Getting Along
Description
Contemporary American culture feels more divided than ever in living memory. Sadly, the division has worked its way into our churches. Evangelical leader Timothy Dalrymple contends that Christians, once united by faith, "are not merely dividing but becoming incomprehensible to one another."
The disunity does not bode well for the Church's mission. In the hours before going to the cross, Jesus asked His Father to make His followers one "so that the world may believe that You have sent me." He knew that the world simply will not accept the Good News unless His Church demonstrates visible unity.
In Getting Along, Steve Pecota examines contemporary findings in social psychology that closely dovetail with the biblical message, demonstrating why humans are so prone to polarization and what they can do differently. Often with intimate vulnerability about his own journey, Steve addresses the difficult issues of systemic bias, cognitive distortions, and insider thinking that make all humans prone to blindly defend their in-group.
Can the Church overcome her division and polarized thinking? The credibility of the Gospel message is at stake.
More details
Persons
Content
Foreword.....................................................................................xv
Preface......................................................................................xxiii
Acknowledgments......................................................................xxv
Introduction..............................................................................xxix
PART ONE-The Biblical Framework............................................1
Chapter 1 Created for Community-The Imago Dei.....................3
Chapter 2 Jesus and the New Community..................................13
Chapter 3 Unity on What Basis?-The Jerusalem Council.........27
Chapter 4 Unity in the Ministry of Paul......................................41
PART TWO-Two Historical Case Studies...................................53
Chapter 5 The Experience of Community among
Pre-Constantine Christians........................................55
Chapter 6 Unity as a Characteristic of Pentecostal Revival........59
PART THREE-Lessons From Social Psychology........................73
Chapter 7 Human Brains Are Hardwired for Relationships.......75
Chapter 8 First Metaphor- System 1 and System 2...................81
Chapter 9 Second Metaphor-The Scout and the
Soldier Mindsets........................................................99
Chapter 10 Third Metaphor-The Rider and the Elephant.......109
PART FOUR-How Should We Then Live?................................119
Chapter 11 Factor #1 That Provokes Disunity:
Ingroups and Outgroups.........................................123
Chapter 12 Factor #2 That Provokes Disunity:
Deficiency in the Social Capital of Trust.................129
Chapter 13 Factor #3 That Provokes Disunity:
Believing That Which Suits Us................................135
Chapter 14 Pathways toward Genuine Connection:
A Roadmap.............................................................153
Chapter 15 Concluding with Three Central Implications..........179
Glossary.....................................................................................183
About the Author.......................................................................185
Endnotes....................................................................................188
