February 28, 2007 by iMonk
Ground Rules is a series of posts reflecting on my interactions with my critics.
Critics say those advocating a “missional” church fail to define what “missional” means. They, on the other hand, are generally confident in their own descriptions of missional churches and ministers. [Continue reading]
February 27, 2007 by iMonk
More on Romans 15:1-7. Where do you look for spiritual deepening? Would you want your pastor going to an Ash Wednesday service? + an Old Testament resource.
This podcast is available on iTunes as a free download. Very convenient.
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February 26, 2007 by iMonk
I am continuing my conversation with Frank “Centuri0n” Turk concerning Ed Stetzer’s presentation of Missionalism and Baptist Identity. Here are Frank’s first, second and third questions. My first question is below, and now here’s the second. [Continue reading]
February 26, 2007 by iMonk
A previous post on surveying some Marcus Borg resources is here. My previous post on Wright’s views of Borg are at this post.
On my bookshelves, I have nearly all of the books of Marcus Borg. That won’t surprise those of you who are already concerned about my theology. I enjoy reading people in their own words rather than having their positions explained to me by their critics. I think it’s fair, and it’s often rewarding. [Continue reading]
February 25, 2007 by iMonk
There are continuing updates below. I am not adding everything, but only pertinent and helpful links. Send me any that you have. And pray as Ben Witherington III prepares to speak on this. That will be interesting, given his involvement in the James Ossuary case.
UPDATE: The original post and updated links are here. Much fuller details in this news story. And the Discovery Channel website for the movie is here. More connections to the DVC/Gnostic gospels in this information. [Continue reading]
February 24, 2007 by iMonk
UPDATE: The best single resource to respond to this is William Lane Craig’s work on the “Empty Tomb” tradition. It’s summarized very well in this essay.
UPDATE II: Much fuller details in this news story. And the Discovery Channel website for the movie is here. Many more connections to the DVC/Gnostic gospels in this information. [Continue reading]
February 21, 2007 by iMonk
Start of a series on Romans 15:1-7; fear.
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February 21, 2007 by iMonk
In June of last year, I began taking the Lord’s Supper weekly. I’d like to write about what this has meant to me, and to the community of worshipping Christians that I lead.
My Southern Baptist tradition has been de-emphasizing the Lord’s Supper for a good deal of its recent history. This has not been so much intentional as it is the result of a weak ecclesiology (manifested in a loss of emphasis on church membership and church discipline), an over-emphasis on evangelism and church growth, and lack of theological foundations for the place of the Lord’s Supper in the life of the church and the Christian. [Continue reading]
February 20, 2007 by iMonk
Dr. Timothy George gave a presentation at Union University last week called “Is Jesus A Baptist?” (It was renamed. Ignore the title.) The entire talk is a compelling and outstanding exploration of what Baptists are facing in the post-denominational age. The first part, which is autobiographical, is deeply touching and relevant to anyone who cares about the Gospel in denominational evangelicalism today. His proposals are deeply connected to my own post-evangelical journey. I want to commend the talk to you and to honor Dr. George with a post recalling his influence in my life. [Continue reading]
February 19, 2007 by iMonk
That’s not Clay. Sorry.
I have a son who is showing signs of being a poet. He may be a teacher or a writer, but as of today, his most evident gifts are poetic. Everyone who has read or heard his work has been impressed. I’m not exactly unbiased, but I’ve found some of his poetic efforts to be stunning in their insight for a beginning poet.
I remember the day in English III he encountered T.S. Eliot. Remember those days when someone you read opened up something that you knew was part of you, but now there is another kind of light, another kind of energy? I watched it happen, and it was exciting.
It’s Dad speaking, but I think he has the gift. It’s possible that he will decide to pursue a vocation and calling of a poet or a teacher of poetry. That probably means we should keep his room available.
My son is also a Christian; a Don Miller, Thomas Merton, Shane Claiborne, G.K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis type. A Bob Dylan beat looking for a pub crawl with the rest of the word-writing princes of cool. He’s been growing steadily in his faith since the end of his senior year, and he sees his art in relationship to his faith in Jesus and his desire to live as a Christ-follower in the world. [Continue reading]
February 17, 2007 by iMonk
The music you hear on this week’s podcast (in and out, not the segment bumpers) is by Daniel Whittington’s new band, Rhodes. Their CD, Half a Mind to Stay is available at CD baby and I would encourage all of the IM audience to check it out. Samples are available at their myspace page. The cut you’re going to be hearing as the podcast intro for a while is “Should Have Known.” Has a nice southern rock feel to some of it. Bluesy. Some British rock flavor. Plenty of influences. Just good. [Continue reading]
February 16, 2007 by iMonk
UPDATE: Michael Medved regularly reminds me of the difference Jesus makes in how I look at a cultural issue and how a Jewish conservative looks at the same issue. Law by Moses. Grace and Truth by Jesus.
“You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people,” he said. “I’m homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.” -Former NBA player Tim Hardaway.
As soon as I read the comments of former NBA player Tim Hardaway, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I heard a Christian come as close as possible to saying the exact same sentiment.
True to my intuition, it happened within a week. “Let’s not join the secular media in condemning Hardaway for not being politically correct, because as Christians, we hate that sin, too…..” [Continue reading]
February 15, 2007 by iMonk
Christians always live in a culture. Sometimes that culture has been, in some way, a “Christian” culture. In most instances, Christians have existed in a culture that did not share an appreciation or endorsement of their worldview.
Determining how to live in culture, and to what extent that culture will influence us, has always been a challenge for Christians. Our “connectedness” to culture, however, is often not a matter of our decision to participate or belong. Because we live “in” culture, the condition of culture affects us whether we agree with that culture or oppose it. It is the water we swim in and the air we breath, and there is little that can be done about its presence unles we are willing to choose radical separation.
God’s word to his people has varied in regard to this challenge. In some circumstances, God has told his people to be separate to the point of suffering. In other cases, God’s people were told to settle down, buy houses, marry and do business; to seek their welfare in the culture where they found themselves. Christians are not always sure whether to refuse to eat the king’s food or to seek a seat at his table. [Continue reading]
February 14, 2007 by iMonk
Here’s a thought I never had before, and maybe it will bring a bit of clarity to this debate over what I’ve written about the Bible.
Cent’s good pastor, Tad Thompson, points out a typical conservative SBC criticism of Barth….or to be more precise, what SBC liberals did with a Barthian turn of theology. He notes the change in the Baptist Faith and Message from 1963 to 2000. Changes in brackets and bold: [Continue reading]
February 14, 2007 by iMonk
Trying to teach my classes on Valentine’s Day; Friends on the journey; What traditional musicians can do; A bit o’ laughter.
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