Belong, Believe, Behave? Some years ago I began to hear this motto especially among those associated with the so-called “emerging churches.” I spoke at several such churches, had students affiliated with them, spoke at conventions where they gathered. The “new idea” often floated around in those circles was to allow people to belong (to the church) before they believe and certainly before they behave. Here, “believe” most often meant believe in the gospel and traditional truths of evangelical Christian orthodoxy.... Read more

Unsafe Sects: Understanding Religious Cults Yesterday I received my complimentary copies of this, my newest book: Unsafe Sects: Understanding Religious Cults published by Wipf & Stock under their Cascade Books imprint. I have described the book here before. What surprised me was the two absolutely stellar recommendations on the book’s back cover. I have posted a pic here of the back cover showing them. Both are by former colleagues of mine. In case you don’t know who Philip Jenkins is,... Read more

The Upside-Down Kingdom: Chapter One: Down Is Up Before I begin commenting on this book I want to tell a true story. Many years ago my wife and I were members of a Baptist church in an Upper Midwest capital city (USA). The state’s capitol building was about two miles away, but we could see it straight down the freeway near the church. The church was a medium-sized one that straddled the “line” between city and suburb. Most of the... Read more

Our Next Book Discussion: The Upside Down Kingdom It will begin this coming Monday, September 11. I will comment on Chapter One and invite those of you who read it to participate with comments. Those who do not read with us may ask questions only. I am very much looking forward to this book discussion as I judge that the author, Donald Kraybill, has swept away philosophical ethics from Christian ethics and gotten back to Jesus with more than just... Read more

Hegel in a Nutshell Hegel In a Nutshell Many years ago I took a doctoral seminar entitled “Kant and Hegel” at Rice University. On the first day, the professors said that nobody understands Hegel so the whole seminar would be about Kant’s philosophy. I was disappointed. So, I have spent many years, on and off, studying Hegel’s philosophy especially at it bears on religion and theology. Here is my offering of Hegel’s philosophy “in a nutshell” for those who are... Read more

What Are “Miracles” and Is Belief in Them Contrary to Science? It seems the word “miracle” is being stretched out of shape. I hear it all the time on TV. I have developed the view that there are three meanings (uses) of the word “miracle” in today’s American culture: 1) something surprising to an individual or small circle of people, 2) something truly amazing to a large number of people, 3) something whose only cause could be God (or possibly... Read more

Is Orthodoxy a Necessary Feature of “Evangelical?” I was recently asked if I agree with church historian David Bebbington’s “quadrilateral” of features of evangelical Christianity. They are, not necessarily in the right order,: biblicism (a special regard for the Bible as the inspired Word of God written and authoritative for everything related to salvation), conversionism (belief that an authentic Christian life and salvation begin with a decision to repent and trust in Jesus Christ alone), crucicentrism (a special emphasis on... Read more

Finally Finishing “Why?” Chapters 22 & 23 I apologize for letting this go so long. This is for you who have the book “Why? On Suffering, Guilt, and God” by A van de Beek (vdB). Chapter 22 is “Participation with God.” There vdB embraces a somewhat relativist Christian ethic: “[n]o matter how far a given choice was beneath the standard of Jesus Christ, if there was no better choice, it was the correct choice.” (336) He ends with the claim... Read more

Announcing a New Book Discussion: The Upside Down Kingdom I have sometimes been asked the title of my favorite book of Christian ethics. Without hesitation I can say “The Upside Down Kingdom” by Donald Kraybill. For those of you who want to read along and discuss the chapters, I will wait two weeks in case you prefer to order a hard copy of the book. It is, of course, available on Amazon for Kindle. This book is a classic of... Read more

To My International Readers: What Is Happening Here? I know what it is like to watch American news outlets talk about what is happening in other countries. They usually offer very little insight, just “facts” that leave me shaking my head in wonder. I have lived “abroad,” as we say, and know what it is like to live in a country you think you know about from US news and other information and find out there’s so much more to... Read more