Atonement fights brewing?

On page 65 (2nd ed.) under the sub heading "What 'Good News'?" Camp takes aim at penal substitutionary atonement. Something that has been going on in the scholarly world of late as well. Some (like NT Wright) are re-thinking atonement altogether. Others (like Scot McKnight) are arguing for a robust and very full golf club bag. Still others (like John Piper) are going on a seeming "heresy hunt" to defend penal substitution only.

First, where do we bloggers fit into this? Secondly, shall we join with Camp in going on the offensive against this understanding of atonement? He seems to be rooting his understanding in relational terms, redemptive terms, and Christus Victor terms.

Some have predicted that atonement understandings are the next big fight in evangelicalism. Undoubtedly biblical authority and homosexuality and other issues are down the pipe, but for now some are saying atonement could be the next big thing to divide us. Open theism v. Reformed theology came very close in the providence debates of the BGC a decade ago. Are we on the verge of another showdown?

REV

The community

I'm now into the latter stages of Camp's book on the baptizing and communing community. While he's got great theological/spiritual stuff, I'm still really really struggling with the practical steps to take to "get there." I really need him to stop being a scholar for a second and help me as a pastor to know how to move my flock in this direction.

What do the rest of y'all think about this? Has anyone finished the book? Does he get more practical?

REV

Welcoming Gary Nelson

Hey blogger experts. Let's welcome Gary Nelson who joined us just today on the SABA Pastors blog. He is new to this way of communicating, so take it easy on him! :) We are developing a good little discussion group here. Hey, encourage your other SABA friends to join us. It might take a little encouragement, but it could be worth the effort to have more voices added to the mix. Just have them email me and I'll get them started.

Blog on!

Jeff

Tozer on Topic

"The man of pseudo faith will fight for his verbal creed but refuse flatly to allow himself to get into a predicament where his future must depend upon that creed being true. He always provides himself with secondary ways of escape so he will have a way out if the roof caves in. What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at the last day."

A. W. Tozer, The Root of the Righteous

Romans 12 and Romans 13

What do we do with Romans 12 and then 13? Camp as an anabaptist-style approach wants to call on the government to embody Christian virtue, criticizing George Bush for leading the nation to war after 9/11 than leading us to prayer.

I myself heavily lean anabaptist and would have loved to see us pray and reach out rather than bomb. But that said, I'm torn by how on earth God uses governments to reward the good and punish the evil WITH THE SWORD. The tensions between Romans 12 and Romans 13 are a bit much for me.

Is the simple answer that Christians live as Romans 12 people and let the non-Christians do the dirty work of the Romans 13 world? Clearly Camp is bothered by Christians who wield the sword. It makes me uncomfortable too. But then that leaves me wondering what the alternative is for Christians - avoid working for public office, the military, the police, etc.???

REV