McKnight has a post on Andrew Bartlett's helpful book, Men and Women in Christ. Bartlett summarizes the six "pillars" of the arguments against women in church leadership and finds them wanting. You should certainly read McKnight's post, and check out the book. The summary is excellent & concise, as is McKnight's conclusion; "Silence proves nothing. … Continue reading Brief Review: Bartlett, Men and Women in Christ

Today is the 28th anniversary of the fall of Vukovar, one of the darkest chapters in the story of our region. Previous to the collapse of Yugoslavia, Vukovar was a prosperous city with a mixture of ethnic Croats and Serbs living there in relative harmony.  But Yugoslavia began to splinter after the death of Tito, … Continue reading The Battle of Vukovar

Following up on yesterday's post, "Church Planting and Church Health": One Croatian pastor recently described an attitude that he sees in the Croatian churches, a cultural characteristic that could affect how church planting is seen in the broader church community. His perception is that older Christians in Croatia are fearful of change, and younger Christians … Continue reading Church Culture & Church Planting

Something I have observed in American churches is that an emphasis on planting NEW churches benefits existing churches. But in some parts of the world--I think Croatia is one of them--this is counterintuitive.  Existing churches are suspicious of church planting, because they see the new church as a competitor.  Here in Croatia, there is a … Continue reading Church Planting and Church Health

One of the debates surrounding the historical study of the New Testament is over the New Testament canon, and whether it should be embraced enthusiastically, embraced critically, or rejected. This is because historians are supposed to be always looking for root causes and trying to examine the foundations of authority.  But the NT canon--the 27 … Continue reading Canon and New Testament Theology

The Biblical Institute believes three things. 1. That the church is God's chosen vehicle for saving the world. The church isn't perfect; it is filled with & led by imperfect people. But it is the means God has chosen. 2. That churches are healthier if they are led by men & women who are educated, … Continue reading Why Do We Do?

Ministry in places other than the USA can be stressful. Don't get me wrong. I love being in Croatia, and I love exploring the surrounding countries. This morning I rode the FlixBus through Slovenia to Graz, Austria. It's a beautiful trip, the hills & trees are just getting dressed in their fall colors. So I … Continue reading Ich esse bei McDonald’s (I Am Eating at McDonald’s)