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 lands him in the anabaptist camp. The difference is power over vs. power under. The latter is about humility and self-sacrifice. It may look weak but it is the power of God.
How useful is his "power under" and "power over" theory? Do you think this is practical? Is it utopian? Why do we need this theory? How does it relate to "servant leadership" ideas?
The temptation of sword-power starts with Jesus, and he refuses to go along with Satan (Matt 4:1-11). The Church did fine until Constantine where sword took over the cross. The movement that suffered under nationalism became nationalistic.
Tuesday I began a series of posts looking at Harvey Cox's new book The Future of Faith. Today I would like to look at Chapter 3 - Ships Already Launched. Cox begins this chapter by dismissing the idea that all religions are the same. We all live with mystery, but how we cope varies.
I frequently meet people who, when they discover that I teach religion, assure me that "underneath, all religions are really the same." I used to respond that, during a lifetime of teaching religion it appeared to me that they are not. But since that usually ended the conversation on a disagreeable note, I have recently just let their opinions pass. It is true that we are all responding to the same mystery, the one that confronts us all not just as mortal beings, but as beings aware of our mortality. Still we sense it and cope with the mystery in quite disparate ways. (p. 38)
Cox then begins to describe, as he says, "the ship I found myself on" - the narrative of the Judeo-Christian tradition. And this leads me to the questions for today.
Are all religions the same?
But a simple answer of no isn't enough. Most of us consider ourselves Christian (certainly I do) - some will claim that this is this simply the luck of the draw and a matter of birth. But the Christian is not willing to rest here - the whole NT especially the book of Acts is about God's mission and the proclamation and spread of the good news, inviting others to join The Way.
Why is the gospel of Jesus Christ good news? What is there that is real, intrinsically worth proclaiming, to which we desire to invite others?
Why is Christianity not simply another way (one among many) of dealing with the mysteries of life, purpose, and mortality?
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 issue for him has to do with whether we want to participate in what he calls the religion of Christianity or the Jesus revolution.
How central to the gospel and to the Christian faith is following Jesus? Is a Christian someone who follows Jesus? Or, would you define "Christian" in another way? How would you define it?
Boyd is like many: his own maturation in the faith led him to see the problems with the Church when held up against the standard of the Gospels. He learned the problem in three ways: the bloody history of the Church, the centrality of the example of Jesus in the Gospels/NT/early Christianity, and Moral Majority, which showed to him many things, not the least of which was their crusade to take back the country -- and Boyd didn't think that approach came from Jesus. Jesus didn't seek change through assuming or gaining political power. He sought change through the cross.
"History teaches that the best way to destroy the Church is to give it political power" (13).
What is the Moral Majority's "theory" on the relationship of State and Church? What is Boyd's? What is the Kuyperian view? We need to discuss this so I'm counting on folks to pitch in...
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] "a tremendous blessing. Because when I lost my religion, I discovered a beautiful revolution."
The reason there are Greg Boyds in this world is because American evangelicalism has been a thin remix of Romans, a religion shaped too much by a simplistic gospel and too rarely shaped by the robust kingdom vision of Jesus that itself gave rise to a much more robust gospel in Paul.
How much kingdom did you hear when you grew into the faith? (Provide decade please.) I heard nothing. In fact, I heard the Sermon on the Mount was for Jews and not for Christians. What are the central elements in mind when Boyd speaks of "religion"?
What have you read of Boyd? What are his best ideas for you?
"Jesus is not the founder of the Christian religion... [but that religion, which did develop centuries later] "was antithetical to what Jesus was about." And he thinks that Christian religion is itself a myth.
Instead, "What Jesus was about was starting a revolution. He called this revolution 'the Kingdom of God'" (9). What is this kingdom?
I will do this week a post of three young Christian authors whose books I've recently read and whose books help us all. I begin today with
Josh Graves, a young pastor in Nashville whose new book (
The Feast
) can be summarized in this way. He provides ...
Episodes of kingdom work now.
The power of stories.
The need to absorb the words of Scripture.
I read Josh's book and then realized I would be in Nashville where he pastors, so I wrote to him to see if we could have coffee or lunch together, and then he told me he would be attending (and speaking at) the conference I was attending in Nashville. Small world. We met up, chatted several times, and had lunch together. I wish we had more time.
This book is a gentle call by example to a missional life. Instead of giving stats on how wealthy we are, on how lazy we are, and of how selfish we are, Josh's book just brings up one example after another -- in story form -- of what missional life looks like today. From the inside out. From missional work in the underbelly of Detroit to the homeless taking up space in his own home and learning about forgiveness from others ... dotted with characters and stories and solid readings of the Gospels and the Bible ...
One of his themes is "eat this book," an expression from Eugene Peterson about the proper stance toward Scripture. Josh quotes this before or after citing a text from Scripture and it calls us to ponder anew what we read. His expositions lead us into that pondering.
Pastors would benefit from this book for the stories. But I hope college student after college student buys this book and reads it with other college students so the word catches on that kingdom living begins now ... and kingdom people make a difference.
This series is by my colleague in theology, Dr. Mary Veeneman, and she's guiding us through a brand new book by Brad Harper and Paul Metzger. The book is called: Exploring Ecclesiology: An Evangelical and Ecumenical Introduction . The question...
Luke wrote two books and so he asks Jesus, who is approvingly nodding his head at the table, for an extended time to go overtime. After describing for us that this Messiah did create a new kind of Passover meal...
So far so good: kingdom means community formation through commitment to Jesus. That community brings justice and it ends every form of oppression. Jesus' kingdom vision will mean a total spiritual and social make-over for Israel. With everything now in...
Attentive readings of this account reveal that Jesus had the same solution and saw the same problems seen by Mary, Zechariah, and John the Baptist: injustices everywhere. And he had the same solution: repent and start living together as God's...
Here are John the Baptist's words to those who asked what they needed to do to enter into the kingdom of God: John answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who...
I grew up in the gospel I sketched Monday, so when I contend that I think it is right but not right enough, you can take it as friendly fire from one who learned the hard way. Three experiences led...
We can't possibly trot through the whole of Luke's Gospel so I want to focus on one element of Luke' Story because it opens up the entire Gospel. Luke's Gospel, like the rest of the Bible, focuses on the covenant...
If "kingdom" is the solution, what is the problem? Jesus' gospel message of the kingdom of God is itself a blue parakeet for many today. In fact, many have tamed Jesus' blue parakeet message of the kingdom and this chapter...
How do we apply the Bible to situations of divorce? A pastor recently asked me about this. I'm interested in your response. This is one of the most common subjects I get asked about by my students at North Park.Scot,...
Wednesday: 5:30pm Thursday: 8:30pm Saturday @ LA: 9pm (All times Central) The Commish is out to get us; we are playing Thurs and Sat at ridiculously late times....
Here is a link to the whole our series on the keys to the kingdom. Thanks to Jim Baker for doing this and to Bob Robinson for hosting the link at his site. And below is the full text. KEYS...
Pentecost, the Day God sends the Spirit afresh on God's people, makes them the kind of people God wants them to be. Pentecost, as we turn to chp 10 of 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed is a promise. The...
Drumroll please. This is our last kingdom text: Luke 23:42. It comes with evocative connections: 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you...
There are 85 separable instances of "kingdom" in the Synoptic Gospels; we have three left and two of them are in our text today: 24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be...
Talk about a hornet's nest of issues ... our 82d kingdom text (Luke 21:31) is surrounded with them. Here is the text: 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in...
We turn our faces today toward Pentecost -- and we prepare for that Day when God's Spirit floods us with God's gracious, loving, holy presence. To prepare ourselves we daily recite the Jesus Creed -- to love God and to...
A sense of imminent arrival of the kingdom loomed over Jesus' ministry, and we are not fair to the Gospel texts if we ignore that looming. Here is a text (Luke 19:11) that illustrates the sense of anticipation: 11 While...
At the end of the rich young ruler episode, after Jesus had explained to the man that he was to give up his wealth in order to enter the kingdom, we get this passage in Luke 18:26-30: 26 Those who...
We look today at three kingdom references (Luke 17:20, 20, 21) that are, in my estimation, some of the most misconstrued texts in Jesus' kingdom message. Here they are in context: 20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when...
We are now heading around the corner into the homestretch in this series on kingdom. There are 85 discrete references to kingdom in the Synoptics and we have examined 73 of them. We are now at #74 and I anticipate...
Luke 13:22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort...
The 72d separable kingdom text is found at Luke 12: 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for...
Here these words of Jesus about the kingdom from Luke 10: 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God...
Here are some of Jesus' most demanding kingdom-words: 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have...
10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He...
Luke 8: 1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil...
(Say the Jesus Creed morning and evening during Lent.) Luke 4:42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from...
We now turn to Luke's Gospel's special uses of "kingdom." Technically, this is the 64th reference to kingdom in the Gospels and it comes at Luke 1:33. This one is from Mary: 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words...
(Say the Jesus Creed morning and evening during Lent.) Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will...
(Say the Jesus Creed morning and evening during Lent.) Matt 25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish...
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.. 1. "This gospel of the kingdom" assumes meaning from reading Gospels. So, one must...
Matthew 23: 13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.. 1. The...
We now look at another kingdom text, this from Matthew 22:1ff: 1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent...
Our next text is in the middle of a parable, found at Matthew 21:31-45: 43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit....
Our next text is Matthew 21:31. In context: 28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 ” ‘I will...
20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine...
Our 50th kingdom text is found in Matthew 20:1: 1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them...
Matthew 19:10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been...
A parable describing kingdom: Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but...
Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: “I tell you...
Another kingdom text can be found at Matthew 16:24-28: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save...
Today we enter a text that has been a source of controversy. So, let me quote it in full and offer just a few brief remarks: . 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his...
Our next kingdom text (#49 if you are counting) is found in Matthew 13:52. In context: 51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.“Yes,” they replied. 52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has...
The next parable about the kingdom of God is found in Matthew 13:47-50: 47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it...
Another parable opens up kingdom discussion: 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. What...
A short one: 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.. But...
Here's yet another interesting parable about Jesus' teaching on the kingdom: Matthew 13:36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the...
Our next text, #41, is from a parable of Jesus: 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and...
Here is a most interesting text in our consideration of what Jesus means by "kingdom." It is interesting because, though it is not strictly a Jesus/kingdom text, it sheds light: Matt 8: 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished...
The following text puts the kingdom into the future: Matt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22...
One of the most noteworthy references to kingdom can be found in context at Matthew 5:19: 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to...
The beatitudes, Jesus' blessing of specific kinds of people, twice promise the kingdom: I include them all, since the first and last beatitude are kingdom: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4...
Our next reference, the 33d separable reference to kingdom, is Matthew 4:23 (and I'll tie this with #40, 9:35). Very important little sketch of Jesus' ministry by Matthew: Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news...
We have now finished the references to kingdom in Mark (and parallels) and Q. Now we turn to references to kingdom found only in Matthew. We begin with Matthew 3:2: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the...
Here is a word of Jesus from Matthew 13: "33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through...
Matthew 12:26 is yet one more non-Jesus kingdom. "If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?" So we move to Matthew 12:28, one of the most popularly quoted statements of Jesus: 25...
OK, now stepping up to the plate in the kingdom game is a notoriously disputed text. Here it is in context: 11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John...
Here are the words of Jesus from Matthew 10, our next reference to kingdom in the Gospels: 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans....
Yet another "kingdom" reference (from Q) can be found in Matthew 8:11 (par. Lk 13:29). Again, the full account: When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at...
A favorite text for man is Matthew 6:33 (Q par. at Luke 12:31). Here it is in context: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what...
We now come to a second "Q" text: Matthew 6:10. If Jesus ever defines kingdom of God it is here: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as...
We looked at the references to kingdom in Mark; we now turn to the passages found in both Matthew and Luke but not in Mark. Many Gospel scholars call these passages in Matthew and Luke (but not in Mark) "Q"...
The final reference in kingdom in our earliest source, the Gospel of Mark, is found in Mark 15:43 and it ties back to Mark 12:34 (Monday's post). Here is the reference in context: 42 It was Preparation Day (that is,...
While "kingdom" is found twice in Mark 13:8 -- "kingdom will rise against kingdom" -- and neither of those is about Jesus' kingdom, the usage here is part and parcel of what the word "kingdom" means because they are what...
Mark 12:34, in context, reads: "28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29...
Our 15th reference to kingdom is found in Mark 11:10 but we need the immediate context too: 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing...
Mark 10:23-25, three more references to kingdom, say about the rich young ruler's response to Jesus: 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The...
Our next text is actually two texts: Mark 10:14-15. Here it is: "13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said...
Mark 9:47, our 9th reference to kingdom, reads as follows in context: "42 “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea...
Mark 9:1 is one of those texts that has baffled interpreters for centuries: And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come...
Mark 4:30, much like our parable from yesterday, deserves to be quoted as well in context: Mark 4:30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?...
Our kingdom series now moves to Mark 4:26, the fifth reference to kingdom: Mark 4:26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he...
We turn today to two texts, Mark 3:24 and 4:11. Here are the texts: 3:23 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that...
There are 85/eighty-five distinguishable references to "kingdom" in the Synoptic Gospels. There are more references, but there are overlaps between Matthew, Mark and Luke that permit us to narrow the references to 85. We'll look at each one. Here is...
We begin today a series on the relationship of the kingdom of God to the Church and I do so for several reasons: First, I have long wanted to sort out the evidence in the Gospels and Epistles again. I...
Any time someone brings up the petitions in the Lord's prayer that concern God's kingdom coming and God's will being realized faces the inevitable: What does the Lord's Prayer say about political power and global issues? In chp 4 of...
The question Telford Work poses in chp 3 of his book Ain't Too Proud to Beg is the question of how Christians are to understand this prayer request: "May your kingdom come!" And his chp admirably sketches how Christians have...
Our posts of late have raised a significant question: What does "kingdom of God" mean? It seems to me that many today have switched their Christian rhetoric from Paul's word "salvation" to Jesus' word "kingdom." But, not as many are...
In the 3d chp of Gilbert Meilaender's exquisite volume, The Way That Leads There, we are treated to a meandering through Augustine's City of God in quest of a Christian perception of politics. After last night's debate and as we...
Dear Krista, Your question is a good one, and it is one that has haunted my own academic career for more than twenty years. Here's your question: "how one should react to those preaching the traditional Romans road-- especially at...
There is a movement underway, in some places quite significant and in others not yet significant, but it seems to be growing. It can threaten, it can transform, and it can provoke. It is called "new monasticism." I'm wondering if...
Kris and I drove down to Indianapolis (home of the Colts) from Chicago (da Bears) Saturday afternoon because I was invited to speak at East 91st Street Church. Quite a set up and we had a wonderful time -- the...
I grew up a Trumanist Christian, as in the Truman Show with Jim Carrey. That is, I grew up in a bubble, protected from the rest of the Church by a protective dome that prevented outside interference. As we drove...
Perhaps America's most prized possession is freedom. We call it "liberalism." Stanley Hauerwas contends that "liberalism is a political philosophy committed to ... a social order and ... government ... formed on self-interest and consent." Notice those two terms: self-interest...
Sadly, the Christian blog world is abuzz with Mark Driscoll's posts and the offense it has given to many women. A public protest is planned. The church in Seattle is divided and is suffering. The counsel advised by Rose Swetman,...
Here's how Obery Hendricks defines kingdom, or the sovereignty of God, in his book The Politics of Jesus: "a new world order of transformed human relationships; it was social, economic, and political relationships in this world made holy" (99). Enough...
In Obery Hendricks' The Political Jesus, chps. 1-2, we are treated to a survey of the socio-political context for Jesus' kingdom message. Let me ask this question for our conversation today: How significant are the socio-political themes of the Old...
That's our new bracelet idea: "Who Would Jesus Vote For?" On the question of the politics of Jesus, many have put forth their proposals, none more influentially than The Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder. And now from the...
My grandmother, at the time over 90, worried to my father that she was pregnant. Her worries did not come from some kind of Sarah-for-our-time miracle but instead from the gradual loss of her mind. My grandfather, who landed in...
Friends, it is sometimes said, don't talk to one another about politics. I beg to differ, but I add a requirement: friends can talk about politics if they behave themselves, talk to one another with civility, and carry on their...
Now comes a newspaper article.... that discusses church splits over the adaptation of the Purpose-Driven model of Rick Warren. Read the article if you haven't. The gist of the article is that some churches split or experience serious tension when...
The question is asked: Is there a biblical model for seeker "services"? Indeed, one could say there is. Paul's address to the Athenians on the Areopagus (Acts 17:16-33). Let us see what we can learn about a "seeker sensitive" and...
I'm not sure how to describe Hope in the Dark. It is a book of pictures by Jeremy Cowart with some textual observations by Jena Lee. What about? Life in Africa. Visual, real, and not staged. You will not find...
I was thoroughly impressed with Christopher Bryan's Render to Caesar study of how the Bible understands power and empire. In this post, I want to draw together his major points, and I think you will see that much of the...
Christopher Bryan is, if his prose any indicator, both a scholar's curmudgeon -- much on the order of Morna Hooker -- and a happy person. He's a scholar's curmudgeon because he doesn't buy trendy scholarship just because everyone likes it,...
Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's." Let's continue the Christian and politics theme this week by looking at what the Bible says about empire and power. To do this, we will look...
The NY Times article on Greg Boyd's church in Minneapolis is catching attention. Why? (Below.) I'd like to give some reflections, and I'm keen on your response, especially as it is timed with our series on Randall Balmer's book, Thy...
I had a long conversation recently with someone who is thinking about writing a book about the kingdom. The intent of this young scholar was to define kingdom, which is an altogether good idea since most write about the kingdom...
In this last post on Russell Moore's book on the kingdom, I want to look at the heart of his last chp and then offer some concluding observations. First, progressive dispensationalists are beginning to see the Church as a present...
The next chp of Russell Moore's study of kingdom concerns ecclesiology: With the new unity being achieved beyond traditional dispensationalism and covenant theology, there arises the issue of what the church should look like. Once again, Moore has landed on...
Let me begin by provoking with a question: Is Russell Moore's proposal in chp 3 an emerging proposal? Is his proposal that there is a way beyond traditionist dispensationalism and traditionist covenant theologians a "purple" theology? Is it post-dispensational and...
I would say the second chp of Russell Moore's The Kingdom of the Christ is the finest survey of how eschatology and kingdom have been studied by evangelicals, both dispensational and covenant, in the 20th Century. I lived through most...
What do Russell D. Moore, a professor at Southern Seminary, and Brian McLaren, a major voice in the emerging church movement, have in common? A lot I will suggest today -- and it that "a lot" has to do with...
In this last post on Brian McLaren's The Secret Message of Jesus we will look at his last four chapters. Essentially our conversation today begins by asking if the kingdom is all-inclusive or are there borders? "Can any meaningful kingdom,...
"How do you get on the side of Jesus and his secret kingdom?" Or, what if a modern person wants to follow Jesus, "What do you do?" How do you move from "egotism, racism, consumerism, hedonism, and its associated -isms...
The 9th chp in Brian McLaren's The Secret Message of Jesus concerns global mission. He properly sets the Christian mission in the Jewish context where there was no active mission. McLaren ties the global mission of Jesus to the blessing...
The second section of Brian McLaren's The Secret Message of Jesus is called "Engagement" and Brian investigates the meaning of kingdom. Today we look at what he says about Jesus' communicative style via parables, miracles, and exorcisms. While the book...
Brian McLaren's new book, The Secret Message of Jesus, seems somehow to have escaped the sort of reviews that his other more recent books have -- Generous Orthodoxy and The Last Word and the Word After That. I'd like to...
My name is Bryan and I read your blog regularly (I've only commented a couple of times). I noticed you posting on the immigration situation (I read the one you posted today). I was wondering if you've read Bob Ekblad's...
On the immigration issue, there is a bit a stalemate on this blog, though there has been good discussion, and I thank each of you for your comments. But, I'd like us to consider it all from a different direction:...
Dave Miller writes and sings a song about Justin Delp, who had a degenerative disease that took Justin's life as pre-teen. Justin and Jesus were alike. This song is worth the price of admission; it is called "Just Longing." "He...
In Dave Miller's new CD, Dave Miller, explores in song how we as Christians can look at our work and turn it from labor to vocation. What got me going about these songs was the confidence of the voice when...
Pastor David Butler and his dear wife, Gayle, hosted Kris and me this weekend at Springdale Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and were we treated to kindness! But even more than that, we loved the fellowship and the reports of...
One of my students, Tim King, was overwhelmed by the needs of the homeless and has joined others to found a marvelous ministry to the homeless: To the Streets. Soon there will be a national day of sleeping outside to...
Life is not law. For Jesus at least. The place to begin a constructive understanding of how Christians should relate to persons with same-sex orientation and think about homosexuality is with Jesus' practice of table fellowship. Why? Because it represents...
I recently read Rebecca's Revival by Jon F. Sensbach, a professor of history at the University of Florida. Rebecca Freundlich Protten was the first ordained black woman in Western Christianity (she was ordained in Europe). Born in Africa, enslaved in...
So far David Fitch, in his provocative book, The Great Giveaway, has taken on the pillars of evangelical church life: success, evangelism, leadership, experience, and preaching. He will also address spiritual formation and moral education. But, I'm particularly happy he...
It is common to ask if the Beatitudes are "entry requirements" or "kingdom blessings". Are they what we need to do and be or are they sudden revelations of who it is that God is favoring? I see the Beatitudes...
I've spent my academic life teaching the Sermon on the Mount in one way or another. Most of those who read the Sermon the Mount (=SoM) see it as the Ethics (or Morals) of Jesus or they classify it as...
In this series of posts, I will look at what Jesus did and said and says to us today about being missional. "Missional," if you recall, is a global term for what God is doing in this world and how...
A good book for understanding a Kingdom perspective on "gospel," is R.J. Sider, Good News and Good Works: A Theology for the Whole Gospel (Baker, 1993). Followed by Churches that Make a Difference....
The Apostle Paul's view of Ecclesia is consistent with Jesus' view of Kingdom (Basileia).For Paul, Kingdom is primarily Eternity or the Final Future Kingdom (see 1 C or 15:24), though he does use it in a way that makes me...
Today we explore the Ecclesia theme of 1 Peter, and do so as part of what Jesus envisioned in speaking about the Kingdom of God. What we are most interested in is how Peter saw the relationship of the Ecclesia...
Played golf this morning, so am just getting to the blog.The big difference one notices in entering into the early churches is this: kingdom language is largely dropped and ecclesia (church) language is picked up. There all kinds of issues...
Today's text is Matthew 11:2-6. John the Baptist, in prison, gets disciples of his to find Jesus and ask Jesus if he is "the one who is to come" or not.(Note: "the one who is to come" is from Malachi...
Kingdom of God is the central vision of Jesus, and today we want to look at the Beatitudes in Luke 6:20-26. It is tempting to expand such a consideration, and look at all of the Sermon on the Mount/Plain. I'll...
What did Jesus mean by "kingdom of God," and what did he have in mind -- in real world living -- when he packed his vision into this expression?A good place to start is with Luke 4:16-30. I'll cite here...
Kingdom of God is Jesus' favorite expression for his mission and his aim. But what does it mean?Scholars have gotten trapped into two boxes. First, many are preoccupied with the issue of time: did Jesus think the Kingdom was imminent,...
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