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Category Archives: Theology
Dallas Willard talks gospel, grace, and spiritual discipline
Dallas Willard (1935–2013) was among the greatest Christian writers of the last century, in my estimation. He was known for his accessible teachings on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and how to be in relationship with … Continue reading
John O’Donohue reads his poem “The Nativity”
Renowned Irish poet John O’Donohue (1956–2008) wrote a poem on each of the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary, a set of meditations on key events in the life of Jesus. These are published, along with other poems, in his 2001 … Continue reading
Christmas isn’t over
Excerpt from The Vigil: Keeping Watch in the Season of Christ’s Coming by Wendy M. Wright, pp. 116–17: The church does not abandon the celebration of Christmas on December twenty-sixth. Liturgically, the season stretches out for twelve more days and culminates … Continue reading
The Two Genealogies of Jesus, the Curse of Jeconiah, and the Royal Line of David
Several passages in the Hebrew Bible (which Christians refer to as the Old Testament) prophesy that David’s throne will be established forever: 2 Samuel 7:12–16; Psalm 89:3–4, 132:11; Isaiah 16:5; and Jeremiah 33:17. Jews, therefore, have taken that to mean … Continue reading
Jesus as the Root/Shoot/Branch of Jesse
The Tree of Jesse—a representation of Jesus’s genealogy in the form of a tree—was a popular subject in medieval Christian art. Its name derives from the messianic prophecy of Isaiah 11:1 and 10: “There shall come forth a shoot from … Continue reading
Nicholas Mynheer’s Glass Screen at Islip
In 2013 I wrote on Mynheer’s etched-glass screen of St. Nicholas and St. Edward the Confessor, which I had the privilege of seeing in situ. ArtWay has just published an adaptation of that article today, St. Nicholas’s feast day: http://www.artway.eu/content.php?id=2008&action=show&lang=en. … Continue reading
Posted in Theology, Western Art
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Roundup: Why I celebrate Advent; Advent songs for kids; the dark shadows of Christmas; new research on the Star of Bethlehem; adoring Christ
“Seven Reasons to Celebrate Advent” by Ryan Shelton: Many Protestant churches, including the one I grew up in, forgo the celebration of Advent and other seasons of the church year, unconvinced of their value. Like Mathis, I wasn’t introduced to … Continue reading
Posted in Music, Roundup, Theology
Tagged advent songs, christ comet, rain for roots, star of bethlehem, three wise men, w. david o. taylor
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Jesus, the church’s fiancé
Greg Boyd’s description of the church’s marital engagement to Christ on pages 121–26 of his book Benefit of the Doubt is one of the best I’ve read. Under the heading “Betrothed to the Beloved,” he explicates the meaning of the … Continue reading
Posted in Theology
Tagged betrothed to christ, bride of christ, gregory boyd, marriage supper of the lamb
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Book Review: Christ in Celtic Christianity, by Michael W. Herren and Shirley Ann Brown
Celtic has become a buzzword in today’s age, evoking romantic notions of a peaceful, inclusive, nature-loving Christianity practiced in the British Isles of the Early Middle Ages. Classicist Michael W. Herren and medieval art historian Shirley Ann Brown, however, do not … Continue reading
Why Jesus’s most incredible claim gained widespread acceptance
No major religion has a founder who claimed to be God, though some small short-lived cults have had them. While there have been self-deceived people in history who have made divine claims, they never were able to make their assertions … Continue reading
Posted in Apologetics, History, Theology
Tagged divinity of Jesus, origins of Christianity
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The Jesus Question 