Chaplainmike

Postcards To A Young Theologian 4

Postcard 1 Postcard 2 Postcard 3 4. Determine to be part of a community where the concept of leadership is fully New Testament in its understanding of the relation of clergy and laity, and is free from the exaggerated and harmful adoration/veneration of personalities so common in unhealthy groups. How do you know that aContinue reading “Postcards To A Young Theologian 4”

Postcards To A Young Theologian 3

Postcard 1 Postcard 2 3. Be honest: Does the logic of a group eventually conclude that other Christians are, in fact, not true believers at all? The Arminian God is not “worshipable.” If you believe the doctrines of Arminius, you are idolater who hates God. If you give up your idolatry and embrace the GodContinue reading “Postcards To A Young Theologian 3”

Postcards To A Young Theologian 2

Postcard 1 2. Be suspicious of guilt that comes from crossing the perceived boundaries of a group. In between the lines of these epistles from young theologians, there is a common emotion. It is not a front-burner emotion, nor is it entirely absent. It is the emotion of nagging, background guilt. Guilt related to deviatingContinue reading “Postcards To A Young Theologian 2”

Like The Night My House Was Burning by Denise Day Spencer

Denise is blogging about the recent “cancer scare” at her blog. I want to link here so that IM readers can experience her excellent writing and benefit from her honest reflections on this experience. Since many of you prayed for us during this time, I hope you will find these posts a sign that GodContinue reading “Like The Night My House Was Burning by Denise Day Spencer”

Postcards To A Young Theologian 1

I’m fortunate to be trusted with many letters chronicling the spiritual journeys of some of my readers. Currently, I have several of these letters in my mailbox that I need to answer. I have a particular group, however, that are different from the norm; they are letters with several things in common: -They are fromContinue reading “Postcards To A Young Theologian 1”

Guess Who? on John 3:16

UPDATE: Welcome Fide-O readers. I invite you to read this post and tell me why Jason Robertson thinks it’s about him. Good luck. Guess Who said it? “I am troubled by the tendency of some – often young people newly infatuated with Reformed doctrine – who insist that God cannon possibly love those who neverContinue reading “Guess Who? on John 3:16”

Jesus=Salvation

Listen. I am not an Arminian. I’m not an opponent of reformed theology. I haven’t taken a notion to “mock” someone’s sermons. My issues with the “L” go back at least 15 years, maybe more, to my first reading of Pink. I’m very well aware of the whole “L” defense. Listen to Piper’s “TULIP” series.Continue reading “Jesus=Salvation”

Rhodes, Alcorn and Ware on God’s Love and Christ’s Work

Doing some research on how reformed preachers deal with John 3:16, I was really surprised at how few resources there are on the web giving any real balanced, serious and fair discussion of the subject of the extent of the atonement. As long as I have been around reformed theology, I have been adverse- toContinue reading “Rhodes, Alcorn and Ware on God’s Love and Christ’s Work”

Spiritual Stew or Bread of Life?

I’ve had two major Bible study projects this year. The first was a men’s Bible study/chapel preaching series on marriage. The second is a careful study of the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians, which I’m teaching to the same group of men two mornings a week, and also using as the basis for myContinue reading “Spiritual Stew or Bread of Life?”

Review: “V” For Vendetta

Because my son is a fan of the original graphic novel, “V for Vendetta,” my drive home from the theater this afternoon was a seminar in all the ways the new film differed from the novel. Those observations cemented my impression that the film I’d seen not only differed from the original book in waysContinue reading “Review: “V” For Vendetta”