May 31, 2007 by iMonk
Dan Edelen has once again written a provocative post on the situation in evangelicalism, and I’ve responded to it a bit in podcast 61. But it’s too good a topic not to bat around a bit more.
Reacting to the blogosphere blizzard of posts following the return of Francis Beckwith to the Roman Catholic Church, Edelen suggests that evangelicals have become “inhibitors” of God’s mystery, awesomeness and otherness. In a highly rationalistic, dry and dull evangelicalism, the “MAO” appeal of Roman Catholicism is clear.
I think Dan is on solid ground, but there’s a lot more to say on this topic than he takes up.
There’s an issue of Old Covenant vs. New Covenant “God experience.” Michael Horton addresses this in his fine volume In the Face of God. In the Old Covenant, God was present in the bush, the pillars of fire/cloud, in theophanies, on Sinai, with the ark and in the Temple. A review of these experiences and their results might be instructive for those who want to sing seven verses of “I want to see your face.” [Continue reading]
May 31, 2007 by iMonk
Dan Edelen’s post on Evangelicals and their “Inhibitions” for God’s Majesty, Awe and Otherness.
Evangelicals as MAO Inhibitors.
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May 30, 2007 by iMonk
Won’t any religion get you to heaven as long as you sincerely follow its beliefs and teachings?
Coffee Cup Apologetics now has its own website: ccapologetics.wordpress.com
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May 30, 2007 by iMonk
Actually, the program is called “Why Christ Alone Saves,” but the discussion quickly goes to the heart of evangelicalism’s selling-out of the Gospel: we’ve convinced ourselves that we don’t need to be saved by a bloody savior. It’s one of the best WHI’s I’ve ever heard and it’s must listening for readers of this web site. Eventually they get into other aspects of the salvation we have in Jesus, and it’s all good.
Be sure and save/print out the featured William Willimon piece on “It’s Hard to be Seeker Sensitive When You Work for Jesus.” It’s a two page pdf.
A highlight for me is a discussion of just how useless the crucifixion of Jesus is in much of evangelicalism today. If our great need is to be delivered from the wrath of God, then Jesus is our mediator. But what if our big problem is losing ten pounds? Finding a bigger house? Paying for college? Getting out of debt? What if the guilt that concerns us is the guilt of not having a pool like our neighbor? What if the center of our prayers is the moral life of our kids or our physical health? Do we actually need a crucified Jesus for any of these things? [Continue reading]
May 28, 2007 by iMonk
Sometime when I was in seminary, I first heard the term “civil religion” and started to understand that some people had a problem with the American flag in a church sanctuary. The flag- and its companion, the “Christian” flag- have been in every church sanctuary I’ve ever been in, and both flags are in the chapel where I lead worship today.
Where I live today, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if there are churches with the Confederate flag in the sanctuary.
In the culture where I live, a pastor of a typical church who removed the flag would be fired. A pastor who started a process aimed at removing the flag would be starting a process to find another job. Removing the flag would be seen as something like a declaration of atheism or endorsing Al-Queda. Or both. Multiplied. By 10. [Continue reading]
May 27, 2007 by iMonk
[Check out the previous IM post, "With God On Our Side."]
One of the results of working with international students, and especially of having them in worship services you’re leading, is a new appreciation of how some commonly accepted elements of American Christian culture sound to those who aren’t Americans.
Take, for example, those patriotic songs at the back of your average American hymnal. They sound somewhat unusual when you look out into dozens of African and Asian faces.
This morning, the worship service I attended featured a very tasteful remembrance of those who had given their lives in the service of their country. We also sang this song, a song I’ve known since I was a small child, and a song that I’ve never really considered very much until I realized students from other countries were being asked to sing it with us in the context of worship.
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea! [Continue reading]
May 26, 2007 by iMonk
This is a reprint of an essay I did last year on Pentecost. Since I’ll be hearing nothing about Pentecost in church tomorrow, but about Memorial Day instead, I want to be sure and mark it at home and here on the blog. For a great essay on Pentecost full of material for preaching, visit Journey With Jesus.
Act 2:1-8 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. (2) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (3) And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (5) Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. (6) And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. (7) And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? (8) And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
We had our Pentecost worship gathering at soli deo this week, and I once again was amazed at what bad press the Feast of Pentecost usually gets among most evangelical Christians. How did such an important part of the Christian story become so lost and muddled? [Continue reading]
May 25, 2007 by iMonk
Since I’m newly installed in my permanent pew near the back row of my local SBC church, I’ve been trying to think good thoughts about evangelicals. Given the history of this blog and the general tone of my thinking about Christianity, this has taken some discipline. It’s been remarkable, however, how quickly I have remembered the things I love about evangelicals, and how I have been moved to thank God and pray for my evangelical family.
So what are this post-evangelical’s “Good Thoughts” about evangelicalism?
1. Evangelicalism still understands and preaches the Gospel. With notable and growing exceptions, the Gospel of justification by faith alone, by Christ alone and by grace alone is preached in most evangelical churches. Times are hard, and there are dozens of distortions, omissions and dilutions, but if I had to send a lost person to one church for one shot at hearing the Gospel, I’d send them to an evangelical church, and probably a Baptist or Presbyterian one.
Of all the things evangelicals should fight for, this is, and always must be, the top of the list. [Continue reading]
May 24, 2007 by iMonk
Jerry Falwell; What’s on my podcast list; Are men oppressed in evangelicalism?
IM Radio is on iTunes. Search for Monk and ignore the other guy.
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May 24, 2007 by iMonk
What is the relationship between religion- particularly Christianity- and violence?
Coffee Cup Apologetics now has its own website: ccapologetics.wordpress.com
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May 23, 2007 by iMonk
Here’s the answer to the trivia question “What is the closest the iMonk came to becoming a Muslim?”
In October of 1995, Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan sponsored what was called the “Million Man March” on the mall in Washington, D.C. While probably less than half a million men attended, the march was a high point for African-American men, and certainly had an impact on the evangelical community.
Instead of an event of political rhetoric, the Million Man March was promoted as a day of “atonement and reconciliation.” Men were encouraged to repudiate and repent for behaviors against women, children, the community and themselves. Many African-American men who were aware that Farrakhan was a controversial figure still attended because of their desire to send a message of unity to the larger African-American community. [Continue reading]
May 21, 2007 by iMonk
UPDATE: I have gotten more mail on this than any recent piece. I just can’t individually answer these letters. So sorry. I need an assistant.
The reason Scot Mcknight is such an amazing gift to the church is that he is humble enough to make his formidable skills as a New Testament scholar available to bloggers like me.
I’ve been doing some study on the subject of Roman Catholic Marian dogmas, and Scot was kind enough to answer some questions for me on very short notice. Since I have many new Roman Catholic friends on this blog, I wanted to share a few of our genuine differences so we can respect and appreciate what we have in common.
Scot, best known for The Jesus Creed book and blog, is a professor of New Testament at North Park University near Chicago. He has written The Real Mary, a book that seeks to recover a thoroughly Biblical view of the real first century mother of Jesus. Mcknight’s work was part of a big year for books on Mary, including Tim Perry’s Mary for Evangelicals. I asked Scot some questions that were on my mind about the inevitable differences between those of us who confess the Apostle’s Creed, but disagree deeply over the continuing role of Mary.
1. You’ve done great scholarly and popular work helping Protestants to recover a Biblical view of Mary. Assuming that all Christians can ride the “Mary Bus” together for some distance, where do you believe evangelical Protestants have to get off? [Continue reading]
May 21, 2007 by iMonk
The Alister McGrath Interview.
Coffee Cup Apologetics now has its own website: ccapologetics.wordpress.com
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May 20, 2007 by iMonk
Several weeks ago, I removed all specific references to where I work from this web site. Without violating that, I want to tell you a story from yesterday, when our high school had its 104th graduation ceremony.
For the past 30+ years, our school has taken many internationals and children of internationals as students. A fair number of these have not been Christians. Some are from other religious traditions, like Islam, and some are from Atheistic cultures like China. [Continue reading]
May 19, 2007 by iMonk
Several months ago, my wife asked me to read For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn. It’s a book about the inner lives of men, a subject about which I figured I knew really well and no chick could educate me. I didn’t read it.
A few weeks ago, she purchased the companion volume, For Men Only (A Straightforward Guide To The Inner Lives of Women) by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn (I’d say mostly by Jeff), and asked me to read it. I didn’t read it either.
I should have, and this week, I did. I’m very glad. Guys, so should you. Put down that remote. Turn off that X-Box and go order this book. [Continue reading]
