Category Archives: Religion

Why Didn’t the Church Just Stick with the Bible? (Pt. 2)- The Roots of Evangelical Anti- Intellectualism

Yesterday we began our series on the importance of theology with a question that Veli-Matti Karkkainen’s students often ask at the beginning of his theology classes. “What is the point of these finely nuanced disputes – what difference do they make at all?” “Why didn’t the church just stick with the Bible?” These questions revealContinue reading “Why Didn’t the Church Just Stick with the Bible? (Pt. 2)- The Roots of Evangelical Anti- Intellectualism”

Why Didn’t the Church Just Stick with the Bible? (Pt. 1)- The Importance of Doing Theology

Over the next two days we will be looking at the importance of theology and the roots of anti-theological attitudes within the Evangelical church today. ______________________________________ In his book on Christology, Veli-Matti Karkkainen mentions some questions that theology students have often asked him on the first day of class: “What is the point of theseContinue reading “Why Didn’t the Church Just Stick with the Bible? (Pt. 1)- The Importance of Doing Theology”

Some Thoughts on Ephesians Five and the Christian Community

In chapter 4 Paul says to the Ephesians: “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God…” But Paul goes on to sayContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Ephesians Five and the Christian Community”

How is a Missional Community Different from a Bible Study?

The following is an article from Matt Carter. Its found in the Verge 2013 Booklet: _________________________________ HOW IS A MISSIONAL COMMUNITY DIFFERENT FROM A BIBLE STUDY? – Matt Carter FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS TO MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES Before, we had what was called community groups. The idea behind community groups was that they were these little smallContinue reading “How is a Missional Community Different from a Bible Study?”

Atonement and Epistemology: How T.F. Torrance’s Pneumatology Unites the Two

Over the last several months I have been very interested in T.F. Torrance’s theology. My interest in Torrance began when I took Oliver Crisp’s “Contemporary Theories of Atonement” class and read Torrance’s book “Atonement.” About a month ago I recieved a call for papers from the Evangelical Theological Society, this year’s Western Regional Conference wasContinue reading “Atonement and Epistemology: How T.F. Torrance’s Pneumatology Unites the Two”

Some Thoughts on Ephesians Four and the Christian Community

This week we turn to Ephesians chapter 4. Surprise surprise(!) one of Paul’s central themes in this passage is unity.  In chapter 2 Paul began to write about how God has made both Jews and Gentiles one by tearing down the dividing wall of hostility. He did this by abolishing the law of commandments, thusContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Ephesians Four and the Christian Community”

Pentecostal Motivations for Mission

Today I want to Blog about something that I find interesting both theologically and practically. Its something that hits close to home: Pentecostalism and Mission. Specifically I want to Inform you about the “Pentecostal Motivations for Mission.” You see, I grew up going to a Pentecostal Church. I spent 17 years in a small hispanicContinue reading “Pentecostal Motivations for Mission”

Some Thoughts on Ephesians Three and the Christian Community

Just as he did in Chapter 2, in Chapter 3 Paul continues to elaborate on the Jew-Gentile relationship that exists within the Church. The Gentiles were once without hope and without God, and the Jews were trapped under a Law they could not fulfill. These two groups were once divided, but in Christ God hasContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Ephesians Three and the Christian Community”

The Next Pope Will Be…

A few weeks ago Pope Benedict XVI resgined from his positions as the Cardinal of Rome. To a certain extent this makes sense (though its virtually unprecedented). Here are some reasons why that made sense: He is old: He is the fifth oldest person to have been elected pope. He is an academic at heart:Continue reading “The Next Pope Will Be…”