a time to tear down | A Time to Build Up - Latest Comments

Re: Barna Survey on Young Adults Leaving the Church

Lee — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:46:15 -0000

If these weren't the reasons, they would find others. We should not attempt to cater to anyone's need for "experience"!

Re: Just Sit There

Brad — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:34:46 -0000

Hi Doctor Enns. As a former student of yours, I'm fascinated with your work and can't wait to read your latest due shortly. However, I'm wondering why we're not literally digging deeper. Prior to attending Westminster, I took various Archaeology, Anthropology, and Sociology classes undergrad. And just like the interpretation of various hebrew words, did students interpret artifacts, features, and bones. I do think a time comes in the life of a Christian where he or she ponders the concept of social location in an existential wilderness. I think we need to examine various cultural and contextual apparatuses from the vantage point of Paul (who felt like he was regarded the scum of the earth at times) Jesus, who had no place to lay his head, and the exiled John. I'd like to see conversations like, why is the blue whale at the Museum of Natural History modeled in the flesh, so to speak, whereas many whales have the skeletal similarities of Dinosaurs. How about North American Paleo Indians, purportedly hunting 8500 yrs ago? Why is the half life of C14...5000 yrs? Then there's "Justification," held to like a form of belief or "ism" when really Paul may have been using this term practically in a negative sense, since we are all legal creatures, largely involved in the act of self justification. It certainly is a call for evaluation, yet our current culture makes this evaluation positively for a goal of success over against the concept of delay of self gratification in order to avert cycles that make one unproductive. And the first one with a popular roadmap on the mechanics of success, whether evangelical or atheistic gets the prize. Such is not the call of Job in his distress, who felt like a sea monster. I think I'm going to write a book to cycle through the scholasticism taken for granted, community by community. Please guide me to any literature that doesn't combine science with social justice. I don't think there is any.
Affectionately, Brad Winslow

Re: The Benefit of Doubt: Coming to Terms with Faith in a Postmodern Era

houston emergency room — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 04:46:32 -0000

Pretty good post! I enjoyed reading this post. This post is exactly what I'm looking for to read about very informative. I'll look forward for your next post. Thanks

Re: Al Mohler on the Bible and Evolution

Amcleay — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:58:55 -0000

A brilliant post. Mohler et al may believe that by 'holding the line' against evolution they are protecting the faith and safeguarding the Church. Anecdotally at least I've seen plenty of indication to the contrary: the fact that prominent leaders like Mohler still dispute well-established science leads many to conclude the new atheists are right: Christianity is anti-rational, close-minded and stuck in the past. What's the effect of this on the countless who are questioning, doubting, struggling with their faith, or wondering why Christianity should be given consideration?

Re: Interview: My Ecclesiastes Commentary: Be There

Kurt Willems — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:22:15 -0000

Its been a popular series! Thanks again Peter!

Re: Moving to Patheos

Brandon Withrow — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 22:42:34 -0000

Sounds like a good move.

Re: Moving to Patheos

Ben S — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:10:52 -0000

Nice! I used to be the Mormon Portal editor there. (We met in NYC at your NYAC lecture. I hung around and asked you about Paul's view on Adam and death before the fall...)

Re: Moving to Patheos

peteenns — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:41:24 -0000

Thanks, James. I may be over to borrow a cup of sugar or something.

Re: Moving to Patheos

James F. McGrath — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:39:16 -0000

I look forward to seeing you 'round the "neighborhood"! :-)

Re: New Bible Curriculum “Telling God’s Story” coming in February 2011

careforall — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:09:22 -0000

I just finished reading Telling God's Story (beautifully and impeccably written; concise yet thorough).
I not only feel inspired and encouraged in my calling to teach my children the Word because of the sensible approach presented, but I was also refreshed in my own journey of faith. Thanks so much for making this guidebook available.
I'll be looking for your middle school teaching tools. :)

Re: Have Evangelicals Made the Bible Impossible? (a sociologist says “yes”)

Richard — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 10:52:16 -0000

It sounds an interesting read, I first heard of it from The Gospel Coalition when Kevin DeYoung reviewed it.

Re: Have Evangelicals Made the Bible Impossible? (a sociologist says “yes”)

Richard Heyduck — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:47:42 -0000

Since I don't buy into the divorce between the descriptive and the normative, I don't have trouble thinking it's possible. I was just curious how he did it. I guess I'll find out when I read the book.

Re: Have Evangelicals Made the Bible Impossible? (a sociologist says “yes”)

peteenns — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:05:42 -0000

Richard, I suppose the question is "why can't he?" He may be in a unique position to see things more clearly. But, more importantly, publishers pick titles to grab readers' attention.

Re: Have Evangelicals Made the Bible Impossible? (a sociologist says “yes”)

Richard Heyduck — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:21:34 -0000

How does his sociological account defend the apparently normative claim of his subtitle?

Re: Have Evangelicals Made the Bible Impossible? (a sociologist says “yes”)

carsontclark — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:14:19 -0000

I got linked over here from a comment under my blog post. Glad I did. Definitely want to read this book... And if anyone wants to read that post, here's the link:

"Miniblog #71: The Bible is 'Man-Made'"
http://carsontclark.wordpress....

Re: Have Evangelicals Made the Bible Impossible? (a sociologist says “yes”)

peteenns — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:52:59 -0000

It is easily accessible--far easier than GWHW. Also, it is not a book that argues anything about the Bible from the Bible, but more observes evangelical behavior. So, comparing to GWHW and I&I is comparing apples and oranges.

Re: Have Evangelicals Made the Bible Impossible? (a sociologist says “yes”)

AHH — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:06:59 -0000

So is this an academic tome, or something that could be appreciated by the somewhat informed layman? How does it compare (in terms of, for example, background knowledge required or theological complexity) to your I & I, or to Kenton Sparks' "God's Word in Human Words"?

Re: Have Evangelicals Made the Bible Impossible? (a sociologist says “yes”)

Mike Beidler — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:53:45 -0000

Thanks for the lead, Pete! Consider it on my Amazon wishlist.

Re: Pre-order Ecclesiastes and Evolution of Adam

Patrick — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:26:48 -0000

I hope a get a book instead of a car. Books are much more enjoyable.

Re: Starting on a New Book

Jace — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:45:34 -0000

I want to see you and Al in a boxing ring. That would be more fun. Still I will read the book anyway (If Bird is writing, I am reading :)

Re: Starting on a New Book

John H. Armstrong — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 22:57:12 -0000

2013 seems too far off the get excited but I am anyway.

Re: Starting on a New Book

peteenns — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 20:41:17 -0000

I doubt it, Paul, for, you see, the fate of the gospel lies in the balance. 2000 years of history, all coming down to this.

Re: Starting on a New Book

peteenns — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 20:40:32 -0000

We all gave our list of passages we would like to see covered and will find out in a couple of months. If my passages don't get picked I plan on pitching a fit.

Re: Starting on a New Book

Paul Bruggink — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 20:35:53 -0000

I will really be looking forward to this book. In the meantime, I thoroughly enjoyed your announcement. Will Counterpoints let you write your portions of the book in the same inimitable style?

Re: Starting on a New Book

Mike Beidler — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 20:13:34 -0000

What will the three passages be, if I may be so bold? Would love to take a look at them beforehand (by several years) and conjure up my own thoughts.