Just wanted to take some time to recommend some of our favorite blogs that we link to on our sidebar here at B&C. If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer they will be out of their proper place and down at the bottom of our blog--if you are using the official browser of Bread and Circuses, Firefox, you will find these links up in their rightful place near the top of the page. We believe that you will find some very thought provoking articles/posts on these blogs and also that you will be edified and blessed by them. All of these sites endeavor to keep things civil and Christ-honoring--we truly appreciate this kind of spirit among believers especially. I want to just introduce you to a couple of them at a time and give you my take on their content.Extreme Fundamental Makeover - This is a blog whose author is the pastor of a historic fundamental church in Illinois. Mike Hess and I went to Hyles Anderson College back in the early 90's. We met a couple of times, but did not really get to know each other very well during our college years--he was on-campus and I was off-campus. I discovered Mike through Sharper Iron and found the other blog he used to contribute to, The World From Our Window. Mike used to be very active in the Chicago bus ministry that FBCH runs--he was even a division leader within that ministry responsible for many Chicago bus routes. You will find that Mike has a heart for our Gracious Savior and a passion to help those caught in the clutches of cultural fundamentalism. Take some time to check out his blog--you will be glad that you did.
Neofundamentalist - This is a blog by three other pastors of historic fundamental churches with a burden for those caught in the web of IFBxdom. Thomas Pryde, Joel Tetreau, and Charlie Eldred have a knack for hitting the proverbial nail square on the head in regards to the hysteric fundies. I came into contact with Pastor Pryde through Sharper Iron as well--his blog will challenge many of the gray areas on which so many IFBxers oft dogmatically opine. Turns out that Thomas attended Hammond Baptist Grade School for a year back in the 80's! He even had the opportunity to preach a sermon to his fifth grade school class while enrolled there. I do not remember him, but I am sure that is only because he is so much older than me--just kidding. These young pastors share their burden for calling IFBers back to the sound exegesis of Scripture. Do yourself a favor and check to see if you are a Neofundamentalist and just haven't realized it yet--you may even begin to "Explore Proactive Fundamentalism!"
We will be highlighting the other blogs and sites we link to in the weeks ahead. Also, be sure to download the official web browser here under the big top in order to fully enjoy our circus.
Phineas
15 comments:
Matthew,
Thank you for the plug. Also, thank you for the work that you and Joshua put into B&C. I believe that this has become a source of truth and light to a great many people who I hope and pray begin to see through the fog of man centered ministry.
Likewise, I thank you for the plug, but there is one minor correction...we actually have three writers (both other ones seem to be fairly delinquent these days...but I digress). The other one is Joel Tetreau from Arizona...again, thanks, and may God bless your efforts.
Ooops...just noticed that you changed it...ignore me...everyone else does...
Tom,
Sorry for my original oversight--I did sneak back in and correct it yesterday evening. Once the fall semester begins, my brother Joshua will be so busy with his seminary classes at BJ that I will be flying solo as well. I am going to need to be very creative in order to keep things flowing--I may need some advice so keep checking your SI private messages!
Matthew
Edward,
Good to see that you are finally recognizing the fact that your former pastor was prideful to a fault.
Also, do I know you??? Have you ever talked to me personally about my experiences at HAC/FBCH? It would be rather presumptuous and inaccurate to say that I have not “gotten over” my experience at HAC. If what I experienced was so wrong and inaccurate, I would love to hear you refute the details of my experience that I have given on this blog and my own personal blog. You are more than welcome at any time to come over and visit.
I also fail to see where anyone (myself or neofundy) have made an attempt to “repackage” fundamentalism. This repackaging took place a few decades ago when the likes of Hyles and his militant cohorts decided to hijack historic fundamentalism and make it nothing more than a personality contest where non-accountable men were held up in high esteem almost to the levels of deification. Historic fundamentalists have always believed in church discipline and the accountability of their leaders – especially regarding cases where sin was covered up and where relationship were not above reproach. Culottes and Bible versions were never the measuring rods of whether someone was a fundamentalist or not.
Ed, you can point to your numbers all you want to. If your inflated and highly dubious numbers are going to continue to be the benchmark of what you see as God’s blessings then you and your church have a lot of catching up to do in order to catch the blessed of God Mormons who have grown at a rapid rate over the past decade. The bottom line is that Hyles and now his successor Schaap represent the hysteric side of fundamentalism that uses numbers as a crutch to build themselves instead of using the Gospel to build lives.
Have a fabulous day!
Mike
"I would not waste my time checking out these other malcontents...The Neo site is nothing more than a repackaging of Neo-Evangleicism."
LOL...there is a predictable response. What exactly is Neo-Evangelicalism to you, Ed? I dare say you cannot identify one area where I am truly Neo Evangelical, unless you count my beard and no tie in my picture...or perhaps that I use the NKJV...
"I do not agree with the idea that we can "sneak up" on those in the world by blending in with them."
I would agree with you whole heartedly. I am certainly not trying to sneak anywhere. In fact, I believe in a bold and radical difference between the Christian and the World. I believe that empty rhetoric should be replaced by gracious speech, business like expectations of numeric results should be replaced with concern for spiritual growth, and blind faith in that which God has never actually said should be replaced with absolute trust in only what He said.
I believe that we should be so separate from the world that our thinking and actions are radically different. Rather than look out for ourselves, we should die on the alter and work sacrificially for the benefit of one another. I believe that we must strive to reflect the glory of God in every single area of life by living out his communicable attributes, like love, faithfulness, mercy, justice, righteousness, holiness...etc.
"Everyone wants to soften fundamentalism today and I see no reason for it.
Not me! I want to solidify it on solid ground and proclaim everywhere that we will stand where God has directed us to stand, and we will not back down. However, we will also kick the nuts out the back door in the process.
"Christianity is no place for compromise...if you like to find the "middle ground" then you should make an honest living selling cars or as a politician and NOT as a pastor of a new testament church!
I agree...you should make certain that no one compromises and replaces what God says with man's opinion. You should make sure that man is never exalted above measure (for example...I remember getting a plaque with Hyles' picture on it and the inscription, "Pray for Power.")
No, Ed...I think the malcontent is most likely yourself. The more you bluster, the more you feel the error of your environment. This causes a more vehement reaction as you close your eyes to the truth and attack those who care deeply for you.
Eventually, you will wake up to see that you were simply a piece of meat to grind through and use up in advancing the programs of a man-centered work. You will realize that you were never really loved as a person as your usefulness is expended and you are increasingly marginalized.
I am sorry for you...
ryan: "Neofundy is not a New Evangelical"
matthew: you need to consider the source from which this accusation comes. To Edward anyone who does not march along with FBCH is labeled as a "New Evangelical".
I for one am a Neofundamentalist and enjoy the discussions over at exfide.
Matthew
Ed said:
"I would not waste my time checking out these other malcontents."
I betcha he will. He keeps coming back to this blog for a reason.
Ryan DeBarr, "Neofundy is not a New Evangelical. Even the most strict New Evangelicals would consider him to be unnecessarily divisive."
uhhhh thanks...I think...lol
Ryan...I didn't take it as an insult...it just made me laugh. It had a ring of a particular quote, "I know ______ and you, sir, are no _______." It is true that anyone who has read my stuff at all will readily attest that I am not a new evangelical by any stretch.
Of course, there are more than my fair share of fundamentalists that don't like the fact that I consider myself one...Oh well..."I just gotta be me!"
Ed,
Perhaps you are bored because you never engage in the conversation. You just continue to insult and spout rhetoric.
You asked in the previous post for someone to answer your observations regarding numbers in the Bible. I did, and I am still waiting your response.
Ed said..."It was a pleasure reacting with most of you here..."
Oh my I am rofling like crazy!!! Never was a more true statement typed...
Ed said..."It was a pleasure reacting with most of you here..."
Oh my I am rofling like crazy!!! Never was a more true statement typed...
Ed said..."It was a pleasure reacting with most of you here..."
Oh my I am rofling like crazy!!! Never was a more true statement typed...
Tom,
You must have really gotten a kick out of Edward! You might have a key that is sticking--you really shouldn't eat over top of your keyboard! I got a good laugh out of the same thing--this guy has some rich stuff!
Matthew
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