Journal of Religious and Socio-Cultural

Ecclesia Reformata in the Digital Era

2025-10-12T06:04:32+00:00

The COVID-19 pandemic and rapid technological advancement have reshaped how churches conduct worship, pushing many congregations toward online platforms. This shift has raised critical theological questions, especially within the Reformed tradition, regarding the authenticity and integrity of digital worship. John Calvin’s theology of worship, which emphasizes God’s presence, the centrality of Scripture, and the communal nature of the church, provides a valuable framework for evaluating these changes. This article aims to examine how Calvin’s theological principles can be applied to online worship. It seeks to explore whether digital worship can remain theologically coherent within a Reformed framework and how churches can adapt Calvin’s insights for contemporary contexts. Using a theological-literary approach, this study analyzes Calvin’s writings on worship—particularly his views on Scripture, prayer, sacraments, and the gathered community—and compares them with the practices and challenges of online worship. Scholarly perspectives on digital religion are also engaged to assess the ongoing debate. The study finds that while online worship cannot fully replace the richness of physical gatherings—especially in relation to the sacraments—it can still nurture genuine spiritual experiences. If grounded in Scripture, focused on God’s presence, and supported by intentional practices of fellowship, online worship may uphold Reformed theological integrity. However, it requires careful pastoral oversight to avoid doctrinal dilution and to maintain the centrality of Word and prayer.

Globalization and The Future Hope for Christianity

2025-10-10T00:51:57+00:00

Religion has not been insulated from the widespread forces of globalization. While these forces have facilitated the transmission of religion from one region to another, they have also reshaped the face of religion in various parts of the world. Focusing on the Christian faith in Africa—particularly Nigeria—this paper argues that globalization has functioned as an effective means of transporting Western religious ideals into the Global South. Consequently, globalization is viewed with suspicion as a tool of westernization, a concern reinforced by the marginalization of African Christian music and culture within the Global North. Yet, with Christianity’s imminent demographic shift to the Global South, it is imperative for the region to reclaim ownership of its faith and resist Western distortions. To this end, the paper reviews Western influence on contemporary Christianity, analyzes the deceptive aspects of globalization, and suggests ways in which African Christianity can actively engage globalizing forces, leveraging them to transmit African Christian norms and values back to the Global North.

The Puritan Family and Its Relevance for Christian Families in Jakarta

2025-10-12T06:00:14+00:00

This study explores how the social construction of Puritan family values in New England, interpreted through Berger and Luckman’s social construction theory, can inspire Christian families in Jakarta to reinforce their spiritual and moral foundations. As Jakarta faces issues such as domestic violence and family neglect, there is an urgent need for family structures that support resilience, moral development, and social cohesion. By examining the dialectical process of externalization, objectivation, and internalization, this research illustrates how Puritan values—integrated into daily family life—could serve as a model for Jakarta. The Puritan family was more than a social unit; it was a ‘mini-church’ where each member contributed to mutual spiritual growth and moral discipline. Adapting these principles, Christian families in Jakarta can strengthen their spirituality despite urban pressures by prioritizing communal worship, modeling ethical behavior, and leveraging technology for spiritual practices. The findings suggest that families with a strong spiritual foundation are better equipped to serve as positive influences within their communities, offering integrity, compassion, and social responsibility. Integrating Puritan values into Jakarta’s family life could help reshape the urban social and moral landscape, with churches and families working together to create a supportive and spiritually grounded society.

The Strategic Role of Christian Bible or Theological Colleges in Religious Moderation in Muslim Majority Society

2025-10-10T00:51:54+00:00

Religious moderation remains highly relevant in Indonesia today, as intolerance and extremism continue to emerge and affect various sectors, including higher education and students as the younger generation. Interfaith dialogue is one of the approaches widely used to promote moderation; however, such initiatives are often incidental and have limited impact in transforming individuals from intolerance to tolerance, or from social exclusivism to social pluralism. This study aims to address these weaknesses by examining the transformation process of students who actively participate in interreligious student communities. In addition, it seeks to explore and propose the strategic role of Bible/Theological Colleges (B/TC) in Indonesia in supporting religious moderation efforts. Employing a qualitative approach through interviews, direct observation of interfaith student activities, and literature review, the research finds that sustainable interfaith communities are more effective than incidental dialogues in fostering openness, tolerance, and mutual respect among students of different faiths. The findings indicate that B/TC should not limit their role to serving Christian communities but must also contribute to the common good by collaborating with Islamic Religious Higher Education institutions in establishing long-term interfaith student communities. This study contributes by offering an alternative model of interfaith engagement that strengthens the effectiveness of religious moderation initiatives in Indonesia and provides practical insights for religious higher education institutions in promoting social harmony.

Unpacking Paul's Wisdom

2025-10-10T00:51:52+00:00

Contemporary churches continue to wrestle with division, moral failures, spiritual elitism, and leadership scandals—struggles that mirror those faced by the first-century Corinthian church. This study examines how Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians offer enduring, practical wisdom for today’s ecclesial dilemmas. While much scholarship highlights Paul’s theology, fewer studies apply his counsel directly to modern crises such as church splits, abuse of spiritual gifts, or the collapse of trust in leaders. Using a qualitative historical-grammatical approach supported by biblical commentaries and concordances, this paper situates Paul’s message within its socio-cultural context and draws parallels for contemporary practice. The findings reveal four central contributions: unity in diversity as an antidote to factionalism, the equitable and orderly exercise of spiritual gifts, love as the supreme virtue for authentic community, and servant leadership as a safeguard against authoritarianism. These insights remain transferable across denominational lines and provide a framework for fostering healthier congregations. However, interpretive challenges persist, as modern contexts differ significantly from Corinth’s urban Greco-Roman world. Despite these limitations, Paul’s theology continues to speak powerfully into contexts of fragmentation and mistrust. This study contributes to scholarship by bridging the gap between Pauline exegesis and pastoral praxis, offering concrete, biblically grounded strategies for renewal in contemporary Christian communities.