Pisteuomen - πιστευομεν - T. Michael W. Halcomb

Recently, I was privileged to have a fruitful conversation with Dr. James McGrath, associate professor of religion at Butler University (IN). Among other things, we talked about theology, hermeneutics, creation vs. evolution and some of his new books. Do take a few minutes to read the convo and then, head on over to James's sites and have a look around: Exploring Our Matrix , The Burial of Jesus (Companion Site for the Book). Thanks to Dr. McGrath for taking some time out of his busy schedule to chat! Enjoy the discussion. * * * * * Michael : James thanks for taking the time to stop by Pisteuomen and chat. If you would, tell the readers of Pisteuomen a little bit about yourself (e.g. your faith background, your vocation and some of your interests, etc.). James : Thanks for inviting me to do this. I think if I answer this first question in full, I'll fill all the space you have set aside for this. But I'll try to keep it brief. I grew up in the Catholic Church, but drifted ...

I am quite enjoying the diablogue with James McGrath, Ken Brown and Drew Tatusko. It has been fun so far. I feel that at this point, I need to clarify some of my statements and perhaps, in the process of this crystallization, make a few more arguments concerning the topic at hand. Firstly, I never accused James of being a Universalist. Instead, I was arguing that given what he's said in the diablogue up to this point, he appears to be on the "fringes" of Universalism. Secondly, I have never argued against Abraham's salvation. In fact, I've noted a few times that he probably was saved. This becomes even more clear when I note that in God's mind, it is quite possible (theologically speaking) that the cross was as good as done before the foundations of the world. This is, of course, a debatable theological tenet that I'm proposing. More will be said about this in point 11. Thirdly, I disagree with both Ken and Drew that one can worship Christ or be a Christ-...

If you want to follow the conversation/debate, Ken Brown has compiled an in-order list. Click the following link to get there: Inclusivism Bloggersation . I want to start off by saying that my attempt to “label” James here is not pejorative. Instead, I am simply trying to use labels to clarify—not create division or anger. I trust James’ confession that he is a born-again, Jesus-loving, Christian. However, I do question some of his views and as you know, that’s why we are having this discussion in the first place (he also questions some of mine!). If anything, I hope that our diablogue exemplifies Christian civility while also showing that we can vehemently disagree with one another, even to the point of not accepting one another’s views. However, lest we get to the point where anything goes in Christianity, I am quite willing to say that there are things that do not go; I am quite willing to say that there are things that make Christianity distinct and that those things must be held o...

I'll reply in the next day or two with a more serious post but for now (to add some fun to our diablogue) here something a bit more lightweight: (Pic HT: Locusts&Honey ) The conversation thus far: Where This Diablogue Started: Michael ( When Politicians Say They're Christian ) Initial Reply: James ( Flaming Meteorite Challenge ) Second Reply: Michael ( A Response to James ) Third Response: James ( Community of the Saved or Salvation of the Community ) Fourth Reply: Michael ( A Rejoinder To James ) Fifth Response: James ( Continuing Diablogue About Salvation ) Sixth Reply: Michael ( The Ensuing Riposte with James ) Seventh Response: James ( A Brief Reply ) Eighth Reply: Michael (the current post) Some others who have joined in the convo: Ken Brown ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) and Drew Tatusko ( 1 ) ( 2 ).

The conversation thus far: Where This Diablogue Started: Michael ( When Politicians Say They're Christian ) Initial Reply: James ( Flaming Meteorite Challenge ) Second Reply: Michael ( A Response to James ) Third Response: James ( Community of the Saved or Salvation of the Community ) Fourth Reply: Michael ( A Rejoinder To James ) Fifth Response: James ( Continuing Diablogue About Salvation ) Sixth Reply: Michael (current post below) Some others who have joined in the convo: Ken Brown ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) and Drew Tatusko ( 1 ) ( 2 ). So, I should note at the start that I was not intending to make you out, James, to be one who holds the view that this was “only” a social matter. I was just suggesting that you were letting the “social” define what Paul says. I do not. I think the issue, in the main, is theological and that the social implications are a result. Thus, the theology is central while issues such as identity, boundaries, etc., are social and resultant. I hope I’m stating thi...

So, here's the order of the conversation thus far: Initial Post: James ( Flaming Meteorite Challenge ) First Reply: Michael ( A Response to James ) Second Response: James ( Community of the Saved or Salvation of the Community ) Third Reply: The current post (contents below) Some others who have joined in the convo: Ken Brown ( 1 ) ( 2 ) *[update] ( 3 ) and Drew Tatusko ( 1 ) *[update] ( 2 ). In his latest addition to our “blogalogue” or as McGrath calls it, a “blogversation”, James posits the idea that, “…it is not that Christianity is a group that one enters because only therein one can find salvation, but one enters it (either?) because it offers a community of those who have had a particular experience of God and are united by it, and invite others to have it.” Fundamentally, I disagree with this. Let me explain why. Firstly, while there is a communal aspect to the Church/Christianity, I think it a travesty to say that this is why one enters. The Body of Christ is more than a so...

In his initial post , James asked readers to take the “Flaming Meteorite Challenge”. He posited the following theory (in sum): If, just before Peter had reached Cornelius (a non-Jew; see Acts 10) a flaming meteor had struck him dead, would Cornelius, having already been “righteous enough to be noticed by God”, be included among or excluded from the saved? Probably, most of us have heard this question in one form or another. Usually, it tends to come up in debates between those who have high and low views of baptism. The one with the low view will ask the one with the high view, “So, if John Doe made a confession to Christ but didn’t have the chance to be baptized, you’re saying he wouldn’t be saved?” Personally, I don’t think the Scriptures answer this specific question. Probably, it would have been closer to the context to ask: If Cornelius’ chariot wheels came off and he wrecked and died, would he still be saved? (joking) Anyway… For Paul, salvation was a process (present, past and f...