I just received two eagerly anticipated volumes on children’s spirituality that kick off some research in a new field. My exploration is triggered by a couple simple but not simplistic questions – as a theologian, pastor, and parent, “What does it look like to think well theologically about childhood and parenting?” and, “How can the [...]
Archive for May, 2008
On theology, church, & children’s spirituality
Posted in Book Reviews, Children, Theology on May 26, 2008 | 6 Comments »
Asking Jesus into your Heart??
Posted in Children, Church, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Hermeneutics, Holy Scripture, Scripture on May 16, 2008 | 19 Comments »
Why do many Christians say, “Ask Jesus into your heart”?
I understand what this refers to, a relationship with God through Christ, but find it curious that non-biblical and potentially misleading language is the most important language for evangelism among many evangelical Christians. In a recent blog post, Klyne Snodgrass reminds us that neither Jesus nor [...]
Jüngel and the difference between ‘evangelical’ and ‘philosophical’ theology
Posted in Eberhard Jungel, Philosophy, Theology on May 13, 2008 | 7 Comments »
[A] theology which is responsive to the crucified man Jesus as the true God, knows that it is fundamentally different from something like philosophical theology in this one thing: single-mindedly and unswervingly, based on its specific task, it attempts to think God from the encounter with God… (Eberhard Jüngel)
One division of theology that still has [...]
Discerning God’s Presence – Unmistakable or Mundane?
Posted in Art, Revelation, Theology on May 8, 2008 | 3 Comments »
How do you discern the movements of God’s presence?
In a recent essay, Ben Quash draws on Caravaggio’s “The Calling of St. Matthew” (1599-1600) to probe the various ways in which theology makes reference to God’s presence. In “The Calling” (below), Jesus stands at the head of the tax collector’s table pointing to Levi and the [...]
Was the crucifixion merely the result of evil plotting?
Posted in Atonement, Book Reviews, Christology, Providence, Theology on May 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Describing the crucifixion, “God on the Cross”, Nietzsche reminds us of its perennial ability to disturb: “Till now there was never and nowhere such an audacity in reversal, something so fearful, questioning and questionable as this formula.” And in our day we continue questioning, probing, reformulating, and grappling with the possible – and impossible – [...]
Providence & Prayer (2) » Molinism
Posted in Molinism, Prayer, Providence, Theology on May 2, 2008 | 3 Comments »
If Molinism was a TV show I think it would be Quantum Leap. Ok, a few adjustments would have to be made here and there (and ‘by a few’, I mean a lot and by ‘here and there’, I mean everywhere).
According to Molinism, people act with complete freedom, yet God has knowledge of the [...]
