Monthly Archives: June 2012

30
Jun

Stories from Jim Jordan’s Methodist Fathers

This brings me to the fourth and final meaning of “an evangelical,” which is someone who is sympathetic to some degree with the Methodist experiential religion that is the earlier form of American civic religion. I need to begin this … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible & Theology | Leave a comment
30
Jun

On allegations about “the True Church” and allegations about historical succession

Recently, I’ve noticed people claiming that the Roman Catholic Church is the true Church due to claims about historical succession. Weirdly, often no actual attempt is made to demonstrate from history that such succession exists. Rather, the argument (though not … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant Theology | 3 Comments
30
Jun

On patience with the Church

Sometimes, some things I teach, and that people whom I respect teach, are labeled “ecclesiocentrism.” Whether or not I own that label depends on what exactly it is supposed to entail. I can certainly imagine really bad ideas going by … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant Theology | 5 Comments
23
Jun

Please help me minister in Musoma, Tanzania

Recently, at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, I was reminded that I have faithful, appreciative readers who I have never met yet (or at least I did; I’m hoping the wonderful people I met were representative … Continue reading →

Posted in What's going on | Leave a comment
22
Jun

On the anti-Ayn-Rand schtick

I heard once of a Christian kid who became an atheist of the Ayn-Rand kind. This blew my mind. I couldn’t believe that anyone with real Christian knowledge would be swayed by her assertions (on atheism, it is too kind … Continue reading →

Posted in atheology, Bible & Theology | Leave a comment
21
Jun

Revisiting Mark 2: the pattern and the callings

So, if you saw my last post on Mark, Revisiting Mark: the pattern, you saw a case for a pattern to the healings in Mark’s Gospel’s. But the full meaning of this pattern won’t be clear without considering the callings. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible & Theology, The Victory According to Mark | Leave a comment
21
Jun

The Bible has authority, even the “New Testament.”

I recently read a generally excellent book but something struck me as wrong. The book affirmed one must believe in the authority of Scripture, “especially the New Testament.” What can such a statement possibly mean? At best, the authority of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible & Theology | 3 Comments
17
Jun

The Greater Miracle

Situation seems hopeless. Needs are overwhelming. Why doesn’t God act? Why doesn’t he change everything around? But he doesn’t. And when we think about this, it is all over the Bible. God knocks down the walls of Jericho, but then … Continue reading →

Posted in Wisdom | Leave a comment
16
Jun

Revisiting Mark: the pattern

Here’s the deal with Mark’s miracle stories: While he has some summary statements, his narrations are always about one and only one person being healed. No story of ten lepers. No stories of two blind men (in fact, he drops … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible & Theology, The Victory According to Mark | 2 Comments
16
Jun

Did the boy get to enjoy his own donation of loaves and fishes?

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in Worship | 2 Comments