Comments on: A review of Repenting of Religion. By Gregory Boyd. Part 1. http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/ Bill Muehlenberg's commentary on issues of the day... Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:39:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bill Muehlenberg http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-253535 Bill Muehlenberg Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:14:47 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/#comment-253535 Thanks again Kim But I deal with exactly those issues in Part Two, so you better go have a read! http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-2/ Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch Thanks again Kim

But I deal with exactly those issues in Part Two, so you better go have a read!

www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-2/

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

]]> By: Kim Swanson http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-253534 Kim Swanson Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:12:14 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/#comment-253534 I will have to read part 2 but I do agree that love a proper sense of judgement go together but is that different than having a spirit of judgementalism - such as I believe the Pharisees had? My kids and I have had some interesting debates about this so interested to hear your views. We discussed the parallel he uses between homosexuality and overeating. What are your thoughts? Kim Swanson I will have to read part 2 but I do agree that love a proper sense of judgement go together but is that different than having a spirit of judgementalism – such as I believe the Pharisees had?

My kids and I have had some interesting debates about this so interested to hear your views. We discussed the parallel he uses between homosexuality and overeating. What are your thoughts?

Kim Swanson

]]> By: Bill Muehlenberg http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-253467 Bill Muehlenberg Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:04:22 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/#comment-253467 Thanks Kim In part 2 of this review I try to show that love and a proper sense of judgment in fact go together, and are not opposed to each other. But yes keep reading the book and let God speak as he will. Blessings Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch Thanks Kim

In part 2 of this review I try to show that love and a proper sense of judgment in fact go together, and are not opposed to each other. But yes keep reading the book and let God speak as he will. Blessings

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

]]> By: Kim Swanson http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-253464 Kim Swanson Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:33:23 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/#comment-253464 Hi Bill, I am just now reading the book and I am on page 95, so I still have to read the rest of the book to make any final determinations. But since I found your review today I thought I would make a comment now unless I forget. I appreciate your comments and I understand what you are saying. I went back and read some of the portions that you have commented on and I can see your point. But to be honest my thinking is similar to your last post – you need to take into account the entire book and its intent. Although I might disagree with some points of the book I can agree with the main thrust of the book which for me is to “turn from judgement to the Love of God”. But again I have not read the whole book and I am not much of a theologian. Even after having read 95 pages I am convicted of judgementalism and my need to increase my love walk so the book has already had an impact on me. I think that although we need to be as theologically accurate as possible we can always allow a teaching to impact us positively if we want it to. I also don’t know if we will always agree with every author – I certainly don’t. I don’t always agree with my Pastor’s teaching but I can take what I do agree with and let it change me. I also think it is good to have our thinking challenged at times so we do know what we believe. Not sure any of this makes sense but wanted to add my two cents worth. Thanks. Kim Swanson Hi Bill,
I am just now reading the book and I am on page 95, so I still have to read the rest of the book to make any final determinations. But since I found your review today I thought I would make a comment now unless I forget.
I appreciate your comments and I understand what you are saying. I went back and read some of the portions that you have commented on and I can see your point. But to be honest my thinking is similar to your last post – you need to take into account the entire book and its intent. Although I might disagree with some points of the book I can agree with the main thrust of the book which for me is to “turn from judgement to the Love of God”. But again I have not read the whole book and I am not much of a theologian. Even after having read 95 pages I am convicted of judgementalism and my need to increase my love walk so the book has already had an impact on me. I think that although we need to be as theologically accurate as possible we can always allow a teaching to impact us positively if we want it to. I also don’t know if we will always agree with every author – I certainly don’t. I don’t always agree with my Pastor’s teaching but I can take what I do agree with and let it change me. I also think it is good to have our thinking challenged at times so we do know what we believe.
Not sure any of this makes sense but wanted to add my two cents worth. Thanks.
Kim Swanson

]]> By: Bill Muehlenberg http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-160570 Bill Muehlenberg Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:45:43 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/#comment-160570 Thanks Dawn I guess I would offer two responses. First, every text must be understood in the light of its context. I Cor. 13 is part of a larger context, 1 Cor. 12-14, where Paul talks about spiritual gifts. These three chapters in turn are of course part of the whole epistle, in which Paul deals with divisions and problems at the Corinthian church. Thus Paul in 1 Cor. 13 appeals to love as a superior way, both in terms of addressing the contention issue of the gifts, as well as a way to tackle the disunity and conflict in the church as a whole. So that is the setting for the “love chapter”. Second, my point in the review is that we need to deal with God as he reveals himself in Scripture, and not just pick and choose those parts which we prefer. Paul said we must “proclaim the whole counsel of God”. The attributes of God are never pitted against one another, but must be taken together to describe God as he is. Thus God is a loving God, but he is also a holy God, a righteous God, a God who hates sin, and so on. We must take God in his entirety as he is presented to us in Scripture. When we emphasise just one attribute or aspect of God at the expense of the others, we misrepresent who God is, and we are guilty of chopping up the Bible to push an agenda – even if it is a good agenda. Yes love is a vital biblical theme, but it is never a mushy, sentimental notion of love. God’s love is a holy love which burns against sin and cannot stand to have wickedness or evil dwell in its presence. I hope that helps to explain my position a bit more. And don’t forget that I continue my review in part two, where I explain these matters further: http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-2/ Let me know if you still have queries. Thanks for your question. Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch Thanks Dawn

I guess I would offer two responses. First, every text must be understood in the light of its context. I Cor. 13 is part of a larger context, 1 Cor. 12-14, where Paul talks about spiritual gifts. These three chapters in turn are of course part of the whole epistle, in which Paul deals with divisions and problems at the Corinthian church.

Thus Paul in 1 Cor. 13 appeals to love as a superior way, both in terms of addressing the contention issue of the gifts, as well as a way to tackle the disunity and conflict in the church as a whole. So that is the setting for the “love chapter”.

Second, my point in the review is that we need to deal with God as he reveals himself in Scripture, and not just pick and choose those parts which we prefer. Paul said we must “proclaim the whole counsel of God”. The attributes of God are never pitted against one another, but must be taken together to describe God as he is. Thus God is a loving God, but he is also a holy God, a righteous God, a God who hates sin, and so on. We must take God in his entirety as he is presented to us in Scripture.

When we emphasise just one attribute or aspect of God at the expense of the others, we misrepresent who God is, and we are guilty of chopping up the Bible to push an agenda – even if it is a good agenda. Yes love is a vital biblical theme, but it is never a mushy, sentimental notion of love. God’s love is a holy love which burns against sin and cannot stand to have wickedness or evil dwell in its presence.

I hope that helps to explain my position a bit more. And don’t forget that I continue my review in part two, where I explain these matters further: www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-2/

Let me know if you still have queries. Thanks for your question.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

]]> By: Dawn http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-160526 Dawn Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:52:27 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/#comment-160526 I read this article on the review of Greg Boyd's book and I have to say, while I am not well versed in theology, I have to disagree with you that love shouldn't be elevated above all else. The other attributes of God are very important too, as you say, but, what about 1 Corinthians 13? Especially the part where it states this: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." How do you reconcile 1 Corinthians 13 with your review on the book? Thank you for your time. Dawn Marie I read this article on the review of Greg Boyd’s book and I have to say, while I am not well versed in theology, I have to disagree with you that love shouldn’t be elevated above all else. The other attributes of God are very important too, as you say, but, what about 1 Corinthians 13? Especially the part where it states this: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” How do you reconcile 1 Corinthians 13 with your review on the book? Thank you for your time.
Dawn Marie

]]> By: Bill Muehlenberg http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-990 Bill Muehlenberg Mon, 23 Oct 2006 02:47:31 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/#comment-990 Thanks Ewan Yes, I really did bend over backwards to be as fair and generous to this book as possible, given all my misgivings about it. You should have seen my earlier drafts! Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch Thanks Ewan
Yes, I really did bend over backwards to be as fair and generous to this book as possible, given all my misgivings about it. You should have seen my earlier drafts!
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

]]> By: Ewan http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-932 Ewan Sat, 21 Oct 2006 11:57:11 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/10/15/a-review-of-repenting-of-religion-by-gregory-boyd-part-1/#comment-932 All I can say is - you're a generous man Bill! Ewan McDonald, Victoria All I can say is – you’re a generous man Bill!

Ewan McDonald, Victoria

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