Review of Oliver Crisps’ Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology Part Four   This is Part Four of my series of review essays of Oliver Crisp’s new book Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology and deals with Chapter 4 : “Augustinian Universalism.” I invite those reading the book with me to agree or disagree with my interpretations of Crisp’s views and I invite others (anyone) to step in to comment on the subject matter itself (in this case “libertarian Calvinism”). But if... Read more

Growing Up “Evangelical” in the 1950s/1960s: “Look What They’ve Done to My Religion”   To me the classic version of the old song “Look What They’ve Done to My Song (Ma)” will always be Ray Charles’s (no offense to Miley Cyrus). When I think about contemporary American evangelical Christianity compared with the 1950s/1960s version I grew up in, somehow that song comes to mind. What have they done to my religion? Oh, I know all the routine responses to such... Read more

Some Year-End/New Year Thoughts/Resolutions about This Blog   What is the purpose of this blog? Most simply expressed it is to provide the public, those who care, with a theologically-informed “voice” speaking about issues relevant to Christianity and culture from a moderately progressive, evangelical Arminian perspective. I could also say it is to have a forum for expressing my opinions on a variety of subjects. Who is the intended audience of this blog? Well, there is no specific audience other... Read more

For God So Loved the World…That He Couldn’t Stay Away: A Christmas Meditation   This is the heart of the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and therefore of authentic Christianity: the incarnation of God as “one of us.” Take it away and Christianity is little more than a moralistic, therapeutic deism. The incarnation, as event and doctrine, is the distinctive note of the Christian witness and the basis of Christian hope. But many Christians believe in the... Read more

Review of Oliver Crisps’ Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology Part Three   This is Part Three of my series of review essays of Oliver Crisp’s new book Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology and deals with Chapter 3 : “Libertarian Calvinism.” I invite those reading the book with me to agree or disagree with my interpretations of Crisp’s views and I invite others (anyone) to step in to comment on the subject matter itself (in this case “libertarian Calvinism”). But if... Read more

Comparing the Young, Restless, Reformed Movement (YRRM) with the Bill Gothard Phenomenon of the 1970s and 1980s   Several times here and elsewhere (mostly in responses to comments and questions) I have compared the rise and influence of the Young, Restless, Reformed Movement largely inspired by John Piper with the Bill Gothard movement of the 1970s and 1980s. I would like to explain and qualify that comparison here. First, I want to make clear that my comparison has nothing whatever... Read more

Review of Oliver Crisp’s Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology Part Two   This is Part Two of my series of review essays of Oliver Crisp’s new book Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology and deals with Chapter 2: “Eternal Justification.” I invite those reading the book with me to agree or disagree with my interpretations of Crisp’s views and I invite others (anyone) to step in to comment on the subject matter itself (in this case “eternal justification”). In Chapter 2... Read more

Right now, among other books, I’m reading Walter Cardinal Kasper’s new book Mercy: The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to Christian Living (Orbis). Here is what he says on p. 98: “Everything ultimately depends on the goodness of God.” Amen. And because it is so important and everything ultimately depends on it (and I mean everything)…any muddying of it with qualifications is detrimental to everything: life, spirituality, meaning, hope, blessing, virtue, love, care, faith, trust…. Read more

Review of Oliver Crisps’ Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology Part One   I have invited other interested persons to join me in this series. I will post occasional (tentatively about one chapter per week) reviews and others who read the book are welcome to agree, disagree, add to, etc. I ask that those who are not reading the book with us refrain from posting comments that express agreement or disagreement; they should stick to asking questions. I will be posting... Read more

The article is entitled “For Baptists, a lone Arminian voice crying in a Calvinist wilderness.” You can find the article simply by Googleing the title. Or you can go to the Baptist Global Press web site and find it. (Baptist Global Press is the new name of the Associated Baptist Press.) I’m not really happy with the title, but publishers like eye-catching titles that draw readers in. (My similar article published in Christianity Today years ago was entitled “Don’t Hate... Read more