Looking out the window, I see the dark outline of the temple slowly emerge against the pale light of the eastern sky. Some of the women are stirring and I suppose they are leaving for the tomb. The remaining torch casts a flickering shadow against the far wall and the noises of soft groaning and steady rocking are the only sounds that disturb the dark silence. I have not slept this night, nor have most of the others.
Should we understand the Triumphal Entry as a royal, messianic event? The most obvious indicator that the answer is “yes” may be the reference to the "Son of David" in Matt. 21:9. Additionally, in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, both Matthew and John explicitly quote Zech. 9:9.
The CPT has commissioned multiple worship pastors to write worship music that teach and celebrate the historic Christian doctrine of creation. The first of these songs was written by Caleb Widmer, a worship pastor from Oak Creek, WI. We are very proud of the work that Caleb has done, and we are excited to be able to share this resource with you.
“Behold, the handmaid of the Lord! Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38, KJV) ... I daresay that when many read Luke 1:38 today, they immediately think of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, or at least Hulu’s acclaimed screen adaptation of it. With thirty-six nominations and thirty-three wins, including the Golden Globe for Best Drama Television Series, “handmaid” now evokes the chilling story of Offred in fundamentalist Gilead. The men in charge of this nation are, of course, not truly Christian, but in the age in which we live, we cannot really blame our neighbors unfamiliar with the Gospel for drawing connections.
The Center for Pastor Theologians, in partnership with the John Templeton Foundation, is pleased to announce two student paper contests. The paper topics correspond to the 2017 and 2018 conference themes. See below for details about the topics, rewards, and rules for submission.
Fan response has been very strong to the new Star Wars movie, positive and negative. At some point, I will put an entry on my own blog about the narrative and aesthetic complaints. But as I skimmed through some of the fan-rants-turned-think-pieces, I noticed patterns of complaints that made me think of American churches.
The formal study of theology often begins with defining theology. This inevitably includes some discussion on how theology is “the study of God.” This definition, though technically correct and beneficial in the context of academia and the science of theology, is an inadequate portrayal of the meaning and goal of theology as presented in Scripture. No doubt the study of God is an important component of theology, but it is not the whole story. A holistic understanding of theology considers the source, context, and goal of theology.
The most significant patristic source of the Protestant Reformation was Augustine of Hippo. In centuries preceding the sixteenth, interest in Augustine had flowered, spawning a widespread attraction to his theology and the order(s) that bore his name. It’s no accident that Martin Luther was an Augustinian, as was Peter Martyr Vermigli. Moreover, we find in John Calvin’s writing, particularly his Institutes, a steady stream of citations from the old Bishop.
ARTICLE: The Medicine of Humility for Pastor Theologians
JUSTIN ARIEL BAILEY
PODCAST: An Always-Reforming Church
GAVIN ORTLUND
ARTICLE: Two Errors
DAVE MORLAN
NEWS: Announcing Two New Learning Cohorts
CPT NEWS UPDATE
