The Theologian's Table

People in the ministry are always in someway under the microscope. I often have loved ones coming to me and saying, "Should you be saying things like this, or that?" and "Should a pastor be into those types of things considering this, or that?" I understand their concerns, however, I have always tried to be unflinchingly honest with both where I am and where I've been, especially in regards to my Christian faith. I don't want people thinking they have to sort out any baloney in what I say, or that the past of those who serve in the ministry are squeaky clean. With that said, the chapter in my life right now seems to be about reflection and revelation. In a previous post I had mentioned that for a time in my early twenties I had walked a way from God. During that time I had a brief flirtation with Scientology, in fact it was right around the time Tom Cruise was being criticized for what he said about Psychology and medication for psychological conditions....

Mary Ann Morgan  - "Worshiping hand on blue" - Flickr Disclaimer : They say honesty is the best policy, but it can sometimes lead to hurt feelings or offense. What I have to say in this post may hurt some. All I can do is apologize in advance and tell you that writing posts such as this helps me sort through my thoughts and clarify my positions. Of course, feedback is always welcomed. Generalizations           I'm not sure if the average Southerner is aware that there are certain stereotypes pitted against them when it comes to spirituality. It may not be the case for every Northerner to hold these views, but this one did. What I'm talking about of course is the stereotype that most Southerners who go to church are swinging off the chandeliers, speaking in tongues, falling over in the aisle types of worshipers. Or they are people who check their mind at the door, sing hymns and passively listen to a preacher shout fire and...

See what I did here?      Like the local bar-b-que, living life in the south for the past 5 years has been a sweet and savory experience. LA may have a Starbucks across the street from each other, New England may have have a bar on every corner, but here in Georgia we have churches right next door to each other! Although I wouldn't mind a Starbucks on every corner... Here there is no terrible rush, unless you're on the interstate, but overall there is a more relaxed pace of life. Perfect strangers are friendly enough to wave at you while you're walking by and small talk is an art form. The summers may be hot and humid, but most every place has a/c. The winters are just cool enough to give you the taste of the season and it rarely snows (despite the recent snowpocalypse).       There, now that I have the staples of the South out of the way I can talk normally. Everything that I mentioned above is true, but there is much more to the South ...

God is Love The book of John, the most theological of all four gospels. Out of this book we get the most famous Bible verse of all time. You see it painted on the faces or giant stomachs of football fans, you see it tattooed on the bodies of reformed tough guys, or you hear it quoted by misleading politicians clamoring for the Christian vote, it's John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." It is this love that is the theme of John and it is poured out in every chapter. It is this love that gives the Christus Victor view of the atonement major ground to stand on. That the death and resurrection of Jesus was not a business transaction between two parties, but a selfless, covenantal fulfilling of God's promise to redeem us. This love, that was in the beginning with God and was God, became flesh, yet still fully God, wrapped in humility to reconcile us back to the Father. Oth...

    What is faith? What is this concept that the media mostly gets wrong, or Christians sometimes get confused or at least confused? Heck, even some pastors get it wrong. Is there a clear definition for it in the Christian life?      Recently, I woke up in the morning, and the first thing that popped into my head was The Goonies. It wasn't a slow process but a thought that sprung me awake like a lightning bolt to my consciousness: THE GOONIES! It occurred to me that Christians could probably learn a thing, or seven, from the classic 80's flick, especially about faith. So, I will relate this film to our walk in faith and make some arguments about what faith really is and means. Once again, like in my recent posts, I ask you to keep an open mind and open heart to what is going to be said in this entry. The Goonies? Da fudge is that?      Hopefully, everyone has seen or at least heard of the Goonies, but in case you've been living under a ro...