July 31, 2007 by iMonk
Letters to a Friend is a series of posts responding to some recent comments of a Christian friend regarding theology, divisions and debates. Previous letters: Division and Infallibilty.
Friend says, “I reject the claims of various (evangelical) Christian groups to be infallible, right about everything and all other Christians except themselves wrong. This makes the entire business of theological debate meaningless and ridiculous to me. God is obviously above theology, and we have no idea what God thinks about who’s right in these theological debates. Perhaps God sees issues like the Lord’s Supper in a completely different way than any church teaches. When unbelievers, like my atheist friends, hear of these doctrinal debates, it discredits all of Christianity.”
Dear Friend,
Probably the most provocative comment in your talk was the statement that “God is above theology.” If I remember correctly, you said this several times and it was obviously very crucial to your statement. I’d like to respond to this statement, because I believe it is the heart of the issue.
If God is not above theology, a number of things must change in your position. [Continue reading]
July 31, 2007 by iMonk
Coffee Cup Apologetics now has its own website: ccapologetics.wordpress.com
All the episodes of Coffee Cup Apologetics are now on iTunes. I’m working to get the logo up and a few other tweaks. Go to iTunes and search for “Apologetics.”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
July 30, 2007 by iMonk
Letters to a Friend is a series of posts responding to some recent comments of a Christian friend regarding theology, divisions and debates.
Friend says, “I reject the claims of various (evangelical) Christian groups to be infallible, right about everything and all other Christians except themselves wrong. This makes the entire business of theological debate meaningless and ridiculous to me. God is obviously above theology, and we have no idea what God thinks about who’s right in these theological debates. Perhaps God sees issues like the Lord’s Supper in a completely different way than any church teaches. When unbelievers, like my atheist friends, hear of these doctrinal debates, it discredits all of Christianity.”
Dear Friend,
One word that stood out to me in your talk was the word “infallible.” I found myself in considerable disagreement with what it appears you meant when you assigned this word to persons like myself and others who promote theology. Perhaps you can clarify and we will be in more agreement.
I understand the term “infallible” to mean “unable to be wrong.” If something or someone is infallible, it is not possible for error to originate with them.
A person may claim to be right, but the claim of infallibility is something quite separate. I’m not surprised when anyone claims they are right. Your own words indicate you believe, on the basis of logic, that you are right. But you would not make a claim to infallibility. [Continue reading]
July 30, 2007 by iMonk
Hello Phil. Evangelicals and Celebrity. A church visit review. The Berean approach to authority.
Internet Monk Radio is on iTunes Podcasts for free. Search for Monk.
The Internet Monk Radio Podcast is brought to you by The Theology Program.
Walking Together Ministries.
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July 30, 2007 by iMonk
As a young youth minister, no one influenced me more with his HONESTY and his JESUS than Mike Yaconelli. He would have been 65 years old today. I miss him and his messy spirituality. He was responsible for much of the good – and some of the bad- that’s happened in evangelicalism the last 20 years. I miss his version of the Door and his incredible back page editorials. There’s no one I wanted to be more like. Rest in Jesus, Mike.
July 29, 2007 by iMonk
Letters to a Friend is a series of posts responding to some recent comments of a Christian friend regarding theology, divisions and debates.
Friend says, “I reject the claims of various (evangelical) Christian groups to be infallible, right about everything and all other Christians except themselves wrong. This makes the entire business of theological debate meaningless and ridiculous to me. God is obviously above theology, and we have no idea what God thinks about who’s right in these theological debates. Perhaps God sees issues like the Lord’s Supper in a completely different way than any church teaches. When unbelievers, like my atheist friends, hear of these doctrinal debates, it discredits all of Christianity.”
Dear Friend,
Some of the general sense of what you say strikes me as true in a way that I can affirm. I believe it is important to do what Thomas Merton suggested: attempt to create in ourselves the kind of unity that will heal divisions in the body of Christ.
I am also often deeply disturbed by the doctrinal divisions among Christians. Because I work with many non-Christians, I am aware of how these divisions discredit the gospel, and it is a matter of shame.
I also believe we need a broad view of how every Christian tradition is right and wrong in various ways. I believe we need a large “humility” zone in our theological teaching, writing and, most certainly, debate. [Continue reading]
July 28, 2007 by iMonk
Brant Hansen- the best blogger in the world (Take that so-called best bloggers!)- riffs on Gary Smalley’s revelation that he didn’t have it all together. As Brant says, “Don’t let it happen again.”
Hansen points out that Christians are much better responding to sin in theory and sin in the past than with person’s actual sin now. Actual sin could be a problem.
Hansen makes me think that just about the worst thing evangelicals have come up with is their version of the Christian celebrity. Now we have Christian publishing and music interests pimping- that’s the right word- celebrities to us on a daily basis, and it’s a nasty business.
Remember the girl who befriended the murderer/fugitive and read to him out of her Rick Warren book? She got her own book, but it turned out that she had some problems of her own and didn’t make the cut for Christian celebrity. That’s what we’ve got coming to us from NashVegas these days. [Continue reading]
July 25, 2007 by iMonk
In Appreciation for Bishop William Willimon.
UPDATE: C’mon people. I am not insulting mainline churches. If I say that, in GENERAL, mainlines are more liberal than many evangelicals are comfortable with, that isn’t discounting all the many, many good things I’ve always praised. If I’m offending you with this proposal, then forget about it and we just won’t bother each other.
Mainline churches….we’re having a moment here.
Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Disciples of Christ…do you know what I mean? We’re having a moment, and it’s slipping right by.
What moment?
We’re having a moment when thousands of evangelicals are getting a bellyful of the shallow, traditionless, grown up youth group religion that’s taken over their pastor’s head and is eating up their churches.
It’s a moment when people are asking if they want to hear praise bands when they are 70…or if they will even be allowed in the building when they are 70. It’s a moment when the avalanche of contemporary worship choruses has turned into one long indistinquishable commercial buzz. It’s a moment when K-Love is determining what we sing in church and that’s not a good thing.
It’s a moment when some people are wondering if their children will ever know the hymns they knew or will ever actually hold a Bible in their hand at church again. It’s a moment when a lot of people are pretty certain if they hear the words “new,” “purpose” or “seeker” one more time, they may appear on the evening news for an episode of “church rage.” [Continue reading]
July 24, 2007 by iMonk
A Pile on Pastore. Evangelicals can’t like anything. Christ centered view of the Bible and legalism.
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The Internet Monk Radio Podcast is brought to you by The Theology Program.
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July 23, 2007 by iMonk
Riffs are posts launching off from good work from other bloggers.
The inimitable Amy Welborn reviews and reacts to the first person story of an LA Times religion reporter who lost his evangelicalism, Catholicism and, eventually, faith entirely as a result of what he saw on the religion beat. Clergy scandals figure prominently in the story. [Continue reading]
July 21, 2007 by iMonk
“What books should we give away? and Getting to the One Relevant Question.”
Coffee Cup Apologetics now has its own website: ccapologetics.wordpress.com
All the episodes of Coffee Cup Apologetics are now on iTunes. I’m working to get the logo up and a few other tweaks.
Go to iTunes and search for “Apologetics.” Special thanks to Mike Frizzell for making this happen.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
July 20, 2007 by iMonk
The Internet Monk Research Division, headquartered in the Internet Monk compound deep beneath the Boar’s Head Tavern here in the mecca of post-evangelicalism, St. Sadies, Maryland, has been conducting a research project. With the completion of extensive research conducted at the highest levels of professional standards, it’s now time to reveal the results to a world waiting to know the answers to a burning question:
Why won’t Baptists celebrate the Lord’s Supper more often than the average of four times a year? [Continue reading]
July 17, 2007 by iMonk
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Every so often, someone will say something to me that implies I’m smart.
It might be mildly critical, as in “Spencer thinks he’s really smart. Look at those big words he uses.” Or “You know, if you are so smart, then you should…..” Fill in the blank with agenda of the speaker. I have people try to flatter me. “You’re a very smart person. How did you learn so much?” And so on. [Continue reading]
July 14, 2007 by iMonk
Van Til goes wild. Books. Puppets. Acts 15. Lament. B16’s clarification.
Internet Monk Radio is on iTunes Podcasts for free. Search for Monk and ignore all other claims to monkishness that appear.
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July 11, 2007 by iMonk
“Why do you believe the Bible is true? Part 2″
Coffee Cup Apologetics now has its own website: ccapologetics.wordpress.com
All the episodes of Coffee Cup Apologetics are now on iTunes. I’m working to get the logo up and a few other tweaks.
Go to iTunes and search for “Apologetics.” I’m the third one on the list at this point. I hope this will grow. Tell anyone who might be interested.
Special thanks to Mike Frizzell for making this happen.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
