Kelly Edmiston posts about violence, gender, and our images of God. 

A follow-up to the Rob Bell / hermeneutics discussion: Peter Enns clearly articulates a bunch of stuff that I've been mumbling about for years. http://www.peteenns.com/11-recurring-mistakes-in-the-debate-over-the-historical-adam-reprise/

In Conclusion: So what do I think? I hope the preceding survey, brief as it is, demonstrates that Rob Bell's approach to the Bible and to biblical authority is not a simple yes/no, does-he-or-doesn't-he question. The fact of the matter is: everything Bell does, theologically and hermeneutically, can be found elsewhere in the broad Judeo-Christian … Continue reading What We Talk About When We Talk About Rob Bell, pt 4

Let me tell you two stories. Story #1: about eight years ago, I had an infection.  I had a low grade fever that wouldn't go away.  Being a normal American male, I ignored it, figuring it would go away. It didn't go away. So I took Tylenol and Alieve, and the fever would go down … Continue reading “Don’t Be a Donkey!” (a sermon on Psalm 32)

Before leaving behind the topic of midrash and how Bell uses it: if we (Evangelicals) are going to gripe about the "liberties" Bell takes with the text, then we need to hold ourselves and other popular preachers to the same standard. Are we really willing to restrict ourselves only to the author's intended meaning when … Continue reading What We Talk About When We Talk About Rob Bell, Pt 3

Ideally, what should the purpose & focus of our Sunday morning services be?

Pt 2: But is he biblical? That's the question.  The answer in short: it depends on how you define "biblical". If "biblical" = Evangelical hermeneutics, the author's historically-determined intention for a passage governing the modern meaning and application, then no, he is not biblical. Of course, much of popular, Evangelical, "Bible-believing" Christianity is a heckuva lot more … Continue reading What We Talk About When We Talk About Rob Bell, pt 2

(I was going to name this series "What We Talk About When We Talk About What Rob Bell Talks About," but it was much longer (and much more meta) of a title than I could handle.) Pt 1: Introduction Without a doubt, Rob Bell is one of the most intriguing figures AND one of the most gifted … Continue reading What We Talk About When We Talk About Rob Bell, pt 1

I've often thought that preachers should read the Bible the way Roger Ebert watched (and preach the way Ebert wrote about) films. I've also often thought Werner Herzog was among the greatest artists of our time.  Watch Grizzly Man.  Watch Into the Abyss.  Tell me I'm wrong; this is film as poetry, film that shakes … Continue reading Ebert on Herzog