Category Archives: Evangelical Issues

Does the Bible Have the Answers for Our Money Problems?

“The Bible is literally filled with advice on how to get out of debt, how to stay out of debt, how to prosper, how to have financial stability, and how to save and spend.” (Rick Warren) • • • These days, Warren is just one of the more prominent pastors leading his congregation to thinkContinue reading “Does the Bible Have the Answers for Our Money Problems?”

Missed: A Perfect Opportunity

This is not personal. I do not know the pastor involved and I don’t want to cast any aspersions on him as a minister. Everyone has bad days, and perhaps this was one of his. All I know is that, IMHO, he completely missed something as he preached on Sunday that was as obvious as theContinue reading “Missed: A Perfect Opportunity”

How the Lutheran Tradition Answers Many Post-Evangelical Concerns (4)

This week I have been giving some examples to show how concerns I have had over the years about evangelicalism are answered by the traditional teachings of historic Lutheranism. We will finish this series up with two final posts. In the first, I want to discuss an emphasis that Martin Luther and his heirs haveContinue reading “How the Lutheran Tradition Answers Many Post-Evangelical Concerns (4)”

How the Lutheran Tradition Answers Many Post-Evangelical Concerns (3)

Note: I was honored to see that Gene Edward Veith has linked to these posts. You can follow the responses and discussion at Cranach: The Blog of Veith. • • • This is now the third in a series of posts detailing some of the ways I have found that the Lutheran tradition provides solidContinue reading “How the Lutheran Tradition Answers Many Post-Evangelical Concerns (3)”

iMonk Classic: Subcultural Spirituality or “I know he’s a Christian because I saw it on his bumper sticker.”

Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer From August, 2004 One of the axioms of my critique of evangelicalism is this: methodology creates theology. By this I mean that when evangelicals have adopted particular methods, such as the evangelistic sales pitch or the powerpoint designed sermon, they will soon develop an accompanying theology, generally morphed inContinue reading “iMonk Classic: Subcultural Spirituality or “I know he’s a Christian because I saw it on his bumper sticker.””

How the Lutheran Tradition Answers Many Post-Evangelical Concerns (2)

I continue this overview of how emphases in the historic tradition of Lutheranism have helped me with many concerns I’ve expressed about American evangelicalism. Thus far, I have introduced the following elements… How I came to peace with finding a tradition, How I appreciate the priority of Word and Table liturgical worship in the LutheranContinue reading “How the Lutheran Tradition Answers Many Post-Evangelical Concerns (2)”

Creation Wars Update

Today, your faithful iMonk correspondent reports from the front lines of the “Creation Wars” about recent articles on issues related to science and Biblical interpretation. Duck and cover. • • • 1. October saw Peter Enns move his blog to the Patheos evangelical portal. Enns dived right in and wrote about the ongoing debate onContinue reading “Creation Wars Update”

Good News is Just the Beginning

Over the past decade, a cottage industry has grown and and is now flourishing among American Christian leaders and teachers that has focused on defining the Gospel. Many factors account for this. We live in a decidedly non-doctrinaire age, and the “Gospel” discussion has formed in response to that. Through the influence of the churchContinue reading “Good News is Just the Beginning”

When Christians Won the Culture War

I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died, and the very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. (Romans 7:9-10, NRSV) • • • There was a time in the United States when Christians got deeply involved in the political process overContinue reading “When Christians Won the Culture War”