Book Reviews: The Bible Made Impossible and Scripture and the Authority of the God

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Jay F Guin

I’ve recently read two books dealing with the nature of inspiration and how to interpret the Bible. One is better than the other.

The Bible Made Impossible: Why Biblicism Is Not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture, by Christian Smith, does an excellent job of pointing out the problems with how the contemporary church reads the Bible. He calls it “pervasive interpretative pluralism,” that is, Christians and leaders seem entirely incapable of agreeing on just what the Bible says, indeed, even what it is for.

Is it a self-help book on self-esteem? A political handbook for revolution? A political handbook for Republican values? A rulebook for moral living? A guide to finding heaven? Indeed, it appears that there are as many interpretations as there are interpreters. Surely something is desperately wrong! Continue reading →

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The Future of the Churches of Christ: Ancient-Future Assembly, Part 1

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Jay F Guin

We’ve been so caught up in the worship wars over style that we’ve nearly forgotten that worship should be built on a theology of the assembly.

And one of the colossal errors that many churches make is to overlook what is actually happening in the assembly, what is actually being said, and what is actually being experienced. Continue reading →

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The Future of the Churches of Christ: On Congregational Autonomy, Part 2

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Jay F Guin

As Americans, the idea of valuing accountability and submission is entirely foreign. We are strong believers in self-determination, independence, and freedom — defining “freedom” as freedom from anyone else’s control.

But this is not the New Testament concept of freedom. Freedom in the New Testament is freedom from sin, freedom from destruction, and freedom from the burden of law.

It’s freedom to be who we were meant to be: bearers of God’s image. And it’s freedom to use our gifts and talents in God’s service as vessels in his temple.* Continue reading →

Posted in Congregational Autonomy and Mergers, The Future of the Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 46 Comments

Gone to Tulsa

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Jay F Guin

I’m flying out tomorrow evening, and will on the grounds of the Tulsa EXPO taking in the Worship lectures all day Thursday and Friday. I likely won’t be back at the computer until Sunday.

Be good while I’m traveling. I’ve already posted articles for while I’m gone.

And if you’re in the Tulsa area, my classes are Friday afternoon. I’m tremendously excited about getting to meet some of the readers there.

I’m the “elder track” for that afternoon, but the material will suit anyone with a heart for church life. And I actually have one or two things to say not yet covered here.

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Book Review: Simply Jesus, by N. T. Wright

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Jay F Guin

N. T. Wright’s Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Period.

As few authors can do, Wright delves into some of the deepest, most transcendent themes of the Scriptures and presents them in terms that can be appreciated by any reader. This book will take you deep, deep, deep into the Word. And in so doing, you’ll get to know Jesus far better than before.

In fact, the next time I have some free time to do some reading, I’m going to read it again. And maybe for a third time. It’s that good. (And I had to pay for this one myself.) Continue reading →

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The Future of the Churches of Christ: On Congregational Autonomy, Part 1

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Jay F Guin

Historically, the Churches of Christ have confused autonomy with isolation. Indeed, the thought of a congregation being accountable to another congregation in any meaningful sense is considered heresy.

And I must say, I find little appeal in the Methodist model, for example, where a hierarchy of church leaders far removed from my city and congregation decide who to hire as a minister and otherwise set policy. There are worse models than isolation.

But I think the whole autonomy conversation goes the wrong direction. We miss something very important to the New Testament witness. Continue reading →

Posted in Congregational Autonomy and Mergers, The Future of the Churches of Christ, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

The Future of the Churches of Christ: Generic Evangelicalism

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Jay F Guin

Most readers will know this, but I need to explain this for those who aren’t familiar with the Christian world outside the Churches of Christ.

“Evangelistic” means “tries to convert the lost to Jesus.” You knew that, of course.

“Evangelical” refers to a subset of Christians who are theologically conservative, Protestant, and not legalistic. Saddleback and Willow Creek would be considered evangelical by most. Most Bible bookstores cater to an evangelical audience. Young evangelicals like contemporary Christian music.

That’s not a good definition, but I can’t present a good definition, because there isn’t one. A practical definition of “evangelical” might be: people who would show up to support a Billy Graham campaign. Obviously, traditional Churches of Christ are not evangelical. Continue reading →

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Book Review: The King Jesus Gospel, by Scot McKnight

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Jay F Guin

Scot McKnight is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. He is a first-rate theologian who knows how to take profound concepts and make them understandable — a feat he pulls off extraordinarily well in The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited.

[T]he gospel is, first of all, framed by Israel’s Story: the narration of the saving Story of Jesus — his life, his death, his resurrection, his exaltation, and his coming again — as the completion of the Story of Israel. Continue reading →

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Baptism/Amazing Grace: A Conversation Over Lunch, Part 28 (Of Wheat and Tares)

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Jay F Guin

I just finished the series (for the second time!), only to realize that I’d not covered the parable of the wheat and the tares (or weeds). And this is a popular argument for erasing the line between those with and without faith.

Hear the words of Jesus: Continue reading →

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Book Review: Walking in the Dust of the Rabbi Jesus, by Lois Tverberg

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Jay F Guin

I was thrilled to have received a review copy of Lois Tverberg’s Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life. This is a sequel to Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith by Tverberg and Ann Spangler, which is also a truly excellent read.

If you’re a fan of Ray Vander Laan’s materials, then you’ll love Walking in the Dust of the Rabbi Jesus. It’s an easy, enjoyable tour through ancient Judaism and the text of the Scripture. Tverberg over and over produces fresh insights into familiar texts by either digging into the rabbinic material or else showing how the Old Testament sheds light on the New. Continue reading →

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