Category Archives: Index

CENI: Antithetical Thinking

We humans have a natural tendency to overreact to emotionally traumatic events. We tend toward avoidance behaviors, that is, if one dog bites us, we stay 100 feet away from the next dog we see. And this affects our theology. … Continue reading

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Ed Stetzer on Reversing Our Decline: Infighting

A second issue is the infighting which defines so much of the SBC—its meetings, its churches, and its blogs. It is public knowledge that we do not always settle our differences amicably. The national caricature once again colors many local … Continue reading

Posted in Church Trends, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

On Moderating Comments

When I began this blog, I decided not to moderate comments. I just think the truth is best found through free and uncensored discussion. And I don’t really mind some of the really outlandish comments that get posted  here. I … Continue reading

Posted in Commenting, Uncategorized | Tagged | 17 Comments

The Blue Parakeet: How to Compete with Christianity

While we Christians are worrying about the decline of Christianity in the US, the atheists are worried about their inability to keep their children away from God. In an editorial in today’s New York Times, Charles M. Blow writes, “Most … Continue reading

Posted in Blue Parakeet, The Blue Parakeet, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

CENI: Introduction

I’ve been planning to say something on CENI hermeneutics for years. Now I finally get to it. For those not familiar with the term, “CENI” is the internet abbreviation for Command, Example, and Necessary Inference. And CENI is the foundation … Continue reading

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Ed Stetzer on Reversing Our Decline: Leaders

Back in April 2008, Ed Stetzer wrote a post on how to reverse the decline in the Southern Baptist Churches (SBC). He’s just followed that up with some additional thoughts following a year of experience and reflection. Stetzer is a … Continue reading

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The Fine Line: Re-envisioning the Gap Between Christ and Culture

Kary Oberbrunner’s The Fine Line: Re-envisioning the Gap between Christ and Culture wrestles with the line between Christianity and culture. The author explains, The first camp separates itself from people, society, and culture in order to stay “unstained.” They turn … Continue reading

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Baptist Sacramentalism 2

A while back, I posted the full text of an article by Stanley K. Fowler noting the increasing convergence of Baptist and Church of Christ baptismal theology. It turns out that was a pre-publication copy of an article to be … Continue reading

Posted in Baptism, Romans, Sacramentalism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Once in a Lifetime Book

Scot McKnight is the author of The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible, a book on hermeneutics that I’ve been building a series of lessons on here for my church’s adult classes. McKnight is also a leading voice … Continue reading

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In the Shadow of the Temple, by Oskar Skarsaune

In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity (2002) is another book that radically changes our understanding of the history of Christianity. I don’t think it’s suitable for a Bible class or small group study, but it’s … Continue reading

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