August 30, 2008 by iMonk
UPDATE: My apologies for tolerating the troll.
So….imagine that a Baptist (or other evangelical)- like my dear wife used to be, for example- were to decide that he or she wanted to deepen their spiritual life; to grow spiritually and in spiritual disciplines; to seek out spiritual direction and pursue spiritual formation.
Where would they go within their own evangelical, Protestant tradition to find resources, guidance or direction?
OK. I can hear the Catholics and Orthodox giggling already. Cut it out. [Continue reading]
August 30, 2008 by iMonk
Depression and Spiritual Depression.
Check out my other blog at Jesus Shaped Spirituality.
Our sponsor, New Reformation Press.
Music by Rhodes, Sun Like Blood and Randy Stonehill.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
August 29, 2008 by iMonk
Podcast 46 Thoughts on how it feels to be evangelized.
Bumper Music by Greenroom, “Spy Beats.”
The podcast web site is Coffee Cup Apologetics.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
August 28, 2008 by iMonk
In the November 2007 Issue of Touchstone Magazine, there’s a fascinating forum/symposium on “Evangelicalism Today.” It’s available in its entirety on the Touchstone website, and it is well worth your time. Such diverse voices as Russell Moore, Daryl Hart, John Franke and Michael Horton discuss a variety of topics of interest to the IM audience.
Southern Baptist theologian Russell Moore had some very provocative words to say about his own definition and experience of evangelicalism. I’m particularly interested in the last two paragraphs. [Continue reading]
August 28, 2008 by iMonk
I want to say another very big thank you to those of you who contributed in any way toward the “Vintage Jesus” curriculum project. The materials and study guides are excellent and we have enough to use in the Bible department and our campus ministry program. Your generosity has been wonderful. Thanks to all of you for every gift, large and small.
And another thanks to those of you who have encouraged me with gifts from my wish list. It’s been such a difficult year, and your thoughtfulness in a tremendous lift to my spirits.
God’s blessings and peace to all of you.
On another topic, if you are looking for a simple Christmas program for your church with drama and easy to plug in musical ideas, my wife Denise has a free program on her website you may want to check out.
August 27, 2008 by iMonk
UPDATE: Ben Witherington has done a multi-part in-depth review of Reimagining Church. 1, 2 3 4. Frank Viola’s response part 1 and part 2.
OK. I cheated. I maybe kindof promised a review, but after reading the books, I decided I didn’t want to join the debate. I wanted to say something else, namely this: Agree or disagree, Viola is doing what evangelicals are too cowardly to do these days, and what we’re doing instead is killing us. Consider Viola’s project a friendly kick in the pants to get your Bibles, your church history, your theology and your missional great commission in order.
Sometimes, I think we evangelicals talk way too much about the wrong things and far too little about more important things.
I hardly ever- ever- find myself in a conversation about what is the Gospel. Or what Jesus would be teaching us about the kingdom today. Or how to meaningfully repent of our entanglement in various American idolatries. These conversations just don’t happen around me (and I am surrounded by evangelical Christians.)
But the church? Oh yeah, we talk about church all the time. Preachers. Sermons. Music. “Worship.” Music. Programs. Buildings, Budgets. Music. Why we changed churches again. What we like. What we don’t like. How great such and such a church is. What our church needs to start doing. Why this group at our church is wrong, or bad, or stubborn. Why a particular worship leader gets it right. Why we need a new whatever. [Continue reading]
August 26, 2008 by iMonk
For the past several days I’ve been browsing a pre-publication copy of a new product from Concordia Press called The Treasury of Daily Prayer.
I have to admit that I’ve never been particularly excited about any book called “Treasury.” It’s a title I’d be reluctant to use for any serious resource. So aside from that extremely minor point of personal taste, I want to use every superlative possible to tell my readers that Concordia has produced the most comprehensive, well edited, plainly explained and thoroughly impressive resource for liturgical daily prayer I’ve ever encountered.
If you want a resource for personal or small group liturgical prayer, with abundant options, complete explanation of the Christian year, scripture passages printed out, readings from Church fathers included and much more, your search is permanently over. The Treasury of Daily Prayer surpasses any resource I’ve seen. [Continue reading]
August 25, 2008 by iMonk
Back by popular demand, the iMonk essay that should have sold a thousand t-shirts by now: Wretched Urgency.
When I think of people beating themselves up with guilt and beating other people up with a guilt-inducing God, I always think of this essay and the stupefying discovery that the New Testament isn’t trying to turn us into hamsters on an evangelistic, church growth wheel. If you are one of those people who find me shocking, go get a coke and be shocked. I wrote this in 2001.
Read: The Original “Wretched Urgency.”
And smile while you do it.
August 25, 2008 by iMonk
I am very interested in hymnals as the best conservators of a broad, deep and diverse selection of worship music for the church today. A good hymnal is a post-evangelical’s friend.
The Baptist Hymnal (also called The Worship Hymnal) 2008 has been reviewed at Isaiah Six and if you are interested in worship music check this out. This hymnal project is the first to begin to use the abilities of the internet to expand both the content of the hymnal and the online resources to use along with it.
I’ve been looking at my copy for a couple of weeks, and I am thoroughly impressed.
Check out the review and acquire a copy.
August 24, 2008 by iMonk
Lots of times, there’s something I want to write about, but it’s just too close to the real world where I live and work, so I have to find a way to not put something out here that’s going to get me in more trouble than I’ve already been in over this blog.
But seriously, I need to say this: You have to trust the Gospel to do what it says it promises to do. [Continue reading]
August 23, 2008 by iMonk
More on covenant church membership, and thoughts on post-evangelicalism and evangelism (Don’t forget it).
Check out my other blog at Jesus Shaped Spirituality.
Our sponsor, New Reformation Press.
Music by Rhodes and Randy Stonehill.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
August 23, 2008 by iMonk
Yes, that’s one of the comments I’ve received via e-mail regarding the official iMonk photograph.
(And- at least in my experience- it’s always a woman. Why is that? Does maternal instinct want to see baby smile?)
I’ve been fighting this battle for quite some time, and I don’t plan to give up. It’s a small thing, but it’s all about what it means to be a human being and what it means to be a Christian. [Continue reading]
August 20, 2008 by iMonk
It’s a genuine honor to have Dr. Nathan Finn, Assistant Professor of Church History at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, as my guest today at InternetMonk.com. Dr. Finn is one of the new academic voices in SBC life speaking strongly for a renewal of serious church membership among Southern Baptists.
Dr. Finn has an A.A. from Waycross College, a B.A. from Brewton-Parker College, and the M.Div. and Ph.D from Southeastern Seminary. He has been teaching at Southeastern since 2006.
His areas of interest include Baptist Studies, American Religious History, Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism and the History of Missions. Dr. Finn’s recent podcast at the Insight blog should be of real interest to IM readers as well.
Dr. Finn has distinguished himself as not only one of the clearest thinkers on the current SBC landscape, but as someone who understands the importance of the blogosphere. He’s a superb writer, and one of the few people in the establishment to be unafraid to have critical engagement with contemporary SBC life.
I want to tell the IM audience that I am more excited about this interview than almost any I’ve conducted. Dr. Finn’s answers on the historical background of the demise of church membership in the SBC and especially his comments on child baptism in our convention are absolutely pure gold. [Continue reading]
August 18, 2008 by iMonk
Scot Mcknight has a new book out called Finding Faith, Losing Faith: Stories of Conversion and Apostasy. It’s an interesting discussion of the reasons people deconvert and convert, both in and out of their own traditions. The chapters cover conversion to unbelief, from Judaism to Christianity, from Rome to evangelicalism and from evangelicalism to Rome.
This is an academic discussion, with insights from sociology and studies of converts. No judgments. Just insights and descriptions of what researchers have learned in “conversion theory.” There’s valuable information here that will help us all be more aware and thoughtful toward one another as we face the very frequent reality of conversion.
Scot asked me if I would read and do a “response” post at Jesus Creed on one of the chapters. Want to guess which one? [Continue reading]
August 17, 2008 by iMonk
In their ongoing series of previews of the ESV Study Bible Crossway has posted online a 10-page PDF containing 5 of the 50 articles that will be in the back of the Study Bible.. This section is on “Reading the Bible” (pdf):
· Reading the Bible Theologically, by J.I. Packer
· Reading the Bible as Literature, by Leland Ryken
· Reading the Bible in Prayer and Communion with God, by John Piper
· Reading the Bible for Personal Application, by David Powlison
· Reading the Bible for Preaching and Public Worship, by R. Kent Hughes
I’m privileged today to be able to interview Dr. David Powlison on “Reading the Bible for Personal Application.”
David Powlison, M.Div., Ph.D. is a counselor and faculty member at CCEF and is the editor of the Journal of Biblical Counseling. He holds a Ph.D. in History and Science of Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary.
Dr. Powlison has been counseling for over thirty years. He has written many books and articles on biblical counseling and the relationship between faith and psychology. Dr. Powlison is an adjunct professor at Westminster Theological Seminary and has taught across the world. David and his wife, Nan, have a son, two daughters, and one granddaughter.
I want to thank Dr. Powlison for answering a few questions about his outstanding essay in the ESV Study Bible, “Reading the Bible for Personal Application.” [Continue reading]
