UPDATE: Read how Obama and Warren defied the culture war, from the current Christian Century.

Here’s a reposting of my official withdrawal from the ranks of predictable critics of Rick Warren. I was wrong, and I said so. This first appeared at IM November 1st, 2007.

BTW, I think more highly of Warren now than when I wrote this, but I still think he gets theology a bit muddled in print and interviews. That may be the unpardonable sin for the discernablog set, but it’s a human error. Warren can preach in my chapel anytime.

I haven’t blogged all that much about Rick Warren in the 7 years I’ve had this web site, but the times I have- which amount to a couple of essays and a lot of asides, comments and occasional references- it’s generally been negative.

Some of that has been deserved- such as my essay prompted by Warren’s declaration that we shouldn’t “criticize what God is blessing” or his contention that musical style is the key element in a church plant- and I don’t regret or apologize for my opinions at all.

I have, however, reconsidered my evaluation of Rick Warren and I think it’s time to eat a plate of well cooked crow.

I’ll admit seven things up front: [Continue reading]

God bless Ben Witherington, who takes on the THEOLOGY of Joel Osteen, particularly as it applies to the teaching of Jesus. Thank you, Dr. Witherington, for doing what so few others are willing to do.

American Christianity, if not staying focused on Jesus, gets in big trouble in a culture where entitlement is a tremendous temptation. Paul urged Christians to be “…holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.” That’s Jesus. This is in contrast to a kind of spirituality that grows from a person who is “…puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind…” (Colossians 2:18.) That’s a mind that says “whatever feels good is God.”

We need much teaching like Dr. Witherington does in this post: the explicit contrast of the teaching and meaning of Jesus with the errors of this subtle prosperity method. Jesus described “Your Best Life Now,” but it isn’t the Osteen positive thinking message.

[I also dealt with this subject in a previous IM essay.]

Col. 2:20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations – 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used) – according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Col 2:17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

I don’t listen to much Christian talk radio. I overdosed on talk radio in the 90’s. I listen to MLB radio at night and to a few broadcasts during the day: White Horse Inn, Issues, etc. Desiring God, James Boice, Bible Answer Man. But Saturday I found myself listening to a rebroadcast of the Michael Medved Show, a staple on the Salem radio network line-up of Christian/politically conservative radio programs that millions of conservative Christians listen to each day. [Continue reading]

I’ve had two major Bible study projects this year. The first was a men’s Bible study/chapel preaching series on marriage. The second is a careful study of the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians, which I’m teaching to the same group of men two mornings a week, and also using as the basis for my current preaching series at my church.

The Colossians material has proven to be some of the richest experiences in Bible study I’ve ever enjoyed. Helped by my recent reading of N.T. Wright’s introduction to the New Testament, and especially by the provocative Colossians Remixed, I’ve derived more enjoyment and helpful teaching from this study than from any previous study of Paul’s letters.

Though I have been studying Colossians for several months, I am just now halfway through the book. Still, I would like to share some of what I am learning in Colossians here at Internetmonk.com. These posts will take more of the form of abbreviated versions of my preaching from Colossians than the more exegetical Bible studies. The exegetical work is an important part of my study, but in preaching I am working more toward application, which I hope will be of value to my readers. There will be no particular order to the posts. [Continue reading]