Resident Theologian
About the Blog
The solas don’t imply each other
Thoughts on the traditional solas of the Protestant Reformation.
My latest: on faith and doubt in CT
A link to my column in Christianity Today on faith, doubt, and what makes Christianity hard.
Every fantasy a comedy, every comedy a theodicy
A reflection on Osten Ard, fantasy writing, and theodicy within modern fantasy.
Calvin, zombies, and the false faith of the reprobate
Edward Feser on the zombie problem, Calvin on the false faith of the reprobate, and the connection between them.
Four loves follow-up
A brief follow-up to the last post about the state of the four loves in the youngest generations today.
Misdiagnosis
A running theme has emerged on this blog over the last few years, but especially the last 18 months or so. That theme is the sorry state of the church in the U.S., in particular “low church” traditions: non-denominational, baptist, evangelical, and other similar communions (like my own, churches of Christ). The focus is on those traditions because those are the ones that compose my world: the Christians I know, the neighbors I live among, the students I teach.
Perennial epigraph
Plaster this as the epigraph or foreword to every work of theology, every essay, every review, every lecture, every class, every tract, every sermon, every degree in doctrine or ministry or biblical studies.
Deconstruction
My post on Thursday generated a lot of responses, many of which were positive. One mostly mild but nevertheless negative reaction was a defense of the concept of deconstruction, seeing in my post an unfair diminishment of what for many has proven to be both a necessary and a healthy process of growth in faith and repudiation of false or destructing teaching.
(Re)construction
There’s a lot of talk these days about deconstruction. I’m often asked how I approach deconstructing my students’ beliefs in the classroom; it’s typically a given not only that I do it but that I ought to do it, that it’s part of my job description. I do not deconstruct what my students come into my class believing. I don’t as a point of fact and I don’t on principle. Why?
(In)defectibility, local and regional
Churches die. Christian traditions die. Denominations die. Whole regions and epochs of once flourishing ecclesial and liturgical life die. Does that sound harsh? It’s certainly cause for lament. But it’s a plain truth of history, and the church’s faith has no grounds for disputing it.
Cheering for Monty Williams
While you, like me, are enjoying this year’s NBA playoffs, and while you, like me, are cheering for a Suns–Hawks Finals, remember what kind of man is coaching Phoenix. Just under seven years ago Sports Illustrated wrote an extensive piece about Ryan Anderson, who at the time played for the New Orleans Pelicans. The story was about the circumstances surrounding the suicide of Anderson’s girlfriend, and the personal and emotional fallout afterward.