Orthodox Christology maintains that Jesus Christ is both truly God and truly human. As such, he is the key to knowing both God and self. In a series of applications of christological anthropology, Mirrors of Self develops this epistemic premise in dialogue with a diversity of Christian and secular, historical and modern perspectives. Aspects of human personhood, including the ever-elusive self, gain greater clarity and significance in the light of Christ's person and work. At the center of individual human subjectivity, we encounter a broken, sin-blinded self in need of renewal and release. What healing we find comes to us as Christ's ecological presence works in and through others--the mirrors of self whose instrumental agency Christ employs in service to his own redemptive ends.
Jonathan P. Badgett received his PhD and MDiv from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He currently serves as the senior pastor of Morningside Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia.
“Coming to know ourselves as we are known by God: that is the theological and anthropological quest Badgett sets himself to explore. To that end, Badgett offers a thoroughly well-researched and astonishingly wide-ranging pastoral theology of Christian self-knowledge. . . . This is a superb contribution to interdisciplinary dialogue. And I am personally heartened to see the future of pastoral theology in the safe care of a scholar of this quality.”
—Andrew Purves, Jean and Nancy Davis Professor emeritus of Historical Theology, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
“Badgett has achieved a rare feat: a penetrating theological treatise that yields fresh insights for the Christian psychologist as well. Among Badgett’s most significant contributions is his defense of transdisciplinary dialogue in the light of Christ’s person and work. . . . This exemplifies a contemporary pastoral theology that is informed and constituted by multiple disciplines. It is erudite, original, and timely, and at the same time orthodox, Christ-centered, and profoundly committed to the care and cure of persons created in God’s image. A worthy achievement!”
—Eric L. Johnson, Houston Baptist University
“Badgett offers us a polished and profound piece of original scholarship that is
both focused in its argument and wide ranging in its implications. While the theme of
Christian self-knowledge is fairly well-worn territory, Badgett contributes something
genuinely fresh to the conversation. His development of a Christological framework for
handling the issue of self-knowledge is both new and worthwhile. . . . Every chapter introduces a stimulating insight or challenging perspective. There is little doubt that this book represents a significant contribution to scholarship, with implications for the scholarly guild as well as for ecclesial and professional practice.”
—Todd A. Wilson, President, Center for Pastor Theologians