Linkathon!
There’s a reason why every hit worship song sounds the same…
Pope Benedict closed Limbo and no one noticed…
It’s unloving to quickly restore fallen pastors…
James MacDonald charged with assault…I’m shocked…that this is the first time…
What does it mean to belong to God?
Does the Church of England need evangelicals?
Online church retains some numbers…
Is power something a Christian should want?
Christ’s redemption makes no exceptions…
More later…
The worship article is pretty sloppily written IMO. Many of the artists they list are not really affiliated with those churches. They may collaborate on writing from time to time or appear as a guest, but they are not part of that church’s “machine.” In addition Passion I believe is not a megachurch. Ironically they make the point that worship used to be the product of individuals (they list Tomlin and Redman)–both of them contributed heavily to the Passion movement and events. Seems like they had a preconceived conclusion looking for data to support it. No doubt worship music “sounds” go in cycles–the 70’s and 80s saw a lot of short and simple campfire songs quoting scripture, the 90s saw a lot of “love song” worship songs. the 2010’s got into a lot of U2/Coldplay sounds with longer instrumentals and repeated bridges. The trend now seems toward more “extemporaneous” space and a little more country and black gospel feel. This is no different than any other kind of music that has trends. Classical has baroque vs. romantic periods. Rock has Oldies doo wap vs. classic rock guitars vs. concept albums. People write what they know and listen to until someone comes along and opens the creative door to new things and then everyone follows suit.
https://religionnews.com/2023/04/13/james-macdonald-former-harvest-bible-pastor-charged-with-felony-assault-and-battery/
James Mac Donald was the proverbial time bomb ready to explode. I hope that the object of his wrath has recovered. If James goes to jail, he might finally learn humility.
Never could do the Limbo. š
Regarding MacDonald, I hope for the sake of the victim and the church, that he doesnāt pull the āI am being persecuted because of my Christian faithā card.
Jean,
MacDonald has already been tested and found wanting in other situations. I think this may be the end for him (unless he starts a revival in prison, which I personally think is where he is headed).
My question-why do all the bad boys end up in Arizona (Driscoll is busy with his church there).
Thank you for linking to Roger Olson’s blog. I’ve been following for several years and consider him a theological treasure.
Iām no fan of Olson. Good brother. Donāt like his interpretation and application of scripture. Heās seems to be one of the discernment guys like Jackie Alnorāa good sister but to narrow an application of scriptureāof course thatās just my opinion
Being an actual theologian is a very different task than being a fundamentalist pundit.
Alan: āBeing an actual theologian is a very different task than being a fundamentalist pundit.ā
Dang, thatās good!
āItās Unloving to Quickly Restore Fallen Pastorsā is a great article, imnsho.
ā The study did not look specifically at the lyrics of the most popular songs. Baker did say sheās looking at those lyrics for a different project and found a few trends. For example, she said, few of the most popular songs talk about the cross or salvation.
āA lot of it is, what is God doing for me now? And what has God promised to do for me in the future?ā she said.
I thought this statement was spot on. Rather than giving God the glory due his name (Ps. 29) corporate worship at worst has become self focused and at best, transactional: āIāll give you glory, God, but whatās in it for me?ā
Thought the article on worship was insightful
As someone who struggles with the sense that the better days in my life are in my past, the article on “Noxious Nostalgia” left a bad taste in my mouth….lots of leaning into the details of those who grieve for the things they’ve lost or hoped would’ve still been around, without a lot of sympathy for the grieving (with a dash of indirect condemnation for having those feelings), and just a vague, hand-waving, undetailed suggestion about being “fully present in our lives” and drawing on “resources of God’s wisdom and strength” to “make meaning out of our lived experience”….none of that is working for me, nor for others I know in that situation. Psalm 77 has been a bit more helpful; was surprised it wasn’t mentioned at least in passing.
sarahmorgan,
Thank you…as I approach 65 I’m feeling that same grief and a lack of hope.
I’ve found over the years that normal human emotions such a grief, pain, or depression…or God forbid, fear…are anathema to many in the church.
Like one of the people used as an example in the piece, I grieve the death of community…not for myself, but for my godson who desperately needs it and would have thrived in the world I grew up in.
Terry,
A lot of our readers like Olsons work…he usually gives us something to think about…
Michael,
I remember growing up in San Francisco, knowing everyone, and feeling a very permanent sense of place. Now, it seems like everything is always changing (like 6 of my favorite restaurants disappeared, and I have lost count of the friends I have lost to death in the past few years). However, I resist the desire to live in the past and I try to deal with the present because that is what God has given me. Doing that has opened up new opportunities and friendships and it has been amazing. I would have missed it if I stayed in my own personal Mayberry.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2020/08/why-i-have-a-problem-with-the-phrase-practical-theology/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sharing+the+Gospel&utm_content=46&lctg=110549&rsid=Legacy&recipId=110549&siteId=7DF2956C-D2F1-40D4-A777-98E450E58360
Another reason why I like Roger Olson. He is pretty traditional on his theology, but (in my opinion) he is able to relate it to the world in which we live.
Linn,
You have a healthy attitude…mine…not so much…
I havenāt read a lot of Olson, but from what Iāve read of his work, he didnāt come across like a ādiscernmentā person.
Michael,
I haven’t always been so healthy. I have friends who are so upset about changes in the world. I don’t like all of them, either, but my understanding of the Scripture is that God is always working (Rom 8:28ff), and I would rather be a part of His economy than live in my own misery. So far, it’s working-but not always easy.
Thank you, Linn! I needed that encouragement from Romans 8:28 today. I really like how you put it!
ā I would rather be a part of His economy than live in my own misery. So far, itās working-but not always easy.ā Thank you!
About the āworship,ā Iām still waiting for āthe Churchā to discover the Psalms, please take that literally.
When I first learned of God, they pointed me to David because of my military background and similar experiences, then resulting temperament.
I learned man āafter my own heartā who showed he could be honest, AND God still loved Him, WITH all his flaws.
How that became Amway rallies accompanied with jingles is beyond me.