So it has been nearly four months since I have blogged steadily. After outing myself from the Emergent conversation for theological reasons and taking two of their primary voices to task, life got in the way of consistently maintaining this space.

I’ve made a return appearance for a few reason: 1) to update my life; and 2) to share some projects that I am working on for the future.

First, since my last posting, I have finally graduated with my Master of Divinity (specialization in Church Planting and Development). After 3 years of Greek and Hebrew languages, Old Testament and New Testament exegesis, Systematic Theology and Practical Theology, I’ve made it to the end. Whew! I have yet to process that event, and think I will soon. I can say one thing, though: the person I was before this experience is very different than the person afterward. Perhaps that is inevitable. It is hard to imagine another scenario, me thinks, considering the amount of personal introspection, theologizing, and textual wrestling that occurs in an M.Div program. Hopefully I will have the chance at the end of the summer to contemplate that New J. Allen Bouma post-M.Div program.

Despite enduring 3 years of intense academic work I am not walking away so easily! While I am certainly not a professional student, I’ve continued my academic endeavors by extending my, professional with the Master of Theology program. The Th.M is designed to extend the M.Div in an academic field of choice. In my case Historical Theology. I have already completed Early Church and Reformation Church coursework. Currently, I completing coursework in the Medieval Church and Modern Church. This Fall I will focus on contemporary theology, as well as a Pauline Exegesis class. I will wrap-up with my thesis this spring on an unknown topic. So far I’ve written historical theological comparative examinations between Pelagius and Doug Pagitt, and Luther, Calvin, and NT Wright regarding justification. This summer I am writing similar comparative examinations between Thomas Aquinas and Open Theists, and Albrecht Ritschl and Brian McLaren.

I am continuing my education for three reasons: First, I am specifically interested in firmly grasping the historical progression of theology in the Church in order to adequately and competently contend for the historic Christian faith. Over the past decade, evangelicalism has suffered patent, audacious assaults upon this historic faith, through such movements as the Emerging Church. Through my initial education in this field, I have become increasingly disturbed by the willful disregard for the faith that both the Communion of Saints and Holy Spirit have given the 21st century Church. I wish to better understand this progression in order to better support and safeguard historic Christian orthodoxy.

Second, I wish to attain further academic study in this specific field in order to equip the Church pastorally. The majority of American Christians are woefully historically ignorant and many American churches neglect to teach the foundational elements of the Christian faith. I desire to stand in this gap by equipping members of a local congregation and broader Church to understand these elements and resist teaching that is inconsistent with the Holy Scriptures, Rule of Faith, and gospel of Jesus Christ. While I have already engaged such pedagogic efforts in my current pastoral teaching context, I recognize I need to be further equipped in order to better serve the Church.

Finally, because I desire to engage theological discourse at a higher level, I recognize the advantage of and need for being credentialed specifically in this field. Whether I adjunct at a local university, write for church leaders and congregants, or speak at church conferences centered on theology, it will be necessary to prove why my voice should be heard. While my work and conduct should certainly speak for themselves, possessing a Master of Theology will also be necessary for establishing that voice.

Aside from my education, I am launching out into what might be the most significant thing I have ever been part of, or will be for that matter: a church plant in urban Grand Rapids, called Church of the Resurrection. I’ll post more on this in the coming weeks, but the short of it is that we are visioning a community that sits at the intersection of where life happens in our southern GR community. We desire to be a church that is missionally engaging, theologically rooted, and biblically uncompromising in order to help people explore new life together in Jesus Christ. In about 3 weeks my wife, Melinda, and I head to Denver to complete the final part of our denominational courting process, the Covenant Assessment. It should be an intense 4 days, but also a good reflective time. While we believe God has given us a kernel of vision for church plant, we are also looking forward to a final exercise in discernment through the assessment. If all goes well there, we will head to Boston three weeks later for another 4 days of training, which should extend the training I have received through my seminary education. Again, I’ll post more on this later, but check out our digital spaces for more info: www.therezchurch.org and facebook.com/therezchurch.

In addition to this plant project I am in the process of putting a second book together that is based on my first, called “God’s Story of Rescue.” I originally anticipated it releasing this Fall, but will most likely see a release next Spring, to potentially coordinate with the launch of the church community. It will be a shirt book of around 150 pages that explores God’s Story of Rescue through creation, rebellion, rescue, and re-creation. It should be a good primer for many Christian, while also acting as a portal for non-Christians into the gospel. I am excited about this project and hope it will be well-received in Grand Rapids, where I will market and distribute. I also have vision for 6-series of shorts books (120 pages) that explore the six major components of that Story and the Christian faith, but that must wait for another year.

Needless to say life has been busy, progressing in an interesting ebb and flow. While there has been a struggle adjusting to post-M.Div life, especially while waiting for more clear direction on the job front, I am incredibly thankful for life, the good, rich life God has graciously wrapped me in.I am also incredibly thankful for a wife who is patient, encouraging, wise, and loving during this process of career exploration and transition. So thanks, darlin. I could not do this ebbing and flowing without you!

Though I have returned to my historical MIA self at novus•lumen, I’d like to come back and stay awhile. I’m glad the initial controversy of the year has died down, because I’d like to write about some other things that are more local and contextual to Grand Rapids, mainly my church plant visions and the way I perceive the missional needs of my city. Since I also consider myself a theologian in addition to a pastor, I’ll probably also make commentary on particular theological ruminations, commenting specifically on contemporary theological trends. Hey, I can’t help myself!