St. Irenaeus, the Beatific Vision, and the Instrumentalization of Creation

St. Irenaeus, the Beatific Vision, and the Instrumentalization of Creation

Irenaeus consistently resisted the anti-body emphasis that emerged in later Christian theology. His eschatology is remarkably focused on the resurrection of the body, and the renewal of the cosmos; and he works overtime to avoid the “angelic soteriology” so prevalent in the later Christian tradition, namely the idea that humans become equal to the angels when they die. For Irenaeus, human beings, made in the image of the embodied Son of God, are at the top of the celestial food chain. Humans don’t become “equal” to angels when they die, but rather “pass beyond the angels” and ascend to God himself (Adversus Haereses 5.36.3).

Can we still learn from the Puritans?

Can we still learn from the Puritans?

It’s easy these days to dismiss the wisdom of the past. Given our improved technology and all our current collected learning, surely learning from the past would lead to regression, right? Plus, weren’t all these people basically racist, patriarchal, and generally mean-spirited? That’s, at least, how some perceive the Puritans. After all, we use the word “puritanical” only in a negative way, to denote someone who is self-righteous, morally rigid, and generally un-likable.

Pastoring like a Theologian: Six Lessons from John Calvin

Pastoring like a Theologian: Six Lessons from John Calvin

The name ‘John Calvin’ is synonymous with many things, depending on who you ask. A straw poll of Western Christians would probably reveal labels like ‘great theologian’ and ‘totally biblical’ being neck-and-neck with a descriptor like ‘theologically misguided’ and other terms not suitable for publication. There are few more polarizing figures in the church than this sixteenth-century reformer.

Pastoring like a Theologian: Five Lessons from the Life of Martin Luther

Pastoring like a Theologian: Five Lessons from the Life of Martin Luther

It may be cause for rejoicing that someone who regularly calls his opponents ‘swineherds’ or the ‘ass to cap all asses’ (and those are some of his politer idioms) is not typically analyzed as a pastor. Martin Luther is remembered primarily for his larger than life persona, which aided his posting of the Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg and his ensuing tête-à-tête with the Pope. In fact, much of the popular media concerning last year’s 500th anniversary of the Reformation re-enforced this view of Luther as rebel prophet, persecuted saint, and defender of the gospel of grace.

"Let There Be (Song of Creation)" – A worship resource from the Center For Pastor Theologians

"Let There Be (Song of Creation)" – A worship resource from the Center For Pastor Theologians

The CPT has commissioned multiple worship pastors to write worship music that teach and celebrate the historic Christian doctrine of creation. The second of these songs was written by Josh Caterer, worship pastor at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL. We are proud of the work that Josh has done in writing and recording this song, and we are excited to be able to share this resource with you.