IM Book Review: The Complete Psalms

So the first question we must ask is: Do we really need another new translation of the Psalms?

If you are a scholar looking for word-for-word accuracy or you are going into philology, then Pamela Greenberg’s The Complete Psalms: The Book of Prayer Songs in a New Translation is definitely not for you.

But if you are one who struggles at time with life, if you are ever weary and distraught, if you ever doubt that God exists or that he really will do what he says, then this book of Psalms is for you.

Pamela Greenberg is a former rabbinical student and Hebrew scholar who admittedly “came to religion later in life.” She was going through a difficult time of life, including a battle with depression, when she decided she need something to believe in. This brought her to the book of Psalms. Said Greenberg, “I had an intuition that in the psalms I would find something of the relationship to God that I was looking for.”

Continue reading “IM Book Review: The Complete Psalms”

My Issues with Evangelicalism: (1) Worship

By Chaplain Mike

Part two of a four-part series.

The most important issue to us in our journey from evangelicalism has been that of corporate worship.

For thirty years now, this theme has always been at or near the center of our thinking and practice in ministry. In the last post, I summarized my critique of what passes for worship in many evangelical congregations today, especially in the pacesetting megachurches, where in my opinion worship has become more of a stage show than a corporate gathering around Christ and the Gospel.

Today, I give my own definition of worship, as I have come to understand it through Biblical study, reading, leading worship as a senior pastor and as an associate pastor entrusted with planning and leading worship in congregations.

Continue reading “My Issues with Evangelicalism: (1) Worship”

My Issues with Evangelicalism

By Chaplain Mike

NOTE: You can read an earlier statement on this subject, called, “My Post-Evangelical Wilderness,” here.

IM has been long known for its pointed critiques of evangelicalism. In less than a month, Michael Spencer’s book, Mere Churchianity, will be released, and I guarantee it will make a huge splash in this ongoing conversation.

(I hope you’ve had a chance to download the first chapter and read it. You can do that and also pre-order your copy of the book from the sidebar on this blog.)

As we prepare to listen to Michael’s voice again through his book, I will be sharing more of my personal perspectives that have grown out of my own “post-evangelical” wilderness journey. In this series of four posts, I am reworking some articles from my previous blog, “otium sanctum”. These thoughts were written during the time we were trying to find a church, and when we settled in the Lutheran congregation we now attend.

Today, we start with three matters of ecclesiastical theology and practice that I became dissatisfied with in evangelical church culture over a long period of time. These were the primary issues on my heart and mind as we were looking for a church home.Continue reading “My Issues with Evangelicalism”

What I Like about Lutheran Baptism

By Chaplain Mike

Michael Spencer was a Southern Baptist. A reader recently wrote and asked what I, as a Lutheran, believe about baptism. I thought you might like to have a chance to hear how I responded.

Before I talk about baptism, let me first say that I am a “Lutheran in progress.” Denominationally, I am more accurately a “Post-Evangelical.” And I am still in that wilderness, particularly when it comes to church affiliation. (You can read about that here.)

Nevertheless, we joined a Lutheran church a couple of years ago because: (1) I have always appreciated Martin Luther and his theological emphases such as salvation by grace through faith alone, the theology of the cross vs. the theology of glory, and vocation; (2) Each Lord’s Day, they celebrate the Gospel in the liturgy through Word and Sacrament; (3) We wanted to get off the merry-go-round at the evangelical circus and find a mainline church with historic roots. Of all the mainline churches in our area, we identify most closely with the Lutherans in theology and practice.

Continue reading “What I Like about Lutheran Baptism”

IM Book Review: The Divine Commodity

By Chaplain Mike

Darn that Skye Jethani!

He has written the book I wanted to write: an insightful, stern, yet gracious critique of evangelical culture, illustrated by the works and stories of Vincent van Gogh, and linked with the wisdom of spiritual practices. And he did it well.

It’s called The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity. I just devoured it, nodding, smiling, expressing exasperation at some of the more egregious examples, highlighting passages that shone like the swirling orbs splashed across the sky in van Gogh’s famous “Starry Night.”

Need I say it? I highly recommend this book.

In Jethani’s introduction, he quotes one of my favorite pastoral teachers, Richard Halverson:

In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centered on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome, where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America, where it became an enterprise. (11, emphases mine)

Americans live in a consumer-driven society. We are consumers. This is our world, and the ethos of the corporate and consumer dominated life has been with us and expanding for well over 100 years. Consumers R Us.Continue reading “IM Book Review: The Divine Commodity”

Open Mic: The Fading Glow of External Experience

By Chaplain Mike

While I’m reading Skye Jethani’s superb book, The Divine Commodity, and preparing to review it, I thought I’d post this Open Mic question that grows out of a post on his blog, “What Should Worship Look Like? And why that question completely misses the point.”

Jethani is responding to some who have misread his book and assumed that he believes a certain style of worship is the only acceptable form. Using the misunderstanding as an opportunity to talk about his real concern, Jethani points to the experience of Moses as an example. Moses met with God on the mountaintop and the encounter made his face shine. Coming down the mountain, Moses veiled his face. Why? So that the people would not see the glory fading. “Whatever transformation Moses experienced in God’s presence on the mountain was temporary, and the veil hid the transient nature of this glory from the people.”

Then he writes this, the passage I would like you to read and discuss:Continue reading “Open Mic: The Fading Glow of External Experience”

iMonk Classic: Pentecost — The Third Great Day

Classic iMonk Post
by Michael Spencer

Originally posted May 26, 2007

Act 2:1-8 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. (2) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (3) And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (5) Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. (6) And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. (7) And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? (8) And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

We had our Pentecost worship gathering at soli deo this week, and I once again was amazed at what bad press the Feast of Pentecost usually gets among most evangelical Christians. How did such an important part of the Christian story become so lost and muddled?

Continue reading “iMonk Classic: Pentecost — The Third Great Day”

Sunday’s Gospel: You Have Received a Spirit of Adoption

By Chaplain Mike

On this great feast day of the Church, Pentecost Sunday, we bring to your attention one of the great passages in the Bible on the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer and the church.

No comments from me today. No sermon. Just God’s words. May the Spirit lead you into contemplation on this passage that will:

  • allow you to feel heaven’s refreshing wind,
  • point you to Jesus,
  • enable you to rejoice in his finished work that has set you free,
  • encourage you to seek his enabling grace to put off the old and put on the new,
  • and experience the ministry of the Spirit of adoption that will witness to your spirit and bring you deep assurance of God’s love.

Happy Pentecost!Continue reading “Sunday’s Gospel: You Have Received a Spirit of Adoption”

Ballyard Religion

By Chaplain Mike

I had a vision of the evangelical church today. While coaching at my grandson’s Little League game (6-8 year olds), the heavens opened and a lot of things became clear to me, especially:

  • Why it’s so hard to be a Jesus-shaped follower of Christ in America today.
  • Why the evangelical church is not helping in that regard.

I love these kids at the ballyard, and we have all kinds on our team. There’s this tiny kid, Johnny, who just stares at me with a goofy look on his face whenever I try to tell him something. Then he does whatever he wants. We have Big Jimmy, who has grown faster than his peers. He can hit the ball hard, and we have to make sure the younger ones aren’t picking their noses or playing in the dirt when he’s at the plate. Then we have L’il Jeffrey, the small athletic child who is quick as a fox and plays with abandon. Our team has two little girls in the lineup. They are among the younger ones, and they don’t really get this baseball thing yet. Nor do a few of the boys, who dig their spikes around in the dirt, blow bubbles with their gum, and watch what’s happening in the stands as much as what’s on the field.Continue reading “Ballyard Religion”