Henry Center and "Young, Restless, Reformed" Around the Web

Trinity International University's Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding now has a blog. Last month the Center's director, Douglas Sweeney spoke with Collin Hansen, author of Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists about the surge of interest in and passion about Reformed theology among people in their 20's and 30's. Among the encouraging topics discussed is the recovery of the model of the pastor as theologian and biblically/theologically-driven ministry. A Q & A session follows their interaction. I had the good fortune of attending the event and, thanks to the folks at the Henry Center, you can listen to or view it.

Another noteworthy interview of Collin worth listening to is that conducted by Tim Brister:

Interview with Collin Hansen, Part One
Interview with Collin Hansen, Part Two
Interview with Collin Hansen, Part Three

Christianity Today also recently published an irenic and informative exchange between Collin and Tony Jones, author of The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier, in which they discuss their books and respective movements: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

Technorati Tags: Henry Center for Theological Understanding Trinity International University Collin Hansen Tony Jones Young, Restless, Reformed The New Christians Reformed theology Emerging Church Emergent Church

Brian McLaren on the Emerging Church

USA Today carries a condensed version of a recent interview with the Associated Press in which McLaren discusses his latest book and the emerging church's impact on America's religious landscape.[HT: SharperIron]. Perhaps the following non-answer is due to editing but I have my doubts:

Q: On the theology behind the emerging church, you reject the idea that there's an absolute truth. So what boundaries are there on theology that churches are teaching? Can any church just call itself an emerging church?

A: Obviously that's a challenge. The flip side of that question is look at the Catholic Church: For all of its orthodoxy, it could have bishops covering up for molesting priests. And evangelicals, for all their claims of orthodoxy, can be barbaric to gay people and can blindly support a rush to war in Iraq and can be, as we speak, fomenting for war with Iran. ... Obviously, I have a lot of critics and they often say, 'You're wanting to water down the Gospel to accommodate to post-modernity.' I say, 'No, I really don't want to do that. But what I do want to do is acknowledge first the ways we've already watered down the Gospel to accommodate modernity.' ... I think the naivete of some of those critics is that they're starting with a pure pristine understanding of the Gospel. It seems to me we're all in danger of screwing up.

Technorati Tags: Brian McLaren emerging church emergent church

Why They're Not Emergent

Jonathan Leeman of 9Marks reviews Kevin DeYoung's & Ted Kluck's new book, Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be).

Technorati Tags: Emerging Church, Emergent Church, Christian books, theology, postmodernism, Why We're Not Emergent

Funny... but True?

The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus:

(HT: Steve Bishop)

Emergent-See

If you haven't seen the Pyromaniacs' new line of motivational posters for emerging Christians, take a look

Gordon Lewis Responds to Scot McKnight

In case it doesn't get published in its entirety, Doug Groothuis posts a letter to Christianity Today from Gordon Lewis in response to Scot McKnight's article, "Five Streams of the Emergent Church."

"Some Conversations Simply Aren't Worth Joining"

I've gotten out of the habit of linking to the Pyromaniacs because I assume that everyone already reads them. However, for the sake of the one or two of you who don't make it a point to check their musings on a regular basis, Phil Johnson has a fine post on why the "Emergent Conversation" is going nowhere.