Blog - Page 296 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Responding to the TR World

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:15-05:00July 7th, 2006|Categories: Reformed Christianity|

I have no interest in naming specific names or making specific charges against anyone in particular when I write blog entries that address various types of people or movements that I have seen in the church. These blogs are not formal accusations but reflections upon what I have seen and even been part of myself for nearly ten years (1992-2002). Please read my entries more as confessions than as personal accusations and you will understand my writing of these types of blogs. Some who fit these descriptions, to varying degrees, are my friends. Some who fit these descriptions once counted me as a friend. There is nothing personal about these comments I assure you. Those readers who have met these types of individuals, or have been in these kinds of reformation movements, know what I am referring to and thus understand these various posts quite clearly.

If I were doing academic writing, as say in our journal the ACT 3 Review, then I would use a rigorous academic method, including references and end notes. I understand, however, that a blog is an […]

What Happened to the Gospel in Our Churches

By John Armstrong|2006-07-05T08:48:31-05:00July 5th, 2006|Categories: American Evangelicalism|

The late Presbyterian minister and chaplain of the United States Senate, Richard Halvorsen, always had a succinct way of putting things so that ordinary folks could understand a big point very clearly. He once said that when the Greeks got the gospel, they turned it into a philosophy; when the Romans got it, they turned it into a government; when the Europeans got it, they turned it into a culture; and when the Americans got it, they turned it into a business.

The great tragedy in the American church is that we do not understand how the gospel transcends our various ways of thinking and ordering life. All of the above “turns” amount to what the Bible calls worldliness. Sadly, much of the evangelical movement has turned the gospel, and thus the church, into a business. By this transformation the church conformed itself to the world more than the gospel. When our leaders and spiritually concerned people realize this in greater numbers, and consciously turn away from it, we will be far closer to experiencing the real power of the gospel at work […]

Celebrating the Fourth of July

By John Armstrong|2006-07-04T11:57:19-05:00July 4th, 2006|Categories: Culture|

The spirit of nationalism is a positive thing in my view. Most people inherently love their country. Christians should not be alarmed by this very normal human emotion. I shared in it today by observing the Fourth of July parade in my community. As the band played and the fire trucks blared their sirens I found myself feeling a sense of pride about this community and my country. I watched the politicians go by, seeking recognition and votes, and thought to myself, “Elections never seem to end here.” The best word to describe my emotion was “pride” I think. I am sincerely proud to be an American.

But as with any other emotion I felt some other reactions as I thought further about our country at this time. I believe nationalism is a good thing but I am deeply concerned about the growing “Christian” nationalism on the far right. This spirit is fed by many springs, including popular preachers, best-selling books and mean-spirited talk shows. My concern about this kind of nationalism is not without reason. When I hear conservative Christians talk […]

Facing the Clash of Civilizations with Resolve

By John Armstrong|2006-07-02T17:55:44-05:00July 2nd, 2006|Categories: Current Affairs|

I noted on July 1 that war has a powerful influence over all who are touched by it. Let us be clear about this, war is bad, very bad. But my observations are not those of a pacifist. I believe that there is something worse than war, namely a peace that allows tyranny to dominate a people and/or society so that human freedom is crushed under ideologies that destroy mankind’s ability to seek peace and to worship God freely.

I have no real doubt that we are presently engaged in what Samuel Huntington has called “A Clash of Civilizations.” This is true regardless of the mistakes we have made with regard to Iraq, and plenty seem to have been made.

Uwe Siemon-Netto, a Christian journalist I deeply respect, is a realist when he asks: “Are hard line tactics the most effective way to deal with terrorism?” He concludes: “What are the alternatives? Negotiate a peaceful settlement that will limit suicide bombings to one a month and decapitations before rolling video cameras to one per year—well, maybe two? Propose Osama bin-Laden […]

War Really Does Give a Certain Type of Meaning

By John Armstrong|2006-07-01T08:17:42-05:00July 1st, 2006|Categories: Current Affairs|

Christopher Hedges, in a controversial and moving book written before we entered the war in Iraq, said that war is a force that gives us meaning (War is a Force That Gives us Meaning, Anchor, 2003). I think about his trenchant observations very often as the war in Iraq drags on, strongly defended or strongly vilified by almost everyone who has an opinion. “The communal march against an enemy generates a warm, unfamiliar bond with our neighbors, our community, our nation, wiping out unsettling undercurrents of alienation and dislocation," writes Chris Hedges, a foreign correspondent for the New York Times. Hedges looks at what makes war so intoxicating for soldiers, politicians and ordinary citizens. It is the "intoxicating" quality of our "war on terror" and our struggles in Iraq that I think most defenders of war do not get at all. A little humility would help a great deal, especially among Christians.

I was reminded of all this today when I read the story of our American GIs planning the rape of an Iraqi woman, then killing the three other members of […]

Speaking About God

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:15-05:00June 30th, 2006|Categories: Feminism & Women|

The Presbyterian Church USA recently recommended, via its General Assembly, that new language for the Triune names of God be used in public worship. Suggestions included: “Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child and Life-giving Womb.” Another was “Overflowing Font, Living Water and Flowing River.” Then there was: “Rock, Cornerstone and Temple” as well as “Rainbow of Promise, Ark of Salvation and Dove of Peace.”

This kind of silliness attempts to alter the use of “male” gendered language for God as used in the Bible, which is considered offensive to some members. The problem is that the Bible already addressed the issue by making it clear that God is not gendered at all. But God chooses to reveal himself very clearly in language that carries some very specific ideas.The church has always seen this as important. This is not an issue of patriarchy or chauvinism. Further, the Bible speaks of God in terms that actually do accommodate female imagery. But when it comes to “naming God” this issue is too important to make up terms like these. Most people, even in the PCUSA, know better.

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Friendship Evangelism May Be the Only Kind

By John Armstrong|2006-06-27T12:40:18-05:00June 27th, 2006|Categories: Evangelism|

Americans surprised pollsters in 1985 when they reported that they only had three close friends. Today, in 2006, they say they have only two such close friends. And one in four people say that they have no one with whom they can discuss important matters; i.e., no close friend as the survey defined the terms.

These results had little to do with gender, race, age or education. Most who had good friends said these friends were members of their nuclear family. But then those numbers declined as well, demonstrating that intimacy in families is markedly down. The findings appear in the June issue of the American Sociology Review.

Weakening bonds of friendship have huge social consequences, especially when there is great human need as in crises like Hurricane Katrina. And, the article further suggested, the decline in friendship outside the family puts added stress on spouses, families and counselors.

Why are Christians surprised, when they put a great deal of emphasis upon being friends with their neighbors, that there are a myriad of open doors to do good […]

The Future of American Christendom

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:15-05:00June 26th, 2006|Categories: The Church|

June is the month for church assemblies and general conventions. Last week the Episcopalians and Presbyterians met and made headlines. Several weeks before it was the Southern Baptists who were in the news.

The Episcopalians (ECUSA) chose a new presiding bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori, who follows the controversial Frank Griswold, who led ECUSA to the shoals of ecclesiastical destruction over the last three years. Jefferts Schori does not appear to be the type of person who will take the action now needed to save this church from being severed from the worldwide Anglican community. Time will tell but ECUSA’s failure to follow the Windsor Report has serious ramifications. My friends tell me there is little hope now for meaningful reconciliation. Te Holy Spirit will likely do something new and fresh. Let all who love Christ and his church watch and pray.

Meanwhile, the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) passed a “peace” resolution that threatens to breakup that fellowship. In effect, this resolution does not bring peace but makes the church into a collection of individual presbyteries without real connection to a national […]

A Sad Death and a Christian Response

By John Armstrong|2006-06-24T22:16:09-05:00June 24th, 2006|Categories: Homosexuality|

Denice Dee Denton, 46, an embattled University of California chancellor, who was criticized for helping her lesbian partner secure a top-paying job at the University of Santa Californai Santa Cruz died Saturday morning in San Francisco after apparently jumping from a downtown hotel. UC Santa Cruz Campus Provost David S. Kliger said in a statement released on Saturday: "We are deeply saddened by her death."

Denton had been criticzed by an employee union for the university’s creation of a $192,000-a-year job for Gretchen Kalonji, Denton’s longtime partner and a former professor of materials science at the University of Washington in Seattle.

When I read such news accounts I wonder how Christians should respond. I would guess some might say, “You really do reap what you sow. We ought to make this clear.” Still others might say we ought to appeal to “justice being served” since she appears to have shown a particular kind of favoritism that is reprehensible to most people. I bowed my head and prayed for Dr. Denton’s family and her many friends as they try desperately to make sense […]

Confessions of a Reformission Rev

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:15-05:00June 22nd, 2006|Categories: Emergent Church|

I mentioned hearing Mark Driscoll (my June 21 blog) at the Acts 29 Network retreat this week. His new book, Confessions of a Reformission Rev: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church (Zondervan, 2006) has just been published in the past few weeks. It is worth your time if you want to know the story of how a young man and a young church emerged in the last decade in the most unchurched city in America. I refer, of course, to Mars Hill Church in Seattle. Mars Hill is not only innovative but theologically sound and fast growing, reaching over 6,000 in less than ten years while openly affirming solid teaching and spiritually sound church practice at the same time. It also has one of the most carefully planned and developed strategies for new church planting of any megachurch in America. For thirty-five years I hoped and prayed that pastors of large churches would adopt this type of approach to planting local churches. Read Mark’s excellent book and you will better understand why I believe this church is truly a missional powerhouse.

Mark […]