While teaching a course at a leading reformed seminary, I referred to African American theology. One of my students objected, “There is no such thing as ‘African American theology,’ there is only ‘theology proper.’” I asked, “Would the library of this seminary carry a book on theology from a cultural perspective?” He emphatically said, “No!” Later, […]
Prior to creation there was nothing save the glory of G0D. Nothing — it is a concept that we, creatures in a physical world, cannot even begin to comprehend, just as the blind cannot comprehend the sunset and the deaf a symphony. Can we conceive of a world without time or space? We can speak […]
All Christians can be shocked by the vitriol of sixteenth-century theological disagreements, but no one should be shocked by Luther’s anger over corruption, abuse, and injustice. Source: Martin Luther: The Wrath of God | Carlos Eire | First Things
We all experience evil on a regular basis. It doesn’t seem to fit with the idea of a God who is good and all-powerful. Source: Why Does a Good God Permit Evil? | byFaith
Today is a special Reformation Day. On this day, Protestants everywhere celebrate the 500th anniversary of the “beginning” of the Reformation—Martin Luther’s nailing of the 95 theses to the door of… Source: On Still Being a Protestant ‘From a Protestant Point of View’: Contra Hauerwas | Reformedish
The Protestant Reformation’s 500th anniversary is likely to inspire the usual appraisals of where Protestants and Catholics have lingering disagreements and where there is now common ground. In the former category are the Eucharist, Mary, and the pope, among other areas. In the latter often goes the doctrine of justification. It shouldn’t. The agreement over […]
Joseph Torres’ brief overview of redemptive history as outlined in Scripture helps explain why it is valid to call racism ‘heretical’ or ‘satanic.’ Source: Paul and the Slave Girl: Racism and the Great Gospel Narrative
I did not say much about the horror in Charlottesville over the weekend beyond a few things on Twitter. Many wiser, clearer heads had spoken and were speaking and it made more sense to share their … Source: A few thoughts on Charlottesville, Race, and Church Practices | Reformedish
For Reformed Catholics, appreciation extends well beyond our Reformed heritage. It has to. For our appreciation of the Christian tradition to cease to move beyond our Reformed borders is in fact to cease to be Reformed. 1 But just how far can appreciation extend? Even to pagan sources? Yes, indeed. After Calvin, in the time of Protestant […]
Nothing is simple about navigating our overlapping identities in contemporary life. In any given situation, we find ourselves torn between our public and private selves, our roles at home or at work, the different sides of our personalities. To be a responsible parent, we have to put our laissez-faire self to death. To be a […]
