David Sessions Riffs on “The Coming Evangelical Collapse”

I appreciate the good work of David Sessions at Patrol Magazine. He’s breaking new ground everyday. If you want the same beat as Relevant, but with more intelligence, wit and edge, hit Patrol and make it a regular feed.

Patrol editor David Sessions takes on my “Coming Evangelical Collapse” in a sizable column. You’ll find his responses articulate and provocative. I’m honored by his attention to my prognostications.

I think David and his commenters miss a few things, particularly in what exactly I am predicting. (I am NOT predicting the END of evangelicalism,) but it’s quality work. Take your time and take it in.

Blessings and peace on David and crew.

Twenty-Five Sortof Random Things I Do and Don’t Believe

Relax. It’s not a meme. Nor should it become one. Though, I feel divinely led to tag….

1. I don’t believe gay marriage is the biggest threat to the family. Not by anything approaching a long shot. I’ve worked with thousands of students in my life, and the messed up kids were messed up by divorce, absentee parents, sex, substance abuse and greed. I’ve met maybe 10 students in my life who were affected by anyone’s homosexuality.

2. I don’t believe America is a Christian nation. I actually don’t believe there is such a thing, and if there were, America wouldn’t be one. Not on paper, not from the founders and not now. We’re a secular republic and I like it that way.

3. I believe that Christian publishing does a lot of good, but I also think it does a lot of harm. All in all, we’d have to say that for all the good done, we still have a monstrous collection of lame, dangerous and outright perverse results from the various money-making adventures of the people who publish gems like “The Prayer of Jabez.” Without Christian publishing making a lot of nut jobs legitimate, things in evangelicalism would be a lot less wacky.Continue reading “Twenty-Five Sortof Random Things I Do and Don’t Believe”

Amy Welborn’s husband, Michael Dubruiel 1958-2009

Donations to the Welborn family can be sent through paypal or other credit cards here.

UPDATE: If you haven’t visited Amy’s blog, she’s asking folks who want to help to simply buy Michael’s books. She can’t fill orders from her site, but says buy them from anywhere. So there you go. Protestant friends might find Michael’s book on the cross a good choice.

Our wonderful friend Amy Welborn’s husband Michael Dubruiel died suddenly this morning (2/3/09). Pray for Amy and her children, who range from adults to very young. Michael and Amy had just moved to Birmingham to work with the diocese of Birmingham.

Words are completely inappropriate. Pray, then pray some more and pray tomorrow.

Amy, the IM family loves you and can only grieve a fraction of what you are feeling. God be with you. Thanks be to God for the hope and faith in Jesus in which Michael lived and died.

Archbishop Williams Loses His Mind

rwChurch of England Archbishop Rowan Williams has clearly lost his mind.

What he’s asking of churches is…..it’s…..well………

In these times when the church has the opportunity to show great film clips, debate homosexuality, have a kickin’ band and Comedy Central in the pulpit, Archbishop Rowan is suggesting….that…..

I can’t say it. It’s simply unthinkable in this day and age. With leadership like this, what is going to happen to the Church of England?

Thank God that evangelicals have leaders that are far ahead of this sort of insulting and out-of-touch thinking.

Christine Wicker: The Internet Monk Interview with the Author of Fall of the Evangelical Nation

UPDATE: I’m just curious: do some of you always descend into railing preacher mode when you encounter a person who isn’t on the same page as you, or is today just not your day?

Internet Monk.com is extremely honored to have Christine Wicker in the house for the IM interview segment today. Christine is the author of the book that blew my mind for at least two weeks, Fall of the Evangelical Nation. She is also currently is working on adapting some of her other books for television and planning a conference on literature and ethics.

Many of you have read Christine’s book and find her research interesting and provocative as I do. It’s great to have her at IM for a few questions. After snacks served by the gracious Van Til, we got to the interview.

1. Thank you, Christine, for doing this interview. You made it clear in your book that you grew up among evangelicals, but are no longer an evangelical or part of the Christian community. Can you tell us a little bit about your own faith journey and what were the significant contributing experiences to where you are now?

I wrote a book called “God Knows My Heart” in which I tried to figure all that out while covering religion for The Dallas Morning News. I was pretty devout as a kid and even in college.

Why did I leave? I once replied off the cuff that I wanted a world bigger than the Baptist Student Union. That might sum it up. Continue reading “Christine Wicker: The Internet Monk Interview with the Author of Fall of the Evangelical Nation”

iMonk 101: Gospel Relevance = Gospel Application

foodpantry.jpgConsidering the discussion on treating servers like Jesus would, this seemed like a good post to resurrect. From April of 07.

Studying Acts with my students, it’s freshly clear to me that the immediate struggle of the early Christians was not only, or even particularly, theological, but practical.

How do we live out, in the church, family, community and world, the significance of Jesus NOW?

What kind of behavior, actions and community appear in “”the Kingdom of God” as Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit create it on earth (and as the church is a “demonstration plot” of the Kingdom?) That is what we’re praying for…right?

What are the relevant issues where the application of the way of Jesus will make an immediate difference?Continue reading “iMonk 101: Gospel Relevance = Gospel Application”

Open Thread: What are some Christians thinking when they justify rudeness with religion?

I’m not trying to promote a pile-on here, but this story effectively points out something I’ve experienced many times.

It’s a story about Christians justifying rudeness with religion. Here’s the short version, but you’ll want to read all of what the original poster had to say.Continue reading “Open Thread: What are some Christians thinking when they justify rudeness with religion?”

Driscoll on Nightline

I’ve both defended and critiqued Mark Driscoll here at IM. He’s one of the good guys, and for those of you who don’t know what God has done through him in Seattle, here’s a Nightline piece that does a good job letting Driscoll be Driscoll.

I especially want Catholic, Orthodox and other friends to get an intro to Mark Driscoll. He’s a significant person in the current version of evangelicalism. His churches won’t collapse. Solid. (No nit picking please. Keep the comments civil.)

Internet Monk Radio Podcast #126

podcast_logo.gifThis week: Douglas Wilson: Heretic, Know it All Clergy, Thoughts on the Coming Evangelical Collapse.

Randy Stonehill. The new CD, Paradise Sky.

Our sponsors are: 60 Ways to Leave Your Mother…Alone. A comic by Michael Buckley.

New Reformation Press. Download new teaching by Dr. Rod Rosenbladt.

Zaccheus Press– Fine Catholic Books, including Priestblock 25487.

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Pastor Wyman Richardson: “Jesus Is Lord”

Liturgical Gangsta Dr. Wyman Richardson is a Southern Baptist pastor in Georgia. He recently was invited to do a “devotional” for the Georgia House of Representatives. Looks like preaching to me. It’s a great talk, and while we don’t have an mp3, the text is on his website at Walking Together.

Outstanding job, Dr. Richardson. For a guy with a criminal background, you really sounded like a preacher. What a great message.

Read: “Jesus is Lord.”