Comments for William Molenaar http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com Theology. Spirituality. Random things of life. Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:48:40 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on PC or MAC? by travis tiner http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/pc-or-mac/#comment-175 travis tiner Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:48:40 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/pc-or-mac/#comment-175 Hi William, enjoyed checking out your blog and can relate to your wanting to teach theology. Making a living at studying and teaching others about Jesus, and the gospel would be amazing. Some of my favorite authors are Driscoll, Piper and D.A. Carson, but I'm always on the lookout for informed opinions. Any suggestions? Keep up the good work! My Best, Travis Tiner Hi William,

enjoyed checking out your blog and can relate to your wanting to teach theology. Making a living at studying and teaching others about Jesus, and the gospel would be amazing. Some of my favorite authors are Driscoll, Piper and D.A. Carson, but I’m always on the lookout for informed opinions. Any suggestions?

Keep up the good work!

My Best,

Travis Tiner

]]> Comment on Stanley M. Horton on General Council 2009 Res. 2 by Dale Brueggemann http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/horton/#comment-173 Dale Brueggemann Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:13:02 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-173 See this argument, from John Piper: http://www.reallifeboston.com/getinvolved/LetTheNationsBeGlad.pdf See this argument, from John Piper: http://www.reallifeboston.com/getinvolved/LetTheNationsBeGlad.pdf

]]> Comment on Stanley M. Horton on General Council 2009 Res. 2 by Dale Brueggemann http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/horton/#comment-172 Dale Brueggemann Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:09:10 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-172 Oops! Left out my blog, which is http://dalebrueggemann.blogspot.com/ Oops! Left out my blog, which is http://dalebrueggemann.blogspot.com/

]]> Comment on Stanley M. Horton on General Council 2009 Res. 2 by Dale Brueggemann http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/horton/#comment-171 Dale Brueggemann Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:08:37 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-171 I'm followiing this on my own blog. But rather than attempting to discuss this in terms of the AoG's historical approach to the issue, I'm trying to discuss it as a biblical-theological question. I’m followiing this on my own blog. But rather than attempting to discuss this in terms of the AoG’s historical approach to the issue, I’m trying to discuss it as a biblical-theological question.

]]> Comment on Stanley M. Horton on General Council 2009 Res. 2 by William Molenaar http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/horton/#comment-167 William Molenaar Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:37:29 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-167 You said: "I think that putting evangelism first on the list probably invokes church service evangelism in the minds of many people since we have a long history of that approach." Well, with that line of thinking, "worship" can be charged with a similar challenge since "it probably invokes 'singing songs time' in a church service in the minds of many people since we have a long history of that approach." This looks like a straw man argument to me; the Constitution obviously does not define "evangelism" in this narrow and exclusive way, especially since it specifically says that it is the prerogative of the Assemblies of God "to encourage and promote...." With an integrated approach, the list is sound in whatever order (maybe making them bullet points will calm the analytical types [like myself]). Nevertheless, in regards to the Assemblies of God's historical and contemporary "reason-for-being" as an organic organization of believers, the driving motivation is to fulfill the Great Commission with greater effectiveness as a Spirit-empowered cooperative fellowship. Thanks for your comments Bob! You said: “I think that putting evangelism first on the list probably invokes church service evangelism in the minds of many people since we have a long history of that approach.” Well, with that line of thinking, “worship” can be charged with a similar challenge since “it probably invokes ’singing songs time’ in a church service in the minds of many people since we have a long history of that approach.” This looks like a straw man argument to me; the Constitution obviously does not define “evangelism” in this narrow and exclusive way, especially since it specifically says that it is the prerogative of the Assemblies of God “to encourage and promote….”

With an integrated approach, the list is sound in whatever order (maybe making them bullet points will calm the analytical types [like myself]). Nevertheless, in regards to the Assemblies of God’s historical and contemporary “reason-for-being” as an organic organization of believers, the driving motivation is to fulfill the Great Commission with greater effectiveness as a Spirit-empowered cooperative fellowship.

Thanks for your comments Bob!

]]> Comment on Stanley M. Horton on General Council 2009 Res. 2 by Bob Caldwell http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/horton/#comment-166 Bob Caldwell Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:40:22 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-166 I don't think I am using a straw man argument. My only point is that is that putting training believers before evangelism fits the concept of believer evangelism better. Further, I think that putting evangelism first on the list probably invokes church service evangelism in the minds of many people since we have a long history of that approach. But I agree completely that an integrated model is best. Unfortunately, any time you make a list, people read priorities into it. And that's what the Ohio District is addressing. Perhaps we would be better off re-writing the whole thing to make it not a list. And, as I said, this is not important enough to shed blood over. BTW, thanks for posting this to begin with. I don’t think I am using a straw man argument. My only point is that is that putting training believers before evangelism fits the concept of believer evangelism better. Further, I think that putting evangelism first on the list probably invokes church service evangelism in the minds of many people since we have a long history of that approach.

But I agree completely that an integrated model is best. Unfortunately, any time you make a list, people read priorities into it. And that’s what the Ohio District is addressing. Perhaps we would be better off re-writing the whole thing to make it not a list.

And, as I said, this is not important enough to shed blood over.

BTW, thanks for posting this to begin with.

]]> Comment on Stanley M. Horton on General Council 2009 Res. 2 by William Molenaar http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/horton/#comment-165 William Molenaar Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:29:41 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-165 Don't we get "the mission of the Church" in an integrated way in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20)? I wish to see the concepts of worship, discipleship, and evangelism integrated. At the same time, I believe the Assemblies of God can validly and should uphold its historical and contemporary identity as a Spirit-empowered community of believers focused and concentrated on fulfilling the Great Commission in this integrated manner! No where in our Constitution does it say that some sort of non-human institution evangelizes, the church is understood as believers...I think you are using a straw man argument. Don’t we get “the mission of the Church” in an integrated way in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20)? I wish to see the concepts of worship, discipleship, and evangelism integrated. At the same time, I believe the Assemblies of God can validly and should uphold its historical and contemporary identity as a Spirit-empowered community of believers focused and concentrated on fulfilling the Great Commission in this integrated manner!

No where in our Constitution does it say that some sort of non-human institution evangelizes, the church is understood as believers…I think you are using a straw man argument.

]]> Comment on Stanley M. Horton on General Council 2009 Res. 2 by Bob Caldwell http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/horton/#comment-164 Bob Caldwell Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:22:06 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-164 If I were writing from scratch a mission of the church, promoting the worship of God would definitely be first. I could even make the case that building up believers should come before evangelism. This would declare that the church equips believers to evangelize, not that the church evangelizes. However, as George Wood said on his page, this is not a hill to die over. If I were the author, I would be ready to withdraw the resolution if things got hot. If I were writing from scratch a mission of the church, promoting the worship of God would definitely be first. I could even make the case that building up believers should come before evangelism. This would declare that the church equips believers to evangelize, not that the church evangelizes.

However, as George Wood said on his page, this is not a hill to die over. If I were the author, I would be ready to withdraw the resolution if things got hot.

]]> Comment on Stanley M. Horton on General Council 2009 Res. 2 by rbeaty http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/horton/#comment-163 rbeaty Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:53:19 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-163 Amen sir! i completely agree with you and the esteemed Dr. Horton. Amen sir! i completely agree with you and the esteemed Dr. Horton.

]]> Comment on Review: Pentecostalism in the U.S. Pt.1 by TKWI http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/rybarczyk/#comment-157 TKWI Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:06:44 +0000 http://williammolenaar.wordpress.com/?p=212#comment-157 This sounds very interesting. I am going to add it to my reading list as I am new to the Pentecostal Faith and studying the denominations within. This sounds very interesting. I am going to add it to my reading list as I am new to the Pentecostal Faith and studying the denominations within.

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