Thomas M. Stallter is Professor of Intercultural Studies. Stallter has a heart for the world and for preparing others to reach out to those of other cultural and worldviews. Whether teaching cultural anthropology or world religions or even methods of social research, his real intention is to prepare students for the impact of culture on relationships and ministry. “Relating to real people in a multicultural world with a relevant message that touches both felt needs and spiritual needs is our part in the mission of God.” After 18 years of service in Africa, he has now served 23 plus years at Grace College & Seminary preparing others to take his place. “Penetrating worldviews with God’s love and grace is our purpose. His love for the world is our calling. His Spirit is our strength. His amazing grace in our lives is our motivation.”’EducationPost-Doctoral Studies 2006 Cultural Anthropology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IllinoisD.Miss. 1993 Western Seminary, Portland, OregonTh. M. 1979 Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TexasB.A. 1974 Grace College, Winona Lake, IndianaMy Perspective: "The Gap Between God and Christianity""'The Gap Between God and Christianity' comes out of decades of observing Western Christianity in the United States and Europe and non-Western Christianity in Africa, Korea, and Native America and years of teaching applied cultural anthropology and intercultural communication. Through it all I had come to own a deep concern for today's churches, Christian schools, and mission agencies. It seems we have ignored this monster of culture and that ours has played tricks on us, invading our way of thinking about God, godliness, and ministry. It is time to close the gap.This book speaks to the interference of our Western culture in the reading and responding to God's Word. Until recent times, Christians have not paid attention to the effects of culture on people, especially their own on them. But this has been our error and weakness as Western people in understanding ourselves and others in the world around us. A further result is that we have neglected to see that reading the Bible is a cross-cultural experience, and we are ill-prepared for it. 'The Gap Between God and Christianity' opens our understanding of the influence of our culture when we read the Bible.We have a Western prescription in our cultural lenses, helping us interpret our experience and communication in our own situation but distorting the meaning of experience and communication in other cultures, including the Bible. If we let it, it creates a gap between us and God's intentions for us in His Word. Although it is a sort of high treason to talk about culture's influence on us individualists, it is time we met God on his own terms and let him speak for himself. 'The Gap Between God and Christianity' helps us cross the chasm."My Perspective: "Finding Freedom and Grace in a Broken World"In this book I insist that it is time to let biblical values shape our inmost thoughts and desires, and go deep into our relationship with the Creator, the God of grace, the lover of our souls. It is time to think about ourselves in this relationship— our values, beliefs, and assumptions and how they may interfere with this bonding already begun by God but held back by our weak faith and our clouded understanding. We were meant for more but we have yet to fully understand the flood of his grace, the granite peaks of his decrees, and his far-reaching providence preparing us in our situation for his purposes. We must know more about dealing with fear, injustice, and anxiety, more about how he answers prayer, and more about what to expect of his providence. We lose so much if we wait. We must move ahead without delay and regain the full benefit of our birthright in Christ damaged by unbiblical cultural values, fear for self-survival, and the Enemy himself. Read more about this authorRead less about this author