Whether evangelicalism was paying attention or not, it is now. Universalism, or at least the prospect of it, is the single most significant issue running through the undercurrent of evangelicalism today. This all became clear Saturday when some decided to accuse Rob Bell of universalism on the basis of excerpts of his (not yet released) book Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived and on the basis of a video and the... Read more
Alongside our posts about Miroslav Volf’s book, and alongside some of the fury unleashed about universalism this last weekend, I want to begin a weekly series by drawing on a book by pastor Martin Thielen. His book has a provocative title, but the title only gets us to open the book to a very serious topic that is handled responsibly and pastorally. The title: What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?: A Guide to What Matters... Read more
Tim Keller’s newest book, King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus, examines big questions through the Gospel of Mark. He examines the theme of “Rest” through the lens of “Religion” when he sketches the encounter of Jesus with contemporaries over his behaviors and beliefs about the Sabbath. What do you see as Jesus’ fundamental attitude toward Sabbath? What problem(s) did he have with the Pharisees about the Sabbath? Do you think Jesus “kept Sabbath”? How... Read more
I’m going to give this a try. Ron Sider has a new article at Relevant Magazine, and in this article he asks young adults — Relevant readers — four questions. In Sider’s day, that is in the 70s and 80s, he was seen as a radical because he brought into fuller light the biblical teachings on justice and peace. In many ways, young adults have embraced his vision … but is this embrace leading away from central themes of our... Read more
The story about Dave Duerson, one of Chicago’s favorite players during their Super Bowl years with Ditka, is a story that may change the face of American sports. Or should I say the “brains” of American sports. The basic storyline is that the family is wondering if concussions and head injuries during Duerson’s football career injured his brain. So they are studying the brain at Boston College. Here’s the story, but first some questions: What is being done? What is... Read more
A few weeks ago I posted on an event held at Point Loma Nazarene University last November featuring John Polkinghorne (An Afternoon with John Polkinghorne). This last week I have been listening to the audio recordings (available on the PLNU website here) on my commute to and from work. There is much to ponder in these lectures, and fuel for several posts. The opening event, An Afternoon with John Polkinghorne, consisted of a lecture and an interview. My last post... 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. Some of you may know Miroslav Volf grew up in Croatia/Yugoslavia, so his past is particularly suited to the content of this book. And there is our question: Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?... Read more
… in the race to oblivion. Lesson: Don’t spend what you don’t have! Read more
On a day when Patrick Mitchel posted on this blog about the committed life and Western consumerism and capitalism, CT has a piece that is worthy of our discussion. What about the big money professional athletes who are Christians make? From CT: ST. LOUIS—As contract talks broke down between Albert Pujols and the Cardinals, St. Louis baseball fans began nervously asking themselves a host of questions. He’s a Cardinal for life, right? He wouldn’t go to Wrigley Field because he... Read more
Here is a letter opened in public by request about the Bible and science. This youth pastor looks at his youth group and sees one group in the Young Earth Creation position and another wondering if they can even believe in the gospel if they don’t embrace YEC. What would you tell this young pastor? How would you address Genesis 1–2? Hi Dr. McKnight, I have a question that I think would be answered well from the perspective of your... Read more
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