Category Archives: Commentary

Humiliation, Humanity and the Fifth Commandment: Can We Tell The Truth About Those Whose Sin Affects Us?

Also of interest on this topic: “Does the Story Matter?” (From December of 04) Here’s my original review of Schaeffer’s book, and a later link to an interview with Schaeffer. “My father sexually abused me.” “Both of my parents are in prison on drug charges.” “My dad had another wife and kids in another town,Continue reading “Humiliation, Humanity and the Fifth Commandment: Can We Tell The Truth About Those Whose Sin Affects Us?”

The Long Dark Night Is Over….

Baseball fans: what are some of your thoughts and feelings as the new season begins? Best memories? Ironies? Tragedies? Tomorrow at 1:05 EST, the Cincinnati Reds will take the field against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Florida. The long, dark winter of the soul will be over here in the Spencer household. My life runsContinue reading “The Long Dark Night Is Over….”

Are We Blogs? Or Ads? (Coming Clean)

I’d like to come clean about a couple of things. I’m not getting on anyone’s case here. I just believe I should get this on the record for my readers. First, I have a book review agreement with a major web site. They send me books to review every few weeks, and I actually reviewContinue reading “Are We Blogs? Or Ads? (Coming Clean)”

The Empty Shelf in the Southern Baptist Bookstore

I’m very interested in what current SBTS and other SBC seminary students have to say about your future in the SBC. Will you stay if Calvinism becomes a divisive, “lose your job” issue in the SBC? Would you prefer a Driscoll, Piper or Mahaney Network (T4G) to the current SBC? CLARIFICATION: I’m a post-evangelical, andContinue reading “The Empty Shelf in the Southern Baptist Bookstore”

Three Days Among the Mainlines

Unless you’ve been brought up in the insular confines of fundamentalism, it’s going to be hard to understand what it’s been like for me spending three days with “the other kind” of Christians this week. “The other kind” in this instance are mainline protestants, almost entirely Presbyterian Church USA, ELCA Lutherans, ECUSA Episcopalians and aContinue reading “Three Days Among the Mainlines”

Riffs: 01:27:08: This is the End……of Evangelicalism, my Friend

***Music by The Doors: “The End.”*** There was an elf that met the children at the door. Also in this room was a store that had Barbies, action figures, Brats Dolls, and all of the most popular items that you would find in a Toy-R-Us catalog the day after Thanksgiving. In order for kids toContinue reading “Riffs: 01:27:08: This is the End……of Evangelicalism, my Friend”

Twenty Myths That Keep Christians From Discussing Abortion

I’ve had very few posts on abortion in this space, and there’s a reason for that. You can’t have a reasonable discussion most of the time. Everything devolves into a rhetorical, emotional conflict that resembles professional wrestling. In a cage. It’s really embarrassing that so many of us can’t talk about abortion like intelligent, civilContinue reading “Twenty Myths That Keep Christians From Discussing Abortion”

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

I’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 (whichContinue reading “My Theology Can Beat Up Your Theology: Thoughts on always saying more than the other guy.”

The Temptation to Quit

UPDATE: I’ve written several things convincing myself to stay. Here’s one of my favorites: Thomas Merton and the Greener Grass That Wasn’t. UPDATE II: Here’s another one: When Loving You is Killing Me. I suppose every person in ministry is strongly tempted to quit from time to time. Not quit as in “send out aContinue reading “The Temptation to Quit”