The Bible and Culture

[Note: To see the series so far, read Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four.] In some ways,  Chapter Five, which is brief (pp. 121-37) is the best chapter in the book thus far.   Here Rob reviews a variety of metaphors and ideas used to explain both the work of Christ on the cross and its benefits.  He stresses that Christ’s death meant the end of the sacrificial system in toto.  Jesus paid it all. I particularly like p. 134, which, among other things, stresses “When … [Read more...]

There are always claims being made about the supposed latest amazing discovery of game changing and epic making archaeological objects.  One of the most recent are the initial claims being noised about in the news about some lead codices apparently found in northern Jordan by a Bedouin (who else?)  who now lives in Galilee.   Here is a link to an article by a BBC writer on the find----- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12888421         Sanity and caution are advised but … [Read more...]

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In some ways, the premise of Rob’s question, raised in Chapter Four, is not entirely logically coherent.   If the answer to this question  (Does God always get what he wants?)  was yes, would we even have sin and evil in the world?   Would Adam and Eve have fallen in the first place?    Would there even be a need for salvation or Hell? If God is truly like the way Augustine depicted him, not merely almighty and all good, but always ‘Charles in charge’, determining every little … [Read more...]

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This sermon is also available streamed on Asbury S eminary's website. THE MIND OF CHRIST----- Phil. 2.4-11 A man was thrust out into the Judean desert by God’s Spirit.  He says he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, and that then he had a vision of Satan,  a vision that among other things involved being tempted to turn stones into bread.   One can understand why a man might be tempted to do that when he had not eaten in so many days.    Now the thing that is odd about this vision … [Read more...]

In what may be the first of many such repercussions a United Methodist minister in my home conference (North Carolina) has been reassigned after having posted a blog post supporting the argument about Hell in Rob Bell's Love Wins. The Rev. Chad Holtz, a student pastor finishing his degree at Duke Divinity School, was not fired or dismissed by  Bishop Gwinn, but he was asked to leave by the congregation of Morrow's Chapel in Henderson N.C. after violating an agreement with the congregation by … [Read more...]

Chapter three of Love Wins (pp. 63-93)  begins with a simple review of where the term Hell, Hades, Gehenna occurs in the New Testament.  There is nothing problematic with this in itself,  except  that the idea of Hell is much more profoundly found in the NT than the specific vocabulary terms for Hell.   For example, the idea is certainly there in  2 Thessalonians 1. 5-10, but the specific terminology is not.   In short,  you can’t whittle down the Hell idea to places where the … [Read more...]

My Kiwi sources are keeping me informed on the progress of the filming of the two Hobbit movies.  Still mostly just B roll so far,  but the village of Hobbiton has been beautiful recreated again and here are two shots of the now svelt Peter Jackson at Bag End.    He no longer looks like a troll, and apparently his health is good again. … [Read more...]

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