Open and Relational Biblical Issues
Chad Bahl and I contributed a chapter to a massive handbook on postconservative interpretation. The book is aimed at college students, and our task was to sketch out an open and relational vision. Here’s what we wrote… Click for Book Info Open and Relational Hermeneutics Open and Relational […]
The Bible After Deconstruction
In God After Deconstruction, Tripp Fuller and I explore the problems scripture presents. We show that the Bible has errors, discrepancies, mistakes, and internal inconsistencies. It is not the sure and certain foundation so many people expect, and deconstructors are right to rethink scripture. But […]
Love is More than Desire or Devotion
In various publications and recently in Pluriform Love, I define love. My definition says love acts intentionally, in relational response to God and others, to promote overall well-being. Perhaps the most common alternative to my definition says love is desire. We find theologians and philosophers […]
John Wesley Says God Can’t
My recent book, God Can’t, makes the claim God can’t do some activities. Although this strikes some as unprecedented, John Wesley said it before I did. God Can’t in the Bible Biblical writers said “God can’t” before John Wesley and me. In various books and blogs, I’ve listed biblical passages that […]
A Wesleyan Approach to the Bible
If we took John Wesley’s use of the Bible as central to describing a Wesleyan doctrine of Scripture, what would we conclude? The answer to that question resides at the center of my living and thinking. Randy Maddox on John Wesley Perhaps the leading Wesleyan theologian of our time, Randy Maddox […]
Those Who Love Work With God
The idea God needs our cooperation is more common in the Bible than most realize. Because many assume God can accomplish tasks and establish relationships alone, they overlook it. But sometimes translators are to blame. Romans 8:28 is a great example of translator decisions that hide the […]
The Jesus Argument for God’s Relationality
Christians often say what they know best about God comes from the revelation of Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God is specially incarnated (Jn. 14:9). Those of us who think God is relational believe Jesus reveals a relational God. Jesus’ Compassion Scripture tells us that Jesus himself had compassion for […]
What Does “God is Relational” Mean?
If you read many theology books, you’ve likely come across many theologians who say God is relational. But it’s not always clear what being “relational” means. I believe God is relational, and here’s what I mean… In the past, theologians used various words as or near synonyms with “relational.” […]
Does the Bible Say God Controls?
I’ve been in conversation lately with people thinking through my theology of God’s uncontrolling love. Many like my view that God cannot control others. But they think the biblical writers say God sometimes controls. Two examples of God’s alleged control often arise in our conversations. Both are […]
(Unconvincing) Reasons Some Affirm Creatio Ex Nihilo
There are good and bad reasons people affirm the idea that God created the universe from nothing. Some have merit. But to me, none are finally convincing. In this essay, I’ll list three such reasons. I plan to address each in detail in my forthcoming book. And I’ll post other reasons in future […]