Sunday’s Gospel: Endless Attention, Meticulous Care

By Chaplain Mike

Each Sunday, we present devotional thoughts based upon the Gospel reading from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Today is the fourth Sunday in Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday.
Today’s Gospel is John 10:22-30.

Gospel Text

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.

The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (NASB)

Continue reading “Sunday’s Gospel: Endless Attention, Meticulous Care”

iMonk Classic: My Theology Can Beat Up Your Theology

Each Saturday, IM will post a classic article by Michael Spencer.

Originally posted January 14, 2008.

I’ve had an idea running around in my mind for a few months, and I’m going to try and get it down on paper. It’s slippery, and rather than try to sound profound, I think it would be best to say this is a bit of advice for those in the mood to listen (which some of you won’t be in the mood for, I’m pretty sure.) Perhaps I’ll manage to put something into words for those of you who, like me, often get these vague feelings that you can’t quite grab and get into a sentence, like…”What do you call it when someone says you’re a theological sissy because you won’t (fill in the blank with daring, bold, untoppable words!)

I’m going to talk about theology and how people choose to express it. One point I want to make immediately is that I believe the contemporary evangelical scene is impoverished in expressing anything theological, so I don’t want to be heard as criticizing those who actually DO think God-centered thoughts. My hats off to you for rising above the level of the childish nonsense that passes for theology these days.

Among those who are doing theology, however, I detect something that I can only call, with any honesty, a kind of game. I’ll call it the “More, Higher, Most, Highest” game. (MHMH) By using the term “game,” I am not raising the issue of insincerity, because I genuinely believe it is a manifestation of true zeal and devotion. But I use the word “game” because there is an element of comparison and competition that I can no longer ignore.Continue reading “iMonk Classic: My Theology Can Beat Up Your Theology”

Saturday Ramblings 4.24.10

Welcome to Saturday Ramblings, our weekly effort to clean out the ‘fridge and rid ourselves of all that we couldn’t eat during the week. And what a busy week it has been.

First of all, Francis Chan, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California, announced he is stepping down from that position to pursue new adventures with God. You can read the news article on Chan’s move here, and his letter to his congregation in Justin Taylor’s blog here. Or, perhaps you would rather see a breakdance competition between Chan and Charlie Hall.

The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina reopened this week after several months of remodeling. Billy Graham himself took a personal tour of the library at its reopening. He says he is glad it points more toward the Gospel than his personal life.Continue reading “Saturday Ramblings 4.24.10”

IM Recommended Reading: Michael Horton on When “Reformed” Is Not “Reformed”

By Chaplain Mike

Over at the White Horse Inn blog, always thoughtful Michael Horton has posted a great essay commenting on the fissures and fault lines that are becoming apparent among the “young, restless, and reformed.” In his typical style, Horton goes beyond mere reporting to examine some fundamental issues revealed by disputes like the recent flap over John Piper inviting Rick Warren to speak at a Desiring God Conference.

Specifically, he challenges us to consider the differences between a “movement” (evangelicalism) and the “Church” (as represented in its great traditions—Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist).

Movements come and go, change and shift. The Church, firmly rooted in its confessions, provides a stable and permanent home in which the faith can be lived out and passed on from generation to generation. Confessionalism has staying power, the ability to withstand “every wind of doctrine” and the fleeting trends of cultural change. Movements do not.Continue reading “IM Recommended Reading: Michael Horton on When “Reformed” Is Not “Reformed””

The Appearances of the Risen Christ, 4

By Chaplain Mike

We are marking the Great Fifty Days of Easter with a series of devotional thoughts on the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus.

Today we look at Luke’s story of that first Easter morning, from Luke 24:1-12 (NLT).

Text

But very early on Sunday morningthe women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Continue reading “The Appearances of the Risen Christ, 4”

The Book I Can’t Review

UPDATE: Ok. Moderation on. Keep your comments civil. We are not bashing anyone here. Don’t make me impose a two-drink limit.

MOD NOTE: Comments are closed for the time being. Sheesh, I leave for a few hours and return to find a bar fight!

It might be comforting, to those Christians who doubt the current indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our damaged, compromised selves, to tell ourselves that our failures are because Jesus is now far, far away.

It might be reassuring, to those tired of dealing with our violent, scary, or just unpleasant neighbors, to think that we can worship God by turning our backs on them. That we can’t do much anymore about our lives or the lives of other people, except gaze at the sky and pray to a disembodied spirit. That Jesus was alive once, and we remember him fondly, but now we’re left with nothing more powerful than plastic crosses, Christian rock bands and church committees. WIth Jesus safely tucked away in heaven, we’re off the hook.

But he’s still breathing in us.

Sara Miles–Jesus Freak: Feeding, Healing, Raising the Dead

Continue reading “The Book I Can’t Review”

Are Liberals and Atheists Smarter?

On Thursdays we welcome posts from friends. Today, long time friend of IM Michael Bell examines some recent studies that come to some provocative conclusions.

By Michael Bell

A study just published in the March issue of the Social Psychology Quarterly confirms what many liberals and atheists have told us for years. Those who hold to conservative religious beliefs are just not as smart as their liberal and atheistic counterparts.

Based upon data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health and the General Social Surveys, two VERY large studies of American youth, Satoshi Kanazawa found the following:

1a. Average IQ of very liberal youth – 106
1b. Average IQ of very conservative youth – 95

2a. Average IQ of those young adults “not at all religious” – 103
2b. Average IQ of “very religious” young adults – 97.

It would then follow that the average liberal atheist is quite a bit smarter than the average religious conservative.

But what does this all really mean? Continue reading “Are Liberals and Atheists Smarter?”

IM Book Review: Your Church Is Too Small (2)

By Chaplain Mike

Although the church of Jesus Christ is found in many different places, she is one true church, not many. After all, there are many rays of sunlight, but only one sun. A tree has many boughs, each slightly different from others, but all drawing their strength from one source. Many streams may flow down a hillside, but they all originate from the same spring. In exactly the same way each local congregation belongs to the one true church.

Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, 3rd Century

Friend of Internet Monk, John H. Armstrong, president of ACT 3, is an adjunct professor of evangelism at Wheaton College Graduate School, author and editor of numerous books, with over twenty years of pastoral experience. Here is the second  of three reviews of John’s passionate and provocative new book, Your Church Is Too Small.

The middle section of “Your Church” focuses on the present and restoring unity in the church today.Continue reading “IM Book Review: Your Church Is Too Small (2)”

The Appearances of the Risen Christ, 3

By Chaplain Mike

We are marking the Great Fifty Days of Easter with a series of devotional thoughts on the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus.

Today we look at Mark’s account of the women at the empty tomb on Easter Sunday morning. Though not technically an “appearance,” the way Mark ends his Gospel and sets forth the resurrection presents some interesting considerations for the believer.

The passage is Mark 16:1-8a (NRSV).

Text

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.Continue reading “The Appearances of the Risen Christ, 3”