Essay

1103 RESULTS

Sep 1, 2006 Making the most of college (first annual)

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Making the most of college: writing with purpose

Where art has it over life is in the matter of editing (Larry McMurtry, “‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ and the Movie-Less Novelists,” 1987). At its best, good writing develops good character. Today, Jeffry C. Davis suggest five ways that a faith-filled student can transform college into something worth the time, money, and effort—to the glory of God. And each of his proposals depends, to greater or lesser degrees, upon the careful use of words.

Jun 1, 2006 Reading the Bible

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Reading the Bible . . . and articulating a worldview

The story of the Bible tells us the way the world really is—a normative claim, a public truth. But it needs to be understood as one single unfolding story; if reduced to a collection of moral bits, systematic-theological bits, devotional bits, historical-critical bits, narrative bits, and homiletical bits, it can easily be absorbed into the reigning story of culture instead of challenging it. Then, of course, the Christian’s basic beliefs in the biblical story must form the blueprint through which s/he sees human existence and the cultural task. In other words, articulating a worldview is the natural answering of life’s most foundational questions. Here’s how.

Jun 1, 2006 Reading the Bible

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Reading the Bible . . . and listening for the Spirit

How can discerning readers of the Bible know that they are properly interpreting Biblical texts? With so many interpretative approaches out there, it’s important to be taught some of the common mistakes of private Scripture reading . . . and then to remember both the basic clarity of Scripture, and the Spirit’s work in helping understand divine things.

Jun 1, 2006 Reading the Bible

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Neocalvinism . . . No: Why I am not a neocalvinist

Neocalvinism is a tradition detached from the broader and longer, western intellectual tradition. It’s detached from its confessional roots, and from a catholic understanding of church. Most of all, it’s detached from ecclesial community. Is it truly a mere publishing project, with a view to variously showing signs of vitality or allowing evangelicals to recover a Christian mind? Neocalvinism . . . Dan Knauss replies, “Just say, ‘No.'”

Jun 1, 2006 Reading the Bible

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Neocalvinism . . . Yes: Do we have a choice?

Hearkening back to neocalvinism’s salad days in the first fifty years of 20th-century Dutch society, Dr. Harry Van Dyke offers up neocalvinism at its best. Van Dyke’s is a vision of neocalvinism as an ecumenical project whereby Christians of various confessions may join together in associations and institutions, to confront and transform culture—in homes, markets, farms, the arts, labour, churches, states, and schools and universities.