Conservative Theology

January 29, 2010

The Bible / John Hobbins on Inerrancy and Haiti

JB

Going back through my RSS reader, I found a few excellent pieces by John Hobbins:

I have no idea how John manages to put out so much thoughtful content so often. 

As for inerrancy, I don't entirely agree or disagree with John.  I agree with his basic points, but think that the history and the art are much more intertwined than John's post implies.  My belief is that, for God, the history is the art.

Update

I also found this (slightly older) post of John's: Why believers must complain about and criticize biblical texts

What matters is the context in which complaints and criticism occur. Do I make the criticism because I expect God or scripture to answer my questions and I will not rest until I find my rest in God and his Word? Or because I've decided that God and his Word are something I need to protect myself against, because I've found a higher standard of truth by which to judge them both?...

 

 

 

January 27, 2010

General / Quoted in the Christian Century on LifeChurch.tv

JB

I was recently quoted in an article on LifeChurch.tv in the latest issue of Christian Century.  Jason Byassee was doing an introduction to the church for a mainline audience, who might not understand what LifeChurch is or why it is important.  It was a really good article.

My quote is toward the end, which, admittedly, borrows a lot from a friend who I will not name because he may wish to remain nameless:

Jonathan Bartlett, a seminary student with a background in the Vineyard movement, says he sees little place in LifeChurch for strong lay leaders. "Their whole pitch for leaders of LifeGroups is 'It's easy.' LifeChurch is made up of people who liked youth group in high school, but then grew up and found nothing like it—until this."

While I was at LifeChurch, that is what I found - there simply isn't much of a place for a strong lay leadership.  It is antithetical to the way they operate.  I think they like the idea of a strong lay leadership in theory, but they simply don't provide any meaningful mode of expression.  Their LifeGroups, which presumably might feed that purpose, are promoted to leaders, not with the idea that this is something that requires something of you, but rather that all that is required is for you to insert a DVD and press play. 

And, not suprisingly, most LifeGroups conform to the low expectations that the Church puts on them.

January 20, 2010

General / Family - From Naivete to Reality

JB

Mark Riddle hits a home run with his saga about breastfeeding, and the changed perspective one gets after actually having a family, rather than just imagining what it might be like.