Parchment & Pen Blog

I have taught a Humanity and Sin course in The Theology Program many times. Before we begin our session on the theology of genders, I spend some time asking both the men and the women some questions. I don’t want people to think that this is necessarily leading anywhere so that their answers are not [...]

OK, I admit it: this is shameless of me. It’s tactless, mercenary, and almost despicable. Nevertheless, I’m going forth with it because I believe that, in this case, the ends justify the means. Not that I’ve changed my ethical convictions, but rather than the ends are so vital that a “certain moral flexibility” (as Martin [...]

I didn’t go to church this morning—one reason: my hair. My stylist has cut back her hours and her openings conflict with my schedule. A STYLIST? You have a stylist? Surely that would be the question for anyone who knows me. But without one, the honest truth is I would normally look a lot worse [...]

Of interest to the readers of Parchment & Pen: Christianity Today this week (April 23, 2008) published its article on the Greek New Testament manuscripts that the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (www.csntm.org) discovered in Albania last summer. It appeared both as a full-length interview in the on-line version of CT and [...]

Maybe they saw Stein’s movie.

From the very beginning of the Christian faith, believers’ commitment to Christ was often tested with their own blood. Stephen was the first casualty; James a few years later. During the Neronic persecutions, many believers— Peter and Paul among them—gave up their lives for Christ in the city of Rome. Whether this persecution officially went [...]

Interesting observations Zach makes in light of some ways blogging can be counterproductive to the Christian community: 1. Practice writing. Writing is a skill just like anything else. The more you do the better you get. The ability to formulate ideas and thoughts in a concise and understandable way is a foundational facet of our [...]

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is the highly anticipated Ben Stein documentary concerning the Intelligent Design (ID) movement. The ID movement describes a belief among many scientists that the supposition and/or conclusion of an Intelligent Designer makes more sense out of science than the alternatives. IDers have had a strong and rising presence in the Christian [...]

I learned something really important on day two of the Greer-Heard Forum: fried fish and dark beer taste even better when you’re sitting around a bunch of theologues. Thoughts of blood barely trickling through my arteries were squeezed out by images of Martin Luther engaged in his famous "table talk" enjoying a catch from Katie’s [...]

HT: Vassel of the King

Chuck talks about self-control at the Dallas Seminary chapel. I found this helpful considering my series on Christian attitudes. Listen to the end. This has a particular relevance to those in ministry.

It’s been a couple of weeks since you all heard from me, largely because I was preparing for the Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum, which took place the first weekend of April at New Orleans Baptist Seminary. The topic for the fourth annual Forum was the reliability of the NT manuscripts. The topic was not specified more [...]