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Jesus Creed

First: Happy birthday to my sister, Alexa. Now to our day’s post: Is God a “father” or a “mother”? How should we talk about God? And is the word “Father” fixed or flexible? This is discussed in Sarah Sumner’s book, Men and Women in the Church, chp. 9.

Folks regularly write to me to tell me they appreciate that I’m accessible on this blog, and the letters I’m getting are both encouraging and in need of a little bit of a response. The first thing I want you to know is this: I’m an ordinary guy. So, when you write to this ordinary…

The psalmist’s longing to know God through the study and observance of Torah is not without opposition. He is aware of those who are “insolent” (119:21) and stray from the commandments. Even more, he experiences “taunt and abuse” (v. 22) and the “princes meet and speak against me” (v. 23).

Sadly, the Christian blog world is abuzz with Mark Driscoll’s posts and the offense it has given to many women. A public protest is planned. The church in Seattle is divided and is suffering. The counsel advised by Rose Swetman, a Vineyard pastor, is biblical.

Recently I received the following letter from a pastor; let’s all look this situation over, ponder it and pray over it, and think about what to do. Those of you who feel prompted, tell us what you think the pastor should do. I’ve edited slightly.

“My soul,” the psalmist announces, “is consumed in its longing for Your mishpatim/commandments” (119:20). Actually, the word “consumed” means “crushed” (garas). My soul, he says, is broken into pieces because it so longs to commune with God through hearing from God.

Dear Emma, You’ve asked me what I think of Brian McLaren, and I assume by that you are talking about his many writings. And you’ve asked me “how” to think about him. As a person, Brian is gracious and kind, disarming and quiet, and unlike most Christian leaders I’ve encountered, the sort of man that…

About a week ago I posted the clever question of a reader/commenter. In the post I mentioned that Kris said, “Well, about you? We’re emerging and go to Willow!” So, here’s the question I was asked:

The psalmist, in 119:19, tells us this: “I am only a sojourner in the land.” At first blush, this would mean he is a Gentile (ger ‘anoki) dwelling for awhile in the Land of Israel. On top of this, he says “do not hide your commandments from me.” What to say?

The generation that grew up with Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street, was also thoroughly indoctrinated in public education and through the media to think all religions are the same. Tolerance, the deistic doctrine of our day, is not only a strategy for getting along but also a moral commitment. The implication for the emerging generation…
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