Blog - Page 269 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Left or Right?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:22-05:00May 5th, 2007|Categories: Emergent Church|

It seems to me that there are two dangers, at least ideologically, for the contemporary Church. One is on the Right, the other is on the Left. I offer a very simple (simplistic?) way for describing these two dangers and a possible middle way.

When younger people move toward the postmodern paradigm, which I think is warranted in several important philosophical ways, this usually brings with it a leftward political and social stance. Few that I meet among those who are deeply interested in this postmodern shift, and who embrace it with an openness to learn from it in truly Christian ways, seem able to escape this liberal tilt. They are not so liberal theologically, at least not in the classic sense of liberal theology. They are often accused of this but the accusation is not helpful or generally accurate if you really know liberal theology and then read these modern writers critically and in proper context. But among evangelical postmoderns, or so-called Emergents, this tendency to pull toward the left politically and socially is quite apparent. I have sensed that this tendency […]

Politicizing the National Day of Prayer

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:22-05:00May 4th, 2007|Categories: Current Affairs|

For many years now there has been a National Day of Prayer in America on the first Thursday of the month of May, thus yesterday was our annual National Day of Prayer. I have participated in this event from Washington, D.C., where a live broadcast originated in the evening that reached all across the nation and the globe. I am the last person to offer criticism of any prayer I assure you. But this year’s National Day of Prayer led me to ponder several very uncomfortable concerns. The culture wars have clearly overtaken the whole concept of prayer in the public arena. I wonder if it is time to find a different way to express Christian prayer for the nation.

Reports from various newspapers this morning tell of how different communities approached the day. Some made it into a sectarian religious event in which homosexual lifestyle was a part of the agenda, pro and con. In some prayer gatherings in Chicago homosexuality was spoken of openly with approval while in others it was mentioned negatively. In Wheaton 150 people came to an hour […]

The Many Forms of Discrimination

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:22-05:00May 3rd, 2007|Categories: Race and Racism|

Discrimination takes numerous forms in America. Racism is not limited to one group or to one ethnic background. It is a human problem but it is one that we humans have a very hard time addressing with profound honesty in this country. We are far too smug about this and Christians are inclined to go along with the smugness.

Consider the forthcoming production of well-known filmmaker Ken Burns for PBS, a 14 1/2 hour-epic film series titled: "The War." Burns, who produced fantastic series on The Civil War, Baseball and Mark Twain is the best we have at this genre of film for television. But in this new series Burns, and PBS with him, have failed to relate the complete historical story of America at war accurately. This was brought to my attention by a Washington Post Syndicated column this week by Ruben Navarrette. Navarrette notes the absence of Latino participation in this great story. The "greatest generation" that fought in Europe and the Pacific theaters of war included a considerable number of Latinos who sacrificed greatly alongside other Americans. But their story […]

What About the Millennial Generation?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:22-05:00May 2nd, 2007|Categories: Emergent Church|

Some call them "Gen Y" because they are younger than "Gen X." Others call them the Millennials, or even the post-9/11 generation. They are Millennials because they came of age in 2000. They are one of the most discussed and debated generation since the Boomers came along. Whether you like the discussion, or find it boring and pointless, it continues. Who are these young adults, between the age of 18 and 24?

This generation should be considered socially, politically and spiritually. I am most interested in the latter but all three categories interest me. Here is what we do know about Millennials. They worry a lot more about Iraq than older adults. They think America is on the wrong track but they are not generally sure why or how to fix it. They are liberal, but not always or consistently. They most likely come from broken homes thus they are longing for deeper relationships that can help them cope with the world. But they do not marry as previous generations and they are not having many children at all. They are spiritually hungry, […]

An Evening with Cardinal George

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:22-05:00May 1st, 2007|Categories: Roman Catholicism|

Last evening I attended the opening event in a week set apart to honor the tenth anniversary of Francis Cardinal George of the Chicago Archdiocese. The event was an ecumenical gathering and one that made some deep impressions upon me personally. Several of my impressions were very positive, one not as positive. I have written a longer piece on the evening that will appear next Monday, May 7, as the ACT 3 Weekly. If you do not subscribe to this you can do so at the Web site (www.act3online.com) by filling out the request form for the free weekly mailing.

I was invited to this occasion because of my personal friendship with leaders in the Chicago Archdiocese and my ongoing dialog with Catholics as an evangelical teacher. I was happy to participate and saw absolutely no one I knew from my own world. That always feels a bit strange but I am intrigued by meeting new people and watching how other Christians, and people of non-Christian faith, express themselves in public and private. I remain a learner and thus this was an […]

The Death of My Friend Bob Webber (1933-2007)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:22-05:00April 30th, 2007|Categories: Personal|

Bob Webber (1933-2007) died Friday at 6:10 PM (Eastern time) in his wife Joanne’s arms, after an 8 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Bob is best known for his numerous books published over the past forty years. He touched on so many subjects it is hard to know where to begin to enumerate his contributions as a writer. His more recent call for a positively framed ancient-future faith may have touched more young leaders in the North American Church than the work of any single person. A public memorial service in the Chicago-area is being planned, details will be posted on the Northern Seminary website: www.seminary.edu.

I will not compose a flowery oration about Bob. I would like to tell you why I loved and respected him as my friend and valued his counsel so profoundly. I first got to know Bob while I was a student at Wheaton College in 1969. My first remembrance was actually quite negative. Bob held views that I detested and I was pretty angry about the way he challenged students and faculty. He preached an "infamous" […]

A Visit to a Small Church in Rural Central Illinois

By John Armstrong|2007-04-29T18:43:04-05:00April 29th, 2007|Categories: Personal|

When most Christians in America think about the church they rarely consider local churches of less than 100 people, especially small churches situated in small towns all across the United States. In fact, in most small towns a local church is quite large if it has more than 40 people on a Sunday. There are so many big churches in America that it is easy to forget about these small churches in small towns. We often concentrate only on churches in terms of the urban and suburban context, where the churches exist that get the primary attention in our American culture.

As I drove home today from Waverly, Illinois, where I preached at First Baptist Church (ABC) this morning, I reflected on the values and make-up of healthy churches in small towns. Waverly is a town of less than 1,700 people about twenty-five miles south of Springfield, the state capitol. The town goes back to the 1830s and the original settlers included New England Congregationalists who moved there to begin a church and seminary. (The seminary never made it. The town remained […]

Some Reflections on the Don Imus Debacle

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:22-05:00April 28th, 2007|Categories: Uncategorized|

Now that Don Imus, and his racist comments about "nappy-headed hos," is back page news, if it is still news at all, I am ready to comment on this rather amazing episode in pop-cultural blow back. I have listened to the defenders and the detractors and the right and left go back and forth. Frankly the whole matter probably meant very little in the bigger picture. It does indicate, once again, how driven we are by how the news is presented to us in this country.

My comments, therefore, are random and not really original.

1. Was Imus a victim of censorship? It suppose it depends on how you define "censorship." He was employed and his employers decided to fire him for an insensitive comment that was unwisely made. The employer broke no censorship laws.

2. Freedom of speech comes with a price. We cannot say anything we want anywhere we want to say it. We have forgotten this and it harms our culture significantly. Sadly, Christians have often interpreted "free speech" as inviolable and virtually above the […]

My Journey as a Minister of Word & Sacrament

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:23-05:00April 27th, 2007|Categories: Reformed Christianity|

On Tuesday, April 24, I was examined by the Illiana Classis of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) in order to have my ordination, which was originally granted in August of 1970 by the Frist Baptist Church of Lebanon, Tennessee, transfered into the RCA. I was examined in history, sacraments and polity, government and liturgy and theology. This process really began several years ago when I became convinced that the match between my theological beliefs, and the specific way I expressed those beliefs, lined up very well with the RCA. Several people had a major influence upon my direction. The most notable influence has been hat of Dr. I. John Hesselink, professor of theology emeritus at Western Theological Seminary (RCA) in Holland, Michigan. Besides John, two elders, Roger Hommes and Robert Asmus, members of the consistory at First Reformed Church in South Holland played a major role. These two excellent men, who have attended our public ministry events in Chicago for more than a decade, asked me nearly two years ago: "John, why don’t you join the RCA? You really do belong in this […]

A Church Rooted in Suffering

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:23-05:00April 26th, 2007|Categories: Renewal|

Speaking to the Anglican Mission in America’s (AMiA) Northeast Network Mission & Ministry Conference in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, has afforded me a unique opportunity get to know some old friends much better and to make many new friendships as well. Today Mark Rudolph gave a homily before I spoke in the morning conference session. He showed how the AMiA movement is rooted deeply in suffering and death. The reason he could say this is simple—these AMiA pastors submit to the bishop of Rwanda. Even Missionary Bishop Thad Barnum serves under the leadership of the Rwandan Bishop. Indeed, he is a "missionary" bishop within North America serving under the Rwanda Church.

For those of you who do not understand this polity what this means is that the American churches are under the spiritual oversight of a bishop in Africa who oversees their work here in the U. S. as a mission directed from Africa. This, in itself, is remarkable. It is nothing short of a historic turn of events. A church formed by Western missionaries in Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries is […]