July 31, 2006 by iMonk
The New Covenant Way: A teaching presented at soli deo August 1, 2006 by Michael Spencer
One of the “values” of this fellowship is this: “Soli deo is teaching the Bible in a New Covenant-emphasized, Christ-centered, grace-exalting way.”
I’m fairly certain that the part of that sentence that may raise the most questions is the idea of “the New Covenant way”. Do those words mean anything really important, or is it just something that sounds nice? Is there something about the New Covenant way of doing something that would be important for you to know? Or is it just window dressing?
I’m sure I’m supposed to say that nothing in the Bible or Christian belief is “window dressing”, and that it’s all very important, but let’s be honest. There are all kinds of words and ideas in Christianity that the average person doesn’t understand at all, and that make little difference to daily Christian experience. “Grace” is an important word, but does anyone here have a childhood Sunday School teacher–or even a pastor–who could quickly rattle off the important applications of forensic imputation? It’s a critical concept in theology, but we seldom bring it into our minds as we go to the grocery.
So is “New Covenant” really important enough that a group of Christians would put it out front as a way of identifying themselves? Aren’t all Christians “New Covenant” believers all the time, whether they know it or not? Is it just a t-shirt, or does it matter? [Continue reading]
July 29, 2006 by iMonk
Let’s start out the weekend with good news. Very good. Ken Myers is taking the Mars Hill Audio site to podcasting. That means you will be able to hear a monthly version of MHA, featuring archival interviews, some new things and more. Long overdue, and a great addition to the blogosphere. Here’s the link, though I hear there will be a new one soon. [Continue reading]
July 28, 2006 by iMonk
Internet Radio Podcast 9. First time using Garageband, but I mixed the sound quality way down to get the file smaller. I’m pleased overall. Topics: I am awarded “Spirit of AntiChrist.” The Coffeehouse. Evangelical Fanboys. CCM Patrol. Technology report.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
July 28, 2006 by iMonk
Skip Towne opened the door to his office and sat down to check his voice mail. Skip had been youth minister at Central Baptist Church for four years. As associate minister for youth at a large, traditional Baptist church, his life was always busy. Three services on Sunday, visitation on Sunday afternoons and youth group on Sunday and Wednesday nights. Mondays he led a Bible study for small group leaders, Tuesdays he coached an Upwards team. Wednesdays were full of junior high ministry and Thursday was his only night home. Friday night it was football game and open gym afterwards. Saturdays were always some kind of scheduled trip, concert or special event. It was the life of the youth minister he’d always imagined.
Skip’s youth group was one of the largest in the community. There were over a hundred students who were highly involved with the student ministries at Central, and many others who visited. It was sometimes embarrassing to eat lunch with youth ministers from other churches and find out that their attendance had been down because so many of their kids were attending an event at Central Baptist. The church was generous to the youth program. They paid for mission trips, recreation, concerts and new facilities. Skip even got to take in three or four conferences a year. And it was one of those conferences that had Skip checking his email this morning. [Continue reading]
July 27, 2006 by iMonk
Bill Kinnon is a faithful IM reader who does a lot of visual media projects. He’s brought to my attention his video for Alan Roxburgh’s new book, The Sky is Falling. I am familar with Roxburgh from other books and many web sites. He’s an academic with the ability to say some very practical, helpful things about vision. Here are some great quotes from Roxburgh. (The first one is particularly fine): [Continue reading]
July 27, 2006 by iMonk
At least once a year, I pick up a book by Reformed Seminary professor, radio talk show guy and Key Life speaker/teacher Steve Brown, and I am always glad I did. In fact, Steve Brown’s unique perspective in the reformed world is one of the absolute necessities for me in these post-evangelical, post-reformed times. His somewhat quirky, deeply gospel-influenced view of the world is worth the price of any of his books several times over. [Continue reading]
July 24, 2006 by iMonk
Internet Monk Radio Podcast 8. Pastoring in the comments? A Vytorin ad. No more BHT Rule 40. I’m not going to be a Roman Catholic.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
July 24, 2006 by iMonk
It goes without saying that new ways of thinking rarely bring out the best in evangelicalism. Those dreaded “paradigm shifts” usually elicit lots of sermons on topics like “The Christian Worldview” and “The Threat of Relativistic New Age Contemplative Prayer.” No doubt, there are many times that the evangelical response to a new way of thinking is on target. But not always. Sometimes we’re just wrong. Sincere and God-loving, but wrong. [Continue reading]
July 22, 2006 by iMonk
I’ve put together a 30 minute podcast on Thomas Merton. I cover a lot of Merton basics, and try to put some of Merton’s interest in Eastern “mysticism” in perspective.
I reduced the sound quality to make the file smaller.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
July 21, 2006 by iMonk
Without a doubt, there are no words to describe the working over Tom Merton is getting at the hands of the TR watchbloggers. Apparently, Merton is a candidate for the antiChrist and the source of all that’s wrong in evangelicalism. Pretty good for a guy who died by getting tangled up with a fan in 1968 and never entered an evangelical church or school in his life. As sordid a misrepresentation of someone in Christian history as I’ve ever seen. Just the totally inability to understand monasticism itself is stunning, much less what Merton is talking about most of the time. [Continue reading]
July 20, 2006 by iMonk
Internet Monk Radio Podcast 7. Lots of stuff. What’s up with people posting MLK Jr’s college papers as “bad theology?” Al Mohler ‘fesses up. Thoughts on giving money away.
July 20, 2006 by iMonk
I’ve never done a funeral for an infant. I did a graveside service for a 9-year old boy who, for all of those nine years, had lived only through constant medical care that made up for enormous mental and physical limitations. I remember that the sense of grief was mitigated by the sense that the family was emerging from a time of unspeakable testing. Still, it is one of the worst things any minister must do, and the smaller the infant, the more emotionally and mentally wrenching is the whole event. [Continue reading]
July 19, 2006 by iMonk
From time to time, I’ve referred to the common questions I get in my vocation as campus minister and Bible teacher here at OBI. Today I was asked another one that I realize is very common, and I’m sure many of you get this question in your ministry contexts.
You have to understand that this question is particularly pressing to my Southern Baptist friends, so I will put it as close as possible to the way they would phrase the question .
“Let’s say that someone is saved, but they have a sin they just don’t want to give up. They keep doing this, even though it’s wrong, and they won’t repent of that sin. Are they really saved?” [Continue reading]
July 17, 2006 by iMonk
David Wayne keeps writing like this, I can just link my “Christian Humanism” category right to him. It’s interesting to me that He is reacting to Piper-esque language a bit, just as I did in my original posts on that topic. I think the incarnation is long overdue to be given generous consideration as the center of Christian theology. The light that shines from the incarnation illuminates God, humanity and every aspect of life. We are human only in reference to God, and the incarnation means we only understand God in reference to our humanity. Read this post and let’s hope David has more in line. [Continue reading]
July 16, 2006 by iMonk
There’s a good bit of blogosphere discussion about a post from Challies.com dealing with unregenerate children. It is a good example of why the majority of young Calvinists with children will be eventually drawn to paedobaptism. If the article itself isn’t enough to get your juices flowing, read the comments. Actually, read them anyway. Just for the “children of wrath” comment. Here’s an excerpt: [Continue reading]
