I know many folks are into this new-fangled "find your tribe" stuff, but it deeply concerns me. It is postmodern; it denies the "communion of the saints" and it's yet another one of those "church growth" theories that prevents genuine integration and creates potential racial, gender, and theological divisions -- not to mention the economic division it creates.
So, I'm very pleased that, in their new book,
Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives
, Steve Wilkens and Mark Sanford address "postmodern tribalism." The influx of tribalism thinking in the Church must be challenged. (By the way, I spent some time with Steve Wilkens in New Orleans -- great time and I look forward to more times with him.)
The authors bring out the terms connected to tribalism, and not all of them are positive: multiculturalism, affirmative action, postimperialism, ageism, balkanization, identity politics, ... and others.
Where does our identity lie? Ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, American, human being, social underdog, etc..
Power structures are laced together with these sets of terms. Does tribalism threaten the Church or is it the only way forward?
Can the Christian surrender the universal claim and the universal community?
Every Bible reader, especially every teacher and pastor, needs a solid Bible encyclopedia that does its best to tell us what we need to know about history and theology and archaeology as well as sketch each book of the Bible. Some today entrust their minds to Wikipedia, which is a mixed bag of excellence and, well, not so excellent, so it is wise -- if not necessary -- for the student in college or seminary, or the young pastor or teacher, or the Sunday School teacher, and every church library needs to have one encyclopedia.
There's a problem of course: they get dated. When in college I bought the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and years later that set was updated and I got rid of the old one and bought the new one. In the mid 70s, and I remember the days, Zondervan produced a magnificent encyclopedia and it has now been thoroughly updated under the guidance of Moises Silva:
The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible: Revised Full-Color Edition
.
The new edition is much more readable, filled with color pictures and charts and maps, and it is one that I would recommend for evangelical Christians to purchase and rely upon. There are hundreds of new articles, revised articles, new framings of old articles ... in other words, a thorough revision. Not the sort of thing where they've added new pictures to old articles ... fresh and updated bibliographies.
Appr. 255 contributors, 255 males, 0 females.
I'm very excited (as the General Editor) of our new commentary series (Regula Fidei Commentaries) that will focus on explaining the New Testament books in the context of the Bible's Story and discerning how to "live the Story" in our world today ...
We have an excellent team of editors (with Lynn Cohick, Joel Willitts and Michael Bird) and an array of international scholars who will be invited to write the commentaries. John Dickson (Australia) and I are slated to write the first two -- John on James and I will be writing one on the Sermon on the Mount.
the series will have some brand new interactive features that will make our series even more useful to the readers.
Stay tuned for more.....
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
We will soon begin Saturday Afternoon Book Reviews, a new section at the Jesus Creed blog where we will have 3000 word reviews (1500 word summary; 1500 word interaction). Most of these will be written by you or by solicited...
I'd like to announce a conference in London for all our European readers -- and for those who have the funds to fly off to London for what looks like a fantastic conference. It's called Christian Fundamentalism and British Evangelicalism:...
Every now and then I wander over to Steve McCoy's photographs, and I just love this one: Kris and I are in New Orleans at my annual academic meetings, but we found some links this week before we left ...No...
Rob Bell, in an interview with Burnside Writers, suggests sermons could get better if they got shorter...Any response?BWC: You've already explored the "high content, low word count" concept with your book Drops Like Stars, and it's clearly a big...
In this series on a Third Way approach to preaching and the teaching ministry of the local church, I have suggested that we need to de-focus from the sermon being the be-all and end-all of education, and I have also...
I apologize that the comments were turned off on this post this morning ... not sure how that happened, but it did.On the plane yesterday the man sitting with us told us he was "raised Jewish" but that he went...
Nightline's series on the Ten Commandments moves to the 8th Commandment: "Thou shalt not steal."The commandment, or more properly prohibition, is general enough in Exodus 20:15 to include both kidnapping and swiping what belongs to others. According to the experts,...
Paul now gets a vision to enter into Greece for missional work, and this means he enters into what we today call Europe. While it is popular to make a big deal of this, it was all the Roman Empire...
Here are our big questions in this series of posts: How do we move beyond the Bible? Should we? Better yet: Since we have to, how do we move beyond the Bible into our world but do this biblically? This...
All is well, but Kris recently went through her annual mammogram, the discovery of a change from last year with development of a cluster of microcalcifications, another mammogram and a consultation, and then a biopsy and a consultation with...
What a fascinating set of issues arise in Derbe and Lystra. Jerusalem looms large on the horizon of church building in the Diaspora.16:1 He also came to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of...
I announced last week that we are beginning a new series this week with David Opderbeck, a professor of law. He will educate us on law -- should be fun.What is "Law"?My question for the opening post in this series...
In their new book, Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives , Steve Wilkens and Mark Sanford examine cultural scripts that work against the gospel work in the Church. Our theme today: scientific naturalism.The motto: "Only matter matters."We are...
Everett Worthington, Jr., a well-known expert on the emotional and psychological dimensions of forgiveness, has given us a book so many need: forgiveness applied to more than just interpersonal dimensions. His new book is called A Just Forgiveness: Responsible Healing...
Jerusalem remained at that time the center of God's people and that meant also the central city for the Church, the people of Messiah Jesus. This is the context for the next passage, a passage for which we need to give...
Brand new book on an important topic: How do we move beyond the Bible? Should we? Better yet: Since we have to, how do we move beyond the Bible into our world but do this biblically? This is the concern...
The missiological shift like the situational shift of the missional church is filled with stark contrasts between how mission was conceived in the traditional church a hundred or so years ago and how it ought to be conceived today in the Post-Christian West. Michael Goheen...
Let's back up again to see what is going on if we look at the Book of Acts in its presentation of God's mission. The more strict Pharisaic believers contend that Gentile converts have to "go all the way" to...
Two of my students, in the last month, have sat in my office in tears -- their problem, though from two different angles, was doubt. Everything was changing, they were confused, they were having trouble finding their way ... Robert Wennberg,...
In my view, one of the most pressing issues in our day is what I would call moral awareness. I don''t mean that people aren't aware of what they think or believe; what I mean is a lack of awareness...
She did it, finally, and we have so much to look forward with Michelle Wie.The Michelle Wie era has, at long last, begun. After years of injury and controversy, too much hype and money and not enough birdies, Wie won...
I received this notification of six new scholarships at the University of St Andrews in the School of Divinity, which involves teaching a language class in the second and third year of the scholarship. St Mary's College, The School of...
Many today admit the need to have multiple voices at the table when important subjects are discussed, and one such "table" is Bible study: and the "voices" are commentaries. We fool ourselves thinking we've got genuine diversity when we examine Romans...
We've now completed our commentary listing, but commentaries will continue to be produced so I will use the Book Comments to update commentaries. I want to mention two that have recently crossed my desk. First, there is a brand new series...
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,...
Tim LaHaye and Zondervan have agreed to a new eschatology set of books. What do folks think should be done in response to such books?Zondervan, a world leader in Christian communications, has signed an agreement with attorney Craig Parshall and...
Well, here we sit after 35+ years of marriage. Kris somehow naturally internalized all her chores and internalized them immediately. I didn't and I haven't but I've gradually gotten myself attached to a number of them -- like mowing the grass...
The new sculpture of Mr. Rogers in Pittsburgh.Eugene Cho's ODW is a hit. Good for Eugene, good for all of us.When did death enter the picture? What kind of death then entered the picture?Which one is your favorite? (I like...
We are pursuing on this blog a set of posts on the church's educational ministry and how a Third Way approach to preaching can reshape and revitalize preaching's impact.* I believe most preachers think sermons have an impact.* I believe...
In their new book, Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives , Steve Wilkens and Mark Sanford examine cultural scripts that work against the gospel work in the Church. Our theme today: nationalism.The motto: My Nation, Under God.Honest...
Greg Boyd, in his newest book, The Myth of a Christian Religion: Losing Your Religion for the Beauty of a Revolution warns us about "religion" in today's post.As a teen Boyd was rescued from drugs and sex and rock and...
This week's commandment is #5: "You shall not murder."Easy enough to understand, except when it comes to defense against an intruder -- or when a person is in the military -- or when a person is a judge who makes...
John Goldingay's 3volume theology of the Old (First) Testament is now complete. I blogged through volume one way back when but volume two wore me down ... Yet, my courage has been refreshed and I will begin volume 3 in...
Here goes the fundamental decision by the Apostolic council in Jerusalem. They debate whether or not Gentiles have to be follow the Torah to be saved -- reduced to circumcision. Peter, Paul, Barnabas tells stories; James knows their stories but...
Greg Boyd, in his newest book, The Myth of a Christian Religion: Losing Your Religion for the Beauty of a Revolution summons us to revolt against idols and -- in today's post -- against judgment.How pervasive is judgmentalism? What do...
A friend of mine declares that "political correctness is a synonym for moral cowardice" while another friend says it's nothing more than the morals of the political left. Which means that political incorrectness means moral courage and the morals of...
In Naperville Illinois residents have designed a field of flags to honor veterans, and donations from purchasing the flags will aid families getting treatment at a local facility.The woman at the right is walking through the Healing Field in memory...
Acts 15 is in Jerusalem, the center of the church at that time. From Peter we move to Paul and Barnabas who also tell the same story that Peter had: God is saving Gentiles by faith, not by following the...
Folks Michael Kruse finishes off this wonderful series today, and I hope you express your appreciation to him. We need education like this, and to that end David Opderbeck will begin a series next week on "Law" -- David's a...
In their new book, Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives , Steve Wilkens and Mark Sanford examine little cultural scripts that write themselves all over our life -- and they want us to see them for what...
Bettendorf, and Bettendorf Christian Church, were special to us. Kris and I got to take a long walk along the mighty Mississippi Saturday late morning and it seemed everyone walking or riding by said "Have a great day!" We felt...
Paul is at odds with Pharisaic believers over Gentiles: how are they saved? Do they need to embrace the whole Torah and get circumcised?15:6 Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. 15:7 After there had been much...
Everybody's got a hungry heart -- so says Bruce Springsteen and Greg Boyd, in his newest book, The Myth of a Christian Religion: Losing Your Religion for the Beauty of a Revolution quotes the Boss to make an important part.We...
LaVonne Neff, over at Lively Dust, has said it so well so I'll just quote her. She estimates that it would cost each pro-abortion advocate 6 dollars a year to fund the abortion industry. So go ahead she says: Personally, I'm...
Following the situational shift fresh reflection has been given to theology proper (ie the doctrine of God). The theological awareness that is spreading across the Church in the West is that God himself is missional. This may sound like an...
Acts 15 is a watershed in earliest Christianty -- even if it interrupts the flow of the gospel and mission of God in the Book of Acts, and how you read this chapter affects everything about how you read the...
Brand new book, and one you will want to read. Steve Wilkens and Mark Sanford examine eight cultural stories that shape our lives and they are eight stories that we don't want shaping our lives, and they are eight little...
A letter from Jeremy Berg, who sometimes writes posts for this blog... I'm very keen to hear what you do when Jehovah's Witnesses come to your door. Can you tell us what you feel, what you want to do, what...
The critics of the new perspective on Paul, and they have tended to focus on the work of N.T. Wright, now have their biggest challenge yet. Until we get Tom Wright's fourth volume, and Tom is now writing it, Douglas...
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is...
Don't know if you saw this, but David Neff reports on Robert Wilken's opening lecture at Wheaton about how the early fathers read the Bible. I wish I could have been there, but I had too much on my plate...
When this big fella came by for Trick or Treat, we gave him our pumpkin!It has been a grey, cloudy, cold week here at the Jesus Creed blog, the World Series plodded along with yet one more trophy for the bad...
Greg Boyd, in his newest book, The Myth of a Christian Religion: Losing Your Religion for the Beauty of a Revolution is about "sword-power vs. cross-power" (22). What makes Boyd singular is that he thinks cross-power must shape everything, and this...
Hello, my name is Rachel, and I'm a recovering Bible snob.I haven't always been this way. As a child, the stories of the Bible enthralled me. I believed in them the way one believes in dinosaurs, Camelot, Abraham Lincoln, and...
What makes a leader? Ideas. Courage. Contact with great thinkers. What makes a Christian leader? Great ideas, courage, and contact with great thinkers re-shaped and shaped by the gospel. So, I offer to you a list of my top ten books...
Our prayers are with the families of the dead, for the wounded and for the families of the wounded; we pray for the attacker and his family as well.Gracious God, the comfort of all who sorrow, the strength of all...
I've seen the little fella now a few times ... and now we're beginning to think we've got a problem, like realizing the church pianist might do better at a different church...Anyway, we've got a skunk who has discovered that...
I'd like to sketch a couple of more general points about the first missionary trip of Paul and Barnabas, and hope this can be put into the larger missional theology that the Book of Acts inhabits. I'm concerned about Acts...
In a post last month I raised the issue of Third Way preaching, and this is what I said:A genuine Third Way will get beyond the Sunday morning sermon as the primary form of spiritual formation and education in a...
Nightline's series on the Ten Commandments continues with a look at the Sabbath command, and it raises a question that often arises: Do Christians celebrate "Sabbath"? Let's begin with the command itself, in both versions in the Old Testament, and...
Categories: Gospel,
Jesus
Thursday evening I flew down to Cincinnati for the National Youth Workers Convention, which everyone seems to call YS -- Youth Specialties. I love speaking to youth pastors, in part no doubt because they are just one step removed from...
The missional work of God goes on and continues to expand, but Paul and Barnabas retrace their steps to visit the previous spots of mission in order to deepen and anchor those missional outposts of the gospel.14:21 After they had proclaimed...
Greg Boyd, in his newest book, The Myth of a Christian Religion: Losing Your Religion for the Beauty of a Revolution , takes no prisoners, minces no words, makes his points, states them clearly, and calls the reader to decision.The...
Eighteen years ago, Pope John Paul II wrote in Centesimus Annus: "Can it perhaps be said that, after the failure of Communism, capitalism is the victorious social system, and that capitalism should be the goal of the countries now making efforts...
I admit that I love Garrison Keillor's books; I'll also admit I've almost never listened to The Prairie Home Companion though Kris and I have twice gone to hear him at Ravinia here in the northern suburbs.What I most like about...
I'd like to suggest that Amazon and Ebay manifest a doctrine, and it's a variation on the Protestant doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. I call this Amazon- and Ebay-based doctrine the "priesthood of all consumers."There was a day...
The cycle continues but this time with a new twist in Lystra -- Paul's miracles evoke an attempt to worship him and Barnabas, a stock response in the ancient world (see Beverly Gaventa's The Acts of the Apostles (Abingdon New...
Manfred Brauch, now retired from many years of teaching at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer), calls us to a more serious approach to Scripture in order to end the all-too-common abuse of Scripture. Scripture is used for everything by everyone...
Tony Stiff is a graduate of Westminster seminary, a friend, and a solid young thinker -- and he will do a four part series for us on "Missional" theology and Bible reading. I look forward to this series and I...
The Book of Acts, once it turns to Paul, turns almost exclusively to Paul -- Peter mostly drops from the narrative (except in chp 15) and we now read about Paul's missionary travels, and we need to remind ourselves that...
Greg Boyd, in his newest book, The Myth of a Christian Religion: Losing Your Religion for the Beauty of a Revolution , begins with this: "Once upon a time I embraced the Christian religion... [which he lost and that was]...
Tim Keller and Greg Boyd have the same message: eschew all idols and devote yourself completely to the one God, the God of the Lord Jesus Christ.Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in NYC, in Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of...
I just spent a bundle of time with John H. Walton, who is the General Editor of a brand new series on the Old Testament, and it is a series we desperately need. This new series is a commentary unlike...
Mosaics are folks who cobble things together from a variety of traditions and who have little desire to trust only one tradition or commit themselves to only one point-of-view. But, when all put together, a coherence emerges. Mosaic, in other...
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we...
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