What did Jesus mean, in John 17, when he prayed that we might be “one”? Did he mean some kind of ecclesiastical organization? What does the Church mean when, in the billions of times of reciting The Apostles’ Creed, it says “I believe in the holy, catholic church”? What do we mean when we recite from the Nicene Creed the following words? “One holy catholic and apostolic church.” Are these words even meaningful for you? Do you ever long for... Read more
If you’re in this area, think about attending this conference. Read more
Late last week the BioLogos blog Science and the Sacred posted another video clip featuring NT Wright. In this clip he discusses the dating of Genesis 1-3 and what he sees as the impact of these texts on first century Judaism and the early Christians. This clip struck me as interesting in the context of our vigorous discussion of Brian McLaren’s new book “A New Kind of Christianity” on Monday as well as the context of our general discussion of... Read more
We are looking into the matter of legalism in the Christian life and in the Church. We have argued that the issue in legalism can’t be reduced to having rules, but today I want to look at this issue of rules. Legalism always ends up adding something to the gospel. What might those things be? Laws, rules, regulations, experiences, education, cultural taboos or political parties. So, yes, legalism is about laws or practices or beliefs that are added to the... Read more
There are plenty of ideas swirling around about the relationship of evangelicals to orthodoxy and the early church, and so I am looking forward to this conference. (Here for link to registration.) 9:30-10:30 AM Registration 10:30-11:30 AM Plenary Address: Christopher A. Hall, Evangelical Inattentiveness to Ancient Voices: an Overview, Explanation, and Proposal. 11:30-1:00 PM Lunch 1:00-2:00 PM Jeffrey Barbeau, The Spirit and Christian Antiquity: John Wesley, History, and the Early Church (response by D. Stephen Long) 2:00-3:00 PM Darryl G. Hart,... Read more
Beginning next week, I will begin a series on Tom Wright’s new book, After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters , and hope you can get the book and read along with us. This book is about Christian virtue and why it matters. Read more
The following clip comes from an informed blog by Richard Beck, a professor of psychology at Abilene Christian University. (You might want to go to the blog to read the whole post.) He examines Mark Driscoll’s male images and … well, I’ve clipped some concluding material. What do you think? Are we so polarized about Driscoll that genuine conversation can’t occur? Do you see the validity in Richard Beck’s three points? I’ve argued in Thought #1 and #2 that Driscoll... Read more
Eugene Peterson relentlessly chases an important idea in the opening part of his new book, Practice Resurrection: A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ . That idea is the need to strip ourselves of the romantic, it’s-going-to-be-utopia versions of the church, and he makes it clear that you won’t find that perfection in those early churches either. Not even at Ephesus. What do you think of his forthright presentation of the church as composed of embarrassingly ordinary people? How often do you... Read more
I don’t have a problem with Christian bookstores, where everything (or nearly everything) is purchased, marketed and sold to and for Christians. Pete, the man who fixes our cars when they need help, is overtly Christian and I trust him and he does a good job and he’s honest as all get out. But for some reason, some kinds of products marketed for Christians get under my skin. Like this: What are your thoughts about ordinary products marketed to... Read more
I want to begin a series on how Galatians helps us see that we are liberated from “legalism.” This series will normally not be a midday series, but today it will be. I should have posts on this topic both Thursday and Friday. I will begin this series by defining legalism, and then freedom, and then examine the elements that liberate us from legalism. After years of teaching Galatians and pondering legalism in Paul’s mind, I’m convinced many get confused... Read more
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