American Christian vs Christian American
Bio
Dale Stephens has a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry, M.A. in Leadership & Administration, and currently a PhD student at AGTS.
Dale and his wife, Andrea, have 3 girls, Saria, Jade, & Vera, and one grandchild, Niko. Dale began his vocational ministry as a student pastor in 2000. In 2004, he shifted to US missions with Chi Alpha at UGA. Later, planted Chi Alpha at Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, & what is now Kennesaw State - Marietta campus. Since 2015, he has been serving as the Lead Pastor for Riverside Church (now Pure Hope Church).
Pure Hope Church:
Books Dale recommends for understanding the Bible better:
The IVP Biblical Background Commentary by Creig Keener
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by O'brien & Richards
Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley
Reading the Bible with the Damned by Bob Eckbauld
Reading the Bible for All It's Worth by Fee & Stuart
The Upside Down Kingdom by Donald Kraybill
Books Dale recommends for thinking politically:
The Hauerwas Reader by Stanley Hauerwas
The Pastor as Public Theologian by Kevin Vanhoozer
Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam
The Fractured Republic by Yuval Levin
Final words from Dale:
Christian Americans note the importance of biblically driven beliefs that shape their personal identity and public politics. As noted in our time together, what we hope for is some common elements in us all, a humility to find the distorted truths in us, a vision/effort towards togetherness (in contrast to us vs them), and a genuine curiosity matched with empathy for the other. This is how we position ourselves- selflessly. For me, I'm also driven towards a transformational hope for a better tomorrow on this earth and in its fullest in Heaven.
Through reflection, education, books, travels etc...I've come to realize I have enculturated the gospel into "American". My aim is to see God more clearly, through my culture, the other cultures, and ultimately supra-culturally. I hope some of the above resources will help you towards that aim.
