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What Is Biblical Literacy?
We complain about it, write about it, claim it’s important or even critical, design programs to create it, but what is it? I don’t mean that none of us know what we mean when we say “biblically literate” or “biblically illiterate,” but do we all mean the same thing? I don’t think we do, and…
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Fences: Mending or Rending
The following is a sermon I presented at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Pensacola on September 11,2005 and originally posted here on September 13, 2005. I’m reposting it because when I went to look for it, I found that the original post had somehow been truncated, and also because there is a one word at a…
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Experiencing the (Baptism of the) Holy Spirit
This is a topic where I tend to make just about everyone uncomfortable. Long time readers may recall a previous discussion of speaking in tongues, and my own experience of it. Those who expect me to be intellectually oriented and rational are uncomfortable with mystical experiences, and many who are comfortable with the mystical experiences…
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Hebrews 2:6 and God Speaking
I add some comments to those of another blogger over on my Participatory Bible Study blog. This passages speaks to our understanding of what inspiration and god-breathed actually mean in practice.
Hebrews 2:6 and Inspiration
James McGrath brings up Hebrews 2:6, where the author introduces a quote by saying “somebody somewhere says.” Dr. McGrath uses this sort of as an argument against inerrancy, though primarily as an argument for human authorship. I have used the text in a similar way. It is not, in fact, a good argument against inerrancy,…
Poetry and Trinity
… from Bob MacDonald at Dust. I like his way of talking about it!
Energion Political Debate
Two authors for my company Energion Publications are conducting a year-long political debate. I ask a question each month, they each answer (posted on the third Thursday of the month), and then continue to respond to each other’s positions until we post the next question. Currently the topic is the role of government. The current…
Reaching Those in a Cult Situation
The best advice I’ve heard on this topic is provided in a short post by Elizabeth Esther. Takeway? Be a listening ear.
KJV Better than Originals?
John Byron comments on a web site that makes that suggestion. One of the champions of this bizarre position, Peter Ruckman, preaches just down the road.
Majority Text vs. Eclectic
There’s a very brief summary on The Good Book blog, For and Against: The Majority Text Approach to Textual Criticism. I agree that the Byzantine needs to be given more consideration, though I support an eclectic approach.
Theologian Pastors
Mostly, this is a link to Allan Bevere’s post, which builds on Michael Bird’s post. I’m one of those parishioners who would like to hear more sermons from well-educated theologians. Even if the circumstances are different (see comments to Allan’s post), I, like John Wesley, have but a lowly MA. But there are several things…
Of Contexts, Communities, and Individuals
Stop Taking Jeremiah 29:11 Out of Context is the headline in RELEVANT magazine. Thomas Turner is writing vigorously about the apparently shameful misuse of this passage of scripture. He points out that it’s used on graduation cards and often quoted in words of encouragement to individuals. He summarizes: Sure, it might make a person feel…
Thumbs Down to ChristianMingle.com
Jonathan Merritt has some interesting words about ChristianMingle.com. You should read all, but this struck me, about the result of his search: The search function of the site is user-friendly. I’m given a list of women in my area. Their profile pictures are surprisingly provocative—low cut shirts, exposed shoulders, skin-tight pants, pouty lips. The selection…
Increasing Executive Power
I have been interested in politics as long as I can remember. Lately I’ve been blogging about it less, and that’s likely to continue. There’s just too much to do! But I want to note one trend. Practically every national election I’ve voted in has featured concerns about increasing executive power. In the modern era,…
Christianity an Incurably Irrevent Religion?
C. S. Lewis thought so! (HT: Peter Kirk on Facebook, blog).
Dividing the Essentials
C. Michael Patton has a seven level division that has “essential for salvation” at the core, and “pure speculation” as the outer layer. Now what I’m wondering is whether getting the division of your essentials right is an essential or not. It makes one wonder!
Inspiration from the Bible with One Click
I have an e-mail (spam, really) in my inbox that tells me I can get inspiration from the Bible with one click. The e-mail even has a large blue button with the words “Click Here” on it, just in case I need more guidance. This is one of my pet peeves. There is no shortcut…
An Interpreter for Greek
Dave Black comments on one of my pet peeves, the use of Greek, generally incorrectly used, in sermons. I have gone so far as to tell people that when you hear a preacher say, “what the Greek really says is …” or something similar you are about to be misinformed. Dave thinks this might be…
About the Rand Paul Filibuster
Roll Call lists 10 Best Moments from the Rand Paul Filibuster. I’m not a fan of Rand Paul, but I respect him more after this filibuster than before. It was for a good cause, and one which should have gotten much more attention. Indeed, there are a number of other areas where we have handed…
Women in First Century Judaism
Scot McKnight links to a 2009 post on the Yinon blog that’s worth a read.
For All Our Northern Friends
Here’s what’s outside!
State of Income Inequality in the United States
I’m posting this for discussion. I plan to use as the question in our Energion political debate in April. Right now the participants are discussing the budget. From the middle of March (March 21) into April they’ll be discussing the role of government and why they take the position they do. Then starting April 18…
The Most Annoying Ad on Television
There are so many annoying ads on television it’s hard to nominate the most annoying one, but I think the ads for ChristianMingle.com have the inside track on such an award. It’s not that I object to online dating services as such, though I have numerous reservations. (Fortunately I’m married and my children are married….
Stuff Christians Say
Well, sort of … If you talk like this, consider a change! HT: The Internet Monk
The March of the What?
In French, the title of The March of the Penguins was La Marche de l’Empereur (The March of the Emperor). Knowing that, behold, an ad for the film shown on French television. HT: Why Evolution is True.
The Bible Video Series: Not Too Bad
As I watched The Bible last night I had in mind titling my note this morning, “not as bad as I expected.” Unfortunately for my title, Peter Enns managed a better one: “The Bible” on the History Channel: Not the Absolute Train Wreck I Thought it Would Be. I also generally agree with his comments,…
How Could the Holocaust Get More Shocking?
It seems it can do so by fully documenting the extent of the camps and other facilities involved. Just using the term “facilities” there makes my skin crawl, but I can’t think of another word at the moment. HT: The Jesus Blog