Following: Embodied Discipleship in a Digital Age

by Jason Byassee, Andria Irwin, Jason Byassee (Editor)

Overview

"[An] insightful exploration of Christian discipleship in the digital age."—Publishers Weekly

This book offers theological perspectives on the challenges of discipleship in a digital age, showing how new technologies and the rise of social media affect the way we interact with each other, ourselves, and the world. Written by a Gen X digital immigrant and a Millennial digital native, the book explores a faithful response to today's technology as we celebrate our embodied roles as followers of Christ in a disembodied time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781540962270
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/10/2021
Series:	Pastoring for Life: Theological Wisdom for Ministering Well
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jason Byassee (PhD, Duke University) is the inaugural Butler Chair in Homiletics and Biblical Hermeneutics at Vancouver School of Theology in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Andria Irwin (MDiv, Vancouver School of Theology) is the minister of United Online, a church plant initiative of the United Church of Canada.

Table of Contents

Series Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction: The End Is Near 1

1 Putting on the New Self 13

2 A Pastoral Personality 35

3 The Opposite of Technology 47

4 Jesus's Own Family 67

5 Undistracted Friendship 89

6 The Internet Is (Kind of) a Place 109

7 Virtual Virtue 129

8 Daring to Speak for God 151

Conclusion: No Unmediated God 161

Notes 169

Index 181

Editorial Reviews

04/26/2021

Byassee (Surprised by Jesus Again), a teacher at the Vancouver School of Theology, and minister Irwin team up in this insightful exploration of Christian discipleship in the digital age. Byassee describes himself as “the weird elder relative” to millennial Irwin, whose productive use of technology in his ministry inspired their investigation into “how the church can use technology with hope, rather than being used by it.” To that end, the authors unpack challenges of ministry during the pandemic and share stories of online encounters that helped meet real world needs. One pastor, for instance, met several elderly parishioners online at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and helped supply them with badly needed distilled water. Another recounts a church that paired youth ministers with “church grandparents” as an emotional and IT support network. Regarding social media, Byassee and Irwin emphasize authenticity and caution when engaging with others online: “Dividing the self into split experiences of reality is something we have seen go violently wrong.” Finally, they challenge Christians to view technology as a tool and creatively consider how to use it “to love God and neighbor more.” Christians who are skeptical about technology would do well to pick this up. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly