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Sunny California


I'm settled into a church family's house here in Valencia, and boy is it great. I like listening to my pastor talk about theology. He is also a wonderful counselor, and has been helping me work with some of my personal problems (yes, I know it's hard to believe, but I do have problems). Here is his blog site, if anybody is interested: The Craw. Also, here is the website of my church, along with its blog: Saint Andrew's Community Church, The Chronicles of Saint Andrews. In the meantime, I have been reading The Shape of Sola Scriptura by Mathison, who also wrote Given For You. Both of these books have had an enourmous impact on me, and I strongly encourage all of you to get out and read The Shape of Sola Scriptura, particularly if you've ever struggled with the authority of the Bible, and how it squares away with church tradition. The thesis is that most evangelicals treat the issue of the Bible and tradition wrongly, particularly those in radically reformed churches, such as Baptist/Mennonite/Amish circles.

The picture above shows a park that is right across the street from where I am living. Valencia is truly a beautiful place!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Well, I would look at The Shape of Sola Scriptura, but my library doesn't have it.

grr...
February 5, 2007 at 2:15 PM
Yokanchi said…
Libraries can request books you know, Chandler.
February 5, 2007 at 6:33 PM
Anonymous said…
Yes they can, but this book isn't available for inter-library loans. Also, the library never buys the books I request. *sigh*
February 5, 2007 at 8:28 PM
Anonymous said…
What do you mean in your profile by "not a normal upbringing"?
February 6, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Yokanchi said…
weird, do you know why?
February 6, 2007 at 4:26 PM
Anonymous said…
Why?
February 6, 2007 at 7:08 PM
Anonymous said…
Curious, Deric: What constitutes a church being "radically" reformed, beyond being Baptist, Mennonite or Amish? I'm not entirely familiar with that phrase. (Yes, I know -- I should probably just go read the book and then I'll find out!)
February 9, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Unknown said…
Excellent question, my friend. The official Wikipedia definition of the radical reformation is: "The Radical Reformation was a 16th century response to both the perceived corruption in the Roman Catholic Church and the expanding Protestant movement led by Martin Luther. Focused primarily on the peasant class of Germany and the Low Countries, the Radical Reformation birthed many Anabaptist groups throughout Christendom." They are that group of people who, unlike the more mainstream protestants, such as the followers of Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, rejected church authority altogether: the Anabaptists. Early forms of Anabaptists were those who followed Leiden and the Batenburgers. Later forms include Mennonites, Hutterites, and Amish. There are forms of radical reformers that do not derive from the Anabaptists, such as the early Unitarians, but for the most part the Radical Reformation can be equated with Anabaptist groups and subgroups.
February 9, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Anonymous said…
Ahh... the infamous so-called "re-baptizers".
February 11, 2007 at 8:01 AM
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