There were two interesting posts last week – on two very different kinds of blogs. The first on Jerry Coyne’s blog “Why Evolution is True,” where he scratches a flea, and the second, a response, on the BioLogos blog “Science and the Sacred,” where the flea responds. A brief excerpt from Coyne – in reference to a post by Kent Sparks on accommodation in scripture: Once again we see that modern theology is the art of turning empiricalnecessities into spiritual... Read more
This Lent I’m reading the pious and and learned study of Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev (Christ the Conqueror of Hell: The Descent into Hades from an Orthodox Perspective), and I have wanted to read an Eastern Orthodox study of the descent into hades and the conquering, or harrowing, of hell because that tradition has emphasized it so much. The New Testament evidence, when read in its context, almost certainly indicates that Jesus “did” something between the Cross and the Ascension. The... Read more
It was no hardship to fly from this snowy weather to Texas last weekend, but that was hardly important once we arrived. We had a splendid time of ministry at the Katy First United Methodist. Art and Judy Coen are the kind sponsors of an annual lectureship at Katy UMC, and I was honored to be this year’s lecturer and to share the banquet table with a solid Longhorn fan. (No hoop, hoop at that table.) Marlin Fenn, the senior... Read more
Well, folks, we’re coming round the bend to the final week of posts on Acts and Mission. (Our next series will be to go through the Psalms, and I will be using J. Goldingay: Psalms, Vol. 1: Psalms 1-41 (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms) .) Paul has arrived in Rome [catacombs to the right], and the last descriptions of his missional work are provided. It begins with the communion of the saints: 28:11 After three months we... Read more
Mission, Accommodation, and the Rule of Law … David Opderbeck is a professor of law at Seton Hall University and blogs at Through a Glass Darkly. Debates over law and “culture war” issues, particularly concerning abortion and gay marriage, revolve around the extent to which law should encode morality. A common secular view is that “law” and “morality” are essentially separate domains. In this view, “law” ideally serves the “neutral” function of allowing each individual to live out his or her... Read more
This letter, printed here with permission, is from one of my students who is wondering about going into a ministry … and she’s a young woman… which can complicate matters. Dear Scot, Recently, I’ve really been wondering what I will be doing with my life. I believe I can serve God anywhere and that that call is my highest call, above whatever vocation I pursue. I haven’t solidified my beliefs on whether I think God has an exact, specific path... Read more
Occasionally students or others will say “I don’t believe in the Creed.” My response, usually accompanied by a startle, is this: “Which line or lines in the Creed don’t you believe.” I’ve not yet had but one or two students say they actually disagreed with any lines in the Creed, and it is a simple fact that our “orthodoxy” is defined by The Creed, and this sometimes means The Apostles’ Creed or The Nicene Creed or The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. (By... Read more
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Read more
Marcus Maher, an M.Div. student who blogs at Zetountes, writes this review on a most important book and an increasing, relational trend in Paul’s soteriology. One thing I hope you observe in this review is his fair-minded description and his charitable approach to disagreement. Inhabiting the Cruciform God: Kenosis, Justification, and Theosis in Paul’s Narrative Soteriology is a very provocative work from the pen of Michael Gorman. Over the span of the book he unpacks two major ideas, justification... Read more
What is the Texans’ best contribution to world of music? Read more
Jesus Creed
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