There’s a nice article at Christianity Today challenging the prevalent, ongoing “focus on the family” mentality of the American church. In it, Rebecca McLaughlin gives five reasons “Why I Don’t Sit with My Husband at Church” on Sunday mornings. There’s one big reason: McLaughlin believes that congregations must be more open to showing hospitality toContinue reading “Freedom from the family for the family”
Category Archives: God’s Big Family
Are we moving toward “reconciled diversity”?
Two articles about Christian unity caught my attention this week. The first, by Roger E. Olson, captures in its title what I believe is the heart and soul of what the pursuit of unity should actually entail: “True Christian Ecumenism: Reconciled Diversity.” The scandal of disunity among Christians is not necessarily embodied in the existence ofContinue reading “Are we moving toward “reconciled diversity”?”
Site Update: Conversations in the Great Hall
This morning, we introduce our new Internet Monk banner. We’ve been having a little trouble with the code the past day or two, so I’ve included the art in today’s post while we work on it. The banner at the top of the post will appear during the daytime hours and the one at the end willContinue reading “Site Update: Conversations in the Great Hall”
Witnessing a Birth
Last Sunday I had the privilege of experiencing something rather special. I was invited to attend the first ever service of a new church. For the last 30 years I have had a strong interest in church planting. When in seminary I wrote a thirty page paper on “Philosophies of Church Planting”. I have aContinue reading “Witnessing a Birth”
Memo to Tim Challies: The War Is Over
Tim Challies represents the mindset of far too many Protestant Christians who have little understanding of the Roman Catholic church and who continue to recycle old, tired, and often incorrect ideas about the church’s teachings and practices. Without any authority but his own opinion, Challies has decided to issue a public statement calling Pope FrancisContinue reading “Memo to Tim Challies: The War Is Over”
The Surplus Population
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who dragContinue reading “The Surplus Population”
Some Thoughts on Our “Reformation” Conversation
Monday, we considered the June 17, 2013 document, jointly published by the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, called “From Conflict to Communion.” I have decided to make this last post in the series, and in it I want to make some comments about how we discuss matters like this. An Admission ofContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Our “Reformation” Conversation”
Commemorating the Reformation Together (2)
This week (today and Thursday) we are considering the June 17, 2013 document, jointly published by the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, called “From Conflict to Communion.” The paper’s introduction states: In 2017, Lutheran and Catholic Christians will commemorate together the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. Lutherans and CatholicsContinue reading “Commemorating the Reformation Together (2)”
Commemorating the Reformation Together (1)
This morning I introduce my particular topic for the week that we will look at today and Thursday. You may have read the blurb on the Internet Monk Bulletin Board (right side of the page) and noticed that Roman Catholics and Lutherans have come together and produced a document that expresses their commitment to commemorateContinue reading “Commemorating the Reformation Together (1)”
“I Am” and “I Practice” — An Important Distinction
If we want to practice what some, including Michael Spencer, have called a “generous orthodoxy” – a commitment to the creedal Christian faith that recognizes “one holy catholic and apostolic Church” – then we must learn to speak about our own personal faith identities and commitments precisely. Here is the way I have learned toContinue reading ““I Am” and “I Practice” — An Important Distinction”
The Internet Monk Archives 