I think BWIII makes some good points but I agree he seems to come with his own bias as well. And at times misintereprets what Barna/Viola say.

I guess you will have to write the book with the middle view. I know a guy who can get it published.

diecast,
Mark’s statement doesn’t make sense when we consider Jesus’ own words in the sermon on the mount and the fact that He allowed Himself to be beaten and hung on a cross.

Thanks Mark. It doesn’t seem that Driscoll yet understands the kind of powerlessness that Jesus espoused.

BroM,
Send your money here for tickets.
Which guy would you put money on to win?

inheritor,
I am somewhere in the middle between BWIII and PC. Ben’s arguments for traditional structures seem as biased as Frank’s arguments against it.

ken,
There isn’t much middle ground with any of these guys. It seems that people either passionately agree with them or passionately disagree.

maria,
I erased the line in my post about too much testosterone in the air.
I didn’t want to offend my male readers.

mama’s boy,
I am probably in the minority in saying that the premise of Pagan Christianity was an important message for the church today. I agree with some of the critiques about things in the book, yet I wish that it didn’t overshadow the idea that most of the church practices of today are not scripturally mandated. Whether specific practices are a help or a hindrance in a particular context is an important discussion for today, and I appreciated Viola’s attempt to open that discussion.

MB

Happy 4th!

He takes cheap shots and just shouts louder than his (often unwilling) opponent. He also often says things that are half-truths, even quoting Scripture out of context when it suits his argument.

I didn’t like the Shack that much (and yes, I read it), but not because of some great theological issue. I recognize it’s pure fiction, so I cut the author some slack in that area. It was just a bit cheesy for my taste, though I certainly get why other people like the book so much. I have no problem with that.

However, Mark Driscoll, though he’s often painted as an emergent leader, is nothing of the sort. The guy doesn’t appear to have a discerning bone in his body, so he can’t see the good in anyone or anything unless they are just like him. He’s not gracious and doesn’t seem to have the ability to take the good and leave the bad. It’s always black-and-white (and, of course, he’s always right).

Thanks Grace for exposing the vast diverstiy of opinions and idiosyncracies being manifested in the church today as we undergo an incredible struggle of transformation from a somewhat static institutional model to a vibrant missional model that is to be once again relevant to a rapidly expanding diverse culture.

Unfortunately, I think the people who Christ is seeking find the church amusing and entertaining, but not in an attractional way.

Have a great 4th!

Happy 4th of July, Grace - I’m not sure if this a right thing to say, but I do hope you relax and enjoy the day.

We do worship Someone who got beat up, and He got beat up real bad, the Lamb that Isaiah spoke about - come on down from the cross and we’ll believe, the crowd yelled - it’s because He didn’t come down that I beleive.