Especially over the last year or so Michael has been doing things that no other prominent Evangelicals (that I know of) are doing. It might be called an honest and transparent self-examination of Evangelicalism, seeking to determine its strengths and its weaknesses, its identity and its future. He's not doing it to be critical, but to save it. The fascinating part of this endeavor, from my point of view, is that in seeking to understand and preserve Evangelicalism, Michael, in a sense, has flung open the doors to receive insight from other Christian traditions. And that has begun an ecumenical conversation. Such conversations can easily devolve into ugliness, especially on the internet. But Michael runs a tight ship, and so has fostered a safe context in which these discussions can take place. The result is often that Baptists and Lutherans and Calvinists and Catholics and Pentecostals and Orthodox and Anglicans are all talking to each other in a friendly, respectful way, about their theology and practice. In this respect, what Michael is doing ecumenically is pioneering. So I'm grateful for his invitation to contribute to the discussion.
UPDATE: Part 2 is posted.
UPDATE: Part 3 is posted.
UPDATE: Part 4 is posted.
UPDATE: Part 5 is posted.
UPDATE: Michael's response.
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2 comments:
And I greatly enjoyed reading your comments. I particularly enjoyed reading someone else who has done both theology and philosophy. I think I will bookmark your blog. GRIN.
Bryan, Thank you. I will refer my Bible study group to your Called to Communion comments. We are doing Romans and your explanation is great, addressed many issues I've been trying to understand in a more comprehensive, Catholic way. Blessings, AnneG
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