Repenting of The Wrong Kind of “Male Leadership”

humility.jpgHere’s the answer to the trivia question “What is the closest the iMonk came to becoming a Muslim?”

In October of 1995, Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan sponsored what was called the “Million Man March” on the mall in Washington, D.C. While probably less than half a million men attended, the march was a high point for African-American men, and certainly had an impact on the evangelical community.

Instead of an event of political rhetoric, the Million Man March was promoted as a day of “atonement and reconciliation.” Men were encouraged to repudiate and repent for behaviors against women, children, the community and themselves. Many African-American men who were aware that Farrakhan was a controversial figure still attended because of their desire to send a message of unity to the larger African-American community.Continue reading “Repenting of The Wrong Kind of “Male Leadership””

Interview: Scot Mcknight on Evangelicals and Marian Dogmas

scotmcknight.jpgUPDATE: I have gotten more mail on this than any recent piece. I just can’t individually answer these letters. So sorry. I need an assistant.

The reason Scot Mcknight is such an amazing gift to the church is that he is humble enough to make his formidable skills as a New Testament scholar available to bloggers like me.

I’ve been doing some study on the subject of Roman Catholic Marian dogmas, and Scot was kind enough to answer some questions for me on very short notice. Since I have many new Roman Catholic friends on this blog, I wanted to share a few of our genuine differences so we can respect and appreciate what we have in common.

Scot, best known for The Jesus Creed</em book and blog, is a professor of New Testament at North Park University near Chicago. He has written The Real Mary, a book that seeks to recover a thoroughly Biblical view of the real first century mother of Jesus. Mcknight’s work was part of a big year for books on Mary, including Tim Perry’s Mary for Evangelicals. I asked Scot some questions that were on my mind about the inevitable differences between those of us who confess the Apostle’s Creed, but disagree deeply over the continuing role of Mary.

1. You’ve done great scholarly and popular work helping Protestants to recover a Biblical view of Mary. Assuming that all Christians can ride the “Mary Bus” together for some distance, where do you believe evangelical Protestants have to get off?Continue reading “Interview: Scot Mcknight on Evangelicals and Marian Dogmas”

“Thank You, and I Am Not A Christian.”

graduate.jpgSeveral weeks ago, I removed all specific references to where I work from this web site. Without violating that, I want to tell you a story from yesterday, when our high school had its 104th graduation ceremony.

For the past 30+ years, our school has taken many internationals and children of internationals as students. A fair number of these have not been Christians. Some are from other religious traditions, like Islam, and some are from Atheistic cultures like China.Continue reading ““Thank You, and I Am Not A Christian.””

Recommendation and Review: For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn

1590525728-small.jpgSeveral months ago, my wife asked me to read For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn. It’s a book about the inner lives of men, a subject about which I figured I knew really well and no chick could educate me. I didn’t read it.

A few weeks ago, she purchased the companion volume, For Men Only (A Straightforward Guide To The Inner Lives of Women) by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn (I’d say mostly by Jeff), and asked me to read it. I didn’t read it either.

I should have, and this week, I did. I’m very glad. Guys, so should you. Put down that remote. Turn off that X-Box and go order this book.Continue reading “Recommendation and Review: For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn”

iMonk 101: The Prodigal Project

190388790_78d8ecbb94.jpgSince the post on “Dangerous Grace” is appreciated, here’s another Biblical study from my Men’s Group: The Prodigal Project. I’m sure you know the story, but have you taken a fresh look at it lately?

The key to a lot of happiness in my life is in this story. The reason for a lot of unhappiness in my life is also in this story. When I move very far away from its influence, I’m in trouble. Like now.

I need to read it again, and you can come along with me. This story isn’t what it seems. It’s an invitation to creating the very best kind of community: the Father’s “Coming Home Party” for his sons. (Yes…”sons.”)

READ: “The Prodigal Project.”

Grace Is As Dangerous As Ever

1776892.jpgThe last few weeks of my men’s morning Bible study has been about “Texts That Will Get You In Trouble,” and we spent two sessions on John 8, and Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

Read Leviticus 20:10 and the other older testament indictments of adultery and sexual sin. There’s no doubt about the woman’s sin or the stated penalty.Continue reading “Grace Is As Dangerous As Ever”

Riffs: 05:12:07: John Dennis on the Life He Didn’t Live…Because He Lived the “Christian” Life

johnbwjuly03.jpgThis post is really going to annoy a lot of you, but I want to remind you that this web site is about provocative thinking and writing to get you vitally connected to Jesus. Sometimes, the only way to HEAR something, to really HEAR IT, is to hear it in a way that offends you, that makes you uncomfortable. Some medicine, it don’t taste too good y’know.

Blogger John Dennis writes on “If there was no such thing as Christianity.” It’s not a condemnation of Christianity, but a provocative, prodding thought exercise that helps us see what our kind of religion winds up doing. It asks the question of whether we really are Jesus followers, or perpetuators of a kind of religion that is stifling and phony.Continue reading “Riffs: 05:12:07: John Dennis on the Life He Didn’t Live…Because He Lived the “Christian” Life”