By Chaplain Mike I thought this post from last year (4/19/10) was worth another look. I hope you will too. It’s a bit of a riff on the question asked by the prophet Micah: “What does the Lord require of you?” (Micah 6:8) In the light of last week’s discussions on “radical” and other adjectives [...]
Riffs: 11:14:09: Patrol Magazine and Evangelicals Who Won’t “Get Over It”
14 Nov by
I asked for permission to reprint an entire editorial column from the always provocative and frequently dead-on-target Patrol Magazine. It’s entitled “Get Over It.” It’s the latest installment in The Coming Evangelical Collapse, as far as I’m concerned. There aren’t enough ways to say “Yes” and “Amen” to this editorial. I’ll have more to say [...]
Riffs: 11:07:09: The New/Old Look Evangelical Ecumenism: IVCF Splits at GWU
7 Nov by
This is a bit of old news to theological news hounds out there, but it fits in with this week’s discussion and yesterday’s post rather well. IVCF at George Washington University has split over reformation theology. There is plenty of interesting reading here, btw. Good article. Short version: a sizable contingent of students with concerns [...]
Riffs: 10:20:09: The Status of the Reformation according to 9 Marks and B16
20 Oct by
UPDATE: Fr. Dwight Longnecker has a great analysis of what the new RCC/Anglican arrangement will mean and how it will work. The 9 Marks blog is increasingly, uh…interesting….from a post-evangelical perspective. Jonathan Leeman writes about the danger of seminary profs being disconnected from the local church, a point that I fully agree with based on [...]
Riffs: 10:01:09: Special Needs Members OR How I Was Right and Wrong About Baptizing An Autistic Boy
1 Oct by
PLEASE keep this discussion on topic. No Baptist bashing. First, read Matt Schmucker’s short piece regarding his advice on “special needs” church members. (Note to commenters: be respectful of Matt, please. If you disagree, do so graciously.) In 1983 I was finishing seminary and serving as youth minister at a church near the seminary and [...]
Riffs: 08:12:09: Architecture for the Glory of God
12 Aug by
UPDATE: This has been a great conversation, but we’re starting to get some drive-by comments with little substance. Keep the tone and content to a high standard please. WATCH: This short video- 8 minutes- of the building of a Gothic worship center for Covenant Presbyterian (PCA) church in Nashville. Don’t comment without watching, please. Covenant [...]
Riffs: Karen Armstrong on the Science/Religion Cul De Sac and N.T. Wright on his Differences with Piper
12 Jul by
Karen Armstrong (pronounced Car-en, if you care) isn’t a religion scholar I’d normally recommend, but I think she makes a fairly good description of what appears to be a good bit of the situation we find ourselves in as regards the relationship of religion and science. In short, religion hasn’t always carried around the obligation [...]
Riffs: Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church Jefferts-Schori Stirs The Pot
9 Jul by
We should always be ears up when The Episcopal Church speaks of heresy. Here’s the presiding bishop of the TEC coming out swinging at the recent general convention. The crisis of this moment has several parts, and like Episcopalians, particularly ones in Mississippi, they’re all related. The overarching connection in all of these crises has [...]
Riffs: 06:29:09: Timmy Brister on the Beauty of Church Discipline and the Pastoral Faithfulness of Tom Ascol.
29 Jun by
Riffs are commentary on other blog posts that Michael feels are particularly significant. Read Tim Brister’s post, Where Extraordinary Grace and Celestial Joy Meet. I’ve been around Tom Ascol on occasion for more than 20 years. If you know much about the (dreaded) Founder’s movement, then you know everything I am about to say here, [...]
Riffs: 11:23:09: Required Behavior Modification and the Gospel
Like any and all Riffs, these are simply some of my thoughts inspired by other posts and discussions. Not a throw down, etc. This morning at evangel, Joe Carter voiced some of his frustration at the way the “law/Gospel” distinction sounds to his ears. I’ve wrestled with this myself on this site. Then, in the [...]