Mike Wittmer

Category: Theology

  • eternal subordination in Barth

    Many complementarians ground their belief in male headship in the authority-submission structure of the Trinity.  As Paul writes, “the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:3).  A growing number of egalitarians (e.g., Kevin Giles, Scot McKnight) accuse these…

  • two items of interest

    Driving at dusk in West Michigan in November is a bit like being dropped into a game of Frogger.  The deer are rutting and running this time of year, and last week a buck sprinted across the road right in front of my little car.  Unless that happens tonight, my 1990 Honda CRX will turn…

  • 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…

  • three questions

    Perhaps in part because of the recent election, the past week produced another round of finger wagging at conservatives who oppose gay marriage.  From the religion columnist of the Grand Rapids Press to Newsweek and Jon Stewart, we were reminded again that we are mean-spirited, afraid, stupid, and hopelessly out of date. I support the…

  • degree of difficulty

    Here is my latest entry for Our Daily Journey, the really cool and longer version of Our Daily Bread for twenty and thirtysomethings.  I tried to build a devotional around a few thoughts from Karl Barth, just to see if it could be done.  Let me know (gently) what you think. keeping up appearances read…

  • the gospel-driven life

    I highly recommend Michael Horton’s new book, The Gospel-Driven Life, which is his sequel to last year’s Christless Christianity. That book analyzed the problem with our evangelical churches and this one presents his solution.  Horton’s main point in both books is that the gospel is something that God does to and for us rather than…

  • beyond the Bible to theology

    Gary Meadors’ new book on Moving Beyond the Bible to Theology just came out, and you can watch him and his impressive list of contributors speak about it here.  It looks like a promising and provocative book.  Well done, Gary!

  • the next big thing

    I don’t know why, but this week I received an advance copy of Growing with Purpose, a series of 100 word devotionals that Zondervan will sell for $18.99.  And since the author is a friend and collaborator with Rick Warren, it will do very very well.  If you were inspired by The Purpose-Driven Life, you’re…

  • Barthisms

    My seminar on Karl Barth is reading through his Church Dogmatics, II/1, and two passages meant something to me that I wanted to share with you. 1. “We must treat unbelief seriously.  Only one thing can be treated more seriously than unbelief; and that is faith itself—or rather, the real God in whom faith believes. …

  • do you hear what I hear?

    My readings in fideism brought me to Henry Blackaby’s popular book, Experiencing God: How to Live the Full Adventure of Knowing and Doing the Will of God. I would like to hear from any of you who have benefited from this book.  Please don’t be shy about letting me know (kindly) what I may be…