But Maybe If Kirk Cameron Were in a Gay Movie…

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

This one’s a doozy. Kirk Cameron spoke out against homosexuality on Piers Morgan’s show. That’s no surprise. Neither is it a surprise that Stephen Baldwin tweeted his support, nor that some HuffPo ranters called Cameron a right-wing nutjob. What did get me a little kooky is the list provided by Charisma News about why homosexuality is unnatural and destructive. My favorite is in bold: Cameron was perfectly correct when he said homosexuality is “unnatural” and “destructive.” In fact, studies also... Read more

Would John Piper Excommunicate His Son?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

Yes, he clearly would, as this interview at the Christian Post makes clear: Should a pastor continue in ministry if one of his sons, arriving at a mature age, proves to be an unbeliever? Well, as you know, that hits close to home. So maybe the best thing I can do is tell you the way the elders at Bethlehem managed this, because that’s me. When that happened, I went to the elders and I said to them, “Here’s the... Read more

Frank Schaeffer Has a Message for Denominations

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

Frank writes, I’ve been speaking at many small colleges that have historical ties to the oldest mainline denominations in the U.S. I have been noticing something interesting: a terrific hunger for a deeper spirituality on the part of many young people who come from evangelical backgrounds like mine and also like me are looking for something outside of the right wing conservatism they come from. I’ve also noticed that while some people in the so-called emergent evangelical movement are reaching... Read more

The Best TED Talk Ever?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

That’s what some people are saying about this barn-burner by Bryan Stevenson. One of my friends who witnessed it live wrote, After his talk, he received a breathtaking standing ovation. The raw energy and length of ovation was unequaled by any talk I’ve experienced at a live conference (probably 45 seconds of applause is edited from the video). He is asking us to do something about the injustices in our own country. Read more

Cancer and Theology

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

Jake Bouma has cancer. That sucks. He’s hoping to parlay that cancer into some good conversation, however, by hosting a Cancer and Theology series at his blog. He’s recruited folks like David Fitch, Brian McLaren, Martin Marty, Carol Howard Merritt, and yours truly. He describes the series thusly (and if you click through to his blog you’ll see an old picture of me in a purple shirt!): The guest bloggers I have assembled (listed below) will be doing what Howard... Read more

The Early Bird Gets the Discount

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

Tonight at midnight (Central DAYLIGHT Time), the early bird rate ends on two events put on by The JoPa Group in May. Register today for Funding the Missional Church and save $80. Register for the Church Planters Academy today and save $50. Register for both and save $180! Read more

English Evangelicals

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

They’re shaking up the Church of England: A handful of big evangelically-minded parishes now exercise huge influence, far beyond their immediate patch. Saint Helen’s in Bishopsgate reaches out to workers in London’s financial district; it has “planted” a dozen new communities in other places, using an American model of religious expansion. Holy Trinity, Brompton has exported a charismatic brand of Christianity via the Alpha course. Meanwhile All Souls in Langham Place, which shares a neighbourhood with department stores, broadcasters and... Read more

Miroslav Volf: Gimme an Atonement, Hold the Wrath

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

A Better Atonement: Moral Exemplar

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

Every Wednesday during Lent, I’m going to explore an alternatives to the penal substitutionary understanding of the atonement, the dominant theory of the atonement in my part of the (theological and geographical) world. You can read all of the posts, and my past posts on this topic, here. I’ve got an ebook on the subject as well. In another version of the atonement that was quite popular during the first millennium of Christianity, but virtually snuffed out in the West... Read more

The Christian Evasion of Popular Culture

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm By Tony Jones

That’s the name of an academic conference at Dordt College next fall at which Andy Root, Peter Rollins, and I will be plenary speakers. They’ve opened a call for papers, so if this is your thing, you should consider it. Here’s the description of the conference: Christianity is often the focus of popular culture, whether it is through the blood and gore of The Passion of the Christ, the satire of South Park and Family Guy, or exposés of Jesus... Read more