Apprentice 2 Jesus

Theology

  • Religious

    This column in Christianity Today is thought-provoking. Are you “religious” or “spiritual”? Careful how you answer! The word religion comes from the Latin religare (re: “back,” and ligare: “to bind”), so the term is associated with being bound. In that sense, defining oneself as “spiritual, not religious” couldn’t be more apt, reflecting a desire to… Read more

  • Liberal…The Language of Change

    A friend of mine has a wonderful blog on Eastern Orthodoxy and his latest post is a great look into the language changes we’ve faced in just one or two generations. He writes on “liberal” theologians of a generation past, but the use of “liberal” has sure changed! It’s good reading. Enjoy. Read more

  • Progessive Church — Hilarious

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  • Revisiting the Reformation

    Christianity Today is running a series of articles from world evangelical leaders on their views of what is needed in the 21st Century. Rene Padilla’s column focused on a return to first principles, especially as it regards the first Lausanne Conference. Padilla’s opening line: A key problem of evangelical churches worldwide is the unilateral emphasis… Read more

  • Thoughts on Creation

    In the past few days I’ve appreciated some posts on creation because I teach Old Testament at my college and these resources will help me communicate better. For one, I am an AOG pastor/teacher and seeing Brian’s post on the AOG’s new position paper on Creation was exciting. I have been very critical of my… Read more

  • Bold Movement by Lutherans

    With the ELCA decision to ordain homosexual clergy, which was only the latest thing in a long line of worries about the denomination, a new Lutheran group emerged. At their conference, the speakers were incredibly BOLD. Carl Braaten in particular, went after the ELCA for being gnostic. Braaten described the ELCA approach to authority as… Read more

  • Intentional, Confessional… Pentecostal

    Is that even “legal?” 😉 Intentional. Pentecostals are known more for spontaneity than intentionality in worship. If it’s planned these days, it’s more pragmatism than thoughtful worship. What I seek is intentional worship. Careful attention to the songs we sing, the Scripture we read, the education we give our children… all of it. As a… Read more

  • Two Books Evangelicals and Pentecostals MUST Read

    Liturgical Theology, by Simon Chan. Desiring the Kingdom, by James K.A. Smith. No links. I’m not making money. These books are powerful and needed. Read more

  • Christ and Culture — The Question We Fail to Ask

    In their fine book, Exploring Ecclesiology, Harper and Metzger take up the question of Christ and culture in Chapter 13. They use H. Richard Niebuhr’s model of Christ and culture, Christ vs. culture, etc. They also use the model of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and how he stood up against Germany in a time when Germany nationalism… Read more

  • Therapy Over Theology

    The Church in America has moved from teaching what is true to teaching what works. Personal growth and satisfaction take precedence over truth. “The ultimate consequence of Christianity centered on personal issues and self-improvement is that theology becomes therapy, the search for righteousness is replaced by the search for happiness, holiness by wholeness, and truth… Read more