That's me standing in my favourite place in the world. Tofino. What a pleasure it is to be there. I'm convinced Tofino will be my place of refuge over the years here as a Pastor, Husband and Father. Thank you God for making such a place, you didn't have to make this world so beautiful.Well, it's the second last week of summer at camp qwanoes. It's been a funny summer actually. Let's talk for a while about what I've been learning and what's been happening. There's no way that I can sum up the whole summers thoughts so here are a few key ones. There will be more blogs to come.
Prayer: I think we need to change the way we do prayer in the West. I'd like to devote a whole blog to this at a later date. It's exciting though and I've been convicted personally.
North American Church Culture: Ok, I conceed that I'm going to have to become more knowledgable on the whole Creation/Evolution/Old Earth/New Earth... deal. I don't want to. I'm sickened by how insignificant the argument seems in relation to salvation. It seems like a bit of a leftover from the evangelical Christendom North America suffered under for the past few decades. That's why I'm confused as to why some of the more 'emerging' people I know still get so worked up over it (I'm not emerging, but it seems to be an example of everything they hate so I don't understand why they're still determined to have non-Christians accept what they believe). Today in staff meeting a counsellor spoke of a kid who stopped talking altogether because he believed in evolution and knew the counsellor believed in creation. This is an issue that is stopping Christians from sharing the GOSPEL in this culture. This is probably worth a blog too.
Book Review: Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches: Five Perspectives. This book contains 5 authors (Mark Driscoll, John Burke, Dan Kimball, Doug Pagitt and Karen Ward) and editor, Robbert Webber. Zondervan decided that it was time to try to get to grips what what the Emerging Church believed. As Webber notes at the end of the book, it is absurd to ask the more 'Emergent' lot what their theological beliefs are. For two reasons; 1. They don't exactly know, it's supposed to be a 'mystery' and 2. They refuse to communicate in theological language as they're trying to escape that kind of thing. As Webber notes, other than Driscoll the authors fail to give their standpoints on theological issues such as the Trinity, authority of Scripture and the Atonement. Here's roughly where they seem to stand:
Mark Driscoll: Same old Driscoll, able to articulate himself in relevant theology speak. 'Reformed Biblicist' approach leaves no suprises. Had the best paragraph I've ever read on the Atonement.
John Burke: Pushes Scripture, evangelical without the baggage. Also writes in an understandable fashion.
Dan Kimball: Would like to see a return to Nicean Christianity. Still relatively understandable.
Doug Pagitt: One of the head honchos at 'Emergent Village'. Very difficult to understand. Airy Fairy. Fails to pin down any theology, very emergent... he's all about 'conversations'.
Karen Ward: I wanted someone to put me out of my misery reading her chapter. Her authority seemed to be anything. She quoted non-Christian poets, blogs and other girly garbage. Wants to rename everything. Church = 'New Monastic Community'. Her as Pastor = 'Abbess'. Painfully liberal.
Robbert Webber: Discerning evaluation and summary. 'Ancient-Future' vision seems a little useless.
Book Review: The Irresistable Revolution: Shane Claibourne: Hmm... lets wait for the blog perhaps. It'll be interesting talking about this though as the book has a lot of people talking.
Biographies: I've recently downloaded a lot of biographies of some legends like Athanasius, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, and a load of others. I'm going to read more and more biographies this year. More blogs to come.
Post-modernism, pluralism, relitavism, consumerism, Church and today: Culture seems to be more and more dissatisfied with itself. I still believe Reformed Biblical theology will have a big role in address this dissatisfaction.
Well, I'm out of time. There will be many more blogs on the way. I start at Coquitlam Alliance Church in September. To finish off, I had a cool moment the other day. My mail box had three items in it that made me realise I was actually out in British Columbia as a Missionary Pastor. I had a cheque from a church I preached at; I had a wedding invitation from two local friends; and I had a bank statement from my Canadian bank account. I really live here. Wow. Until the next time.
P.s. I graduated.
2 comments:
Hello brother spike. I'll be waiting for your blogs on the creation/science thing - your rant seems similar to mine on this one so far, and been made to read a book by Paul Stroble on 'Religion and Science' with small group. It's just got me really angry and frustrated so far!
Also interested to hear about Irresistible Revolution. For me, it's been a relief for that book to be written. Apparently, my ideas are not so 'crazy' anymore since this book has come big onto the church scene...
Hope all is well in Canada.
Hey Brunettekoala. Thanks for the comment. I'm still astounded by the focus north american Christians put on the 'creation/evolution argument'. I will take the stance in the church I will lead (if the Lord wills) that you can hold whatever opinion on creation you want, as long as God is the Creator of the Universe and their understanding does not come in direct contradiction with the Word of God.
As for Irresistible Revolution. I've taken a break from it at the moment. Instead of ranting about why his theology is 'iffy' to say the least, *cough*heretic*cough* (joking...), I'm trying to make sure social justice campaigns I'm personally involved in have 'Sound Doctrine' undergirding them.
Keep posted for some interesting developments involving some social justice campaigns in Vancouver over the next couple of years. That's all I'll say for now.
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