I am Shiao Chong, currently Editor in Chief of The Banner, official magazine of the Christian Reformed Church. Previously, I was the Christian Reformed Campus Minister serving at York University in Toronto, Canada and Director of a student club at York U called LOGOS Christian Community. Ordained as a Commissioned Pastor in the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), and a member of Fellowship CRC in Etobicoke. I am married to Martha, and a father of three daughters.
What is 3D-Christianity? I believe that most of Christianity has reduced a wholistic, full-orbed, three-dimensional spirituality into a one-dimensional or two-dimensional caricature. Hence, I am trying to recapture that wholistic gospel, so to speak, to rediscover Christianity’s three-dimensional reality. Trying, of course, being the operative word here. For more on my thoughts on a 3D-Christianity, read the posts under the 3D-Christianity category. You can start with this sermon on the Total (3-D) Gospel.
I find nourishment in the Neo-Calvinist Reformed Christianity stream in my explorations at rediscovering this 3D-Christianity. I think deeply about diversity issues from inter-cultural issues to gender issues to disability issues within the church and Christianity. My interest in disability issues was sparked when my youngest daughter was born with Down Syndrome. Having worked in campus ministry, I, of course, also engaged topics that university students engage in, e.g. creation/evolution, faith/learning, finding one’s mission/calling, discovering one’s identity, relationships/sex, environmentalism, postmodernism, etc.
You will find here articles I have written, sermons I have preached, and new musings or thoughts I have explored. I hope you browse around, read the posts, and leave comments. Hope you enjoy reading the posts and finding them edifying.
Feel free to contact me at 3dchristianity@gmail.com .
Disclaimer: All posts and views are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA).
Blessings, Shiao Chong
3-D Christianity 
My brother Shiao –
I’ve been really helped by your blog! It’s really sparked different thoughts in me, and it’s led me to ask our God how I can be his instrument in all areas of life…or any way he wants me to be.
I wish you would post more! Your writing style is very clear and engaging – it’s easy to read while being very deep at the same time.
Thank you! Grace and Peace in Christ
Zack Melvin
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Hi Zack,
Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I think God is using you and others to encourage me and to push me to write more! Within hours of your post, another person emailed me to thank me for the blog as well, for it has helped her in her faith journey too.
Thank you. I covet your prayers as I will try and blog more often. It is not easy blogging the way I do – as I often write relatively more lengthy pieces and more thought out, which takes time – in addition to my full time ministry, the demands of other writing assignments/requests, preaching, family life, etc.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Grace and Peace in Christ,
Chong
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Dear Shiao Chong,
Thank you for your exposition of Colossians 1:15-23 (“The Whole Gospel”). I have been on a quest to determine and understand the real gospel for about 9 months. Your exposition is supremely helpful. Coupled with “Filling up the Afflictions of Christ (Col.1:24)” by Rev. Sam Storm – all in the same Saturday afternoon – the implications of “whole gospel” obedience are mind-boggling.
May God richly bless you, your family, and your ministry.
Andy Warner
Lincolnton, Georgia, USA
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Thanks Andy!
I am glad that God used my blog to help you.
God bless your ministry too.
Chong
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Hello! I came across this blog on accident but am so happy with the find! I find your articles well-written, articulate, and edifying! I’ll be sure to subscribe. 🙂
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Thanks! I hope to keep being edifying! 🙂
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Chong, this site is a great resource. I love reading your stuff, and this makes it available to a wide audience.
Being on a university confronts you with timely questions and keeps you sharp. Your reflections will be a reference for me, and many others.
I hope others who work in campus ministry and Christian academics will find out about this.
Keep writing!
Peter
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Thanks Peter!
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Looking forward to this. I am looking forward to hearing more from a Neo-Calvinist perspective (that’s a new term for me–what exactly does that mean?)
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Neo-Calvinism generally refers to the branch of Calvinism that is heavily influenced by the thought of late 19th to early 20th century Dutch theologians like Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck. It is slightly different than the more popular Scottish brand of Calvinism in the likes of the early Princeton theologians like Charles Hodge and B.B. Warfield, to today’s popular Reformed teachers like John Piper. Both branches worked out of an emphasis of God’s sovereignty and/or Christ’s Lordship but where the Anglo-Scottish Calvinism worked out of that principle towards focusing on the five points of Calvinism (TULIP), God’s election and predestination, and the high importance of the Church and doctrine, the Neo-Calvinists worked out of God’s sovereignty/Christ’s Lordship to focus on God’s mission/work in the world, outside of church, into philosophy, the arts, politics, culture, the sciences, etc. The historical-cultural differences of Scotland-England and Holland-Continential Europe had a lot to do with the divergence between these two Calvinist branches. Of course, Kuyper had a big influence in the direction of Calvinism in Holland. He was a Renaissance man of sorts – theologian, philosopher, newspaper publisher, university president, politician (one time Dutch Prime Minister), etc. And his Christian faith infused everything he did – from writing newspaper articles to establishing schools to running a government. Hope this helps.
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Wow – looks like there is a lot of good thought here. My Internet time is limited at the moment but I will be passing by here!
Blessings, VS
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I’m glad to see the blog, Chong; now I don’t need to keep bugging you for copies of your papers, sermons or speeches….
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