" (Ephesians 1:13-14, 18, 2:19-22) – uniquely reflecting His character and striving to do those things in this world that are important to Him.
             It is by the deeds that we do that we bring glory to God. These deeds may not be extravagant or spectacular works in the sight of the world-they may involve a few people or may, but they are always redemptive in nature, helping others to understand God and to experience salvation through Jesus Christ.
             We who call ourselves Christians have a choice-a choice to have our lives defined by the calling to which we have been called or by some other calling. The danger today is that the choice is somewhat masked by other choices that also seem to be uniquely Christian. The politically correct academic world in which secular "political correctness" promotes an attitude of contempt for traditional Christian beliefs, the Christian churches attempts to bring all Christians into their particular fold, and the hyper-charismatic "renewal" movement-each with it's own separate agenda.
             Some offer the Christian church success in different but sometimes similar ways (by appealing to emotional satisfaction rather than sound doctrine and reason).
             Dr. C. Peter Wagner of Fuller Theological Seminary is very open about his belief that Christian theology is determined by experience. He endorses a "paradigm shift" in which Christians adapt a view of the world more in line with Eastern my...