Church
Like the People or Part of the Community?
Last week on Public Radio Remix, someone was speaking of her conversion into Judaism. She mentioned that entering into Judaism isn’t becoming like the people in the synagogue. Instead, Judaism is about becoming like the community because one likes the community. This has a few implications: The community must be likable. The community must be [...]
Is genuine unity achievable?
Earlier today Daniel James Levy posted on the divisions in the church of Corinth (see “The Issue of Division at the Church in Corinth”). For many of us evangelicals the fractions of that local church seem all too familiar. While Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans have placed a high priority on visible unity the rest [...]
A question concerning Peter & Jesus’ declarations in Matthew 16:13-21
This week’s Lectionary Gospel text is Matthew 16:13-21. In it we find Peter’s Messianic declaration, “You are the Christ (Messiah), Son of the living God” in the Greek, “σὺ εἶ ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος” to which Jesus responds, “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build [...]
A Few Reasons I am No Longer a Oneness Pentecostal
Shortly after my conversion to Christ in 2002 in the charismatic movement of the Catholic church, I became affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI), a Oneness Pentecostal group that broke away from the Assemblies of God over the New Issue of baptism, which ultimately led to the denial of the doctrine of the [...]
Who is Daniel James Levy?
“They” (whoever “they” are) call me a Levi, a priest. Well, technically I’m only 50% Jewish by birth, and of that 50%, only 25% Levitical. Since the Jews became angry with me upon doing research into my ancestral line, I decided to quit the priestly Rabbinic deal. To the serious part now: Again, I want [...]
Sunday Reflection: Lent Week 2
Wow, what a peculiar week! When it comes to exegesis and sermon preparation I have a certain pattern or rhythm which I follow. If I do not, then all heck breaks loose. For a number of reasons that could not be avoided my usual day for exegesis was interrupted. Instead of following my usual pattern [...]
Sunday Quote: Eugene Peterson defines “church”
This Sunday many of us gathered together with other people making something we call “the church”. It is fitting on such a day that we ponder what we mean by this word. Let me share Eugene Peterson’s answer for your reflection (from The Pastor, 110): “The short answer that I had come to embrace through [...]
Am I Being Touchy?
I have noticed something recently that has made me a little concerned. This concern stems from the idea that we need to change the Church to meet some over idealized concept of the New Testament Church. I have encountered more than one group recently who seems to think that they have special understanding of what [...]
John Frame on Politics and the Church
John Frame in his work “The Doctrine of the Christian Life” discusses some reason that we should be careful when entering into political discourse from pulpit. “Another danger, of course, is that churches will get so caught up in political activism that they lose sight of Christ. The solution is not to avoid political issues, [...]
The church is different, but in what sense?
Early in his book The Drama of Doctrine (pp. 3-4) theologian Kevin J. Vanhoozer writes these two challenging chapters: “Each new Christian generation must grapple with the question: What has the church to say and do that no other human institution can say and do? Nature and society alike abhor a vacuum, and there are [...]
Does CHURCH size matter?
My cohort Mark blogged yesterday on the “Random thought about the size of your church” I started to respond to Bryan’s comment, and felt that my response was way too long, and possibly distracting from Mark’s original question. Now I think this post is way too long. In response to Bryan yes I do work [...]
Christianity as a Weak Culture?
James Davison Hunter in his book “To Change The World” focuses his attention on the inability of American Christianity to have an impact on modern culture due to its fragmentation. He spends the first portion of the book listing research and opinion to establish that culture is not changed on an individual basis. Cultural change [...]
How To Choose A Church?
As much as I dislike using the following phrase, I recently moved house and subsequently went “church hunting.” That statement makes it sound like I was involved in some sort of optional leisure activity, yet I’ve actually had to scour the bottom of my faith to discover what I value the most. For the first [...]
The Role of the Pastor – Titles and Positions
I want to start a new series on the Role of The Pastor. More than likely this will not be a weekly series but a series nonetheless. I have been thinking a great deal on what it means to be a pastor. I have read dozens of books on pastoring, and all pretty much say [...]
Church History as a Faith Building Tool?
I have been thinking recently about the place of church history in the life of the typical church congregant. It feels like the history of the church gets very little exposure outside of the lecture halls of seminaries and universities. This could be a missed opportunity. I currently am only beginning to explore the world of church history [...]
A Short Introduction
First of all, thank you to Brian, JohnDave, and Robert for the opportunity to blog with you. I hope to bring some benefit to the blogging community here. Since this is my first post I thought it would be prudent to share just a little about myself. I recently relocated to Portland, Oregon from Bangor, [...]
Should churches be culturaly relevant?
A few days back I wrote on “Worship music, what’s all the fuss about“. In the back of mind I could not stop thinking about how many churches just get frozen in time. They stop being culturally relevant. I’m not against hymns personally, and that’s not really the point, but I wonder if this is [...]
Individualist-Communalist Tension
I often wrestle with the tension of the individual-community tension. I recognize that individuals are unique in their own ways. On the other hand, there is the aspect of community that further defines ones individual identity. For example, one does not really know one is a teacher unless there is a community to teach and [...]
Crime, Community, Love
The story of the N. California gang rape that occurred outside of a homecoming dance is disturbing. If one isn’t bothered by this, one should be. What’s even more bothersome than the number of people involved are the length of the crime and the number of people who did not get involved. Police posted a [...]
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