In light of what so many are now saying about what the Orthodox believe about hell, we need to turn to the learned study of Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev (Christ the Conqueror of Hell: The Descent into Hades from an Orthodox Perspective). 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... Read more
Martin Thielen’s new well-written and pastorally-sensitive book, What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?: A Guide to What Matters Most., discusses what is most central — and necessary — for being a Christian. (For how to use this book in the church, see this site.) Last week we finished up the things Christians don’t need to believe, and today we begin looking at what Christians do believe. What would your top three be? Now let me... Read more
Jeff Cook, author of Seven: The Deadly Sins and the Beatitudes , has offered some brief meditations for us to ponder during Lent this year. Wrath During Lent, we will meditate together on the Seven Deadly Sins and use this list as an aid in confession as we prepare ourselves for Holy Week, Good Friday and the Easter announcement of resurrection. There is great pain in our world, and our anger alerts us to the fact that it needs fixing.... Read more
From William Willimon, Why Jesus?, on the Temple Tax in Matthew 17:24-27: Once, when Peter asked Jesus for a coin to pay the requisite temple tax, Jesus rather flippantly told the big fisherman to go catch a fish and pull the tax money out of the fish’s mouth. There is no record that Peter actually and went and did so, which makes me wonder if Jesus was serious. Perhaps Jesus was saying that we owe the governing authorities not much... Read more
Now that Rob Bell’s book is out I have been receiving request after request to say something. Yes, we will be reviewing the book and doing our best to set this almost kafkaesque scene in context. But I want to let the immediate chatter and some of the knee-jerk reactions to settle down before I post the review. As you may know, I consider the issues surrounding universalism, the love of God and the justice of God, the relationship of... Read more
In Weekly Meanderings this week Scot linked to a post by Chaplain Mike aka Michael Mercer on The Internet Monk: A Rant from a Loser in the Worship Wars. Mercer clarified his points in a follow-up post the next day: Let Me Restate That … A Rant Clarified. These posts are worth a careful read and I would like to use them to set up and pose a serious question, continuing the conversation from a few weeks back when I... Read more
Miroslav Volf, Professor at Yale, on the dedication page of his new book — Allah: A Christian Response, says this: To my father, a Pentecostal minister who admired Muslims, and taught me as a boy that they worship the same God as we do. Volf’s quest is to build a theological basis for peaceful co-existence and peaceful cooperation among Muslims and Christians, and his quest is to contend that the God of the Christians and the God of the Muslims... Read more
William Willimon’s book, Why Jesus?, is about Jesus. Each chapter sketches a theme about Jesus. Jesus, he says, was a “Peacemaker.” But… just what kind of a peacemaker? “Prince of Peace Jesus was a threat to world peace.” What do you think of these comments by Willimon? Is it possible to follow the Prince of Peace, the crucified Prince of Peace, and wage war? Can war be just? Would Jesus side with the pacifist case? “The king they [shepherds] found... Read more
Not too long ago we posted a series on what is now being called evangelical universalism, and if you recall it is a view that believes death results from sin, and that following death unbelievers experience hell. But the big issue here is the finality of death. [I am reposting this series because so many are talking about what Orthodox theologians believed, and this sketch is one of the finest books ever written on this subject.] Is death final? Is... Read more
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