Blog - Page 129 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Why the Incarnation Was Necessary

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:59-05:00January 9th, 2011|Categories: Christ/Christology|

One of the truly great classic works of the patristic era is: The Incarnation of the Word of God, by St. Athanasius. I have a 1946 edition that includes a wonderful introduction written by C. S. Lewis. I have been reading this classic again in the New Year. You can find a number of editions of the book as used copies and you can even read the entire book online for free.

Lewis begins by suggesting the idea that ancient books are only for professionals is a huge mistake. He adds, “This mistaken preference for the modern books and this shyness of the old ones is nowhere more rampant than in theology. Wherever you find a little study circle of Christian laity you can be almost certain that they are not studying St. Luke or St. Paul or St. Augustine or Thomas Aquinas or Hooker or Butler, but M. Berdyaev or M. Maritain or M. Niebuhr or Miss Sayers or even myself. Now this seems to be topsy-turvy.”

Lewis is not arguing that readers only read old books but that they read both old and new. He […]

Pujols: More Than the Game

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:59-05:00January 8th, 2011|Categories: Baseball, Books|

Professional sports produces many great stars but only a few who are serious disciples of Jesus Christ. There are many professing Christians in baseball, to site just one sports context, but there are far less players who practice their faith in a consistent manner and remain spiritually grounded in their private family lives. One of the truly great stories I’ve followed for years is that of St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols (pronounce the “j” as an “h”). I first learned of Pujols conversion and faith some years ago via The Christian Athlete, the magazine of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I was invited to contribute an article to this publication. In the issue that my article appeared in Albert was the cover story. Since then I have followed his career with more than passing interest.

I recall a former major-league baseball player, now a minister, saying to me many years ago over dinner in our home: “Major League Baseball (MLB) is represented by people who are pretty much […]

Islam and Christian Charity: How Far Should We Go?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:00-05:00January 7th, 2011|Categories: Islam, Love, Missional Church|

I wrote yesterday a review of the film: Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet (January 6). Just after posting this review I read an article in the Christianity Today online site that caught my attention. I highly recommend it as a fair piece of journalism and a helpful way to raise important questions. The crux of the story concerns “sacred space” and whether or not Christian churches should open space to Muslim neighbors for prayers and worship. One pastor offered a neighboring Islamic congregation the use of his church's space for five months for Friday prayers when they requested. Jason Micheli, pastor of Aldersgate Methodist in Arlington, Virginia, shares part of his theological reasoning in a sermon published at Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog. In McKnight's blog he recommends a marvelous book by my good friend Gerlad McDermott that I highly recommend as well. It is titled: God's Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religion? Insights from the Bible and the Early Church. If you are perplexed by this issue, and desire an even-handed and scholarly response from a solidly evangelical theologian, […]

Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:00-05:00January 6th, 2011|Categories: Islam|

In 2002 PBS released a documentary on the life of the prophet Muhammad. The timing of this was not humanly planned since 9/11 occurred while the project was being finished. In fact, some of the final filming was in post 9-11 New York City. A New York City Fire Department captain, who is a convert to Islam, was featured prominently in expressing his disdain for the attack. The two creators of this film are both Muslims, one an American convert. The producer and director of the film, Michael Schwarz, is Jewish. Several of the commentators are also non-Muslims who have done considerable research on Islam.

This film seeks to tell the story of the seventh century prophet who profoundly altered world history during a public mission of only twenty-three years. Today 1.2 billion people follow the teachings of this man. This film, three years in the making, follows the story of this man according to the commonly received stories of Muslim historians. It includes visits to American […]

Further Thoughts on Cross-Gender Relationships

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:00-05:00January 5th, 2011|Categories: Feminism & Women, Friendship, Personal|

I have written quite a bit lately on male/female issues. This has not been contrived through any preconceived plan, at least humanly speaking. I have thought about these issues for a lifetime. I fully expect that I will not work them out with complete satisfaction in my lifetime. I have admitted that some of this stuff frightens me. I have also admitted that being a latecomer to this dialogue I must move carefully in terms of my own response. This is not a cop out but a reasoned, principled response to what I believe is a highly emotional issue. Let me explain.

First, on the matter of women in leadership in the local church I have told my own story in the book How I Changed My Mind About Women in Leadership which gives the stories of twenty-one evangelical leaders who changed their mind on this issue. I spent more than three decades working this out scripturally, theologically and emotionally. One of the hardest parts of this issue […]

What Does “Reformed” Really Mean?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:00-05:00January 4th, 2011|Categories: Personal, Reformed Christianity|

I am often asked if the name “Reformed” is a good designation for one’s own theological position in the present era. I believe that it is but I am well aware that there are a myriad of ways this term is used and many of these uses I find unacceptable. This is true of all such historical labels. When I read how some people refer to me and my views on social and theological issues I often wonder how they possibly could have chosen a particular label for me? One blogger, for instance, recently referred to me as a proponent of what is called the Federal Vision. (He meant this in a terribly negative way!) Now I think I know what the Federal Vision is, and while I have a certain sympathy for some of what I hear proponents of the vision saying, I would not consider myself an advocate of something that I have never once written about or ever embraced in print.

So of what value is the label Reformed?

Sam Logan, the president of the World Reformed Fellowship (WRF) and a great personal friend, asked […]

Trained By Christians to Be Good Muslims?

By John Armstrong|2011-01-03T04:00:00-06:00January 3rd, 2011|Categories: Feminism & Women|

A good friend, with whom I have been in dialogue over my posts on sacred friendships (December 21-24), sent the following story to me. It is all too true to not be troubling if you have the eyes and ears to see and hear.

In the evangelical churches I attended growing up, traditional gender roles were portrayed, taught and even encouraged from elementary age, up. Girls do one activity, boys do another. Pointing to the actions of women in Bible stories as fodder for what “godly” women do. In youth group, boys and girls take on different roles: at events, girls prepare and serve food and do cleaning. Boys do “setup” of sound systems, chairs, electronics. Girls are complimented for having “humility” and “a servant’s heart” and boys are encouraged to be leaders.

Male sexuality is an almost-uncontrollable force that must not be tempted. Women must “avoid tempting the boys,” and in the name of modesty, take responsibility for the eyes and libidos of their male counterparts.

I never remember a pastor talking to the boys and young men about self control and respect for women. It was always […]

Ideology: The ACT 3 Weekly

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:00-05:00January 2nd, 2011|Categories: ACT 3, Ideology|

Many of you know that each week, on Monday, a weekly article which reflects on leadership, the church and Christ’s mission is sent to several thousand subscribers. This article is longer than my daily blogs. It often represents ideas I am pondering that will be turned into books as time passes and people respond. A new series begins tomorrow. If you are not a subscriber check out back issues and sign up for regular mailings at the ACT 3 website.

During the last few months of 2010 I wrote a series on the danger of ideology to the mission of the church. I am convinced that this danger is very real and very serious. But far too few of our leaders recognize it and even fewer prepare people to actually deal with it. In my final article I wrote about the danger of ideology, pro and con, in a democracy like that America. A longtime friend, who is a big supporter of me and my work, wrote the following response to this article. I share it because it shows the kind of helpful thinking […]

George Barna on Mega-Themes

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:00-05:00January 1st, 2011|Categories: American Evangelicalism, Current Affairs, Renewal, The Church|

On the first day of the New Year it is fitting to look back for one last time and then ask, “Where is the church in America at the end of the first decade of the twentieth century?” There are a number of researchers who seek to measure various trends and developments in the culture and the church. I pay close attention to these because it is my calling to do so.

[…]

Some of Roger Nicole’s Last Written Words

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:01-05:00December 31st, 2010|Categories: Books, Feminism & Women, Personal|

Alan Johnson, my former professor and good friend, sent me an email a few weeks ago that I want to share with you. This email is related to my post of yesterday regarding the book, How I Changed My Mind About Women in Leadership (October, 2010).

Alan wrote to all twenty-one contributors to this book, minus one, the following note:

An unusual thing happened yesterday. I had informed all of you about Roger Nicole's death [1915-2010] with bittersweet thoughts a few days ago. Roger died on Saturday, December 11, 2010.

Yesterday, I received in the mail a beautifully handwritten letter from Roger that was written to me on November 22 but was sent to our old address (we moved in early September) and for some reason was delayed in reaching me. I am attaching a typed copy of his letter so that you might know how great a gift your book was to him just before the end of his mortal life. I hope it will be a blessing […]