Head Vs. Heart Redux

I grew up in fundamentalist churches which lived by the creed that "we have no creed but Christ."  These same churches were not much interested in doctrine or theology (except when it came to refuting Mormons and JW's).  Those interested in doctrine had "head" knowledge, while Christians who were truly giving their all to Jesus had hearts filled with love.  One of things I really appreciated about Reformed theology when I first encountered it was that it allowed me to integrate mind and heart.

So, it came as a bit of a surprise when I came across this little "gem" on the Christian Reformed Church's website, "Church Planters or Undertakers?" (h.t. the Aquila Report).  The essay opens with this remarkable piece of insight.  "Too many seminaries are turning out graduates who are good preachers and can serve as the resident theologians of their churches, instead of graduating ministers whose heart and passion is to start new churches to help further the Kingdom of God."  I think I've heard this before.  If you have "head knowledge" and a heart of stone, you can read the article here:  Mind v. Heart

Speaking of integrating mind and heart, Rev. Wes Bradenhof has posted links to MP3 files of the Heidelberg Catechism.  This is a great way to learn the catechism.  The version of the catechism being used is the CanRC version.  Heidelberg Catechism on MP3

Gene Veith posted this the other day--A picture essay of the 50 most extraordinary churches in the world.  Some of these are pretty amazing.   50 Amazing Churches

Comments

[Nevada]

I think you are being a bit unfair to the article on the CRC's website. I happen to know Carl Bosma personally, and I am sure that you would be shocked to know what he advocates in church planting. While I cannot speak to the address mentioned in the article (I was not there), I can assure you that Bosma's definition of church planting includes a rigorous catechism of elders and deacons--not only in confessional matters but especially in Greek and Hebrew (Seriously, as a missionary to Brazil, he taught all of his elders and deacons Greek and Hebrew, and he used to suggest such means in an American context).

Furthermore, I have my doubts whether an untrained denominational reporter could do full justice to the nuances of seminary convocation address. Please read with a little more charity.

In full disclosure, I have to admit that as a member of the CRC, I perceived this to be simply another snipe from across the denominational fence. I will be the first to admit that the CRC has plenty of problems, but please stop this. I am tired of listening to URC ministers rag on the CRC.

["lee n. field"]

I have driven by St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church near Chicago. It is certainly eye catching.

Heidelberg Catechism audio -- I will check this out. The Resurgence (http://theresurgence.com, associated in some way with whatever it is that Mark Driscoll's doing in Seattle) did something called the Heidelberg Project 2 or 3 years ago. Each week for a year, a different person from a rotation of people read that weeks reading. Worth getting, though I'm not sure it's still available for download. I have it, and edited out each week's introductory verbiage, and concatenated them. Makes for a nice hour's listening.

CRC -- I will check this out. Though I miss my old congregation, as time goes on I've thought that it's been for the best that we moved away. I've watched the changes from afar, and we still get The Banner (they found us again, after I don't remember how many years).

[Kim Riddlebarger]

Nevada:

If you read this blog at all, you know that I rarely say anything about the CRC. It is not on my radar. I don't think it is on anybody's radar any more (frankly). The fact that the URC needs to exist at all is a sad commentary on the CRC's own history and decline.

It is also sad to see a denomination like the CRC which was so very good at being Reformed, do such an abysmal job of becoming a wannabe mainstream evangelical church. As long as you guys go down that road, the decline will continue, and more poorly thought-out things will be said about elevating subjective experience and the heart over a sound biblical theology.

Then you might as well just give up and become Pentecostals.

[Auk]

The pics of the churches are epic! The site has some other pretty funny photo essays...like the one comparing fast food adds to actual products...

Auk

[Zrim]

Nevada, as a (disgruntled) member of the CRC at ground zero in Little GRusalem, I can understand your angst. Some of the URC criticism of the CRC can be simply the funda-evangelicals sniping at the liberal-evangelicals, both of whom mistake the confessionalists as one or the other. But the CRC is largely an evangelical denomination, not a confessional one, and this sort of thing only demonstrates it. I'd be curious to know what you consider to be "the many problems of the CRC."

[walt]

"Too many seminaries are turning out graduates who are good preachers..."

If only...

[walt]

Zrim,

Now you can leave:
http://inthylight.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/sovereign-grace-new-urc-plant-on-ne-side-of-grand-rapids/

[Bruce Settergren]

Walt, your "If only" comment was exactly what I thought when I read that line of Bosma'.