Why Systematic Theologians Don’t Prioritize Love
In my recently published A Systematic Theology of Love, I say that, to my knowledge, this book is the first with that precise title. And few systematic theologians afford love preeminence in their work. Why is love not given prominence? I’ve not conducted an official survey to answer this question […]
My Response to Sanders on Omnipotence
I want to thank my friend John Sanders for his thoughtful critique of my recent book, The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence. See that critique here. In the following, I respond to John. His comments push me to be clearer, but I’m not convinced by his criticisms. I continue to find my […]
25th Anniversary of The Openness of God
This year marks the 25th anniversary of a book that continues to influence many: The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God (IVP). By “openness of God,” the authors mean God experiences the ongoing flow of time. Like us, God faces an open and not yet settled […]
An Experiencing God Knows All that’s Knowable
Open and relational theologies say God enjoys moment-by-moment experiences in relationship with others. This important idea affects how these theologies think about God’s knowledge. Open and relational theologies take seriously the reality of time’s forward flow. Not only is existence fundamentally […]
My Response to John Sanders
In an article published recently in the Wesleyan Theological Journal, John Sanders raises concerns about and criticizes my theological proposals in The Uncontrolling Love of God. In this essay, I answer his criticisms and explain my views in greater depth. Introduction The problem of evil is […]
Ways to Think about Providence
Christians have many ways to think about how God acts in creation (providence). Each way has implications for making sense of life in light of God’s love, power, and other attributes. But some ways are better than others. In my forthcoming book, The Uncontrolling Love of God, I identify seven models […]
The Future of Open Theology
Open theology has matured in many ways since the ground-breading publication of The Openness of God book twenty years ago. I’ve been thinking about what the next twenty years might be for open theology.
The Preeminence of Love in God
My version of open and relational theology says love is the preeminent attribute in God’s nature. As I read John Sanders’s work, he seems to think sovereignty precedes love in God’s nature.
Problems with Sanders’s View of Providence
My friend, John Sanders, has written a powerful proposal for understanding God’s providence. As an open and relational theologian myself, I agree with much of it. But there’s a key problem with his view…
John Sanders and Divine Providence
All who journey to open and relational theology ponder providence. Theologian John Sanders offers one of the most thorough and best-known theologies of providence written from an open and relational perspective. His book, The God Who Risks, has as its subtitle, A Theology of Divine Providence.