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Theology of the Balanced Scorecard
The Theology of the Balanced Scorecard reimagines the traditional corporate performance management framework—originally developed by Robert Kaplan and David Norton—by aligning strategic execution with divine purpose. Where the secular scorecard measures organizational performance through the lens of human profitability and market dominance, a Biblical Balanced Scorecard shifts the ultimate enterprise objective from shareholder wealth to… Continue reading
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer
In his unfinished magnum opus, Ethics (written between 1940 and his arrest in 1943), Dietrich Bonhoeffer formulated some of the most radical, mature, and enduring contributions to 20th-century Christian moral philosophy. Living under the tyranny of the Third Reich, Bonhoeffer abandoned static, rule-based moralism. Instead, he sought a dynamic ethics capable of addressing the concrete… Continue reading
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Operation Valkyrie
The July 20, 1944 plot—code-named Operation Valkyrie (Unternehmen Walküre)—was the final and most comprehensive attempt by internal German conspirators to assassinate Adolf Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime. While executed primarily by military officers, the plot was profoundly shaped, justified, and supported by a diverse Christian resistance network comprising Roman Catholic aristocrats, Protestant theologians, and… Continue reading
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Emil Gustav Friedrich Martin Niemöller
Emil Gustav Friedrich Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) is one of the most morally complex figures in modern church history. A decorated World War I U-boat commander, conservative German nationalist, and early supporter of Adolf Hitler, he underwent a dramatic evolution that led him to become a primary leader of Christian resistance against the Third Reich, a… Continue reading
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The Father of Christian Existentialism
Søren Kierkegaard: Kierkegaard spent his intellectual career deeply absorbed in Christianity. While he dedicated his writings to understanding what it truly meant to follow Christ, he was famously hyper-critical of the cultural, passive religion of his time. Towards the end of his life, he launched a fierce critique against the state church, arguing that widespread… Continue reading
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Did Isaac display faith at all after his father’s death?
While Isaac is often viewed as a quieter, less dramatic patriarch compared to Abraham or Jacob, biblical narrative and Christian theology highlight several key moments after Abraham’s death where Isaac actively exercised faith: 1. Persistent Prayer for the Covenant Line (Genesis 25:21) After Abraham’s death, Isaac faced a crisis similar to his father’s: his wife,… Continue reading
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Søren Kierkegaard’s examination of Genesis 22—the Binding of Isaac
Søren Kierkegaard’s examination of Genesis 22—the Binding of Isaac (the Akedah)—is the primary focus of his 1843 philosophical masterpiece, Fear and Trembling (published under the pseudonym Johannes de Silentio, meaning “John of the Silence”). Rather than treating the story as a neat Sunday-school lesson about obedience, Kierkegaard explores the horrifying, paradox-filled psychological reality of what… Continue reading
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The “Spoke in the Wheel” Today
National elections and political transitions regularly introduce systemic shocks to social stability and economic well-being. A election cycle can exacerbate social division, heighten anxiety around federal safety nets and immigration enforcement, and generate economic uncertainty that directly impacts vulnerable populations—including working-class families, immigrants, and people navigating homelessness or food insecurity. Social and Economic Threats of… Continue reading
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MARATHON RACE & PAUL’S IMAGERY
The modern marathon and the Apostle Paul’s imagery of running a race share deep roots in Greco-Roman history, though they stem from distinct cultural and athletic contexts. The Historical Origin of the Marathon Race The marathon originates in military messenger tradition rather than ancient athletic games. Pheidippides collapsing in Athens after delivering victory news. Source:… Continue reading
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Toward a Localized Ecclesiology
A Theological Defense of Decentralized Parish Ministry Abstract The American church landscape, particularly across the expanding suburban corridors of Central Indiana, is undergoing a structural realignment. Decades of prioritizing multi-site centralizations and corporate brand expansion are yielding to a recovery of the parish model—independent, neighborhood-rooted local churches governed by resident elder-pastors. This paper articulates a… Continue reading
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Deuteronomy 7:6–8
Deuteronomy 7:6–8 sits at the core of biblical theology: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and… Continue reading
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Explaining Predestination
“Imagine an author writing a wonderful story book. Before the author even wrote the first word on page one, they already knew every single character, decided who would be in the story, and chose how the story would turn out happily in the end. Predestination is the idea that God is like that ultimate Master… Continue reading
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tRIBUTE TO dolly parton
Theological Matrix of Dolly Parton Category Primary Manifestation & Praxis Theological / Philosophical Alignment Ontology & Creation Appreciated material creation, bodily expression, and rural Appalachia Affirmation of the Goodness of Creation (Gen 1:31); Incarnational realism Aesthetic Commitment High camp, hyper-feminine artifice, joyful visual spectacle Dialectic of image and archetype; Theologia Gloriae in popular idiom Social… Continue reading
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A Decadal Narrative & Theological Reflection
From Kiplokyi to the Wilderness: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8 The Journey Across the Decades 1979 – 1987 (Age 8–16): Roots in Kiplokyi Primary School The… Continue reading
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An Unbroken Line: Grace, Trial, and Faith Across Five Decades
Milestone Year Educational / Ministerial Milestone Age in That Year 1980 Class 2 at Kiplokyi Primary School, Kenya 8–9 years old 1990 Form 2 at Kabianga High School, Kericho, Kenya 18–19 years old 2000 Master’s degree completion, Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, KY) 28–29 years old 2010 Completing 6 years of pastoral ministry in Dallas, TX… Continue reading
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The idea of the separation of church and state
The idea of the separation of church and state did not happen overnight, nor did it originate from a single source. Instead, it evolved over centuries through a mix of theological shifts, political struggles, and philosophical revolutions. Key Historical Milestones and Origins 1. Early Christian Origins: “Render unto Caesar” 2. The “Two Swords” Doctrine 3.… Continue reading
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WHEN LUTHERAN CHURCH BECAME STATE-RUN
The Lutheran Church became “state-run” or established as an official state religion almost immediately at the birth of the Protestant Reformation in the 1520s and 1530s. Rather than being organized from the bottom up as independent congregations, the early Lutheran movement relied heavily on the protection and authority of local political rulers (princes, kings, and… Continue reading
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Scandinavian immigrants AND THE GOSPEL
The Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) has a fascinating, distinct history. It sits at a unique intersection of tight theological conviction and radical local church autonomy. Part 1: History, Twists, and Turns of the EFCA 1. Roots in Pietism and Immigration (Late 19th Century) The EFCA traces its lineage back to Scandinavian immigrants—specifically Swedish… Continue reading
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Erick Chepkwony, TH.D 