Friday, June 1, 2012
What Is It that Brings You Back to the Evangelical Calvinist?
Just out of curiosity; what topics do you most appreciate when I address whatever? Is it when I write on Calvinism (my stats seem to suggest that this is highly appreciated), doctrine of Scripture, Trinitarian theology, Christology, eschatology (dispensationalism, amillennialism etc.), Christian suffering, my devotional type stuff, Thomas Torrance, John Calvin, Karl Barth? Again, just curious.
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Bobby - in my opinion, you shine especially bright when you speak on Christian suffering. You have a depth of understanding and compassion that few have. I also like your devotional material a lot. Plus, you're a great writer and enjoyable to read - so it's all good. God bless, Eric
ReplyDeleteEric,
DeleteThank you, brother ... I wish I didn't have this "depth" sometimes ;-) (or least what it has/is taken to get some depth here), but I understand what's going according to Scripture; relative to suffering and knowing Jesus, so if that's what it takes, then I guess "bring it on" (but not right now Lord ;-). Thank you, Eric ... maybe I should just call you Barnabas :-).
Numerous reasons. You see problems with the Calvinist status quo, and you point them out. You show logical conclusions to "ideas have consequences" for those flaws. As Anon said above, you understand suffering, both "bodily" and "vocationally," and I might add "ministerially." I find you in many of the comments sections of blogs that I visit because I too have a problem with points of theology of those bloggers. I'm still trying to grasp the ideas of EC, and I don't have time to do extended reading. You are a good writer. You write often, so there is usually something to interact with. And the #1 reason... what template will EC have rotated to today?
ReplyDeleteSteve,
DeleteThank you, brother. You too are an encouraging bro, and I really am glad we have connected via the unending stream of the internet. EC is quite involved, isn't it; it is quite dialectic and confessional (and thus not as systematic as classic Calvinism), and thus is much harder to grasp. Hopefully our book and our Theses in particular will help bring more clarity to what at least Myk and I envision about what constitutes some core contours toward the EC mood.
And yes, my template renovation is never done, in fact I'm probably going to change it again today; I just think it's fun to recreate my blog on an ongoing basis ... it's akin to being changed from glory to glory (I knew I could find some sort of spiritual analogy for my constant blog theme changes ;-).
Thanks, Steve, appreciate your words and humor!
I appreciate most your posts on EC and dogmatic topics. For me, it's a kind of "view from the other side." But that's me -- I deal in confessions and dogmatics. And I feel compelled to argue with you most on your posts about scripture -- but that makes them, shall we say, "stimulating." ;)
ReplyDelete@Matt,
DeleteThanks. Well, let's just say that you have a capacity to press me like almost no one else I have come across in the 'sphere'; and I mean that as a compliment. So please keep pressing me, you sharpen me, intellectually and thus spiritually; and you motivate me to be an even sharper Christian thinker. I've come across many PhD students in the 'sphere', and yet you have a unique capacity, among even this class, to make synthetic connections and critique that most can't or don't. So keep it up my brother; I have another post on scripture that is coming, one that I think you will resonate with. And yet it takes aim at the historical critical mode of interpretation, and so I'll be interested to hear your take on my comments on that (if you have the time).
Thanks for sharing, Matt.
@Matt,
DeleteWhen you say "view from the other side," are you referring to the idea that you are a confessional Lutheran and I am a 'confessional' Evangelical? I'm pretty sure that's what you're getting at (given some past interaction), but just trying to be clear about what you're getting at.
Perhaps "the other side" isn't the best way to express that; the "sides" tend to be Lutheranism and Calvinism, writ broadly, but yes. Really, a view from a markedly similar position in a markedly different array of competing forces. If I were a committed evangelical and confessional Calvinist, instead of a committed evangelical and confessional Lutheran, I could do far worse than to find the synthetic position you're shaping. You're no slouch, yourself. ;) And finding your synthetic work from where I am, I often feel like there's something here that I can usefully do, even if it's just contributing an angle on the problem.
DeleteMatt, thanks. Good words, brother! Well, I like when you contribute here; you really do force me to think and thus grow into a knowledge of Jesus Christ.
DeleteBobby, I've really enjoyed just getting to know you a little more, and your posts on all matter of topics help me to do that. This is partly because of the honesty with which you write; it's also partly because I've been reading your posts for years now. Whatever the reason, I enjoy seeing what Bobby is up to, what is stirring his mind and heart, how he is growing in his faith and abilities as a theologian, and what new header and url he has for us this week. Keep up the good work mate.
ReplyDelete@Jason,
DeleteThank you, brother! I really appreciate you, man. I still remember when I had cancer, and a few times you offered a quick, but profound prayer for me in my comment meta; you don't know how that impacted me, but it did ... and I'm glad I'm still here to tell you this :-). It is weird, I have been reading you for years now too; and we have never really met. Hopefully someday that will change. Thank you for the good words, Jason. And thanks for putting up with my weirdness related to my headers, urls, and all of that ;-).
Bobby:
ReplyDeleteI enjoy most of the items you post I think because I sense in you a kindred spirit. I especially profit from your posts on Calvinism, since my thinking has undergone a shift in the last 6-7 years in the same direction from which you are coming but I also enjoy your posts on Torrance (because I don't know much about him) and Barth.
A little aside: I read everything by Barth I could get except CD and a few books i couldn't get my hands on when I began seminary. I won the Faculty Award in Systematic Theology when I graduated and used part of the money to purchase a set of the Dogmatics and have been gradually working through them.
All this to say, I like your posts on Torrance and Barth because I like to know if I;m the only one thinking certain things about them and their writings.
I also appreciate your posts on Trinitarianism because that is of interest to me as well.
In short, I read your blog no matter what you write about but I especially look for these posts. You blog is at the top of my go-to list when I'm looking for something to challenge me and I appreciate the effort you put into it.
Michael
@Michael,
DeleteThank you for taking the time to comment, brother. I am glad that you have started commenting here, I appreciate your insight and encouragement to boot.
Well, if you hang around long enough, you will come into contact with some true Barth scholars; some "e-friends" of mine. Rest assured, there are plenty of Barth folk out there (in the 'sphere'). You will definitely get more of a Torrancean influence from me V. Barth, but I like Barth a lot as well (since we don't have Torrance and a host of other thinkers w/o Barth).
Well, I am encouraged to know that my writing challenges and/or stimulates you to think about Jesus. Thank you, Michael, I appreciate your good words :-).
I come back to find out which changes more often: your eschatology or your blogging format!
ReplyDelete:-)
Blessings,
Matt Waymeyer
Hey Matt,
DeleteI'm shocked, I didn't know you still read me ... cool :-)! Hope all is well.
By the way, my eschatology is staunchly amil; I can't see it changing for anything at this point. Bauckham has put me over the edge for good, I don't know how to overcome his insight, nor do I want to!
As far as my blog templates, well, that will probably continue to change ad infinitum ;-).
Glad you made your presence known; I have changed quite a bit since we first came into contact, eh?
By the way, Matt,
DeleteCongrats on attaining your position as Faculty at The Master's Seminary. I am happy for you! Do you think TMS would welcome someone like me on staff once I get my PhD ;-) (I'm kidding ... to be clear).