A call to a new Reformation in the teaching and life of Jesus' followers
Note: I don’t actually know any way to get this letter to Mr. Hitchens, and I have no idea how he’d respond if he read it. But I think some of the following needs to be said…and maybe someone who needs to will read it. Dear Mr. Hitchens, I’m a Christian, and I’d like to apologize to you. I heard the NPR interview with you … Continue reading An Open Letter to Christopher Hitchens
I heard a great feature this morning on NPR’s show “Morning Edition,” in which the brothers Christopher and Peter Hitchens were interviewed. Christopher, as most of you likely know, is a world-famous atheist (I would describe him as an anti-theist fundamentalist) who rails against those who hold to faith, and who wrote the bestseller “God is Not Great.” What I did not know is that … Continue reading Christopher Hitchens Interview — More evidence bad theology drives people away from Jesus
Over the past few days I read Robert A. Heinlein’s 1984 book Job: A Comedy of Justice. For those who enjoy mind-bending adventures with an eternal twist, I recommend it as a fun story. Be forewarned: if you only enjoy fiction that comports with your theology and cosmology, and you consider yourself an orthodox Christian, this book is probably not for you. But if you … Continue reading The Gospel According to Heinlein, or Why Christians are sometimes God’s worst enemies…
I was under the illusion that I had completed my occasional series on Biblical Inspiration until several friends pushed back on my “ROCK” summary of my faith distinctives. Reading back over my posts I see that I never really wrapped up my position, so this is a shot at doing so. I shall not attempt to fully justify my position in this post; interested readers … Continue reading Rightly Dividing the Word — A Summary
Last week in Sunday School we had a big discussion (started by yours truly, I’m afraid) as to whether or not God ever changes his mind. It came out of the account in 1 Sam. 15:11, where God states that “I regret that I have made Saul king…” Our teacher stated “well, we know God can’t really regret anything he did, because God doesn’t change … Continue reading Does God Change? Part 1 of 2
I’ve been chewing over a variety of theological ideas with you all over the approximately year and a half that I’ve been blogging. These have been supplemented by long conversations with my good friend Ben (who’s not blogging theology right now), as well as a variety of books I’ve mentioned. Ben and I have come to the realization that four key concepts do a pretty … Continue reading ROCK your faith! A few core tenets. . .
Yesterday I discussed at length my criticism of Brian McLaren’s perspective on homosexuality, and to some extent sexuality in general, in his book A New Kind of Christianity. Today I want to laud a point that McLaren has gotten absolutely right, in chapter 19 of the same book, entitled “The Pluralism Question: How Should Followers of Jesus Relate to People of Other Religions?” Here I’ll … Continue reading McLaren – "A New Kind of Christianity" – Thoughts on John 14:6
I’m still in process of reading Brian McLaren’s A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions that are Transforming the Faith, and for the most part I really appreciate it. McLaren coherently describes the conventionally-accepted framework of the Biblical narrative, which he calls the “Greco-Roman model,” and contrasts it with a narrative that takes into account the story of God’s calling and working through the Jews … Continue reading Book in progress – "A New Kind of Christianity" by McLaren
Today I finished the book A Deadly Misunderstanding by Mark Siljander, and I vigorously recommend it. A former Republican congressman with impeccable conservative credentials, colleague of Newt Gingrich and the “Young Turks” of the Reagan Revolution, Mark was also a staunch conservative Evangelical Christian, solid supporter of Israel and opponent of communists and Muslims wherever they might be found. Challenged not long after an electoral … Continue reading Must-Read: Mark Siljander’s "A Deadly Misunderstanding"
I just came across an interesting article by Greg Boyd at Christus Victor during my lunch break. In it, Greg outlines several points that he is finding helpful in an attempt to reconcile the peaceful, self-giving portrait of God painted in Jesus Christ, with the violent and even nationalistic God portrayed in the Old Testament. I was particularly struck with Greg’s first point, which I … Continue reading An interesting take on incarnation and God’s chacter