Tim Horton….uh…Challies: The IM Interview

tim_and_tommy.jpgHow much does Crossway want to get Tim Challies’ new book on the New York Times bestseller list? Apparently, not much, because they’ve sent him down here for a blog-tour interview. The change of atmosphere from teampyro to here must be pretty stressful, but Tim’s a hardy Canadian and can handle the transition.

Seriously, Tim’s book The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment is a unique, thorough and practical look at a topic that increasingly is creating controversial discussions among evangelicals. Blogosphere readers will know that Tim is a serious and conservative reformed Baptist, but his work on discernment is even-handed and useful to more than just those identifying with reformed Christianity.

Those of you looking for an argument can move along. I’m sure Tim and I disagree on many things, but scripture tells us that it’s a good thing when brothers dwell together in unity. Our agreement on the Good News of Jesus outweighs our disagreements.

Tim’s a fine writer, much in the style of Jerry Bridges. I appreciate his willingness to field a few ground balls from me. Support Tim and The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment. So here’s the interview:Continue reading “Tim Horton….uh…Challies: The IM Interview”

Recommendation and Review: The Books of the Bible (TNIV)

576.jpgSo now that a whole new crop of you are sure that I don’t believe the Bible at all, let’s all try to actually read it, OK?

The Books of the Bible is an edition of the TNIV translation in rearranged, reformatted text without verse numbers, chapter numbers or subheadings. (Chapter and verse numbers appear in light print at the bottom of the page and there are section breaks.) The Books of the Bible web site lists all the changes made in this edition:

* chapter and verse numbers are removed from the text (a chapter-and-verse range is at the bottom of each page.)
* individual books are presented with the literary divisions that their authors have indicated.
* footnotes, section headings and other supplementary materials have been removed from the text (translators’ notes are available at the back of each book.)
* the books of the Bible have been placed in an order that provides more help in understanding, based on literary genre, historical circumstance and theological tradition
* single books that later translations or tradition divided into two or more books are made whole again (example: Luke-Acts.)
* single-column setting that clearly and naturally presents the literary forms of the Bible’s books.Continue reading “Recommendation and Review: The Books of the Bible (TNIV)”

iMonk 101: Inerrancy Posts

There are several posts here at Internet Monk that relate to the post and discussion of inerrancy and escalating theological rhetoric.

C.S. Lewis and Inerrancy.

Five Reasons I Don’t Use the Term Inerrancy.

Ten Questions On the Bible.

Answers Not In Genesis.

A Conversation in God’s Kitchen. (My major essay on the Bible.)

Conrad Hyers: The Man Who Ruined Me on Creationism

“We Thought He Was Such A Nice Boy…..Until We Discovered He Didn’t Believe in Inerrancy.”

My Theology Can Beat Up Your Theology: Thoughts on always saying more than the other guy.

shouting.jpgI’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 “My Theology Can Beat Up Your Theology: Thoughts on always saying more than the other guy.”

Sermon: In The Water With Bill Maher (A Sermon on the Baptism of Jesus)

image123.gifHere’s the sermon I preached this morning at a Presbyterian Church nearby. It’s the Sunday we mark the Baptism of Jesus.

Atheists often characterize Christians as somewhere between stupid and mentally ill. It’s unfortunate that some Christians return the rhetoric in kind, saying that atheists are evil, dumb, etc. The fact is that this isn’t about intelligence. It’s not even about what can be proven. (The atheist’s worldview is as unproven at the foundation as the Christian’s.) The difference is the significance of Jesus. The difference in our “reality maps” comes down to whether God really designated Jesus of Nazareth to be the “clue” that answers the questions of significance. And seeing Jesus as that answer isn’t an issue of intelligence or being “schizo,” hearing voices, etc. It’s a spiritual revelation. Our word to the atheist isn’t “get smarter.” It’s “open up to the possibilities that your worldview map is impoverished, and start the journey to believing the Good News about Jesus.”

Let’s leave out the insults and put the light on what matters the most. (And Bill Maher needs to apologize to schozophrenics.) 🙂

A Ron Paul Supporter No More

ron-paul-iowa.jpgUPDATE II:Reporters at Reason Mag say evidence indicates that Lew Rockwell edited the newsletters.

UPDATE: My friend Travis Prinzi writes about the newsletter controversy.

I don’t normally do politics in this space. I gave that up several years ago and I’m not going back. But I’ve had a Ron Paul For President icon on the sidebar for several weeks, and I want to explain why I am no longer a Ron Paul supporter. There will be no comments or response to email.

Not that anyone will care, but my support for Ron Paul was a mistake.

In case you don’t know, I work at a school that probably is one the most racially diverse Christian schools anywhere. More than half our school is non-white or non-American. We may be in the middle of Appalachia, but we look like the world.

Every day, I teach in my Bible class Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, atheistic Chinese communists, Ethiopian Orthodox and all varieties of American Christianity. I preach to a sea of color when I preach, and we have as much competition between students of Liberian and Korean backgrounds as we do between Kentuckians and Buckeyes or Volunteers.Continue reading “A Ron Paul Supporter No More”

To Do The Best With What We Have: A Counselor’s Meditation

crucifixion.jpgThe following incident is fictionalized from real experience.

I look at my watch. It’s time for a counseling appointment. I clear my desk, bring in the extra chairs and wait.

My appointment arrives and the conversation begins. This is a first time conversation, with someone I don’t know. I spend a lot of time listening. Then questions. More listening. I try to put what I’m hearing into some kind of order; to make some kind of helpful response.

I’m not a quick thinker. My feelings are always way out in front of my thoughts. So I have to be cautious in counseling to be sure I’m doing what’s needed and helpful.

My counselee says the conversation has been helpful. He leaves. It’s been an hour and fifteen minutes. Longer than I like, but not unusual for a first conversation.Continue reading “To Do The Best With What We Have: A Counselor’s Meditation”