I’m Not Afraid of Atheists (or Their Movie)

181528-56med.jpgUPDATE: Leithart on the movie.

I’m starting to get the message.

It goes like this: The Golden Compass is a movie that promotes atheism to young people. You need to warn students about this movie.

Don’t let me write another word without saying that I have nothing but respect for those who are concerned about young people. I’ve given my life to ministering to them. I don’t want any of them to become atheists. I don’t want any young Christians to lose their faith.

I recognize that some of those telling me to warn young people actually want me to tell them not to see the movie at all or to ever read the Phillip Pullman novels on which they are based. Sorry, but I can’t endorse that approach.

Others simply don’t want young people to be unaware that the movies may be an extension of Pullman’s stated agenda to use his art to promote atheism in the same way C.S. Lewis used Narnia to promote Christianity. That’s appropriate, or at least should be if, after actually being viewed, the movies prove to be such an extension. If they promote atheism in the same way Star Wars promotes dualism I hope Christians won’t waste too much time picketing out front.Continue reading “I’m Not Afraid of Atheists (or Their Movie)”

Best Book Ever: A Review of Christianity’s Dangerous Idea by Alister McGrath

9780060822132.jpgHere’s an audio interview with Alister McGrath on the book. It will set you up for a great read.

How’s your knowledge of the history of Protestantism? Are you intimidated by the scholarly tomes that give the history and theology of various reforms and traditions? Do you understand what it means to be a Protestant and what makes the various Protestant traditions unique as compared to one other and not just to Roman Catholicism?

Many of us need a scholar to step out of the academy and into the street to explain Protestant history and theology in a way we can understand without a graduate degree in history. Personally, I long for someone who is not advocating Team Calvin to help me understand Protestantism across the board, with a non-polemic, objective approach.

Enter one of the best books of the year and a must-read for the Internet Monk web site audience: Alistair McGrath’s Christianity’s Dangerous Idea, a blue collar history and analysis of Protestantism. Impeccably researched, compellingly narrated and extremely relevant, this is one of Christianity’s best scholars making important history and analysis available to a non-academic audience.Continue reading “Best Book Ever: A Review of Christianity’s Dangerous Idea by Alister McGrath”

Help Me With My Cornerstone Seminars

cornerstoneil.gifI’m going to be leading an unknown number of seminars at the Cornerstone Festival in July of ’08. It’s a great honor for me, and I hope to meet many of my readers there.

Here’s last years seminar lineup. I would like to ask my readers to help me develop some possible seminar titles and content. Based on my writing and podcasts, what topics, subjects and material do you believe would make the best and most interesting seminars?

I’d like to hear your title suggestions, too. I am going to try and develop 4 and let the Cornerstone guys pick from there. A good title can get a lot of people in the door, so this can really help me out. When I get rich, I’ll buy you lunch. At White Castle.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Riffs: 11:03:07: Missouri Baptists and The Battle of the Booze

bestofyamsearlsept013.jpgUPDATE II: Daniel Whitfield’s comprehensive survey of the Biblical teaching on Alcohol use is a must have resource. Top notch. Distribute widely please. My own journey through the hypocrisy of Southern Baptists on this issue was written in One Big Happy Lie.

UPDATE: Please read the comments on this post. Sad, sad, sad. The traditions of men doing exactly what Jesus said they would do.

Missouri Southern Baptists- 600,000 of them- are being torn apart by a battle indicative of what the current Southern Baptist Convention faces.

Alcohol- specifically what position regarding moderate, temperate use of alcoholic beverages churches are obligated to endorse- was the big issue at the recent Missouri Baptist convention meeting. Alcohol fundamentalists are well aware that the Bible is not on the side of their teetotal position, but that isn’t stopping them from insisting that Missouri Baptists must be united on this issue.Continue reading “Riffs: 11:03:07: Missouri Baptists and The Battle of the Booze”

Talking to Young People about the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church

12apostles.jpgThe Sunday morning student worship gathering at our ministry has been going through the Apostles’ Creed. (We have completed the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer.) It’s my turn this Sunday, and my talk is about “I believe in the holy catholic church.” Considering that my audience is about 250 6th-12th graders, about half of them Christians, this will be a challenging talk. Here’s my current version. I’m sure I’ll tweak it several dozen times tomorrow.

The discussion thread will not turn into a Roman Catholic-Orthodox-Protestant debate.

What is the “Holy Catholic Church” in the Apostles’ Creed?
Michael Spencer, speaker
November 4, 9:15 a.m. worship gathering.

Have you ever heard someone say something like this: “Billy is a loner, but Bob is a joiner?” Do you know what those words mean?

A loner is someone who prefers to be alone. It’s not a bad thing, but it can make a person’s life different in ways other people might not understand. There are always some “loners” on a campus like ours. Maybe you think they are bashful or angry or frightened. You may be right. There are all kinds of reasons a person might be a loner. In fact, many of us like to be loners sometimes, but not all of the time.Continue reading “Talking to Young People about the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”

“Now Mr. Spencer, How Would You Like Your Crow?”

crow.jpgI haven’t blogged all that much about Rick Warren in the 7 years I’ve had this web site, but the times I have- which amount to a couple of essays and a lot of asides, comments and occasional references- it’s generally been negative.

Some of that has been deserved- such as my essay prompted by Warren’s declaration that we shouldn’t “criticize what God is blessing” or his contention that musical style is the key element in a church plant- and I don’t regret or apologize for my opinions at all.

I have, however, reconsidered my evaluation of Rick Warren and I think it’s time to eat a plate of well cooked crow.

I’ll admit seven things up front:Continue reading ““Now Mr. Spencer, How Would You Like Your Crow?””

Recommendation and Review: Butterfly in Brazil by Glenn Packiam

glenns-book-med.jpgIn the center of our campus is a poem on a monument. The poem, which I can’t find online and won’t reproduce, is about accepting that God has sent you to serve in a small place. You’ve said, “Here am I, Lord. Send me,” and God has sent you to a place in the literal middle of nowhere.

The last line of the poem is this, “Of course, Nazareth was a tiny place. And so was Galilee.”

Glenn Packiam, worship leader and student minister at New Life Church in Colorado, has written a simple motivational book for Christians who need to be reminded that changing the world is a small business venture. That small business begins where you are, with the opportunities in front of you, the neighbors you have, the work that needs to be done and the small things that matter today.

Butterfly in Brazil is the first book from this worship leader and multi-cultural Christian, but I predict it won’t be his last. Packiam is a voice calling a generation to missions and he needs to be heard from in print, not just in his more well-known venue, Desperation Band.Continue reading “Recommendation and Review: Butterfly in Brazil by Glenn Packiam”