Character Theology: Engaging God Through His Cast of Characters - Paperback

by Tom Steffen (Author), Ray Neu (Author), Samuel E. Chiang (Foreword by)

Character Theology provides a natural, universal way for the world to engage God through his chosen cast of characters. As the media eras continue to change (oral to print to digital-virtual), too many Bible scholars, and consequently pastors and Bible teachers in the West and beyond, lack capability to effectively communicate Scripture to Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha. These generations find little if any relevance in the Christianity promoted by those stuck in modernity's sticky abstract systematic theology. Character Theology relates, sticks, and transforms these generations. Why? Because people grasp and engage God most naturally and precisely through his interaction with biblical characters and their interaction with each other! Characters communicate the Creator's characteristics. The roadmap to the recovery and expansion of Christianity in the twenty-first century will be through Bible characters.

Author Biography

Tom Steffen is professor emeritus of intercultural studies at the Cook School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University. Related publications are The Return of Oral Hermeneutics (2020) and Worldview-based Storying (2018).



Ray Neu, called The Story Doctor, is the director of orality coaching at Spoken Worldwide where he is privileged to work with empowered oral learners through several global partnerships.