Rethink Mission: Inspiring gospel-centered missional churches

The Post Where We Link to Stuff You May or May Not Find Interesting and/or Amusing

Well, That’s Depressing…. (John Armstrong)
“Most churches are losing members faster than they are gaining.”

Silver lining:  This spells the end (I hope) of “cultural Christianity” here in the U.S.  Those who remain will be those who are serious about their faith.
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A View from the Other Side (Tall Skinny Kiwi)
Much has been said about a new upswing in Calvinism.  Articles have appeared in Christianity Today and Time discussing this.   Men like John Piper and Tim Keller have an enthusiastic following. Heck, we even celebrated John Calvin’s 500^th B’day recently.  But not everyone is so taken with the theologian from Geneva (or his theological legacy).  Or, are these criticisms unfair? What do you think?
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You and Your Technology Hatin’ Ways (Fors Clavigera)
We’ve all been there.  How many times do you check your email during the day?  In what sense could this become an “addiction”?  I mean, I know it’s not drugs or alcohol, but….
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Who Do You Mean by “We”? (Michael J. Gorman)
I’ve said the opening words of the title of this post before, verbatim.  Let me point out that I am a veteran and am no pacifist.  But we Americans can quickly confuse “Americanism” and Christianity.  When we enter a church, I hope our nationality becomes a distant second to our identity as Christians.

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Seminary Nerd is a student at a respected Midwestern Seminary. He hopes to be a Bible Nerd when he graduates, but for now he is content with going to classes and passing along the stack of empty pizza boxes that are the Links of the Week.

The Post Where We Link to Stuff You May or May Not Find Interesting and/or Amusing

Be A Man. Say “I’m Sorry.”
How many times, do you think, apologies have gone unmade only because men don’t know how to do it? Though this isn’t written from a “Christian” perspective, it does highlight the difference between proper “manly” behavior and what passes for such in our society.
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How “Old” are You? Determining Your Ministry Age.
It’s one o’ them multiple question, multiple choice tests where your “score” determines something about you (in this case, you view of leadership in the church). What’s your score, Jonathan? We all want to know! If you take the test, be sure to tell us your score.
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Stop Working For A Living.
From the article: “What makes you happy? When do you feel most inspired? What is it that generates new ideas and fruitful energy in your life? Find those things. Nurture them. Respect them. Being someplace, like in the office, for appearances sake is futile.” But not everyone has this choice. Where are you most happy/productive?
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You’ve Heard Of “Nine Marks Of A Healthy Church”? How ‘Bout “Eight Marks Of A Robust Gospel”?
Just because we don’t believe in a “Social Gospel” doesn’t mean that we believe that there aren’t social elements to the Gospel. Too many negatives in that last sentence? How about this: The Gospel is more than social justice/reconciliation; but it is not less than that.
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Seminary Nerd is a student at a respected Midwestern Seminary. He hopes to be a Bible Nerd when he graduates, but for now he is content with going to classes and passing along the stack of empty pizza boxes that are the Links of the Week.

The Post Where We Link to Stuff You May or May Not Find Interesting and/or Amusing

Geez, Will You Stop With the Political-Themed Posts Already?
I know, I know, I’ve been asking for it by linking to several politically sensitive posts in the past. But this was too good to pass up. Start with this excerpt:

“Rumors… become more powerful when they tap into the hostility and distrust toward government that is widespread among conservative Christians. It’s easy for the average evangelical to believe any rumor that fits this larger political paradigm.”

What do you think?

And a Baptist wrote it. . . not that there is anything wrong with that*. . .

Screwtape, Meet Vilesidious
Those who have been following these links of the week (if anybody has been. . . Hello, anyone there?) know that I am a big fan of both the Internet Monk as well as C.S. Lewis. This is the best of both worlds. The topic: Christians and Apostasy.

Cause Vern Poythress is Da’ Man
Dr. Dr. Vern Poythress (two “Dr.’s” cause he’s got two PhDs) writes about the newest Dan Brown novel-turned-movie Angels and Demons. Even if you couldn’t care less about antimatter, reflect on the fact that a Westminster Seminary Prof has the educational background necessary to comment on theoretical physics. Take that, Richard Dawkins!

Doesn’t Leviticus Say Something About Not Doing This?
Because what is more important than knowing how to cook a salmon in the dishwasher? You know a Bachelor figured this one out. . . or a soon to be bachelor, anyhow.
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Seminary Nerd is a student at a respected Midwestern Seminary. He hopes to be a Bible Nerd when he graduates, but for now he is content with going to classes and passing along the stack of empty pizza boxes that are the Links of the Week.
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*That’s a joke. . . please do not send Seminary Nerd hate mail. Hey, that reminds me: Why don’t Baptists have sex standing up? ‘Cause people will think they’re dancing!**

**That’s another joke. See * above.

The Post Where We Link to Stuff You May or May Not Find Interesting and/or Amusing

“When I Give Food To The Poor, They Call Me A Saint. When I Ask Why The Poor Have No Food, They Call Me A Communist.”
Before you get your panties in a wad, I am not advocating communism.  Criticism of certain elements of American capitalism is not a wholesale denial of capitalism itself.

I say this because I saw no shortage of Christian bloggers who felt the need to criticize Michael Moore’s latest movie, Capitalism: A Love Story.  It was obvious in many reviews that they had not even bothered to watch the movie.

Fortunately, Dr. Witherington is not guilty of this sin.  For those who have seen the movie (no diatribes on Moore himself or any of his other projects, please) tell me your impressions. Is Witherington on-target or not harsh enough in his review?

“Home-school em’ Till Their 40…”
The immediate issue here may be the creation-evolution debate, but the more important issue is how Christians should respond to people with whom we disagree.  Are all non-Christians idiots?  Are all data that *may* be interpreted to challenge the Christian worldview “obviously” the result of a vast pagan conspiracy?  How does this attitude cripple apologetics?

Now For Something Completely Different
‘Cause the dudes abide.  Try “Biblical Lot” for a good laugh.

“You Don’t Glorify God By Denigrating His Creatures”
. . . so said one of my seminary professors.  It is a great observation.  There is a time to be humble and contrite before the Lord.  This does NOT mean that saying how “worthless” we are all the time is an indication of how holy we are.
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Seminary Nerd is a student at a respected Midwestern Seminary. He hopes to be a Bible Nerd when he graduates, but for now he is content with going to classes and passing along the stack of empty pizza boxes that are the Links of the Week.

The Post Where We Link to Stuff You May or May Not Find Interesting and/or Amusing

How Evolved Are You?
Can you relate to the progression from a more contemporary “free-form” worship to a more structured and communal liturgical one? The church I currently am a member of is more liturgical than most of the ones in my denomination. That is, quite frankly, one of reasons why I chose to become a member there. Has anybody here “devolved;” that is, gone the “other” direction? Not that there is anything wrong with that…

The Difference Between Missions and “Being Missional”
If you attend a church that is self-consciously missional, do you have a “missions board”? If not, why not? Does every church need to send missionaries abroad or are some churches better suited to that than others? An interesting side note: As Christianity grows in Asia and Africa, the “West” will become more and more the “ends of the earth” as opposed to the center of Christianity. How will this affect global missions from our perspective?

“We Made A Big Mistake In The ‘80s By Politicizing The Gospel” – Chuck Colson
Like balm to the soul for me, particularly after the contentious election last year. You don’t have to agree with everything Mr. Colson says here to be encouraged or challenged by this piece.

Is There A Cliff Notes Version of the Bible?
I believe Jonathan has posted a sermon of his on this subject (where he deftly works in a reference to a Wilco album, no less). I appreciate Dr. Estes’ honest assessment that the Bible is hard to understand at times. He ends his post with a question and not a solution, so I will to. Why do you think the Bible is so hard to understand?
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Seminary Nerd is a student at a respected Midwestern Seminary. He hopes to be a Bible Nerd when he graduates, but for now he is content with going to classes and passing along the stack of empty pizza boxes that are the Links of the Week.

The Post Where We Link to Stuff You May or May Not Find Interesting and/or Amusing

The Philosophy Of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel + A Discussion Of Emerging/Traditional Churches = More Fun Than A Barrel Of Monkeys.
I am WAY out of my depth here, but I think that Hegel was on to something in his “Triad” of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis (explained here).  How does this work with the Traditional/Emergent debate?

Consider the Traditional as the Thesis, and the Emergent as the Antithesis. Rather than being hopelessly deadlocked at this point, what if this discussion generates a new Synthesis? Jim Belcher calls this Synthesis “Deep Church” as explained by Scot McKnight in two posts below:

Deep Church as Third Way 1

Deep Church as Third Way 2

And Now For Something Completely Different OR Seth Godin is Freakishly Smart
I spent several years of my life in a “cubicle farm.” Can’t say I missed it. So I found this piece interesting; that and “the boss” (read: Jonathan McIntosh) “suggested” (read: if you don’t, you will sleep with the fishes) I link it.

The Theological Ninja Opens Up A Big Ole’ Can Of You Know What
I was once was pulled over for speeding on an Air Force base when I was in the military. As such, I had to be “counseled” (the Air Force’s term) for my offense. I was “educated” on what the speed limit was and the importance of obeying it. But this missed the point. I didn’t speed because I didn’t know what the speed limit was; I broke the speed limit because I didn’t want to obey it. In other words, the problem was not lack of knowledge but sin. Generally speaking, we disobey God not because we don’t know what He wants, but because we don’t want to do it. The Theological Ninja makes the related point that just intellectually “knowing” God and His attributes will not keep us from sin. Oh, and just to make this clear: The Ninja makes this point by being ironic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony).

Cause I’m An Idiot, That’s Why (A Linkless Link)

For a little “comic relief” I was going to post a story about a dude biting another dude’s finger off during a health care rally/debate/debacle. No, really, it was his pinky. But, I can’t find the original link…cause I didn’t remember to bookmark it. And I want the post that I read (it was great, full of humor and pathos) and not some other wannabe link. So, how about this…I give you the headline and you respond appropriately:

ME: A Dude Bites Another Dude’s Pinky Off During a Healthcare Rally.

YOU: HA! I find Man’s Inhumanity Toward His Fellow Man to be Absolutely Hilarious!
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Seminary Nerd is a student at a respected Midwestern Seminary. He hopes to be a Bible Nerd when he graduates, but for now he is content with going to classes and passing along the stack of empty pizza boxes that are the Links of the Week.

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Traditionals, Moderns, And Cultural Creatives
The following quote got my attention: “In virtuality, the 10% creative core no longer needs permission from 1% structural gatekeepers.” Do the creative elements in our churches feel constrained by the “structural gatekeepers?”

Is Evangelical Liturgy Like “Jumbo Shrimp”?
Helpful thoughts on how a prelude can help focus the congregation into “worship mode.” The big question: where do you put the announcements?

For [seminary] Nerds, By Nerds
The only thing more difficult than learning an ancient language is retaining an ancient language. Helps like these seem to strike the right balance between helping and hurting. You don’t want too much information or you’ll just use that as a crutch. But having no vocabulary/grammatical leaves you (at least, me) frustrated. If you’re good little boys and girls, I may just post a similar site for Greek.

Because It’s All About ME!
I have a running quasi-debate with a family member about whether Facebook promotes a false sense of community. The greater danger may be that it actually does the opposite of promoting any kind of community at all. Narcissism and community, in my experience, don’t mix very well. And if you need to see whether you are narcissistic or not, take the test.

But What I Really Want Is A Smart-Alecky Guy In A Clerical Collar To Review “District 9.”
Cause here at RethinkMission.org, we aim to please….

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