Intelligent Apologetics

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 9:59 pm By Scot McKnight

I recently read — at the instigation of a friend’s recommendation — one of the English-speaking world’s finer minds, Roger Scruton, and I began with his The Soul of the World (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2014). It is an intelligent apologetics, a flat-lining of the omnicompetency of science (scientism, naturalism, empiricism) and a probing of the subjectivity and personal core of reality. He doesn’t let modernity set his categories and then show how the Christian faith is modernity plus. He offers... Read more

Question for our Readers

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 9:59 pm By Scot McKnight

At times we ask questions on this blog to get a sampling of what our readers know and think and practice. This is not a statistically-sound procedure, of course, but asking questions and hearing responses does often raise to the surface the important issues. So here’s my question: What did your youth groups do when they went on their “mission trip” last year? I want to offer you one of three answers: A: Evangelism or discipleship. B: A building or... Read more

Stylish Academic Writing

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 9:59 pm By Scot McKnight

Putting those two words before the word “writing” creates for many an impossibility or a rarity so infrequent one need not bother. Yet, Helen Sword, in her book Stylish Academic Writing, contends page after page that the two ought to be combined and that academics with a desire to be more stylish and elegant in their writing can do so. So let’s start 2015 with this commitment: more stylish academic writing. [Image credit.] This is a splendid book and ought to... Read more

Waiting (by Sara G. Barton)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 9:59 pm By Scot McKnight

Sara G. Barton is chaplain at Pepperdine University. [Image credit.] We really cannot think about the gospel Christmas story without thinking about pregnancy. When I was a little girl growing up in the South in the 1970’s, my mother taught me it was not polite to talk about pregnancy or to look at a woman’s pregnant stomach. She insisted I should not even say the word pregnant. She taught me, instead, to describe a pregnant woman by saying, “She’s expecting.”... Read more

A Commenter Asks: Your Wisdom

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:00 pm By Scot McKnight

From Mark Baker-Wright: Scot, I recognize that this could go off-topic, so I throw it out here mostly as something to consider for later, and recognizing that you, yourself, are a member of a breakaway Anglican denomination in America. My wife is an Episcopal priest. While I’m sure she’d object to the characterization of “cuckoo,” she would, at least, disagree with various stances taken by some within the denomination (I have to be careful here, since this is a public... Read more

God’s Kingdom, God’s Will (Matthew Miller)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:00 pm By Scot McKnight

This post is used by permission from Matthew Miller — and reminds that we are to keep God’s kingdom in mind when we think of God’s will: How do we find God’s direction? The answer is in Scripture, of course! But Scripture typically doesn’t have the simple answer we’re looking for. Should I buy that car or not? Yes or No? That’s because the Bible, despite our expectations, isn’t primarily a how-to-manual or a list of applications. Instead, it’s mostly a book of stories, forming one BIG... Read more

The Salt of the Earth (RJS)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:00 pm By RJS

The next section of Philip Yancey’s new book Vanishing Grace poses the question “is it really good news?” … a question that can be answered in many different ways. Does faith matter? Does it affect the way we live in any meaningful way? Even if faith has a positive affect on life, is it true? Is there actually a God out there? How do we know? There is abundant evidence that faith matters – but this isn’t the common impression... Read more

Good News: Women in Ministry (Lauren Visser)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:00 pm By Scot McKnight

This post, by Lauren Visser (one of my DMin students at Northern Seminary), finishes off our Good News: Women in Ministry series that ran throughout Christmas week. (I’m not saying, however, that we won’t be back for more some day!) Here’s Lauren’s story: For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a pastor. I loved God, I loved lighting candles as an acolyte, and my pastor could touch his tongue to his nose. Clearly, all these signs... Read more

Great Thought about Writing

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:00 pm By Scot McKnight

“Put down everything that comes into your head and then you’re a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff’s worth, without pity, and destroy most of it.” —Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette I’ll avoid providing a list of names, but far too many don’t re-read, edit, cut and cut and cut. Far too many. Source Image: Public Domain Read more

How to Start a Riot (by Rob Touchstone)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:00 pm By Scot McKnight

Review of Jonathan Storment’s How To Start A Riot, by Rob Touchstone “…and that is why this dramatic narrative is called ACTS and not ‘Facts.’” I like to conclude my introduction with that corny and perhaps outdated claim on the first day of my undergraduate Story of the Church class. I know. It must sound like the voice of a well-intentioned parent reminding their child of a timeless truth for the hundredth time. So why do I keep saying it? Because... Read more