Mike Wittmer

What I think. What I know. What I think I know.

  • 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. …

  • did I get a Ph.D. for this?

    On Sunday a very nice lady, probably around 70, asked me if there are any “mature single women” at my Thursday Evening Bible Class.  She said she was asking for her brother, who apparently would like to meet somebody.  I’m keeping this in mind as I prepare for tonight’s class, as it probably doesn’t matter…

  • 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…

  • is technology draining your soul?

    It has been awhile since I’ve posted one of my devotionals for Our Daily Journey, which means either that they have been so good that I didn’t need your feedback or so bad that I was too embarrassed to show you.  Here is one I just wrote about technology—there is a lot I had to…

  • night Al

    Yesterday I had the privilege of participating in Woodside Bible Church’s (Troy, MI) “Committed to the Word” conference, and at lunch in their gazebo I met Rick and Lana Seidel, old friends from college who know Gary Meadors a little too well from their time together at Grace Seminary.  We reminisced about our lovable friend…

  • 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…

  • theological porn

    I have spent the past few days reading Peter Rollins:  How (Not) to Speak of God, The Fidelity of Betrayal, and The Orthodox Heretic.  I say it’s like reading theological porn because it’s titillating, it makes you feel dirty, and you could lose your soul doing it.  I suspect that Pete would happily agree with…

  • don’t stop loving the church

    My church, West Cannon Baptist, is hosting Kevin DeYoung, Ted Kluck and myself for an all-day seminar on Tuesday, September 22.  It promises to be a provocative day of (mostly) sound theology that will encourage us to love and serve Christ’s church.  Registration ends one week from today, so if you’re in the Grand Rapids…

  • ted kennedy knew better than the average evangelical

    In this week’s Time magazine, Mike Barnicle described Ted Kennedy’s fondness for sailing and his home in Hyannis Port (p. 42). “I love living here,” Kennedy said, “And I believe in the Resurrection.” I don’t know how much of the gospel Ted Kennedy understood (I mean that as a neutral statement), but he got the…