The American Baptism of Secularization (Or The Baptism of American Secularization)

Instead of fighting it, baptize and bless it: "The question of Christianity and civilization was complicated.  Mid-nineteenth-century Western culture was in the midst of a process of secularization - by which is meant a trend away from distinctly Christian influences.  The magnitude of the revolution was, as Martin Marty points out, 'comparable to the Renaissance …

Students of Emergent (Emerging Students?)

I know some of you might disagree, but I'm pretty convinced that we can learn quite a bit from the Emergent movement.  Of course, the Emergent movement is quite "liquid," so I guess I tend to appreciate the more orthodox side of it - I learn more from those who are more faithful to Scripture, in other words.  I've mentioned …

Deep Church (Brief Review)

Yesterday I had the pleasure of reading Jim Belcher's Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional (Downers Grove: IVP, 2009).  I just learned about it a few weeks ago and after checking it out on Amazon, I thought I should get it since I enjoy reading 21st century books about "church."  I've read quite a bit …