A Year of Blogging Theologically

Hello ladies and gents!

I trust all of you had a wonderful holiday season.

With 2008 now behind us and '09 before us I feel it appropriate to take a time out and reflect on where we've been and where I would like to see us go.

Technically I have not been blogging for a complete year since my first blog was in April, none the less, the last nine months of been challenging and were filled with many good and some bad blogging choices and many fantastic subjects I'd like to touch on.

'08

I began by reading, reviewing and growing theologically in my understand of the Atonement of Jesus Christ which has probably had the most return out of everything else I have discussed. The realization of Christus Victor as the over-arching Atonement Theory has literally revolutionized my theology.

Working in conjunction with the Christus Victor motif is Covenantalism (as opposed to Dispensationalism), the discussion of Law and Grace (Why Torah as Covenantal Charter), the biblical motif of Idolatry (though I have not written a blog on this subject yet - forth coming), and a defence of Arminianism (technically, I explained why I reject Calvinism); the scriptures are beginning to unfold for me in a way that makes them relatively coherent rather then the "chopped up", "pick and choose", "unrelated" book of facts I always treated it to be. In short, I'm almost thirty years old and my theology is finally beginning to come together - very exciting.

Of course I've made a few mistakes at times (the Local Pastor and Ex Cathedra comes to mind) and I often write with way too much emotions (review of Saving Darwin 2 comes to mind), but all in all I think this time of blogging has been very beneficial for me, and I hope for you as well.

'09

When I began to blog I had certain intentions - subjects I wanted to address right away - but then I got busy or other subjects popped up and things got jumbled around or I lost the resources necessary to write a well articulated blog (not lost so much as they are in storage and I haven't had time to dig them out). Not to mention other subjects that have taken on a great interest to me which I wanted to blog about, but not before I solidified myself enough in the subject that I could say - for an armature - that my views are educated ones. The following are subjects which I intend to blog about in the 2009 year, but my upcoming blogs are not restricted to these as other interest may take priority:

1. Open Theism: I have given open theology a fair hearing (probably devoting more time and money of books for and against Open Theism then any other subject except perhaps the History of the Bible), and I believe the views of Open Theist are at least worthy to be heard. In the words of one Arminian Theologian: the fanaticism against Open Theism is "over the top" and "I do not see what core doctrines of the Christian faith would be negatively affected by it". We'll explore that question one day soon hopefully.

2. The History of the Bible: If I were a pastor of an Evangelical church I would devote a minimum of one and probably two months annually to teach the congregation how we got the bible. Considering how important the scriptures are among Evangelicals I find it astounding how ignorant most of us are regarding the transmission of our most holy book! And with so many translations available and not to mention the continued lingering stench of "King James Onlyism" which is a devisive and legalistically binding and condemning issue in evangelicalism still to this very day (take it from me, working in a Christian book store - I know!), Christians need to know why they can trust Gods Word.

3. Inerrancy or Infallibality: I have a very high view of scripture, but I wonder how usefully the word "inerrancy" actually is, and whether or not it may actually be a damaging doctrine. After reading several books (by Evangelical authors - not Liberals!), I wish to explore this subject in the future.

4. Others: I would also like to explore other subjects I'll briefly note here: Heaven and the Resurrection; Evil and God; Genesis 1-6; Ancient Israel - Polytheistic or Monotheistic?; Biblical Idolatry; the so-called New Perspective on Paul; and many more subjects.

I look forward to a fruitful and blessed year; pray for me, and I for you.

Derek