Author Archives: rthenderson

BLOG (6/8/14) WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THE ‘KINGDOM OF GOD’? Allow me to apologize in advance, just in case this all sounds insufferably arrogant to my readers, because I make no pretense at any impressive theological erudition … but … Continue reading →

BLOG. 6/4/14. THE CHURCH IS “NOT A TAME LION!” In C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia it is made quite clear that even though the lion Aslan is good, he certainly is not tame. It was not Aslan’s nature to … Continue reading →

BLOG 6/1/14. THE CHURCH’S INABILITY TO IMAGINE ANYTHING ELSE Face it: if one has no clear conception of what it is that Christ’s purpose is in ‘calling out’ a people—which is what the very word church means, i.e., “a people … Continue reading →

BLOG 5/29/14. WHEN IS THE CHURCH GOOD NEWS? … OR IS IT? In this global landscape of the 21st century, that is covered with all kinds of religious communities—from hugely impressive and life-giving communities, to border-line whack-o aberrations, all of … Continue reading →

BLOG 5/26/14. “HOW DID YOU BECOME SO PROGRESSIVE?” On this Memorial Day, I got asked the question again: “How did guy such as you, with your essentially traditional and conservative Christian-theological beliefs, and a product of the segregated South, become … Continue reading →

BLOG 5/21/14. (CONT.) A HUGE OVERSIGHT IN MY LAST BLOG The essence of the true Christian community, as an expression of God’s design for the redemption of the human community out of it’s brokenness, and its re-creation into that communion … Continue reading →

5/18/14. THE ‘ONE ANOTHER’ FACTOR DOESN’T COME EASILY OR QUICKLY Our whole digital, Facebook, twitter culture is simply the most current episode of de-personalized, or faux-relationships culture. Think back over the past several decades to such works as: Alone in … Continue reading →

BLOG 5/14/14. FREE TO COME OUT OF HIDING INTO COMMUNITY What with the evident universal quest after true relationships, there is so much unreality in the actual pathways we seek to find such. We have all kinds of faux relationships, … Continue reading →

5/11/14. WHAT I WISH I HAD KNOWN WHEN I STARTED (60 YEARS AGO). In recent months I have put into writing my memoirs for my family and a few close friends. In some ways it is a record of my … Continue reading →

5/7/14. DECLERGIFYING THE CHURCH … OR ELSE RECONCEIVING ‘CLERGY’ The report came from Pope Francis’ time in Brazil last year, that in a meeting with clergy there he told them: “that we need shepherds who participate in the life of … Continue reading →