Category: Emergent Church
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evangelicalism and heresy
I don’t want to do this, but a few friends and pastors I respect have asked me to respond to this popular article which essentially says that because evangelicals like C. S. Lewis they should also accept Rob Bell. The essay is written by a young man who hasn’t yet started seminary, which may account…
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atonement theories
As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, I’m following Zach’s comment to post my chart on the atonement from chapter 6 of Don’t Stop Believing. Click on this link (atonement theories) to see the chart, which I’ll discuss below. My main point is that the various atonement theories are not like a set of golf clubs,…
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getty up
The other week I mentioned my bad experience with Christian music, so I’m glad to publicly thank the Gettys who recently stood by their inspirational song—and soundtrack to the best response to Love Wins that I’ve ever read—“In Christ Alone.” As you may have heard, the PCUSA asked them to change the line about Jesus…
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the
I don’t like how April Fool’s Day comes the day after Easter, as if theological liberals are now controlling the calendar. “Jesus is alive! Just kidding. But cheer up, for his spirit goes on, beating in every heart that reaches out and loves the other, just as he showed us when he died on the…
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deja vu all over again
I saw in the paper yesterday that Rob Bell will begin his new book tour in Grand Rapids next month, and his slightly pretentious trailer (I read books! I take notes! I am creative!) is already drawing comments from a few blogs. If history is any guide, here is what is about to unfold, again.…
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grand traverse
My family returned from another fun weekend in Traverse City, probably the most beautiful place on earth you’ve never heard of. The area has vineyards, cherry and peach orchards, islands, peninsulas, sand dunes, Petoskey stones, and a vast, unsalted ocean. It’s Tuscany with water. We were saddened to see so many dead buds on the…
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the bottom of the slippery slope
It probably isn’t too productive to comment on the comments of “emergent” authors, as they have taken pains to make clear that they are no longer with us. As they might say, their centered set doesn’t overlap with our bounded set (which, of course, demonstrates that they too can’t avoid having a boundary). But in case there was…
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where is Osama bin Laden?
When I told my fourth and second grade children this morning that American troops had finally caught Osama bin Laden, I discovered that they had no idea who he was. That’s either a testament to my parenting skills, the quality of public school education, or the sheltered, peaceful lives that Americans enjoy. We must have…
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the charity of clarity
After a night’s sleep, I have a further thought about Rob’s interview with Adrian Warnock. It seems that only one side in that dialogue was actually trying to have a conversation. The other was working even harder not to say something. That reminded me of a post I made on Dec. 3, 2008, when Brian…
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respect your audience
I just watched Rob Bell’s hour long dialogue with British blogger and author, Adrian Warnock. The conversation is revealing on many levels, but what stands out most is how Rob refuses to own any position on the afterlife. His performance in this interview would lead one to believe that he wrote a book on the afterlife…
Mike Wittmer 