Category Archives: iMonk 101

iMonk 101: “I Hate Theology”

iMonk 101 is a series of past essays and posts reposted for the enjoyment and edification of the IM audience. “I Hate Theology.” Occasionally. I don’t think I have reposted this iMonk classic “crisis” post in a couple of years. It definitely needs some light and air. It’s provocative and a bit extreme, but sometimes,Continue reading “iMonk 101: “I Hate Theology””

iMonk 101: Who and What Are Forming You?

I looked back in the archives and found this post from April of 2007: Who And What Are Forming You? It’s an earlier examination of the issues an evangelical like myself (and like many IM readers) face when seeking to grow in Christlikeness. This has proven to be a very volatile topic, which doesn’t surpriseContinue reading “iMonk 101: Who and What Are Forming You?”

Congregationalism First, Evangelicalism Later

In the November 2007 Issue of Touchstone Magazine, there’s a fascinating forum/symposium on “Evangelicalism Today.” It’s available in its entirety on the Touchstone website, and it is well worth your time. Such diverse voices as Russell Moore, Daryl Hart, John Franke and Michael Horton discuss a variety of topics of interest to the IM audience.Continue reading “Congregationalism First, Evangelicalism Later”

iMonk 101: The Original…The One…The Only….Wretched Urgency

Back by popular demand, the iMonk essay that should have sold a thousand t-shirts by now: Wretched Urgency. When I think of people beating themselves up with guilt and beating other people up with a guilt-inducing God, I always think of this essay and the stupefying discovery that the New Testament isn’t trying to turnContinue reading “iMonk 101: The Original…The One…The Only….Wretched Urgency”

“It Seems the Joy of the Lord Isn’t Your Strength” (An iMonk 101 Post)

Yes, that’s one of the comments I’ve received via e-mail regarding the official iMonk photograph. (And- at least in my experience- it’s always a woman. Why is that? Does maternal instinct want to see baby smile?) I’ve been fighting this battle for quite some time, and I don’t plan to give up. It’s a smallContinue reading ““It Seems the Joy of the Lord Isn’t Your Strength” (An iMonk 101 Post)”

iMonk 101: A God Shaped Void? Maybe Not

This piece from two summers ago- A God Shaped Void? Maybe Not– explores some important questions about evangelism, our assumptions about those we are evangelizing, and especially our dialogue with atheists and young people. It’s the kind of rethinking of evangelicalism I like to do, and it will challenge you, especially if you were raisedContinue reading “iMonk 101: A God Shaped Void? Maybe Not”

iMonk 101: Denise Spencer’s Thoughts On A Daughter Leaving for College

Last night, the Spencer family ate Mexican in celebration of my daughter’s graduation from Ohio State University. It was a happy occasion in life’s journey. Long-time readers of this site may remember some of the key moments in this journey and the parallel journey of our son, who is still in school. Perhaps one ofContinue reading “iMonk 101: Denise Spencer’s Thoughts On A Daughter Leaving for College”

iMonk 101: Big Money for a Little Piece of Paper (Dedicated to “Dr.” Johnny Hunt)

Since new SBC President “Dr.” Johnny Hunt is having a bit of an academic credentials crisis, I thought it would be a good time for me to say I understand the feeling that drives us to do things like order a Ph.d from the back of a comic book. So here’s an essay where IContinue reading “iMonk 101: Big Money for a Little Piece of Paper (Dedicated to “Dr.” Johnny Hunt)”

iMonk 101: The Humility Zone + Alex Arnold on Theological Skepticism

I’ve always liked this essay, and I don’t want to lose track of it. The Humility Zone is rarer and rarer among Christians these days. Defending the authority of scripture has come to mean asserting the impossibility of our own fallibility. Scripture is true, has authority and, of course, my interpretation of scripture just happensContinue reading “iMonk 101: The Humility Zone + Alex Arnold on Theological Skepticism”