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Comments (5)

I think like NT Wright, I really prefer listening to these guys lecture more than read their writings. Not that I don't like their writing, they are both very gifted, but instead their lectures convey such a strong pastoral heart that just is not conveyed in their writing. I am very encouraged that these pastors are writing serious theology, not out of an academic purpose (not that there is anything wrong with that) but out of a pastoral purpose. Pastoral theology has an important role in Christian thought that has often been missing in the last 50 years. It is something that I appreciated about Martin Marty, he was one of the last of the generation of scholars that were expected to have lead a pastorate before they began their academic careers.
Doesn't Ephesians 2:8-9 remind us that Christian belief rests in faith?

I'm not sure if another 30 minute presentation is going to convince some in that crowd of the validity of Scripture, that the God of this dimension/cosmos is the God of any dimension/cosmos, and that we humans cannot be God just because we say so. Each questioner came across to me as someone who was trying to "boast" about their intellect regarding spiritual things...they've made their choice.

Tim's strong points are really his endearing nature and his sympathy for questioners. He really tries to understand the questioner's position and thus wins their ear for his views. Amazing how many atheists sitting in the room - not a single Christian!
I love this kind of encounter. In my youth I was one of those smart aleck kids at the mic who thought he had an unbeatable argument. In reality, most of these people are going to go home with their minds swirling with questions and thoughts about God. Then God will arrange another confrontation and another until the individual concludes that something or someone in the universe is trying to get his attention. Tim is a seed planter, not a harvester. God bless him for that. It's hard to plant seeds day after day, but joy comes in knowing you are doing a job the Lord commissioned and someone else is coming behind to water and harvest. Also, I would say that intelligent apologetics is a great encourager to new Christians.
I think may of the questioners are "trained" by reading Dawkin Hitchen Harris.

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