I’ve often wondered about the time of year that we choose to celebrate the advent of the One who came to redeem the world, and make all things new. There it is backed right up against the New Year. The irony is that Evil hates Christmas; it also hates All Things New: new years, new beginnings, new (or second) chances. Evil works desperately to destroy all things new in the same way it devilishly labored to kill the new King... Read more
I Have Seen it Happen with my Own Eyes Talking about words that too easily roll off the tongue, my proposed strategy for facilitating respectful conversation may elicit expressions of agreement, in the abstract. But does that strategy really “work” when you manage to gather in the same room those who disagree strongly about a given controversial issue? At one level, I am not concerned about whether my proposed strategy “works.” I have argued that it is the “right thing”... Read more
In what follows, I will call my first two steps my “getting to know you” phase. My experience suggest that these first two steps are the “place to start.” These steps must be taken before there is any hope for fruitfully embarking on the third step in subsequent conversations. A Biblical Rationale My proposed strategy for respectfully engaging those who disagree with you flows from my Christian commitment. Jesus calls all who aspire to be his followers to “love our... Read more
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you for a reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15, NIV) A Myth that Precludes Conversation Over the last few years, I had the opportunity to engage other Christians in conversations regarding the following controversial issues about which Christians have strong disagreements: American politics; the evolutionary creationist/young-earth creationist debate; immigration reform; and same-sex marriage. Christians hold widely divergent views on... Read more
“Download our app for more convenience!” “Next-day home delivery!” “Order now and stream or download immediately!” With the tap of a screen, all the goods and services ever needed in a local economy can be piped into my living room or brought to my door; I don’t even have to leave the couch. In a recent discussion of C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man, I could not help but think of the current state of how technology is, as he... Read more
We’ve seen it before: the “I’m leaving Church but I still believe in Jesus” manifesto. Behind such testimonials, interviews, and blog posts is the false assumption that one can have the true faith without the Body that was saved by the Founder of that faith. As faithful Christians know, being in Christ means being in His Church. Yes, we are transformed by God’s grace and called to holiness, but we also realize we are in a flock with other sinners. Moreover, many... Read more
To get everyone into the properly Puritan Thanksgiving spirit, we here at Patheos Evangelical decided to explore the life and theology of Jonathan Edwards. Widely considered to be one of America’s greatest thinkers, Edwards was a leading light in the famous Great Awakening, a highly influential American religious revival that occurred in the early 17oos. While some of the fruits of his legacy are left up to debate, it cannot be denied that his thought and influence should be... Read more
Probably one of the most telling things about our current state of society came to me in the contrast of two completely unrelated news stories and how they were handled. As I was perusing my normal social media outlets for the news of the day, I noticed that the two biggest stories of the day revolved around the landing of a rocket on an asteroid, a feat that can be described as nothing short of a monumental achievement for... Read more
Phillip Cary of Eastern College has argued, “Protestantism cannot carry through its own deepest intention – to put faith in the word of Christ alone – without a Catholic doctrine of sacramental efficacy.” That will sound counterintuitive or worse to many Evangelicals. Protestantism is about word, and not sacraments. Cary is right, though. That’s a big claim, and this is a small article. So let me narrow and sharpen the point. Instead of “No sacraments, No Protestantism,” let’s say “No... Read more
Last week, guests and Patheos Evangelical bloggers from across the channel joined together to discuss, appreciate, recount, and even criticize the life, work, thought, and legacy of Martin Luther, one of the brightest leading lights of the Protestant Reformation. We hope that you’ve profited from this enriching engagement with a theological giant. Here are all the posts in one place if you want to review for yourself. Our resident church historian, Gerald McDermott, gave a wonderful introductory overview, setting... Read more
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