Has modern evangelicalism forgotten about key aspects of who God is?
In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott welcome Dr. Peter Sammons, Associate Director of Academic Development at Founders Seminary, to discuss the “forgotten attributes” of God—those less-discussed incommunicable aspects of God’s nature. Sammons argues that modern Christians tend to focus on God’s relational and communicable attributes (like love and kindness) because they are easier to grasp and more emotionally resonant. Sammons stresses that a proper understanding of God’s essence and metaphysical attributes is crucial for true worship and doctrinal precision.
The discussion also explores why understanding God’s immutable nature is essential, especially in missions. Many pagan and world religions depict gods as moody and human-like, but the Christian God stands apart as wholly other, unaffected by human emotion or manipulation. This, Sammons emphasizes, highlights the necessity of theological depth for missionaries. Without it, missionaries risk portraying God as just another tribal deity.
Key Points
- Forgotten Attributes: Focus on God’s immutability, impassibility, and aseity, which are often overshadowed by more “relatable” attributes.
- Essence of God: Importance of understanding God’s essence versus merely his relational attributes.
- Modern Challenges: Cultural and intellectual laziness has led to theological illiteracy and avoidance of difficult doctrines.
- Missional Importance: Proper theological understanding is critical for distinguishing the Christian God from false deities in missions work.
- Training Solutions: Founders Seminary offers a Master of Arts in Cultural Apologetics and Missions to deepen theological literacy for missionaries, even remotely.
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