Jesus redefined murder: if murder was defined in the Torah as we do most of the time (taking another person’s life), Jesus boosted it. For Jesus, “murder” includes anger and labeling and damning others. But, this text cannot be applied simply as it is. |inline Read more
It took me 28 years to figure out I could help Kris in the kitchen. I am now the cook in our home, and I have plenty of years of work ahead of me to even the score. I admit, I love it. Last night on our way home from church we stopped at Panera’s for some dinner just before we did grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s — my favorite grocery store. We had (at Panera’s) Cuban Black Bean soup... Read more
While I was a seminary student I began to drink coffee; soon I was drinking too much of it, and my doctor told me to knock it off. During my PhD days in Nottingham England, Kris and I began to drink PG Tips tea, and my coffee days were long past. But, since going to NPU, I have begun to drink coffee unless I’m at home (tea only), and now have tasted most of the major brands (sorry No-Logo folks)... Read more
Blog of the week: iMonk’s confession of his spat with his wife, and how this leads to a long reflection on his loathing of his pastoral career. And Kerry Doyal’s gentle reminder that it is not about us. |inline Read more
Whoever said an Introduction to the Bible class couldn’t be hilarious? Well, yesterday, one of our sharp-minded students took it upon himself to dance the Napoleon Dynamite song. That’s right. Eric (last name omitted to keep his parents happy) wore a Vote for Pedro shirt, hiked up his jeans, and came to class ready. His hair has always been Napoleon’s. He forgot a boom box for his CD, gosh. But… |inline Read more
An alarming statement by Jesus: “Unless your righteousness/justice greatly surpasses the righteousness/justice of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never ever enter into the Kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). Does Jesus really think his followers are to be “better” than the Scribes and Pharisees? I think so. This surely would have shocked his followers. |inline Read more
Here’s a new review of Jesus and His Death by Loren Rosson. I’ve posted the review at my Jesus and His Death blog, but the comments from his site are at his site. Read more
The little book is barely out and here is a nice review by Trevin Wax: good summary and fair points. And John Frye has one too: not a McGospel. Read more
Not according to Jesus, but this all hangs on what “follow” means. In the passage we need to look at today, Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus makes an astounding claim. He did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them. In brief, Jesus is saying that the Torah and the Prophets were preliminary sketches of God’s will and he will now be and teach its fullness. That takes chutzpah. |inline Read more
Some stuff for Emerging Movement today: First, I drove down to Wheaton to speak to the staff and interns at College Church of Wheaton about the Emerging Movement. I sense more and the more the need to have a clear definition more readily available. Here’s why: if the EM is not simply a theological innovation (which it is not), then the Evangelical world will have a hard time grasping it since it wants things defined by theology. The EM is... Read more
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