Abstract:Ancient Israelite tradition reflects a patriarchal social structure that positioned men at the center of social, legal, and religious authority, resulting in limitations on women’s rights and roles, including access to inheritance…
inheritance law. This article addresses theological and juridical issues concerning the mechanism of legal change through the narrative of the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27:1-11, which constitutes a significant turning point in Israelite legal tradition. The research problem focuses on the lack of attention in previous studies to the theological meaning of God’s decision in Numbers 27:7, as earlier research has tended to emphasize socio-cultural aspects, contextual relevance, or purely linguistic analysis. This study employs a qualitative approach based on a literature review, utilizing Hebrew textual exegesis, analysis of Israel’s patriarchal context, and a critical reading through the lens of feminist theology. The findings indicate that the daughters of Zelophehad’s claim was not merely a response to a legal vacuum, but a conscious action that positioned women as active subjects in the process of legal formation. God’s decision affirming their claim underscores divine justice that transcends the limitations of the patriarchal system and corrects institutionalized structural injustice. The conclusion affirms that this narrative presents God as the source of justice who sides with the restoration of the dignity of marginalized groups and opens space for women’s participation as agents of legal change. The novelty of this study lies in its theological interpretation that positions women not only as recipients of inheritance rights, but as pioneers of legitimate and divinely recognized legal transformation. These findings contribute to the development of feminist theology and Old Testament legal studies, while also providing a reflective foundation for gender equality discourse in contemporary theological and religious practice across cultures.
Abstract:The growing dominance of self-image construction in modern religious practice has diminished the authenticity of faith and shifted moral orientation from God toward public approval, indicating the need for an ethical framework…
mework capable of realigning the direction of Christian witness. This study employs Matthew 5:16 as the basis for reinterpreting the ethics of light as a corrective to performance-oriented religiosity and for formulating principles of sincere, theocentric, and contextually relevant faith testimony. The research utilizes literature review and historical-grammatical exegesis of the key Greek terms φῶς (phōs), καλὰ ἔργα (kalā erga), and δοξάσωσιν (doxasōsin), drawing on academic commentaries and recent scholarly findings. The analysis demonstrates that the ethics of light is not merely a moral exhortation but a participatory ethic that positions human beings as reflectors of God’s love rather than autonomous producers of moral virtue. Authentic good works direct glory to the Father, eliminating the pursuit of social recognition and rejecting religious self-presentation. The concept of hidden righteousness emerges as a theological critique of visual culture that prioritizes visible spiritual performance, affirming instead that genuine piety grows through inner integrity and spiritual perseverance. Its relevance to the digital age is expressed through a form of faith witness that promotes justice, solidarity, and consistent spiritual character within public spaces shaped by identity curation. The study concludes that the ethics of light constitutes a spirituality of witness integrating faith, morality, and social responsibility while offering novelty through a theocentric reinterpretation of the ethics of light as a constructive critique of contemporary religious self-imaging and an ethical paradigm for cultivating authentic Christian faith in the digital era.
Abstract:This study explores the concept of covenant in the Pentateuch through a qualitative-descriptive approach that integrates historical and theological analysis of God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Israel at Sinai. Historical…
istorical findings indicate that the covenantal structures in the Pentateuch correspond to treaty forms common in the Ancient Near East, particularly suzerainty treaties, yet the biblical covenants reveal a fundamental distinction by emphasizing God’s gracious initiative independent of political negotiations or human strategic interests. The theological examination affirms that the covenant is not merely a legalistic contract but a manifestation of God’s relational commitment that shapes the identity of His people as a covenant community grounded in divine faithfulness and promise. The Torah is understood as an expression of faith response arising from this covenantal relationship, rather than a prerequisite for salvation, thereby retaining its significance for the contemporary church as an ethical and spiritual framework guiding Christian praxis, character formation, and communal responsibility amid rapidly evolving social contexts. The integration of historical and theological perspectives demonstrates that the Pentateuchal covenant encompasses intertwined dynamics of grace, obligation, and identity formation, contributing theoretically to Old Testament studies, particularly covenant theology, while offering practical implications for ecclesial faith formation, the strengthening of communal spirituality, and ministry orientation rooted in a holistic understanding of the divine–human relationship. This research underscores the urgency of interpreting the Pentateuchal covenant through an interdisciplinary lens to meet the theological, ethical, and pastoral challenges faced by the church in the contemporary era.
Abstract:The phenomenon of low congregation involvement in the preaching and intercessory prayer segments indicates structural and conceptual weaknesses in church worship management, which impact the quality of the congregation’s…
�s spiritual participation. Although physical attendance is maintained, the apparent spiritual absence, reflected in passive behavior or the departure of congregants during crucial liturgical moments, reveals a management failure to holistically integrate liturgical, theological, and pastoral aspects. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach with data collected through participatory observation and in-depth interviews to examine the role of management in designing, implementing, and evaluating worship services that facilitate meaningful spiritual engagement. The analysis confirms that weak liturgical formation, the absence of a structured participatory evaluation system, and a less dialogical pastoral approach are dominant factors contributing to low congregation participation. Worship management that is purely administrative and procedural without reinforcement of the spiritual dimension contributes to a less transformative worship atmosphere. This study recommends reforming worship management through strengthening liturgical education, innovating more participatory and contextual forms of worship, and establishing worship evaluation teams involving leadership and congregants collaboratively and sustainably. The novelty of this research lies in emphasizing worship management not merely as a technical-administrative process but as a means of dynamically and contextually shaping the congregation’s spirituality, thereby providing a conceptual contribution to developing an adaptive and transformative worship management model within the modern church environment.
Abstract:Sexual violence can occur in any environment, including the family. Most victims of sexual violence are women. One narrative depicting violence in a family context is the story of Tamar and Amnon in 2 Samuel 13:1-39, which…
ch is part of King David’s family history. The family, which should be a place of refuge, instead becomes an unsafe place. The patriarchal system that gives power to men and places women in a subordinate position is one of the causes. The text of 2 Samuel 13:1-39 is implied in the modern context because the problem of sexual violence in private spaces such as the home is also experienced by women today. A feminist approach is used to draw out women’s values and analyze the structure of the Davidic Kingdom family, identifying the causes and impacts, and how Tamar, as a woman, faced and overcame the moral crisis and sexual violence she experienced. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method with a hermeneutic approach, focusing on literature review to discuss related topics. The author found that Tamar, who experienced sexual violence in the family environment, did not receive justice. The cause of violence is the patriarchal system. Power struggles and invalid laws. Tamar did not remain silent but sought justice for herself by communicating her experiences to the public through religious and social symbolism. Learning from Tamar teaches modern women how to speak out about the injustices they experience.
Abstract:This study aims to analyze the role of post-marital counseling as a pastoral strategy in addressing marital conflicts during the first five years of marriage among congregants of the Bethel Church of Indonesia (Gereja Bethel…
thel Indonesia) Musi Palem Indah, Palembang. The first five years of marriage represent a critical period prone to various issues, such as personality differences, poor communication patterns, financial problems, spiritual crises, and the influence of secular culture. Although the church has implemented a premarital counseling program, data indicate instances of divorce among young married couples due to a lack of continuous guidance. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method using observation, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires distributed to 25 couples who were married between 2020 and 2025. Data analysis was conducted through the stages of reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing, validated through source triangulation. The findings reveal that the majority of respondents (70–80%) acknowledged that post-marital counseling plays a significant role in resolving household conflicts, fostering healthy communication, and strengthening family spirituality. The key finding of this study is the effectiveness of the MUSI-based pastoral counseling model (Problem, Effort, Goal, Intervention), which is systematic, contextual, and spiritually integrative according to the needs of the local congregation. The study recommends that the church develop post-marital counseling programs as an integral part of pastoral family ministry in a preventive, structured, and continuous manner to strengthen Christian family resilience from the early stages of marriage.
Abstract:Youth represent a socio-psycho-spiritual entity undergoing a critical transitional phase, characterized by identity crises, value disorientation, and pressures from secular-cultural influences. Within the framework of Christian…
ristian pastoral theology and pedagogy, faith formation serves as a strategic mechanism to cultivate integrative spiritual maturity, encompassing cognitive (doctrinal understanding), affective (spiritual affection), and conative (practical orientation) dimensions. This study analyzes the effectiveness of Bible Camp as an experiential learning-based faith formation model in the spiritual development of youth. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis, the research explores the contribution of Bible Camp to the internalization of theological values, the construction of religious identity, and the strengthening of faith community cohesion. The findings indicate that Bible Camp activities—such as hermeneutic study, collective worship, existential reflection, and group dynamics—result in significant faith transformation on both personal and communal levels. This process aligns with Streib’s faith development theory and Mezirow’s transformative learning theory, which emphasize cognitive reconstruction through reflective experience within a social context. Bible Camp effectively mediates the transition from conventional faith to reflective and dialogical faith, while enhancing youth’s spiritual competencies in confronting the complexities of contemporary reality. The findings reinforce the assumption that faith formation in interactive non-formal settings is more effective than conventional instructional approaches in producing theological and ethical paradigm shifts. Therefore, Bible Camp is positioned as a relevant and contextual ecclesiological instrument in the recontextualization of Christian faith education. This model functions not only as a venue for individual spiritualization but also as a catalyst for the formation of resilient, participatory, and transformative Christian character within a pluralistic socio-religious ecosystem. Recommendations are directed towards institutionalizing Bible Camp as a systemic strategy for youth faith formation in the mission of the contemporary church.
Abstract:This study develops an interdisciplinary theological framework that integrates collective memory, a theology of woundedness, and local wisdom as epistemological and pastoral strategies for engaging with social trauma inscribed…
cribed in the communal body of postcolonial and post-conflict societies in Indonesia. Collective memory, as examined by Halbwachs, Assmann, and Volf, is not construed as a mere aggregation of historical facts but as a cultural construction that shapes theological identity through performative, ritualistic, and narrative social processes. The theology of woundedness, informed by the works of Rambo, Moltmann, Jones, and Brock, resists binary categorizations between suffering and salvation, positioning wounds instead as loci theologici—revelatory spaces wherein the Holy Spirit dwells amidst unhealed wounds as a manifestation of divine solidarity and the possibility of redemption. Employing a qualitative-descriptive methodological framework and contextual hermeneutics, this research investigates local narratives, healing rituals, customary symbols, and inculturated liturgies among Christian communities in Ambon, Poso, and East Nusa Tenggara. The findings suggest that local wisdom functions not merely as a cultural instrument but also as a sacramental medium through which the Spirit operates incarnationally. The integration of these three dimensions demonstrates that post-traumatic restoration cannot be reduced to psychological or therapeutic pastoral practices alone; rather, it demands a theologically transformative, contextually rooted, and dialogical articulation of the wounded social body. Within this construct, the Church is envisioned as an anamnetic community that employs collective memory as a praxis of salvation, regards local culture as a spiritual body, and embraces woundedness as a participatory locus within the salvific narrative. Accordingly, this study contributes a novel paradigm for contextual theology and pastoral praxis in multicultural societies marked by the legacy of historical suffering and the urgent need for reconciliation grounded in justice and memory.
Abstract:The participation of women in various spheres of life has witnessed significant progress; however, it is undeniable that patriarchal culture remains deeply entrenched and continues to reproduce discriminatory practices and…
nd violence against women, including through religious interpretation. In many instances, religion inadvertently reinforces gender inequality through scriptural interpretations that are predominantly shaped by male perspectives and patriarchal structures. Therefore, a hermeneutical approach is required, one capable of deconstructing such biases and rearticulating the voices of women in a just manner. This study aims to interpret Song of Songs 3:1-5 through the lens of feminist literary criticism, specifically employing the “woman as reader” approach developed by Elaine Showalter. This approach emphasizes the experiences, voices, and agency of women as subjects within the text. Through the stages of interpretation, narrative deconstruction, and critical evaluation, the analysis reveals that the female character in this passage is portrayed as an autonomous individual who demonstrates initiative and actively expresses her love and longing. This representation subtly challenges patriarchal constructions that traditionally position women as passive objects in gender relations. On the other hand, the text also opens a reflective space to examine how women, consciously or unconsciously, may contribute to the perpetuation of systems that oppress them. Consequently, a feminist reading of Song of Songs not only unveils the emancipatory potential within the biblical text but also offers a critical and transformative hermeneutical framework. This represents an effort to reclaim a gender-just theological space and to reimagine sacred scripture as a site of both spiritual and social struggle toward justice and equality.
Abstract:This study examines the effectiveness of the Presbyterian-Synodal system of church governance in shaping an inclusive, participatory, and contextual ministry within the Indonesian Protestant Church in Papua (GPI Papua).…
Employing a qualitative approach and contextual case study, the research focuses on the relationship between church governance structures and Papuan communal culture, which emphasizes deliberation, egalitarianism, and communal living. The findings indicate that, in principle, the Presbyterian-Synodal system possesses the potential to accommodate the collective character of Papuan society and to support congregational participation in ecclesiastical decision-making processes. However, implementation at the local level faces several challenges, including inconsistent understanding of ecclesiastical roles and responsibilities, limited human resource capacity, and misalignment between synodal policies and the contextual needs of congregations. These issues reveal a gap between the theological-structural design of the system and the pastoral realities on the ground. Therefore, this study recommends institutional renewal based on local contexts, the development of transformative church leadership models, and the strengthening of ecclesiological education rooted in Papuan cultural and social dynamics. Theoretically and practically, this research contributes to the development of contextual ecclesiology and church management in multicultural settings, emphasizing the importance of synthesizing Reformed theology with local values. As such, this study not only offers a constructive critique of current church governance practices but also opens space for reflection and innovation, enabling the church to become more relevant, just, and empowering in addressing contemporary challenges and contextual realities.