Soul Renovatus

Review: Don't Stop Believing...

This post is part of the "Don't Stop Believing" blog tour.

    My journey for years has been filled with legitimate questions about theology, the church, and beyond. Many of the churches I served didn’t receive these questions well.  I had no vindictiveness, no animosity, just honesty.  These were questions I was encountering in talking with everyday friends in and outside of the church. They might not have expressed these questions verbatim, but it was rooted in the very questions I was wrestling with.

    My journey was encouraged by Brian McLaren’s book, A New Kind of Christian.  It was here, for the first time, that I had not felt alone in my thoughts and questions, and furthered a quest to discover who I am.  Not only that, but to honestly dialogue with others asking the same questions.

    What I was pursuing was what I heard Brian saying as a “third way;” somewhere in the middle (or beyond) the two polarities of conservatism and liberalism. Lately, I’ve felt that much of Emergent Village (and maybe the emerging church movement in general) has been floating toward liberalism.  While there is some good postures liberalism promotes, there are some that don’t. 

    So what now?  Will it forever be this way?  Is there any hope?  Michael Wittmer’s, Don’t Stop Believing: Why Living Like Jesus is Not Enough is the “third way” that Brian McLaren is looking for. 

    Wittmer addresses critical questions postmodern innovators (his term for those in the emerging church movement with a liberal bend) raise; questions such as the relationships of belief and practice, salvation, atonement, hell, and the inerrancy of Scripture.  What will surprise many is that while Wittmer proclaims to be conservative, his conclusions will invite conservative and liberal firing squads. They will be challenged at the questions he raises.

    Even more, Wittmer proposes a third way in each of these questions. For example, with the atonement, Wittmer combines Christus Victor, Penal Substitution, Moral Influence, and Example theories in a way that makes sense.  This is not as ambiguous as Scot McKnight’s A Community Called Atonement; it is an explanation that reveals the beautiful purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection.

    Another strength of the book is it’s meticulous use of Scripture, tradition, and research.  One would expect nothing less from Wittmer; he is a professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.  The book gives enough footnotes for further research and study, delving into the process of Wittmer’s conclusions. 

    Finally, I have had the privilege of sitting under Dr. Wittmer in two of his theology courses.  He is known as the “both/and” guy.  Not only does he articulate a third way to express these questions, he truly lives it.  Wittmer has been integral in addressing my questions, vocation, and postures.  He is man who truly lives what he preaches.

    Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend Don’t Stop Believing.  Wittmer is a theologian with the talent of communicating deep truths to the everyday person.  This, along with his other book Heaven Is A Place on Earth, is on my top 10 must read books of all time. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t read each of these books.  Even more, there is an opportunity to further the discussion on Wittmer’s blog and the Koinonia website.

    My hope is that these texts will bring some clarity, and continue to push the church to be Christ to this broken world that so desperately needs Him.

   

A final note: you can buy DSB relatively cheap (under $11) in the GRTS seminary bookstore if you live in the Grand Rapids area. Check our site for hours of operation, and hopefully I'll see you there!

This blog still exists...

Hey all,

Seminary has been kicking my butt all semester, but I plan on resuming in the next couple of weeks.  Lots of things to talk about.

I'll will be doing my internship/residency with Fifty6 @Mars Hill starting in a couple of weeks.  I know Jim Kast-Keat.com has a lot of plans for me.

Otherwise I'll still be doing the bookstore thing at the seminary and trying to teach Grace a myriad of things.

Stay tuned.

I am a pastor!

I was playing darts last night for league, and was sitting down with one of my teammates and his wife talking about God and everything else.  I was listening to their criticisms of church (and hearing their stories could totally understand why they were criticizing), and in the midst of conversation, I mentioned how a couple of people at the bar there told me that if I started a church, they would come.

I joked with them and said, "Yea, I could be the pastor of Westwood (the name of our bar)."

My teammate's wife said, "What are you talking about? You ARE the pastor of Westwood!"

I hesitated for a moment.  She explained that I was the person that everyone goes to if they want to talk about "these kinds of things" and the "deep stuff of life." 

Gotta love it.

A note to all theology/seminary professors...

One of the illuminating facts Andy Stanley has taught me about teaching is that you have to be engaging.

I say this because I've been listening to lectures on CD's for extension courses I've been taking through the seminary.  I'm sure there are engaging professors, but these guys on the CDs are the most boring people I've ever listened to in my life. The stereotype with professors teaching theology is guys sitting in an ivory tower, with these incredible minds, dispensing profound insights in their texts; yet when faced with people in front of them, become the perfect sleeping pill. 

Here is my proposal. Give me your script that you read from (because even a 5 year old could tell), and give it to me and I'll read it. 

I've been excited about learning theology of the Early church, but it has been one sleeping pill after another.  Dr. Wittmer, my theology prof, might be able to break this stereotype for me, if he were to try to become one of these profs who did these CD's.  Another prof at the seminary, who did another class I took, admitted that he sounded boring (although in a live class he is MUCH better).

I would love teaching about this stuff (b/c it has direct relevance to some of today's thought), but please find someone to read it for you that is engaging.  You sound perfect for the local classical music radio station; that doesn't work for a younger person who uses those stations for putting his kids to bed.

This is where my brain feels "Hulued..."

My theology professor, Mike Wittmer, has asked some questions regarding emergents and belief (again).  First of all, please read the post before commenting here, as what I am about to put down won't make any sense.

My friend Randy Buist and Mike have been dialoguing back and forth about Mike's questions from the post, with Randy and Mike both articulating their positions extremely well. My main concern is on issues of salvation, which seems to be the underlying tone of the post.  I'm just putting this here to chronicle my thoughts (so I don't forget them) and have a reference point for the future.  Here is what I posted on Mike Wittmer's blog:

Here's a few questions I have regarding this discussion:

1. What was the purpose of the ancient church creeds?  Are these just natural results of a emerging Westernized/Hellenistic influence on an eastern religion (Christianity)?

2. Is "believe" according to Paul ONLY intellectual assent?  My understanding is that it is both/and. Randy seems to assert that right practice is the starting point, Mike Wittmer says that right practice comes from what you intellectually assent to (believe).

3. What is the basis of salvation in Christ?  Is it repentance? What does that mean to Randy and to Mike?

4. What does "making Jesus your Lord" mean? What portion of intellectual assent and right practice is involved?  I think this question probably is closely tied to my previous question.

These are huge questions for me.  I resonate with much of what Randy is saying and think that it offers great hope, however, I recognize Mike's caution as we maybe just losing proclaiming Jesus with our mouths altogether, and just live by his example.  Does that make him just a great teacher?  Is that in the spirit of what Ghandi said about him?

I'm trying in integrate all of these things.  I'm taking a course on Historical theology of the ancient church and I'm mesmerized on how many times Christians banded together to combat incorrect thinking about God. 

Mike Wittmer has said in class, "Orthodoxy only rises in lieu of heresy."  That statement disturbs me a little, but at the same time there is so much history on creeds.

I also am sensitive to Jewish understandings of belief, that they emphasized right practice much more than intellectual assent.  I'm not saying they didn't think it was important (study is the highest form of worship to a Jew), but it seems much more synergized than what many Reformed postures seem to be, which is more on intellectual assent.

I'm not accusing either side here, just asking some open questions. 

I thought this wouldn't happen yet...

Recently, we've been having conversations with Grace about boyfriends.  Apparently, some things she watched on Disney (or maybe HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) have implanted these ideas in her brain.  When I picked her up at school yesterday, she had written the following letter to a boy named Donovan:

Julia had been talking with her about finding the "right boy" when she gets older, just like mommy did with daddy, hence the apparent conclusion that Donovan is the right boy for her. I also love the ending, "Love, the one that you love."  She is SO dramatic. To the right of the heart is Donovan's response to her letter (they sat together at lunch yesterday).  I told Grace that she can have friends that are boys, but not boyfriends.  She said, "But Donovan doesn't want to be my friend! He wants to be my boyfriend!" She also said, "I hate you!" That got a few toys taken away. I wasn't expecting to hear that line until she was 12 or so!

Julia responded, "Those are the kind of boys you need to stay away from."

She also said to her teachers that yesterday was the greatest day EVER.  After a brief discussion about said letter, she made this while I was doing the dishes:

 

Apparently, everything I said just went in one ear and out the other.

I thought I didn't have to worry about this kind of stuff yet? It's amazing though at the glimpses you get now and transpose them on when she becomes older.  She's going to be that girl. The one boys are going to start chasing, and she is going to eat it all up.  I can laugh now, because it's just so darn cute, but I don't know how I'll react when she gets older.  One thing for sure, Grace is such a passionate person, and I'm glad that she expresses it so vividly and unabashedly. I am praying that those passions are channeled in the right direction, toward the way of Jesus and changing the world.

Donovan and are going to have a talk soon.

25 Random Things About Me...

Okay I finally gave in. Although I don't feel like tagging anybody else because it is this vicious cycle that keeps coming back to me.  Hope you enjoy it.

1. I’ve eaten dog poop…when I was 3 years old. I thought it was a hot dog…it didn’t taste like one and yes, it was gross.
2. I’ve also eaten my own poop and made wonderful art with it…when I was two years old. At least according to my dad who told all of my high school friends.
3. I was obsessed with poop before the age of five. Are you surprised?
4. I love cats. I love them so much that I whirled them around like a helicopter, hammer-throwing them against the wall…when I was 3 and 4.
5. I also used a cat for a research project in 7th grade. I disproved the commonly assumed hypothesis that cats always land on their feet. I took my cat Buddy, leaned over the railing of our stairs, and threw him down to the 1st floor. He always rolled down the stairs and never landed on his feet. I did this three times like my teacher said to prove it was true
6. I really do love cats.  I have two of them, Mattie and Stan, and I don’t abuse them…seriously…except I spank Mattie…but she likes it.
7. I’m really not as messed up as I sound so far…just almost.
8. I have three official birth certificates on three different days, and my first legal name was Michal…which I thought was really cool until I found out it was King David’s first wife whose name meant “barren.”  I don’t know what my mom and dad were thinking there.  Maybe it had to do with cats and poop.
9. I loved jump roping on the playground in elementary school. I think I was the only boy who did.  I was made fun of a lot…but the girls like me better, and that helped when I got into 6th grade.
10. I looked like someone who literally had skin on bones when I was growing up…I remember one of my old high school classmates 10 years later not even recognize me because I had gained 100 pounds since he last saw me at graduation.
11. I wish I exercised more, I want to be in between the fat me now and the skinny me then.
12. I have always wished I could be in a band. I always think about who in the world I can team up with. I already have a band name, Standing With Eve. 
13. Sometimes I wish I picked a career field that paid a lot better than what I’m doing now.
14. Before becoming a pastor, I was dead set on being a chiropractor. I still would love to do it, but I would have to go to school for a lot longer time.
15. I have a huge problem in trying to feel validated. This has gotten much better over the years, but my current dart hobby has brought this back up again.
16. My dart team’s name is “Holy Scriptures.” I am also known as “Preacher,” and love hanging out in the bar every week with hardcore bar people. I have had so many incredible conversations.
17. I believe all ministers should have a hobby that connects them outside their Christian subculture.  It keeps the edge on.
18. I really should write more, poetic and prosetic (is that a word?).
19. I feel like the last 12 years has hindered my wife of her dreams.
20. I’m also afraid I’ll get in the way of daughter’s dreams as well.
21. Teaching feels like the only thing I’m really good at, and even then I’m not sure, which leads to a lot of depression sometimes.
22. I’m 33 years old and I feel like I have to start over, which makes me feel like I’ve failed the last 32 years of my life.
23. The church I currently attend is the first place where I have overwhelmingly been embraced and encouraged in my gifts.
24. I wish I would’ve known about how to relate to adults when I was training to become a youth pastor.  Adults really can be jerks.
25. I feel like I am unworthy to be with my wife. She is most intelligent, talented, and passionate person I know. I feel like I bring her down many times.  I consider myself one of the most fortunate people around because of this fact.

Okay...this is one of the cutest videos ever...

Well, I have to say that because I'm her dad.  Grace put on a classic show for us last night. She's going to be a handful when she gets older.

I hope you enjoy it. This song was one she sang at her school concert last night.  Enjoy!

Just don't ask...Grace does it again...

I was a little late picking Grace up from school today. She was upset.

I haven't seen her much in the last couple of days, so she was extra lovey-dovey when we got home. She also got a few Valentines stickers from Grammie and Papa, and told me, "I love you so much because you're so special!"

So I pressed, "What makes me so special, Grace?  What makes me unique?"

Grace looked like she was being quizzed, "Because you're my daddy!" She proceeded to squeeze me like a teddy bear.

But I pressed further, "But what makes me different than other daddies? What makes me different than everyone else?"

Grace thought really hard, then guessed, "Because you're colorblind?" 

I knew I shouldn't have asked her.

It's my fault...

A moment happened yesterday that woke me up to a horrifying fact:

It is my fault that I don't have many close friends.

There are many reasons.  I haven't done a great job of keeping in touch with my long distance friends over the years, something Facebook oddly enough might be helping to alleviate.  Another reason could be my frequency of moving.  We have moved locations every 3 years at least during our married lives (and if I count before that I can add another 2 more during college). While it is easier for me to make friends more quickly, it is not the same for my wife.

She made some best friends in places, again, where Facebook has allowed them to reconnect.  But I've caused her to disconnect with them because of my vocation.  This leads to another reason, said former vocation. There is always this wall between a pastor and people in his/her congregation.  As much as I made an effort to scale this wall and come on the other side, bricks were continually being laid, making the wall harder to climb, to the point I just gave up after a while.

A final reason probably has been the many times I was burnt while I was a pastor.  The time I felt like I finally got through the wall, my vulnerability got the best of me.  Now, it makes every new friendship that much harder to risk.  It sucks getting hurt.  Now, I find that extreme cautious a natural mechanism in my new friendships.

Currently, the vocation is removed (for now), and I don't have that wall in the way, yet I still feel like I'm not developing those close friendships.  I think there are some on their way, but not to the point where I would say I try everything possible to meet up with them to just chat and chill.

I have two friends I can say that about right now, my wife and Mark Dennison.  I haven't spoken with Mark in about 5 months, but I guarantee when we do, we'll just pick up where we left off.  Another  friend of mine, who I haven't spoken to in ages, told me that "frequency doesn't determine the depth of friendship."  If I can pick up where I left off last time and not feel guilty, usually those are my closer friends.  I'm still not sure about my friends quote, but I'm sure frequency couldn't hurt.

Now, I am taking little risks, and feeling as cautious as a person seeing the light for the first time after spending years in darkness; I just want to crawl back in the hole that I've known for so long. Many times, I feel like that third/fourth/fifth wheel of a group, reminiscent of many of my middle and high school days.  The nice guy never finds a group to belong to, he just seems to be a chameleon.  I don't know whether or not that's unhealthy.

Until then, I pray that I can stay in a place long enough to the roots grow more than an inch.  Maybe I can hope for a foot.

I shouldn't even put up this post, maybe I'll take it down, but I've got to download this somehow.

And to all of my former good friends, I apologize for being a sucky one.  I can't promise you I'll be better, but I'll keep taking risks, hoping that I can leave that dark hole I found so comfortable.