Letters Opened

Last updated on: February 4, 2011 at 6:50 am By Scot McKnight

I got both of these encouraging notes on the same day this week. This first one is from a pastor about The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible.

For the past 30+ years, there has been an ongoing discussion at our church about the role of women in the church. Over that time, there were slow steps forward that got us to the point we had been at for the past several years – women could teach and be pastors, but could not be elders or the senior pastor. The last time the discussion of women elders was brought up with our elders, it was 9+ years ago and it was sharply divided among complementarian and egalitarian lines.

I just got back from an elders retreat this past weekend where we decided to resurface that conversation as a part of the retreat. This time, however, I thought we should frame it differently. I wanted to start with a discussion of hermeneutics rather than to make the beginning point a discussion of women in ministry. We used your book as our starting point with all the elders having read it, and I had one of our elders lead the discussion of the book and hermeneutics, also using some of William Webb’s stuff from “Slaves, Women and Homosexuals”. (more…)

Discipleship: Does Location Matter?

Last updated on: January 30, 2011 at 10:00 am By Scot McKnight

Frank Viola contends organic churches are the most natural place for discipleship to occur.

What do you think? Does location matter? Does context matter?

One of the most striking observations I’ve made over the last 21 years is how disciple-making operates in an organic church compared to a more traditional/institutional church. Those who stress the importance of discipleship today take their cue from Jesus’ exhortation to His disciples to “make disciples of all the nations”
(Matt. 28:19).

Yet a significant followup question to that commission is rarely asked—namely, how did the 12 make disciples? The answer is telling.

The 12 didn’t set up discipleship classes or programs. They didn’t put one Christian above another in a hierarchical chain of command. They didn’t create accountability groups or unmovable regiments for observing spiritual disciplines. Instead, they planted vibrant Christian communities all across Palestine. Likewise, Paul of Tarsus made disciples by planting Christian communities throughout the gentile world.

To the early believers, Christian community was the only discipleship “program” that existed, and it was sufficient. (more…)

Lectio Divina Series

Last updated on: January 22, 2011 at 6:51 am By Scot McKnight

Perhaps you’ve heard of this and perhaps you haven’t. One approach to Bible reading is called lectio divina — sacred reading of the sacred text. In some ways it is devotional reading, but in other ways it is more rigorous and methodical than typical devotional reading. What is perhaps less known is that lectio divina is an ancient method of Bible reading.

Stephen J. Binz (SSL, Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome), whose ministry has been focused on teaching Bible how to read the Bible, has now authored a series of books from Brazos called “Ancient-Future Bible Study.” There are six in this series and they are recommended by a wide range of scholars, including David Neff at Christianity Today, J.K.A. Smith of Calvin, Thomas Oden, Marva Dawn, and Patrick Henry Reardon.

Each volume moves through the same process of lectio divina: lectio (reading with a listening ear), meditatio (reflecting on the meaning and message), oratio (praying in response), contemplatio (quietly resting in God), and operatio (faithful witness in daily life).

Abraham: Abraham: Father of All Believers (Ancient-Future Bible Study: Experience Scripture through Lectio Divina).

Women of the Torah:Women of the Torah: Matriarchs and Heroes of Israel (Ancient-Future Bible Study: Experience Scripture through Lectio Divina).

Paul: Paul: Apostle to All the Nations (Ancient-Future Bible Study: Experience Scripture through Lectio Divina).

Peter: Peter: Fisherman and Shepherd of the Church (Ancient-Future Bible Study: Experience Scripture through Lectio Divina).

Women of the Gospels: Women of the Gospels: Friends and Disciples of Jesus (Ancient-Future Bible Study: Experience Scripture through Lectio Divina).

David: David: Shepherd and King of Israel (Ancient-Future Bible Study: Experience Scripture through Lectio Divina).

These six books were sent to me by Brazos Press. I was not asked to write about the books nor restricted in any way about what to say. [This is the case for less than 50% of the books I review — they are sent to me as Review Copies.]

Weekly Meanderings

Last updated on: January 15, 2011 at 6:42 am By Scot McKnight

Our nation mourns…

Especially nice reflection by Mike Glenn on the sounds of forgiveness. That sound could be heard among the Amish.

Insightful, if a little testy, sketch about “deacons” in Acts by Daniel Kirk. Speaking of leaders, David Fitch is a bit testy about “leaders.”

Ted sketches a most important reminder: forgiveness. Brad Boydston’s sermon on Jesus vs. Superman.

A good reminder from Jim.

Chris Armstrong on the KJV in African American churches. Allan on the “dark ages.”

Thabiti — a complementarian who believes women should teach. I agree with much of what he says; I disagree at points.

Preacher Mike had a post (way back) on women in ministry and it got over 250 comments. Speaking of Preacher Mike, his post on winter vs. summer Christians is a good read.

For Sci-fi folks.

(more…)

Blue Parakeet’s New Arrival

Last updated on: December 19, 2010 at 11:15 am By Scot McKnight

Nope, not the one in the backyard or on our feeder.

Instead, I’m happy to announce — and have been asked to announce — that The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible is now in paperback. For about a year it has been available only in clothbound in the USA (though in paper in other countries), so I’m happy to see this book made cheaper and therefore more accessible.

What’s the book about? It’s an introduction to how to read the Bible as Story, it gives the basics on how to “apply” the Bible — or, better yet, live the Story in our world, and about one third of the book makes the case for increasing women in ministry in our local churches. The big point I make about women in ministry, and this is designed for those who want to be biblical and not just fight this on the justice front, is that we need to ask this:

What did Women Do (in the Bible)? WDWD?

Do women do in your churches (at least) what they do in the Bible days? (Or, just how biblical is your church?)

Weekly Meanderings

Last updated on: November 13, 2010 at 11:03 am By Scot McKnight

I like all parts of the USA — well not all — but
nothing, and I mean nothing, beats good old Fall colors!

Is this about to be your first winter in winterlands like Chicago? Read this. And if you are Swedish, or Covenant, you might want to read Abby’s post and browse her pictures of Sweden.

J. Kameron Carter: “Or put differently one more time and much more succinctly: “post-racial” racism is now working in the register of religion.” Justin Topp’s four models for relating faith and science. Andy Rowell is among the many who illustrate how to read Karl Barth.

Karen‘s got a new Friday series going; bookmark it. It will be serious and fun at the same time.

Eugene Cho’s whatchamacallit. Ted ponders Veterans Day for a pacifist. Roger Olson sums up the differences between NT Wright and his critics on justification. Olson nails it, though I would add one more feature: deep in the heart of Tom’s critics is the necessity of an Augustinian anthropology shaping the problem that needs resolution.

This post appears on a morning when I will be having breakfast with my friend Jacob who teaches at Irish Bible Institute — and to make this post officially Irish, I link to my friend Patrick Mitchel who is posting on Blue Parakeet women in ministry passages. Speaking of women in ministry, iMonk’s site posted this by Angie Gage.

Tamara Buchan on the spirit of adoption.

An interview with former captive, Ingrid Betancourt, on her faith. An interview with former President George W. Bush.

Great post by Fr Rob — a must read for pastors: “I do not write this about myself, though this is what I aspire to. I write it as I think about the teaching we heard this past weekend by a man who has been a pastor pastor for 42 years. I have heard people who are widely regarded as some of the best speakers in the world, and for good reason. I have benefited immensely from what they have said. But I don’t know that I have ever heard better teaching than this. And I guess if I am completely honest, I am a little bit saddened by the way so many of the masses will flock to the glamour of the one, failing to appreciate the real treasure that may be found in the small, aging building just down the street.”

JR Briggs on the importance of listening. Gottareadthisone!

Don Johnson: Is it teaching or preaching? I say “preaching!” (Don, good to see Luke the other day.)

Traveling to speak in churches creates opportunities to meet worship leaders but more often simply listening in and observing them, and I can’t say enough about them. Here’s one to meet and listen to: Michael Boggs.

My own take on this picture is that Santa’s radar got messed up, he didn’t know how high he was flying, and the FAA is looking into it.

(more…)

Being Human 3 (RJS)

Last updated on: October 12, 2010 at 11:23 am By RJS

In my last post on Being Human After Darwin I commented on Francisco Ayala’s essay on the characteristics that make us human. The suggestion is that our “humanness” is not at its root reducible to chemistry, physics, or even biology. Rather the things that make us human are abstract properties related to mind and to culture. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before, not simply in our biological composition, but more importantly and more profoundly in our knowledge, our understanding, and our culture, in the knowledge of good and evil, in the awareness that things could be better. We are human collectively and in the context of culture. Sure – one can look for chemical, physical, and biological roots that give rise to our capacity for culture and abstract thought, but there has been something of a phase transition. We are not simply smarter animals. Exactly how this came about I don’t know – or I should say I don’t know the mechanism used to bring this about. However it happened it is, I think, an important part of the biblical concept of humans created in the image of God, part of the mission, purpose of God in creation.

One of the commenters noted:

While these and other characteristics are highly relevant and interesting, I would say, as others have on this thread, that our uniqueness and essential humanness is that we are image of God. I would further say that image of God is not based on any particular capability or function. Thus, our humanity is not a function of any thing we possess in and of ourselves but is wholly derived from the one who made and sustains us. To put it in theological terms, we are most basically covenantal beings. In saying this I’m not locating image of God in an immaterial soul or spirit at the expense of the material/physical.

Tying our humanity to image of God allows for something that the merely descriptive accounts don’t consider. It accounts for the intuitive sense that there’s a way to be human we don’t live up to. This sense is demonstrated in our reflexive reaction to conduct we deem immoral or repulsive: “how could a human being do such a thing?”; “he behaved like an animal”, etc.

This is a good way to summarize the topic. Science can only get us so far as we try to understand ourselves. This isn’t a knock on science. We are fully embodied creatures and science can and will explore the connection between brain and mind. There is much to learn. But while science can address cause and effect, it cannot address purpose and it cannot address the role of God who made, sustains us, provided a function and a mission. It cannot comprehend or address the concept of “image of God” that provides the core part of our essence as humans. But I also think that there are human characteristics that shed much light on exactly what this means.

This leads to a rather significant set of questions. Does our view of what it means to be human change “after Darwin”? Does this have an impact on our understanding of, not theology, but anthropology?

And, in a rather abrupt right turn: Does it impact our understanding of the women in ministry question?

Note added: – as many have suggested, this post really has nothing much at all to do with science, evolution, or Darwinism… it is a post that connects with our discussion of humanness that arose in the context of Dr. Ayala’s essay. It also connects a stream of thought that runs from there to our discussion on many posts that relate to gender and gospel.

(more…)

Lisa Baumert: “Spiritual Covering”

Last updated on: October 4, 2010 at 11:23 am By Scot McKnight

This post, from CBE’s Arise newsletter, deals with the topic of “spiritual coverings.” That is, with the claimed need that women need to be covered spiritually by a male in order to lead and teach.

Lisa Baumert, former theological intern at Christians for Biblical Equality, is a graduate of Wheaton College and is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary.

* * * * *

Jesus taught that structures of human power often do not reflect the ordering of God’s kingdom. Central to his teachings are the ideas that “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35) and “For whoever is least among you all is the greatest” (Luke 9:48). Jesus’ life reflected this understanding of power. He incorporated women in his ministry, and chose to use them as integral parts of his redemptive activity on earth. He tangibly demonstrated that the ordering of God’s kingdom is different from the way society structures itself, and that in the Kingdom of God, the formerly powerful are often the powerless. Jesus taught and showed that mutual love and self-giving, rather than hierarchy and male-only leadership, are the true ideals of Christian life. (more…)

Weekly Meanderings

Last updated on: September 18, 2010 at 5:51 am By Scot McKnight

One of our favorite places on earth: Siena.

We mourn the passing of Vernon Grounds.

Make sure you give the Evangelical Portal at Patheos a good look, and notice that Patheos asked Karen to blog there.

JR Woodward‘s collection of his missional churches posts. Good source. Derek’s been doing some thinking about atonement. Justin did some post-post pondering on gospel and evolution. And Allan’s been doing lots of study on Church and State.

Church planting wisdom. Parenting wisdom.

Abby’s in love … well, forgive her for this. Andy Rowell found lots of info about seminaries. Church change: 8 essential Qs. I haven’t seen this site but will be checking it at times.

Don Johnson on the gospel of one. LaVonne Neff on civil discourse.

The top 22 seminaries (by enrollment) in the USA. Speaking of seminaries, there’s an interesting piece about how Al Mohler changed his mind from pro-women in ministry to the other side. (HT: MK)

Does anyone out there read Eunomia/Daniel Larison? (more…)

A Question for The Gospel Coalition

Last updated on: September 13, 2010 at 6:11 am By Scot McKnight

There is an articulate, irenic post on the complementarian-egalitarian divide by Dan Stringer, and this set of questions at the bottom of the post brings it to a head. I’m keen on hearing from Gospel Coalition folks and we promise civility. There is a trend today that concerns me: the incursion of non-gospel items into gospel essentials, and I’d like this post by Dan to springboard into that discussion in general.

The issue is simple:

How close to the gospel is complementarianism? And I think it turns around too: How close is the gospel to egalitarianism?

In essence, here’s what I’d like to ask my brethren over at The Gospel Coalition/Desiring God/9 Marks/Sovereign Grace/Ligonier/White Horse Inn/T4G:

To what extent is complementarianism more than just a prominent feature of the New Calvinist movement, but essential to the Gospel itself?

Is adherence to complementarian theology a prerequisite for becoming “gospel-centered” or “gospel-driven?”

As someone who affirms the Nicene Creed, salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, the supreme authority/infallibility of Scripture, original sin, the existence of hell, Christ’s sinless life, his penal substitutionary atonement on our our behalf, his propitiation of God’s wrath, his bodily resurrection and his second coming but also holds to an evangelical egalitarian perspective on women in ministry leadership, have I failed to believe the Gospel?

In short, can egalitarians be gospel-centered too?

Since it is my conviction that the boundaries of historic Christian orthodoxy can (and must) include evangelicals of both the complementarian and egalitarian variety, here’s what I wish we could say to one another:

“With all due respect for your sincere desire to follow Jesus and adhere faithfully to the teachings of Scripture, I disagree with your position on this important issue. Just as I would love for you change your mind on the question of women in ministry, I’m sure you feel the same way about my stance. But because our shared belief in the Gospel is more important than our differences on secondary matters, I’m hopeful we can respectfully disagree as brothers/sisters in Christ while encouraging each other to live joyfully and faithfully in light of the good news.”

If this sounds too much like key lime pie too high up in the clouds, maybe we could just shout it across the canyon once in a while.

Which king prayed and saw the shadow go backward as a sign from God?