A call to a new Reformation in the teaching and life of Jesus' followers
This Holy Saturday, between Good Friday and Easter, I was reflecting on the idea of Jesus as the slain Passover lamb. The association is certainly Biblical, not only in the obvious context of Jesus’ death taking place on Passover, but also in the testimony of the Apostle Paul in 1:Cor. 5:7. Paul doesn’t go into detail what he means about Jesus being the Passover lamb, … Continue reading The Lamb That Was Slain – A Passover/Easter Reflection
My blogging friend Morgan Guyton recently published a post in which he took on Four cringe-worthy claims of popular penal-substitution theology. I heartily commend the post to all, and I cringe right along with Morgan each of the points he highlighted. Nevertheless I find myself pushing back in some regards, and pushing further in others. My intent here is to interact directly with Morgan’s article, … Continue reading More thoughts contra Penal Substitution
I was asked a question, through email, recently about N.T Wright’s view of Justification. Since I wrote a long answer, I figured I would post it as well on our blog. N.T Wright has a great book that I though was extremely useful called The Climax of the Covenant. In this book he outlines how Jesus and the cross were the climactic event of God’s … Continue reading Covenant, Cross, Justification, and Christus Victor
I have just finished Lee C. Camp’s book Who Is My Enemy? This is a book every American Christian should read–full stop. It is also a book everyone who’s frustrated with the public political stance of American Christians should read. And it’s also a book anyone wrestling with the questions of war and peace with regard to the church and/or teachings of Jesus Christ should … Continue reading Who Is My Enemy? by Lee C. Camp (book review)
Today is Good Friday, the day we honor the supreme sacrifice Jesus Christ made when he went to his execution on the cross. While I have argued before that Christians tend to spend too much energy and emotion on Jesus’ death and too little on his resurrection, it is still right and good that we soberly and gratefully acknowledge the suffering Jesus voluntarily accepted on … Continue reading Did God really abandon Jesus on the cross?
In recognition of holy week, I’m going to resurrect a piece I wrote five years ago at Easter, after I saw the film The Passion of the Christ. Released in 2006, the film itself is clearly not news; however, as recently as this month I’ve heard fellow Christians speaking positively—almost reverently—of the film and its portrayal of Jesus’ suffering. Notwithstanding the excellent work on Jesus’ … Continue reading Misplaced Passion
I heard a great feature this morning on NPR’s show “Morning Edition,” in which the brothers Christopher and Peter Hitchens were interviewed. Christopher, as most of you likely know, is a world-famous atheist (I would describe him as an anti-theist fundamentalist) who rails against those who hold to faith, and who wrote the bestseller “God is Not Great.” What I did not know is that … Continue reading Christopher Hitchens Interview — More evidence bad theology drives people away from Jesus
Over the past few days I read Robert A. Heinlein’s 1984 book Job: A Comedy of Justice. For those who enjoy mind-bending adventures with an eternal twist, I recommend it as a fun story. Be forewarned: if you only enjoy fiction that comports with your theology and cosmology, and you consider yourself an orthodox Christian, this book is probably not for you. But if you … Continue reading The Gospel According to Heinlein, or Why Christians are sometimes God’s worst enemies…
I just came across two articles today that anyone who really cares about poverty, justice, and the gospel must read: http://www.humanitarianchronicle.com/2009/07/nairobi-my-introduction/http://www.humanitarianchronicle.com/2009/07/kibera-and-the-reality-of-the-gospel/ I love Nairobi. I used to go there a lot when I worked in Tanzania in the mid-80s. It seemed a somewhat safer place then, though even back then I suspected it was a bit of an illusion–there was such a disparity between wealth … Continue reading Lessons in the gospel from Nairobi
OK, time to stir the pot a little. Our particular corner of the blogosphere has been buzzing fow a while now on the subject of atonement. I’ve enjoyed it, I don’t think we’ve nearly closed the topic, and I certainly intend to return there myself at some point. Nevertheless, I think we need to step back and pause for a reality check. First of all, … Continue reading Enough with salvation already!