War, Peace, and Afghanistan: The Week 8 SEMI

War, Peace, and Afghanistan: The Fall 8 SEMI
This week’s issue of the SEMI, Fuller’s student newspaper, deals primarily with the war in Afghanistan. Those of you who know me well know that issues of war and peace are very important to me. Peacemaking is a gospel issue, and it is an issue that should be [...]

What makes you uncomfortable?

What parts of the Bible make you uncomfortable, and why?
My Old Testament Exegesis professor asked us that question in class the other day in the context of a discussion about monotheism in ancient Israel and today. We talked about how, for the most part, the people of Israel weren’t monotheistic, but instead worshiped any number [...]

“Murder has no religion”

I, like the rest of the world, was utterly horrified when I heard about the shooting that took place at Fort Hood last week. It was and is a heartbreaking tragedy.
I was also saddened to hear that the gunman, Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, is a Muslim. I knew that it would likely provoke an [...]

Are Young Adult Ministries bad for the Church?

There’s a thought provoking article in this month’s issue of Relevant Magazine (the entire issue can be viewed online by clicking the link and entering your e-mail address). The article that caught my attention was called “Church Mutiny” and it was written by a young adults pastor in Florida.
The premise of the article is essentially [...]

Subversion is Sexy…

…and that is a problem.
There is something about dissenting, sticking to the man, and subverting social norms that is strangely alluring. Like other sexy things subversion can be distracting and dangerous, and I believe this is especially true amongst people my age. Subversion and dissent have their place, to be sure, but they are always [...]

Highlights from Hauerwas

Last night I had the opportunity to hear a lecture given by Stanley Hauerwas at Azusa Pacific University. Hauerwas is an ethicist from Duke University, and is one of America’s most prominent theologians. I have been a fan of his for a long time, and he has been influential in the development of my own [...]

The Apostle Paul and Nonviolence

Was Paul a pacifist? Michael Gorman , Professor of Sacred Scripture at St. Mary’s Sminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, seems to think so. From his book Reading Paul:
It is easy to think of Paul as a preacher or pastor, even as an example. It is more difficult for us to see him as a critic [...]

Is the Bible Actually True? The verse(s) that guide my reading

Preface: I read a great article recently with the same title as this series of blog posts over on Relevant Magazine’s website. It raised a number of issues related to biblical interpretation that I’ve been meaning to address on here for some time now, and it finally provided enough inspiration for me to start writing. [...]

Is the Bible Actually True?

Preface: I read a great article this morning with the same title as this blog post over on Relevant Magazine’s website. It raised a number of issues related to biblical interpretation that I’ve been meaning to address on here for some time now, and it finally provided enough inspiration for me to start writing. This [...]

Food for Thought

I thought this was funny:
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit; their witnesses neither see nor know.
And so they will be put to shame.
Who would fashion a god or cast an image that can do no good?
Look, all its devotees shall be put [...]