Does God Want Us to Fight about Worship?
Discussions about worship have produced more division among Protestant churches than anything else in the last 25 years.[1] Disagreements have mostly focused on musical questions, though the issues are broader, too. The debate has now reached a stalemate because worshippers have learned that if they don’t like their church’s services, there is always another service down the street. Such options reveal that the “worship wars” produced...
How Do We Know? An Interview with Dr. James Dew
In a recent Forum essay, some attention was given to the theory of knowledge which is known as epistemology. Rather than being an esoteric branch of philosophy for scholars alone, it can be an immensely practical area of inquiry for the church. The publication of this essay has transpired concurrently with my reading of the recently published How Do We Know? (IVP Academic, 2014), an introduction to epistemology authored by two...
The Work of David F. Wells: An Appreciative Reflection
As people who talk a lot about God, it’s important that our words as Christians actually correspond to reality. While all of our language is analogical and therefore limited, it would be a fatal error to speak about God in ways that misrepresent His glorious character. Indeed, we should often ask, “What kind of vision of God am I projecting to the world when I speak about Him or act in His name?” One of the challenges with speaking of...
Epistemology for Pastors
In my last essay, I outlined a basic understanding of personhood from a Christian perspective. In order for pastoral ministry to yield the kind of fruit we pray for in the lives of God’s flock, we have to be sure that our assumptions about what people are square with the biblical account. As God’s image-bearers, we’ve been formed and made for relationships, fruitfulness, cultural stewardship, and dominion. All of these callings...
Problems of Christian Leadership: A Book Review
Several months ago I intended to write an essay on the challenges leaders face. Facing so many of my own, it only seemed appropriate! The main issue so preventing me was the difficult task of deciding which challenge to begin with. If all the Christian leaders reading this were to place their cards on the table, they’d likely name challenges that couldn’t be numbered on just one hand. God has a sense of humor, though. In perusing...
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