Mike Wittmer

Category: Theology

  • push back

    I have been a bad blogger this week, distracted by the real life demands of teaching and preparation for teaching.  This weekend I get to speak on vocation to about 200 participants at The Chapel in Akron.  Next week I get to grade student confessions and papers! In the meantime, Doug Phillips emailed me this…

  • the beginning and the end

    As we enjoyed our complementary cookies and punch after Udo Middelmann’s economy lecture on Saturday night (which was a better value than Dave Ramsey, who charged at least $40 for his talk on Thursday and made people buy their own food), his wife Debbie said something which I’ve been thinking about all weekend. Debbie said…

  • original sin and the eastern church

    Like Pelagius in the 4th century, Emergent leaders Doug Pagitt and his best friend Tony Jones deny the doctrine of original sin.  And just as Pelagius and his followers found refuge in the East, so Pagitt and Jones say that their view, while heretical to Western Christians, is acceptable in the (Eastern) Orthodox Church.  This…

  • what Bavinck says

    Since I already know John Calvin pretty well (having studied under Richard Muller and taught a course on Calvin several times), I’ve decided to celebrate the 500th anniversary of his birth by reading Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics (Baker). In my reading for today, I came across some quotes which, though perhaps not persuasive to many…

  • what are you hearing?

    This question is for those of you who disagree with my conviction that we need to believe in Jesus and follow him/obey his commands/love our neighbor in order to be saved.  I clearly say that we need both right belief and right conduct, yet you seem to only hear the right belief part.  For example, Susan warned…

  • conversation with Kevin

    Kevin: I will try not to repeat the questions and comments from Bill and Doug, which I agree with, but will attempt to respond to your points and concerns with a few observations.  Thanks again for indulging us and our questions.  Your responses have helped me to better appreciate your perspective and what you heard in…

  • now it’s official: everyone is on youtube

    Andy Rogers from Zondervan just emailed me this link of his interview with me about contemporary theology.  It’s posted today on Zondervan’s koinonia website, but what caught me eye is that it’s also on youtube.  I know this isn’t a big deal, considering what is already on this site, but it’s a first for me. …

  • work of art

    This is another RBC devotional I wrote for this month (next month Our Daily Journey goes live).  I may have tried to fit too much theology into it.  Let me know if you think it is too dense.   read > Colossians 3:23 Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were…

  • the best book on forgiveness

    I want to let you know about Unpacking Forgiveness (Crossway), a new book that I like so much I am using it in my soteriology class. The author, Chris Brauns, was two years ahead of me when we were students at GRTS, and so I’ve always looked up to him as sort of an older…

  • the vital spot

    A self-described emergent Christian wrote a guest editorial in today’s Grand Rapids Press about me and a certain retired pastor.  I won’t respond to it because a) I said I wouldn’t; b) there is nothing to comment on, as there is no issue or controversy between us; and c) I don’t trust people not to…