What is the unique thing we find in Christianity but nowhere else? Recent research among Dutch pastors and church planters revealed that while most of them would answer this question with “Jesus” – but that they find it difficult to express what difference he makes. Older soteriological models no longer seem to resonate; past language no longer feels life-giving or even feels somewhat embarrassing. Anecdotal evidence suggests this is not much different among North American church leaders. In this episode we speak about these questions with Jan Martijn Abrahamse, who was involved with the Dutch research project on these issues. Abrahamse studied theology in the Netherlands and the USA (Duke), was a Baptist pastor in the Netherlands, and currently is lector in theology.

https://christelijkehogeschoolede.academia.edu/JanMartijnAbrahamse

The research on salvation will be published in: Hans Schaeffer, Jan Martijn Abrahamse, Karen-Zwijne-Koning, and Stefan Paas, eds., Visions of the Good Life: Salvation, Church, and Mission in the Secular West. Leiden: Brill, 2025.

In the conversation, Abrahamse refers to a number of other books:

• Rowan Williams, Christ The Heart of Creation.
• James K.A. Smith, Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation.
• Clive Marsh, A Cultural Theology of Salvation.
• Christian Smith, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers.
• Mircea Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane.
• Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ.
• Hartmut Rosa, Resonance.