Homebrewed Theology » Church history
Big Tent Reflection #1 – A Modern Day Pentecost
Perhaps one of my favorite talks at Big Tent Christianity was the conversation between Anthony Smith and Tripp Fuller regarding Pentecost. It started out with Tripp reading the following passage from Acts 2: On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. – Acts 2:1-4 Now, in theological geek speak, the ability to speak in tongues is γλωσσολαλία, or glossolalia. This is a compound … Read entire article »
Filed under: Church history, Religion
Political Jesus – Blogging Through Black History Month
I’d like to take this moment and bring a pretty incredible blog series to your attention. As I’m sure most of you are aware, February is Black History Month here in the US. As a way of commemorating this month, my good friend Rod over at Political Jesus is doing a month-long series called “Blogging Through Black History Month“. Personally, I enjoy Rod’s writings….alot. One of his recent posts, “What it means to be black and pro-life” should be required reading. I’m definitely looking forward to this series, as it’s a perspective and a theology I have little familiarity with. The first two are already up… Go. Read. Learn. Now. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Church history, Religion
Schedule For Big Tent Christianity – Phoenix
We’re only 10 days away from the second Big Tent Christianity conference, hosted by the Arizona Foundation for Contemporary Theology, held here in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona. Personally, as the day gets closer, I find myself getting more and more excited. The schedule, which can be downloaded here, is as follows: Thursday 9:00—10:30 Keynote: Carol Howard Merritt, Whole—Healing the Wounds of Religion Responders: David Felten, Gary Kinnaman, Mark Scandrette 11:00—12:30 Break Out Sessions David Felten: Getting Over Worship Gary Kinnaman and Eliacin Rosario-Cruz: The Myths of Immigration and the Truth About Reform Mark Scandrette: The Jesus Dojo (Practicing the Way of Jesus) Philip Clayton with Rachel Held Evans: Evolution Lunch provided on site 1:30—3:00 Keynote: Brian McLaren, Reframing Jesus Responders: Eliacin Rosario-Cruz, Rachel Held Evans, Brian Ammons 3:30—5:00 Break Out Sessions Eliacin Rosario-Cruz: Neo-Monastics and Empire Rachel Held Evans: Reframing Faith With Doubt Anthony Smith and Steve … Read entire article »
Filed under: Church history, My Life, Religion
The Epistle of Mathetes To Diognetus
I haven’t ever really explored early Christian writings the way, say, my good friend Joel has, but I thought I would share my thoughts on something I just happened to come across one day. I was searching for inspiration for a ministry idea I’ve been kicking around in my head, I had no name for it and only a skeleton of a vision, but it was a vision burning in my heart. So, like any good theology geek, I dug into my knowledge of first century Greek for inspiration. It was there that I came across this word: μαθητής – mathetes – a learner, pupil, disciple Beautiful in its simplicity. One word that summed up everything. Digging a little farther, I found this gem. The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus. This epistle, written … Read entire article »
Filed under: Church history, Religion
The Religious Right, Religious Left, and Professional Wrestling?
Over at Letter of Marque, Chris Rosebrough of Pirate Christian Radio fame posted a piece called “Believing in a “Third Way” Between the Religious Right and Left Is like Believing TV Wrestling is Real“ Now, Chris is a smart, engaging, and a genuinely all around good guy. Sure I disagree with him theologically on some points, but I’ve yet to see him engage anyone in debate without some measure of respect for the other person. In today’s post he compares the religious right and left as such: The Bible Right: The Bible is the inerrant, inspired and authoritative Word of God. Left: The Bible is NOT inerrant, inspired and authoritative. The Bible is a book of myths and fables that teach eternal moral and spiritual lessons. The Virgin Birth Right: Jesus … Read entire article »
Filed under: Church history, Religion
The Emergent Church Is Not “Dangerous”, So Stop Saying That
“It’s a cult!” “It values relativism!” “It doesn’t believe in truth!” “They value ecumenicism!” and…gasp! “They’re POSTMODERN!” With all the hysterical rants against the Emergent Church, you’d think they were the second coming of Heaven’s Gate with Brian McLaren subbing for Marshall Applewhite! Honestly, I have no idea where these criticisms come from. Do emergents believe in: Salvation by Grace through faith (Eph 2:8)? – Yes. The Incarnation of Christ? – Yes. Authority of scripture? – Yes. But I guess the old saying is true….everyone is a heretic to someone else. I’ve even heard people say that emergents aren’t “real believers in Christ”. What an incredibly arrogant, and ignorant, statement. You see, the Emergent church believes in everything that’s foundational about Christianity. They just have the audacity to ask “What if?” Paul says in Rom 14:1-12: Accept other believers who are weak in faith, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Church history, Religion
Easter Eggs and Jesus
It’s one of life’s great questions. What do Easter Eggs have to do with Jesus? Occasionally you’ll hear that they’re nothing but a pagan symbol, but that’s not really true. That theory was originally floated by Jakob Grimm, of the Grimms Brothers fame. He suggested the link through a goddess of his creation, Ostara (a German spelling of Eostre). Eggs have long been a part of Church tradition. Back when Lenten fasts were more restrictive, eggs were one of the prohibited items to eat during the Lenten period. As part of the Easter celebration and feast, eggs would once again become part of the menu. The egg takes on special significance because it has, for millennia, been a symbol of life. Early Christians would use eggs as a symbol of the new … Read entire article »
Filed under: Church history, Religion
Understanding Jesus Through Jewish Eyes
I know this may be a no-brainer for many people, but it’s something that we tend to forget. It is my belief that if we don’t remember that Jesus was a Jew, and what the culture of 1st century Judaism was, we can miss some very significant points in the things that Jesus taught. One thing I’ve learned recently is that Jesus, and later the writers of the NT, chose their words very carefully. Some of Jesus’ sayings may seem to make no sense to us in 21st Century America, but when, and where, they were spoken in 1st Century Israel they were extraordinarily powerful. For example, there is a school of thought regarding Christ’s famous statement in Caesarea Philippi: “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Church history, Religion
Anselm of Canterbury
Anselm of Canterbury was a leading Medieval Theologian who is credited with the founding of scholasticism. Anselm is credited with bringing philosophy back into concert with theology, though only in a limited existence. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Church history, Religion
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