Dr. Bill Merrifield worked cross-culturally in Beirut, Lebanon for 17 years while his family grew. Considering how faithful Christians can think critically and engage the culture without compromise, he breaks down different ways that honor the gospel. He currently serves as the Vice President of Engagement for IDEAS. Dr. Merrifield maintains a blog where he recently shared a vision for transformation in the midst of brokenness.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
- The importance of unearthing your own cultural assumptions
- How Christians can think critically and be faithful in multireligious settings
- A vision for transformation, standing firm in the cultural currents
FEATURED BONUS:
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Dr. Bill Merrifield worked cross-culturally in Beirut, Lebanon for 17 years. He holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, an MA in Middle Eastern Studies, an MA in Religion, and a BA in Theology. Dr. Merrifield works as the Vice President of Engagement for IDEAS. His focus areas include culturally-situated critical thinking & special education in the Arabic-speaking world.
SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:
RELATED LINKS:
TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:
00:34 - Introducing Dr. Bill Merrifield
01:42 - Family USA and Lebanon
03:21 - God's Love for Diversity in Worship, Seen in the Book of Revelation
04:56 - Unearthing Cultural Assumptions
06:08 - What is the organization, IDEAS?
07:54 - What are 5 aspects of missional engagement described in SODAP Model?
09:07 - S - Sameness, Maintaining the Status Quo
09:52 - O - Overlapping Values
11:43 - D - Discussion, Understanding and Mutual Respect
12:28 - A - Argument or Apologetics
12:55 - Polemic - Destroying Another Perspective
13:17 - Redemptive versus non-Redemptive Engagement
14:47 - There Is More than One Way
16:55 - Humility, Engagement and Getting Unstuck
18:09 - Application - Redemptive Acts in the World
19:48 - Shared Values and Building Bridges
20:42 - Letting the Message of Jesus Be Attractive
21:48 - What Can Transformation Look Like?
24:33 - Contacting Dr. Bill Merrifield
25:39 - Joke: Things in Common
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