UPDATE: You have to wonder why David Wayne can see that it’s possible to cite and commend both Piper and myself positively, while other reformed bloggers are denouncing me for denying sovereignty and hating on Piper? “From a different perspective….” I guess that phrase is allowed some places and not others. First, thoughts. You goContinue reading “Ordinary Questions 2: Thoughts and A Story”
Category Archives: Commentary
Riffs: 07:28:07: Brant Hansen and Celebrity Sinners
Brant Hansen- the best blogger in the world (Take that so-called best bloggers!)- riffs on Gary Smalley’s revelation that he didn’t have it all together. As Brant says, “Don’t let it happen again.” Hansen points out that Christians are much better responding to sin in theory and sin in the past than with person’s actualContinue reading “Riffs: 07:28:07: Brant Hansen and Celebrity Sinners”
Mainline Churches: We’re Having a Moment Here
In Appreciation for Bishop William Willimon. UPDATE: C’mon people. I am not insulting mainline churches. If I say that, in GENERAL, mainlines are more liberal than many evangelicals are comfortable with, that isn’t discounting all the many, many good things I’ve always praised. If I’m offending you with this proposal, then forget about it andContinue reading “Mainline Churches: We’re Having a Moment Here”
How “Traditional” is the Traditional Service?
Here in Kentucky, where the worship wars/generational church division is everywhere and spreading, many churches are attempting to navigate the rocks of a potential church split by using multiple services. I’ve been associated with multiple services since 1984, when I joined the staff of a large church that had both an 8:30 a.m. and 11:00Continue reading “How “Traditional” is the Traditional Service?”
On Harry Potter and Wicca: A Helpful Letter
Harry Potter will be much discussed soon as both the book and the next movie appear in July. IM lurker Brian sent me this letter in response to a BHT post linking an anti-Harry Potter “ministry.” Brian discusses the claim of a connection between HP and interest in Wicca. Very interesting and valuable discussion andContinue reading “On Harry Potter and Wicca: A Helpful Letter”
The Baptist Way: A Hopeful Look Forward to Reformation/Renewal in the Southern Baptist Convention
SBC Outpost has long been the leader of SBC blogs. I read with sadness today that SBC Outpost is leaving the blogosphere. This post is in honor of Marty and what he modeled and accomplished with that blog. God bless him and his family, and God speed a reformation and true renewal in the SouthernContinue reading “The Baptist Way: A Hopeful Look Forward to Reformation/Renewal in the Southern Baptist Convention”
The Baptist Way: The Dire Situation of the Southern Baptist Convention as I See It
One of the reasons I am doing this series of posts on “The Baptist Way†is to face what is going on in Baptist life today: We’re losing our soul and our identity. We’re becoming the very definition of generic evangelicalism. We need to face what’s happening to us and we need to stop it.Continue reading “The Baptist Way: The Dire Situation of the Southern Baptist Convention as I See It”
Five Post-evangelical Answers for Today’s Evangelical Crisis
UPDATE: A Bible translator in Africa takes issue with me. I’ll say more about his observations in a later post. Answers. I don’t seem to have many. A lot of complaints. Not that many answers. Right? I’m an analytical person, and if someone could be paid to diagnose problems, I could probably make a goodContinue reading “Five Post-evangelical Answers for Today’s Evangelical Crisis”
What About the Flag in the Sanctuary? (Or How To Get Fired Really Fast.)
Sometime when I was in seminary, I first heard the term “civil religion” and started to understand that some people had a problem with the American flag in a church sanctuary. The flag- and its companion, the “Christian” flag- have been in every church sanctuary I’ve ever been in, and both flags are in theContinue reading “What About the Flag in the Sanctuary? (Or How To Get Fired Really Fast.)”
The Wrong Song For the People of God
[Check out the previous IM post, “With God On Our Side.”] One of the results of working with international students, and especially of having them in worship services you’re leading, is a new appreciation of how some commonly accepted elements of American Christian culture sound to those who aren’t Americans. Take, for example, those patrioticContinue reading “The Wrong Song For the People of God”
The Internet Monk Archives 