Not long ago, author Ann Rice said she has decided to “quit being a Christian.” Her decision prompted many to ponder the current state of Christianity and the church.

In anticipation of the 2011 conference, The Bible Tells Me So, I recently blogged about errors and inconsistencies I’ve discovered in the Bible. My main point was that the Bible doesn’t have to be in all ways inerrant for God to use it when offering us salvation.

The Bible functions as key resource for helping me understand something about God and about life in general. But the errors I have discovered in the Bible prompt me to take care in how I think and talk about Scripture.

I’ve been thinking about the influence John Wesley’s theology has on my life. Here is my list of books that have been most influential in shaping my understanding of Wesleyan theology.

I’ve noticed that many who self-identify as emerging or emergent Christians emphasize following Jesus, pursuing Jesus’ way, or living a life that imitates Jesus. I like this emphasis.

I have long thought love the heart of a biblically oriented ethics. But an influential book by New Testament scholar, Richard Hays, argues otherwise.

I must admit: I’ve had a hard time containing my excitement. I’m pumped about “The Bible Tells Me So” conference next February, 2011!

Christians embrace diverse descriptions of holiness.  This diversity arises in part from diverse descriptions of holiness found in the Bible. In Relational Holiness: Responding to the Call of Love, my coauthor, Michael Lodahl, and I suggest that love is the core notion uniting these diverse understandings.

The emergent church movement has its fans and critics.  My own denomination has been engaged in discussions about the helpfulness of ideas and theology with the "emergent" label. Recently, denominational leadership released a statement on their own views of the emergent church.

For some time, Christians in the various arms of the Wesleyan tradition have pondered what they share in common.  The Wesleyan theological tradition is diverse, but it offers a distinctive vision of the gospel. And that vision differs from other Christian visions.