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Articles by Geoff Holsclaw
Bad theology in literature
Fellow Pilgrims, I recently slogged through a new novel by Lev Grossman, The Bright Sword a Novel of King Arthur. I read the whole thing, because I love Grossman’s Magicians trilogy, which is a sort of dark, atheist Narnia/Harry Potter. That trilogy doesn’t match my worldview, but the god that Grossman doesn’t believe in, there, is also a god I don’t believe in: false and cruel and petty. And the trilogy is smart and surprising.
Stuck in a Spiritual Rut? Neuroscience Might Have the Answer.
Read your Bible. Pray. Go to church—twice on Sundays. And don’t sin. Be sure not to sin. This was the extent of my spiritual formation. Of course, no one talked about spiritual formation when I was growing up. Reading the Bible, fasting, and prayer were part of my devotions, not part of a package of historic “spiritual disciplines.” These were just the things we did to grow our faith—to become holy, as God is holy. And the simplicity of these activities served me well. Until—while in college—they didn’t.
God Likes You. He Really Likes You!
I’ve given up trying to keep on top of the Star Wars and Avengers franchises. I still watch the movies with my son, but I’m incapable of remembering the minor characters and plot details from six movies ago. Even when I enjoy the action on the screen, I feel certain I’m missing something. When my dental hygienist started attending church recently, I wondered if that’s how she feels.
Joy, the Overlooked Aspect of the Cross
I do not look forward to Good Friday. I’m an upbeat kind of guy. A negative situation is always an opportunity, not a problem. The glass is always half full, and more is probably on the way. But all that changes on Good Friday. Sure I feel down and out other days of the year. The waves of life will do that to you. But Good Friday plunges me into a much darker place. Waves of sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness come crashing in on Good Friday.
ECFA Revokes Harvest Bible Chapel’s Membership
Update (April 17): Harvest Bible Chapel has lost its standing with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), months after controversy over founding pastor James MacDonald culminated with his firing. The ECFA board voted today to terminate the Chicago-area church’s membership status due to “significant violations” to four of seven of the association’s financial standards, citing “direct and substantial evidence” uncovered in the past week.
A pastor to evangelical Trump voters: I believe you are not racist. But how will you combat hate?
To the evangelicals who voted for Donald Trump: I believe you. I believe in you. I believe you love others. I believe you are doing your best. I believe you want good for America. As a fellow evangelical, a local church pastor, and a seminary professor, I believe you want to be true to the gospel — to the “good news.” In supporting Trump, I believe you did what you thought to be right by trying to vote for the lesser evil.
Church Planting without Women = Disaster
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission.
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