Mike Wittmer

Category: Emergent Church

  • Brian McLaren, A New Kind of Christianity, Question 1

    What is the overarching story line of the Bible? Kuyperians such as Al Wolters (Creation Regained) Neal Plantinga, (Engaging God’s World), and myself (Heaven is a Place on Earth) have argued rather persuasively that the evangelical church can free itself from Platonism by recovering the biblical story of creation, fall, and redemption.  So I was…

  • Brian McLaren, A New Kind of Christianity, Introduction

    I read the introductory three chapters of A New Kind of Christianity, and so far it’s an updated version of the Brian we’ve seen before.  He claims to be “a mild-mannered guy” who is only looking for a new way to be a Christian that will boost the declining numbers in our churches, and he…

  • say what you need to say

    Last Wednesday, and for the ensuing Wednesdays in January and February, I have the privilege of leading a class on “Engaging God’s World” at Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Rapids. I was a member of Calvary until we moved to the north side in 2003, and it’s where I preached a series of messages on…

  • cuts both ways

    Sometimes I’m told that I shouldn’t be critical of Pete Rollins for denying revelation and the resurrection of Christ because his message can reach people that I can’t.  My response is that’s probably true, but what message is he reaching people with?  It does no good to jump into the quicksand to rescue your friend…

  • sexual sins

    Thank you for your provocative and helpful comments on my previous post (“three questions”) concerning homosexual practice.  I learned from you that churches and religious organizations are legally allowed to discriminate against practicing homosexuals and that no, there is no solid ground for a gay-friendly redefinition of marriage. I didn’t think I needed to say…

  • this conversation is really over

    Al Mohler has an interesting review of John Franke’s new book, Manifold Witness: The Plurality of Truth. Franke’s book seems to align with the emergent author I mentioned in “this conversation is over.”  Indeed, that author cites Franke’s book as support for viewing the Bible as our community library rather than our constitutional authority. Reading…

  • this conversation is over

    Over the weekend I skimmed an advance copy of an important book by a leading Emergent which is not yet released, so I’m not free to comment in depth or even state the author or title.  But something the author said made it clear to me that any chance of fruitful dialogue is now lost.…

  • loved the book but not what it said

    Today I received the latest copy of JETS, which includes an interesting example of doublespeak.  Its book review section contains a “peer review” which the late Stanley Grenz (professor at Carey Theological College in Vancouver) wrote for Jossey-Bass concerning Brian McLaren’s book, The Last Word and the Word After That (see JETS, September 2009, p.…

  • by George, I think I’ve got it

    Last Wednesday I had the privilege of meeting George Marsden, the author of Jonathan Edwards:  A Life and elder statesman of evangelical historians.  George came by to speak to the faculty at Cornerstone University—which I should say is poised to become a significant Christian school with Joe Stowell and Rick Ostrander (provost and author of…

  • theological chastity

    My assessment of Pete Rollins’ argument is NOW HERE, which probably means for Pete that it is NO WHERE.  See what he did there?  It’s cute, but it’s not terribly helpful to give an argument/explanation/illustration for God’s non/existence that only works in the English language.  I wonder what argument Pete would use in China.  Perhaps…