Announcing GraceConversation.com

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Jay F Guin

I’m beat. I just drove to Nashville and back today — nearly 4 hours each way — to meet with Todd Deaver, Phil Sanders, and Greg Tidwell to plan an online conversation about grace. It’ll take place at graceconversation.com starting in week or so. Continue reading →

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An Email About Grace and Divorce (Help from the Readers Needed)

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Jay F Guin

I get emails. This is from a divorced and remarried couple who are being treated as second-class Christians in their home church.

Hi

We attend a [conservative, non-Church of Christ] church. My husband and I have been married for 27 years. We were both abandoned by our previous spouses. We have felt for years that God brought us together. But when we studied the Bible, its teaching on MDR seemed confusing and harsh. But then we discovered David Instone-Brewer’s book on Divorce and Remarriage in the Church. It explained everything so that Bible is practical, loving and just.

We felt vindicated by God. Not that we were perfect, but we were faithful to our former spouses. So we couldn’t understand why we were treated as second-class citizens in God’s kingdom. Of course, we have now been set free from feeling like second-class citizens in God’s kingdom — but not in His church on earth. Continue reading →

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How to Argue Like a Christian: Answering

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Now, the second-most common problem I observe in Christian discussion groups is the failure of one side to finish the conversation.

For me, the common pattern is: a conservative Christian announces that progressives have no well-defined theology of when someone falls away — accusing us of universalism or some such. I respond with a well-defined theology of when someone falls away. The conservative disappears from the site.

Here’s how Christians ought to argue. When you’ve been corrected, admit it. It’s called humility. Continue reading →

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How to Argue Like a Christian: Listening

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Jay F Guin

I follow a number of Church of Christ internet forums. I don’t have the time to participate as I once did, but I do enjoy seeing what people find interesting or controversial – and I pitch in now and then.

If you read through some of these discussions, you soon realize that perhaps the biggest mistake we make (and I’m guilty, too) is not listening to the other side. We are bad to either assume we know what they really think or else we read for the purpose of refuting their argument, rather than learning from their argument. Continue reading →

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Email Regarding Divorced Elders

Posted on March 22, 2009 by Jay F Guin

ShepherdI get emails —

Fundamentally, I believe we have dealt with families who have come to us with divorce in their background in a manner similar to what you suggest in your summary list on MDR. That is, we have not treated them as second class citizens. Up to this point they have participated in every facet of congregational life, except the eldership.

The question is, should men who would otherwise posses the characteristics for elders suggested in Timothy and Titus, but who have experienced divorce, be selected as elders?

I suspect there may be both a scriptural and a practical (Is it wise?) answer. I am sure there are members in our congregation who hold both views on this issue. Based upon my study to-date I have come to believe that the “Husband of One Wife ” statement can best be understood as “Is he being faithful to his wife?” “Is he a one-woman man?”

I think the scriptural answer on this one is pretty clear. However, the practical answer could be devilishly hard. Continue reading →

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New Commentary on Hebrews by Edward Fudge

Posted on March 22, 2009 by Jay F Guin

hebI’ve just finished reading an advance copy of Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today, by Edward Fudge.

Most readers will be familiar with Br. Fudge, who occasionally comments here and authors the popular GracEmails. Edward has using the Internet to teach the grace of God since 1996.  (It’s unthinkable that Edward received no mention in the Theobloggers awards. I would gladly give up my nomination — plus two of Patrick Mead’s 😉 — for Edward to have spot.) Continue reading →

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Most American Idol Finalists Involved in Leading Worship

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Jay F Guin

gokey_thumbNot that I’d ever watch anything so frivolous — or, you know, involving instrumental music 🙄 — but it’s fascinating that MTV has learned (and reported!) that six of the remaining contestants either lead worship or otherwise participate in Christian music.

According to Brokaw’s research, at least six of the remaining top 11 contenders have ties to the church. Among them are Gokey, who she said ran two services in two different cities every Sunday for Faith Builders International until his wife’s death; worship leaders Sarver and Allen; gospel-quartet member and churchgoer MacIntrye; Giraud, who has released two Christian CDs; and Rounds, who has said she “grew up in church.”

So I knew there was a reason I was pulling for Danny — that is, I would be if I were to watch such a thing. 😀

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An Email About Baptism

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Baptism

Jay:Thank you for OneinJesus.info. Everyone there helps to challenge and push me on toward a closer and deeper understanding of God, the Lordship of Jesus, and the power of the Spirit. That said please help me with a puzzling question.

The reader explains that his congregation requires members baptized to obey God, rather than for remission of sins, to be re-baptized. In fact, the church insists that a baptism is ineffective if the believer does not understand the 5-steps of salvation. Continue reading →

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Despair: One In Jesus in the Finals

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Jay F Guin

I just got this email from Theobloggers —

You’re a finalist for a Christian Blogger Award at this year’s Christian Bloggers Luncheon at the Tulsa Workshop. Please advertise this on your blog and encourage people to visit http://vote.theobloggers.org to cast a vote and http://register.theobloggers.org to register for the luncheon. Winners will be announced at the luncheon.

And so, once again, Patrick Mead one-ups me. You see, Patrick is in the finals for Blogger of the Year, and I’m not. And I have to go head to head with him for “Best Leadership/Discipleship Blog.” I don’t have a chance. The guy has FIVE nominations! He’s untouchable. It’s like being asked to compete in HORSE against Michael Jordan. Or in wasting money with AIG. All is lost. Continue reading →

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Time

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Jay F Guin

It’s been an interesting last few days. I’ve been sent three books to read and review, a commentary on Hebrews, Baptist Sacramentalism 2, and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. This way, I get them free. Pretty cool. But now I have to find time to read them. They’ll find their way onto the blog at some point.

And I’ve already got several books, already read, I’d love to post about. But time …

And the conversation with Robert Prater has led to a spate of private emails to respond to. Some will turn into posts. Others will not. Again — I need to find some time.(This is not a complaint. I LOVE getting these emails. Just be patient.)

Oh, and there’s so much more to say about those posts. I mean, I’ve not even addressed the instrumental music issue or Regulative Principle. Time … Continue reading →

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