Theology is about God, and God is Spirit — so why the adjective ["spiritual" theology]? Maybe because we have accumulated a lot of experience in the Christian community of persons treating theology as a subject in which God is studied in the ways we are taught to study in our schools—acquiring information that we can [...]
Third Use of the Law? No, Something Better
5 May by
The Debate One of the great debates in theology regarding Law and Gospel is whether or not there is a third use of God’s laws. The first two uses of the Law are accepted by all: The Civil Use of the Law: God’s laws serve all humanity by restraining sin, setting moral and ethical boundaries [...]
Our Therapist, Who Art in Heaven
19 Apr by
“When God Is Your Therapist” By T. M. Luhrmann Published: April 13, 2013 New York Times * * * I have started reading T.H. Luhrmann’s book, When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God, and hope to be reviewing it soon. In the meantime, I noticed that she had an op-ed piece [...]
Even St. Patrick Struggles to Explain the Trinity
17 Mar by
In honor of St. Patrick, we present this bit from Lutheran Satire that is not designed so much to be a knock on St. Patrick as on any attempt to use analogies to “explain” the Trinity. It’s also an overdue apology to Irish snake farmers. Good for a laugh — especially you’ve downed your third [...]
A Window upon Heaven
28 Sep by
I have been asked what is the difference between the veneration of images and idol worship, and I am going to try and give some kind of explanation. First, though, I am going to yield the field on this: often, there is no practical difference. Yes, I admit: some (okay, let’s make that “a lot”) [...]
Daniel Jepsen: The Meaning and Value of Creation Ex Nihilo
11 Jul by
Note from CM: My friend Dan is not only a caring pastor, but also a profound thinker. I encourage us all to exercise our minds a bit today by considering what he has to say about this traditional Christian doctrine. This is part one on the subject. Check out Dan’s blog HERE. * * * The [...]
Another Look: A.W. Tozer on the Holy Spirit
25 Jun by
“A doctrine has practical value only as far as it isprominent in our thoughts and makes a difference in our lives. By this test the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as held by evangelical Christians today has almost no practical value at all. In most Christian churches the Spirit is quite entirely overlooked. Whether He [...]
More Like Fruit that Grows than Fire that Falls
22 Jun by
“Signs and wonders, miracles and mighty works are certainly part of the story, yes, an essential part of the biblical story and its continuation and outworking in the Christian life; but out of context, apart from God’s revelation of himself in Jesus, severed and then removed from their organic positionings in the intricate and detailed [...]
Nick Lannon on Lessons from Jr. Seau
14 May by
From Derision to Compassion: The Death of Junior Seau by Nick Lannon Posted at Mockingbird on 5/9/12, and used by permission Nick’s blog: My Series of Tubes • • • It was like a switch was thrown. I was at an open gym, shooting baskets with a bunch of guys, talking about the news of [...]
Shane Rosenthal on Evangelical Theology
22 Apr by
Today we are featuring two posts from Shane Rosenthal’s article, “Abandoning Evangelicalism?” in Modern Reformation magazine. Rosenthal is executive producer of “The White Horse Inn” national radio broadcast which can be heard online at www.whitehorseinn.org. As we said this morning, Shane’s article talks about the American propensity for switching religions and, in particular, why some [...]
