Herman Bavinck’s Balancing Act, and Ours
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“As a new biography shows, the Dutch Reformed theologian was adept at navigating perennial tensions of Christ and culture.” - CToday
Let Us Reason Together
For those who hoped that our experience of living in times of crisis might end with 2020, I do not need to tell you that your hopes have already been dashed.
We might consider the string of crises that date back to last March as separate events, or we might think of them as one multi-faceted whole. We might also discuss those who appear to have engineered them, manipulated them or benefited from them.
Discussion
“Since the question of falsifiability has cross-disciplinary value, it is a question that we should ask not only of our theological opinions, but also our political and medical and economic opinions”
Body
“This brings me to another question of discernment, viz., the question of falsifiability, or, ‘What would it take to change my mind?’” - Snoeberger
Discussion
Disagreement Fatigue and 2020: How the Events of the Year Will Shape Christian Interactions in 2021 and Beyond
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“…it’s been a devastating year of conflict. And we’re all tired from it. But I’ve noticed a concerning pattern of response to perceived conflict in recent weeks, particularly on social media: Fatigue has led many Christians to avoid any kind of disagreement.” - Natahsa Crain
Discussion
The Church Needs Prophets, But It Wants Lawyers
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“American Christian culture is rife with congregants looking for lawyers, not prophets and not pastors. The church-shopping phenomenon puts us in churches that make us feel quite comfortable…. From all too many members of the congregation comes the cry, ‘Tell us what we want to hear!’” - French
Discussion
“...sometimes we lose sight of this principle and become irrationally suspicious of the scientific community.”
Body
“My point here is not to say that we must believe everything that the scientific community says about masks and social distancing and recommended shutdowns and vaccines. It is possible that there are some very terrible mistakes being made. But if so, they are just that: mistakes.
Discussion
Discernment in 2021: We Have Work to Do
Christians understand that they have a special relationship with truth. Our Savior described Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and declared that faithfulness to Him leads to soul-freeing truth (John 8:31-32). Both Old and New Testaments exalt insight into truth, as “wisdom” (e.g., Prov. 4:5-7, Matt. 10:16) and “discernment” (Phil. 1:9, Heb. 5:14). We worship the “God of truth” (Deut. 32:4, Psa. 31:5, Isa. 65:16), and are called to be lights of truth in the world (Phil. 2:15).
But we’re only human.
Discussion
Ann Griffiths and Her Sea of Wonders
Body
“The word ‘wonder’ appears, in various forms, numerous times in Ann’s writings. Her joy came in knowing that the sea of wonders where she intended to spend her life would continue beyond this earthly state, ‘with never a sight of a boundary or shore.’” - Ref21
Discussion
Overcoming Paralysing Fear – with Fear!
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“All these circumstances are fear-filled. That’s because we live in a fallen and broken world – a sin-stained world not as it should be. Our fearful response is what the Puritan John Flavel called ‘natural fear,’ an emotion even our Savior felt as He anticipated the horrors of the cross before Him.” - Christina Fox
Discussion
The Cultural Consequences of Very, Very Republican Christianity
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“It’s way too simple to say that it impairs the ability of Christians to reach their friends and neighbors. In some places it enhances the church’s appeal and integrates Christians within their community. In other places it creates a host of challenges and needlessly alienates Christians from their fellow citizens.
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