In conjunction with today’s post, I encourage you to read the following article by Mark Galli as a complement to what I have to say here. As usual, Mark is spot on. * * * The Leadership Cult Why are we fascinated with the very thing Jesus warned us against? by Mark Galli, 11/13/2008, ChristianityContinue reading “Why “Leaders” Are Not the Church’s Greatest Need”
Category Archives: Church
Splendid Isolation
Don’t want to wake up with no one beside me Don’t want to take up with nobody new Don’t want nobody coming by without calling first Don’t want nothing to do with you Splendid Isolation I don’t need no one Splendid Isolation Warren Zevon, Splendid Isolation, from the album Transverse City I have shared beforeContinue reading “Splendid Isolation”
Pentecost Makes a Difference for Women
This is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men andContinue reading “Pentecost Makes a Difference for Women”
How the ELCA Dealt with the Issue of Homosexuality
Let me begin on a personal note. The 2009 ELCA decision to approve their social statement on human sexuality, with its provisions for homosexuality, have never been on my radar in terms of why I choose to affiliate with the ELCA. I explained in this morning’s post that these things have never been “hot-button” issuesContinue reading “How the ELCA Dealt with the Issue of Homosexuality”
Which “Culture” Most Threatens the Church?
I don’t often find much but material to debate and argue against at the evangelical culture war “news” site, The Christian Post, but every once in awhile, something worthwhile appears amidst all the moralizing and political posturing. Case in point this weekend: a CP interview with Ken Myers, called “Is the ‘Culture’ Really the Church’sContinue reading “Which “Culture” Most Threatens the Church?”
Top-Down Authority? or Bottom-Up Faith? or Both?
I hope soon to read and review Diana Butler Bass’s new book, Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening (actually I’m waiting for Kindle ebook prices to come down). I’ve heard some interviews with her and have read a few articles, and she has some good insightsContinue reading “Top-Down Authority? or Bottom-Up Faith? or Both?”
Thoughts on Church Discipline and Relational Wisdom
I haven’t been able to get this “church discipline” discussion off my mind. First of all, thank you to all of you who have made this a vibrant and thoughtful conversation. As I said in my original post, I am agreement with most of you that the disciplinary process as described was inappropriate at best.Continue reading “Thoughts on Church Discipline and Relational Wisdom”
MPT Posts on Church Discipline — and I Suggest a Better Way
NOTE: This post is not about a certain well-known pastor, even though it involves the church he leads. In the discussion that follows, I am not interested in having us talk about this pastor personally. So don’t. Please keep the conversation on the subject of church discipline itself, more broadly. We focus on these articlesContinue reading “MPT Posts on Church Discipline — and I Suggest a Better Way”
The Business and the Work
I am employed in the health care field. Working as a chaplain for a corporate entity has taught me a great deal, and has helped me reflect upon the make-up of the “corporate church” in America and the nature of its leadership. If you have read Internet Monk over the past two years, you knowContinue reading “The Business and the Work”
The Best Responses to the Driscolls and Youngs
By far, the most thoughtful and thorough response to all the “sex” hubbub raised by the Driscolls and Youngs and their recent books and publicity stunts comes from Matthew Lee Anderson. I became aware of his analysis when I read the article, “The Trouble with Ed Young’s Rooftop Sexperiment,” at Christianity Today. I encourage youContinue reading “The Best Responses to the Driscolls and Youngs”
The Internet Monk Archives 