Chaplainmike

How I Became … an Arminian

Today we continue our series on “How I Became a…”. Two weeks ago I discussed how I had become a Theistic-Evolutionist. That was one of my later theological “conversions.” Up for discussion today, is my one of earliest theological conversions, that is the transition to Arminianism. Before going too far down a rabbit hole, letContinue reading “How I Became … an Arminian”

IM Book Review: A Jester’s Take on the Bible

. . . the insights of these textual experts must be welcomed, even if they shake the foundations of religious dogma. To the extent they are correct, they are further iterations of the truth. And the pursuit of that truth, not self-deception or willful ignorance, is the task of religious adulthood. • Jay Michaelson HowContinue reading “IM Book Review: A Jester’s Take on the Bible”

Fr. Ernesto: Orthodoxy and Scripture

Note from CM: Today we welcome our friend, Fr. Ernesto Obregon, to whom we turn regularly with questions about Orthodox Christianity. In this post he gives an overview of the Orthodox view of Scripture. • • • I was asked to write on the Eastern Orthodox view of the Bible. Let me quote from oneContinue reading “Fr. Ernesto: Orthodoxy and Scripture”

Another Look: The Bible — Rated “R”

First posted in 2010. Okay, so let’s get real about the Bible. A lot of folks have a mistaken and inadequate understanding of what the Bible is like and what it contains. I agree with author Frederick Buechner, who says: When a minister reads out of the Bible, I am sure that at least nineContinue reading “Another Look: The Bible — Rated “R””

iMonk Classic: A Conversation in God’s Kitchen (2)

Note from CM: This is part two of Michael Spencer’s most comprehensive essay on the Bible (read PART ONE here). For a couple of weeks here we are focusing our attention on posts related to the Bible, its nature and purpose. This has been a hot-button issue in our generation, especially in American evangelicalism, whichContinue reading “iMonk Classic: A Conversation in God’s Kitchen (2)”

Eugene Peterson: An Invitation to the Story

As an aid to understanding the Scriptures, which he translated into the language of the German people, Martin Luther thought it important to provide prefaces to the various books in the Bible. You may recall that it was during the reading of one of these prefaces, years later, that John Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed”Continue reading “Eugene Peterson: An Invitation to the Story”

Saturday Ramblings: September 27, 2014

It’s a beautiful fall Saturday in the Midwest, and I am rambling around Chicago this weekend, reuniting with friends and classmates from my junior high and high school days. I graduated from high school in 1974. That was in Baltimore — I moved at the beginning of my senior year. But I have always consideredContinue reading “Saturday Ramblings: September 27, 2014”

Another Look: My View of Scripture (at this point)

Note from CM: Our usual Friday contributor Mike Bell ran into some other responsibilities and asked me to post something for today. So I thought I’d repeat this 2011 summary of my view of the Bible. I didn’t take time to thoroughly review and edit it, so I might state some minor details differently today,Continue reading “Another Look: My View of Scripture (at this point)”

N.T. Wright: Authority and the Public Reading of Scripture

As part of my study during these weeks when we are discussing the nature and purpose of the Bible, I have been reading N.T. Wright’s illuminating book, Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today. I particularly like his point that there is need to clarify what we mean when weContinue reading “N.T. Wright: Authority and the Public Reading of Scripture”

The Conservative Evangelical View of Inerrancy

I used to affirm biblical inerrancy. I’m not sure I understood it very well, even though I went through Bible college and seminary. I know I hadn’t read or studied the Bible enough to have a true “belief” about it. I trusted the Bible. That, in a nutshell, was my position. The Bible is true.Continue reading “The Conservative Evangelical View of Inerrancy”