tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post7248003159753475258..comments2023-10-17T10:25:57.853-04:00Comments on learning my lines. . .: Interesting encounters. . . .Walt Muellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502588185280592205noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-46795066620327067542008-03-19T09:17:00.000-04:002008-03-19T09:17:00.000-04:00For a concise summary of neo-Calvinism I asked Der...For a concise summary of neo-Calvinism I asked Derek Melleby, Director of our College Transition Initiative, for links to some stuff he had written on this a few years ago. Derek has wrestled through this stuff personally, and I think the summary statements and explanations he wrote offer a wonderful introduction. In addition, he recommends some great reading. I would highly recommend Albert Wolters book on worldview, "Creation Regained." Here's the link to Derek's stuff - http://www.vanguardchurch.com/neo-calvinism_101.htmWalt Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502588185280592205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-32160199213107713712008-03-18T22:07:00.000-04:002008-03-18T22:07:00.000-04:00Walt,This is an excellent post. As someone with fe...Walt,<BR/>This is an excellent post. As someone with feet in both camps (emerging church and neocalvinism), I resonate with these words. <BR/>I believe that the neo-calvinist worldview has a LOT to say in the "Emerging Church Conversation." And, thankfully, my voice is being heard. I hope that yours will be also.<BR/>Tony Jones, national director for Emergent, wrote about those who are favorable toward emerging church ideas and mentioned us "Kuyperians." In response, <A HREF="http://vanguardchurch.blogspot.com/2006/09/reformed-young-christians-and-emerging.html" REL="nofollow">I wrote a post about that on my blog</A>, to which Tony commented, "Great stuff, Bob. Thanks for taking the challenge. Long live the progressive Calvinists!"Bob Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08576734261775426385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-26691954968084922612008-03-18T17:00:00.000-04:002008-03-18T17:00:00.000-04:00Walt,I am both laughing out loud and worshiping at...Walt,<BR/><BR/>I am both laughing out loud and worshiping at the same time after reading this. I just listened to the same talk on my way back from Ukraine. Driscoll was very insightful, and his story (and your extension of it) is a great reminder of God's grace. This was a cool perspective. Thanks for sharing. <BR/><BR/>I'm laughing trying to imagine the conversation when you told Derek that you were returning his CD with a scratch!!!!<BR/><BR/>I'd love to see you. Hope you and the family are well!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-68240796933963622942008-03-18T16:18:00.000-04:002008-03-18T16:18:00.000-04:00Walt, wow great story - i was in seattle with my p...Walt, wow great story - i was in seattle with my pastor at the text context conference - good stuff.<BR/><BR/>i have not heard of "dutch neo-clavinism", can you point me to some material or book. thanks lisle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-49756727925873055312008-03-18T13:28:00.000-04:002008-03-18T13:28:00.000-04:00Walt, I appreciate the blog... I've been having th...Walt, I appreciate the blog... I've been having the same cringing feelings that you had initially regarding the Emergent Church. I think some of what they are doing, particularly connecting with the culture and critiquing things in the church that certainly need critiqued is amazing. However, I have seen/heard several interviews on Youtube with Emergent Church leaders that concerned me. Not to mention, a talk that Phyllis Tickle (lovely woman and who I believe is very well known in christian literature/publication) gave at the NYWC Atlanta 2007 also concerned me. I was cringing again then due to (and I apologize, perhaps I am paraphrasing or implying too much) her saying that with the Emerging church movement, the accuracy of scripture is called into question. Perhaps someone has some insight on this, as I am still trying to understand what this movement is all about.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08312808253558482151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-88918966197206879982008-03-17T19:43:00.000-04:002008-03-17T19:43:00.000-04:00Thanks Walt! This is an encouraging and moving st...Thanks Walt! This is an encouraging and moving story. Thank God that he is so patient and gracious towards us as his creation. I too have found in Reformed theology a humble orthodoxy that engages the world missionally and is intellectually satisfying.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03925106907578929450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-12802134909495563352008-03-17T16:37:00.000-04:002008-03-17T16:37:00.000-04:00Walt, I'm not sure I felt more confident that I ha...Walt, I'm not sure I felt more confident that I have a found a kindred spirit in you than I did when I read this post (right down to the use of the word "Stink" as an alternative to an expletive)! I've been immersing myself into the world of the Emergent Church thought over the last year to some degree (mostly on the periphery though I've read Bell, seen some of his videos, and read articles by others in the "movement"), trying to make heads or tails of what they're saying, understanding more and more the need for a measured response to our brothers and sisters in Christ within that umbrella. It wouldn't make a lot of sense "reacting" to their "reactions"!<BR/><BR/>As a Reformed guy, I've appreciated the shaping of guys like Francis Shaeffer and Jerram Barrs (Covenant Seminary) and, well, you! You've engrained in me the importance of reading with a confidence that God is the God of Truth and I need not fear things that are "strange to my ears" though I need to be anchored in God's Word all the same. I shudder when I consider my own blind movement within the American Christian subculture (my pride and arrogance as a young inconsistent Calvinist who boasted of grace but had none for those with whom I disagreed).<BR/><BR/>I enjoy reading the shapers and reflectors of contemporary culture as a youth pastor committed to seeing reflections of God's handiwork and I'm intrigued (and sometimes slightly frustrated) by the reactionary elements in the Church today as well as the entrenched American evangelical(?!) subculture today. <BR/><BR/>Guys like those in the Emergent movement (and Youth Specialties as it appears) are definitely reflecting the postmodern world and the way teenagers think today. My work with students seems to demand that I take this stuff seriously as well. (Yikes, this was a long post).David Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06801406207783553787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-76149973888360208752008-03-17T11:49:00.000-04:002008-03-17T11:49:00.000-04:00Thanks for the article, Walt. I've been listening...Thanks for the article, Walt. I've been listening to Driscoll for about 3 years and it has been great to hear his growth in just that span. I have a ministry coach who is on the staff at Mars Hill and it is great to hear what God is doing there.Alan Rathbunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15526382848005414203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-67931356161718681752008-03-15T09:41:00.000-04:002008-03-15T09:41:00.000-04:00Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have been list...Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have been listening to Mark's sermons through iTunes for a few months now and recently listened to the talk you reference in your blog. He had quite a critique on the church and has something to say to people in youth ministry (I was in youth ministry for about 9 of the last 12 years before a slight career shift). One of my struggles is to know what to do with what I learned about the unorthodox beliefs of one particular person Mark references through quotes (a person Mark admits to not having met personally). This person he references has helped me to understand God's grace and mercy in ways I hadn't grasped before...particlarly through the short-films he has produced. Also, a concern of mine is that the same anger expressed by Mark and Chris back in San Diego could become a part of the critique of those addressing the problems with the Emergent movement. Could there not be a dialogue between the two for the purpose of gaining greater clarity? As I listened to Mark quote things written or spoken by those he was critiquing I found myself repeatedly asking, "What was the context of your quote?" and "Wouldn't it be great to explore the rationale behind the quote?" One of the things we (as Christians) have assimilated from our culture is using sound-bytes and quotes to build our perceptions of a person and what he or she believes. A "dialogue" could help to eliminate that for those who are willing to watch and/or listen. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for sharing your own experience in a very thoughtful and grace-full manner.Deep Thoughts with Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12326711982939113841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-33975163771303868932008-03-14T11:30:00.000-04:002008-03-14T11:30:00.000-04:00Check that last comment of mine. I just dropped a ...Check that last comment of mine. I just dropped a link to Mark Driscoll's talk into the post.Walt Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502588185280592205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-84483974244093412042008-03-14T10:28:00.000-04:002008-03-14T10:28:00.000-04:00Any chance you can point us to that message/lectur...Any chance you can point us to that message/lecture by Driscoll? Or give some more information on it's title, conference, etc.? I would love to hear it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com