Apprentice 2 Jesus

Theology

  • The Pope and Pentecostalism

    Pope Benedict made the following comments about Pentecostalism: The geography of Christianity has changed dramatically in recent times, and is in the process of changing further. Faced with a new form of Christianity, which is spreading with overpowering missionary dynamism, sometimes in frightening ways, the mainstream Christian denominations often seem at a loss. This is… Read more

  • The Novelty of Being a Heretic

    Marc Cortez offers some thoughts on why being a heretic is so doggone attractive. (HERE) It’s true. Being orthodox is actually work… and who these days wants that? Read more

  • The King Jesus Gospel — Messing Up the Message

    I am beginning to work my way through The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight. My church staff will be making our way through it the next several weeks as well. The diagnosis of the “evangelical problem” resonates with me. The struggle over “decisions” and “disciples” has been something I’ve felt for all my years in… Read more

  • The King Jesus Gospel

    I follow Scot McKnight on the Jesus Creed blog quite a bit, but other than that, I’m not familiar with his teaching. When The King Jesus Gospel was announced, the one thing that sold me on getting this book right away was there was a forward by Dallas Willard. I have a high regard for Willard,… Read more

  • It Should Still Be TILL DEATH Do Us Part

    A lot is being made of Pat Robertson’s horrifying comments (HERE) about a man divorcing his wife who is stricken with Alzheimer’s. (I find it highly ironic the MEDIA is shocked by someone in the church advocating divorce, but that’s another story.) A column (HERE) really hits hard on Robertson’s statement. These words are really… Read more

  • Walter Brueggemann and the Disruption God Brings

    This interview with Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann is well worth your time. In this interview he is asked to unpack some words used in the Old Testament, or some concepts used. In particular, around minute 25, he gets after how we, as preachers or believers, leave a lot of things unsaid because we are… Read more

  • Is the Creation Account Our New “Shibboleth”?

    “Shibboleth” comes from a story in Judges. When one tribe was asked how to pronounce the word, they would miss the “h”, thus the enemy tribe could pick out their enemy and kill them when asking them that word. We look for those places of differentiation and we choose places to “make our stand.” I… Read more

  • Keep It Simple Saints

    Two days in a row where I actually read something out of Barth that made sense! Look out! This quote is so incredible: “The divine simplicity precedes every man-made complication. Above all the misery of the Church is the glory of the commission with which it is entrusted.” Good stuff. For all the complaining and… Read more

  • Why Evangelicals Struggle… But Should Learn

    This article is a good reflection and they point out a couple of things I’ve thought of over the past few years. It does not cause me to repudiate evangelicalism, however. It causes me to reflect. There are still numerous reasons I identify more readily with evangelicals and “classical” Pentecostals than the “liberal” side of… Read more

  • And In This Corner… The First Published Volley Taking on Rob Bell’s View

    Hell sells. Rob Bell. Now Mark Galli. Francis Chan is on their heels. Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived Read more