Towards a Contextual Theology of Community: An Exploration of the Body of Christ Metaphor

Abstract

<p>This thesis argues that the Body of Christ is an effective metaphor for envisioning healthy Christian community in contemporary North American culture. The Body of Christ metaphor fosters a vision of the alternative community of God that addresses the problem of (unhealthy) displacement and revitalizes the way in which Christians embrace and embody God's mission. Deeper reflection on the biblical metaphor of the Body of Christ assists the church in reflecting on its core identity as the people called by God to share in his mission in the contemporary context. The core identity of the Christian community that this thesis explores includes its nature ('being') and function ('doing'). To conclude, this thesis appraises 'intentional Christian communities' as one contextual application of biblical community that lives out the Body of Christ metaphor.</p>