Well, I don’t defend EVERY controversial book!  But I have gone out on a limb to defend Love Wins and open theism.  (Not that the two are the same; the only comparison I make right now is they are both controversial evangelical theological prop0sals that have been attacked almost exclusively by Reformed evangelicals.) After reading Mark Galli’s book God Wins and reviewing it here, I went back and re-read Bell’s Love Wins–looking for the weaknesses and dangers Mark points out. ... Read more

A publisher recently sent me an advance copy of what I take to be the first full book length response to Love Wins by Rob Bell and asked me to review it here.  I’m happy to do that. The book is entitled God Wins: Heaven, Hell and Why the Good News is Better than Love Wins.  The author is Mark Galli, senior managing editor of Christianity Today magazine.  The book is published by Tyndale House Publishers. I know Mark Galli... Read more

I’ve been writing a series of posts here about the phenomenon among evangelicals (especially evangelical scholars and those under their influence including certain influential pastors and authors) that I call “neo-fundamentalism.”  I’ve already identified several common (perhaps not universal) characteristics or hallmarks of this movement (if it can be called that). First, let me reiterate that I’m not claiming there’s some kind of secret cabal or conspiracy at work.  Rather, I think I detect a relatively new ethos among conservative... Read more

I’ve become increasingly concerned that many American Christians (and perhaps especially evangelicals) confuse patriotism with nationalism to the extent that idolatry lurks close by. Patriotism is love for one’s country without blinders about its flaws and defects.  Patriotism seeks to actualize the highest and best ideals of one’s country which can sometimes look like disloyalty to nationalists.  Nationalists tend to confuse “country” with “government” and reject as disloyal all criticism of either.  However, criticism of the government can be patriotric. ... Read more

I’ve heard said many times that the movement between liberal and evangelical is one-way.  Evangelicals move toward liberalism (unless held back), but liberals never move toward evangelicalism. The point of that claim is that any step away from maximal conservatism (e.g., my postconservative evangelical approach to theology) puts one on a trajectory toward liberalism from which there is no return.  Thus, so neo-fundamentalists say, it is always best to stick with traditional beliefs (as they define them, of course!). Recently... Read more

During these weeks of summer doldrums, some students and I are reading and discussing Christ on Trial: How the Gospel Unsettles our Judgement (sic) by Rowan Williams.  I had a little trouble getting into it, but now, in the middle of the book, I’m very impressed and hope many people will read it. The bulk of the book is a commentary on the gospels and especially the passion narratives and especially the various accounts of Jesus’ trials.  Williams sees in... Read more

Ken Stewart supplied me with some examples of non-Calvinists misrepresenting Calvinism.  I have run across other examples over the years. So, in fairness, let me shame non-Calvinists who misrepresent Calvinism.  (Ken has himself corrected Calvinists who misunderstand and misrepresent it in his book Ten Myths about Calvinism which I reviewed in Christianity Today.) Contrary to what many non-Calvinists think and say: 1) Calvinism is not fatalism.  Fatalism is belief in an impersonal determinism.  It does not include God or any... Read more

Thanks to my colleague and dean David Garland for compiling the following list of biblical injunctions regarding how God’s people are to treat aliens and strangers among them: Exodus 22:21 (NRSV) 21 You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. Exodus 23:9 (NRSV) 9 You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. Leviticus 19:33 (NRSV)... Read more

Occasionally here I have mentioned that one thing that really gets my ire up is when some neo-fundamentalists stoop to unethical means to undermine their theological opponents.  I alluded to the fact it has happened to me–especially with regard to open theism. As everyone knows, I’m not an open theist but I have defended open theism as a legitimate evangelical option.  I personally knew Clark Pinnock and know Greg Boyd, John Sanders and William Hasker.  These were/are godly men who... Read more

Actually, what I have to say here applies to ANY criticism of ANY theology.  We need to distinguish carefully between criticism and misrepresentation.  Fair criticism is valid; misrepresentation in order to criticize (straw man treatment) is invalid and should itself be criticized by everyone. Reformed theologians especially have long pointed out what they believe to be the “good and necessary consequences” of certain Arminian beliefs.  That’s fine, so long as the critics point out that Arminians themselves DO NOT believe... Read more