"Faith of a Physicist" by John Polkinghorne
"The Prodigal God - Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith" by Timothy Keller
"God Hides in Plain Sight" by Dean Nelson
"Recovering Abraham" by Michael Lodahl
Comments on these books coming later.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Response to Critics of Nazarene Universities
A person would have to be spiritually insensitive not to be concerned about developments in the Church of the Nazarene. It is important, however, to be thoughtfully concerned and not side-tracked by ignorance or personal whim. As I see it, the main concern should be on the spiritual dynamics of the church. A renewal requires much more than a simple de-emphasis of certain doctrinal emphases. A renewal will occur by such things as prayer and fasting. In my book In Spirit and In Truth (free for the asking), I emphasize this spiritual dynamic; however, I do believe that the departure from freedom of worship can stifle the real renewal we seek.
I would like to make several other points. Since I have spent my entire life at Nazarene universities, I can state that they are conservers of the orthodoxies of the holiness movement, unlike some individuals and pastors who follow TV evangelists and popular books. I also would warn against mixing politics and religion. C.S. Lewis warns against the "Christianity and" thinking. Attacks on such things as environmentalism and economic policy are not the direct province of the church. Of course individuals in the church should be endeavoring to carry out the implications of the gospel in all of life.
I am very heartened by the fact that our universities are articulating the Wesleyan faith and not leaving the world of ideas to other religious traditions. I am especially delighted with the new addition of the Beacon Bible Commentary (BBC). A number of Nazarene scholars explicate the scriptures in the light of our tradition. Let me restate that the Church of the Nazarene should return to its original genius of worship. This is what I call "spirit worship," and it cannot be humanly manipulated. Thank you for reading these ideas and I await any feedback that you would choose to offer me about these ideas.
I would like to make several other points. Since I have spent my entire life at Nazarene universities, I can state that they are conservers of the orthodoxies of the holiness movement, unlike some individuals and pastors who follow TV evangelists and popular books. I also would warn against mixing politics and religion. C.S. Lewis warns against the "Christianity and" thinking. Attacks on such things as environmentalism and economic policy are not the direct province of the church. Of course individuals in the church should be endeavoring to carry out the implications of the gospel in all of life.
I am very heartened by the fact that our universities are articulating the Wesleyan faith and not leaving the world of ideas to other religious traditions. I am especially delighted with the new addition of the Beacon Bible Commentary (BBC). A number of Nazarene scholars explicate the scriptures in the light of our tradition. Let me restate that the Church of the Nazarene should return to its original genius of worship. This is what I call "spirit worship," and it cannot be humanly manipulated. Thank you for reading these ideas and I await any feedback that you would choose to offer me about these ideas.
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