Why the Old CT Wouldn’t Sell Today

by | Sep 30, 2006 | General Theology

‘Truth from the Evangelical Viewpoint’ – Christianity Today Magazine The linked article was written by Mark Noll and rehearses the beginning of Christianity Today, which is celebrating fifty years in existence. While in seminary I had the opportunity to glance through some of the first issues of Christianity Today. When it began, CT produced a number of thought provoking theological articles and Bible-centered cultural pieces under the editorship of Carl F. H. Henry. While writing a research paper on Harold Linsdell, I also perused a few issues of CT while he was editor and noticed a similar trend of more Bible-centered articles. George Marsden’s book, Reforming Fundamentalism, provided me a tremendous backdrop to view the beginnings of institutions like Fuller seminary and Evangelicalism’s flagship periodical, Christianity Today. I still say that the class I had in seminary on “Contemporary Evangelicalism,” was one of the most helpful for me in putting the current status of the American church into an understandable perspective. Based on what I read in the old CT issues, Marsden and others, I am convinced that the majority of Evangelicals would not tolerate such a magazine today. Yes, that is to say, in my opinion, CT is not today what it once was. I still have a subscription to CT and read it monthly as well as follow its RSS feeds. More often than not, it merely makes me reach for a tums tablet. Today, it seems that CT no longer wants to speak to issues from “the Evangelical Viewpoint,” as it was defined from its inception, but rather, it simply wants to report on the theological...

Exegetical Insights from “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”

by | Sep 10, 2006 | General Theology, Humor

My good friend and fellow church member, Justin Peters, has produced an exquisite exposition of a famed passage of Americana, namely, the old Southern hymn, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”  As a new and ever improving Bible study teacher, and with this depth of exegetical insight, can you imagine what Justin can do with the Bible? Compulsive Acts of Writing: Fiddling with...

Creation Care

by | Sep 8, 2006 | Culture, Eschatology, General Theology

Creation care is now a significant part of our Christian calling? Based on which passage? Here it is: “If you believe, as I do, that the ultimate end is not the destruction of the Earth but the healing of the Earth, you will be inclined toward wanting to work with God to see it restored.” Sounds like amillennialism at best, postmillennialism at worst. Christian group encourages recycling – Yahoo!...