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David L. Stubbs

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The Whole Counsel of God: Van Sloten, Hoezee, and Metallica

As a Protestant, I am intrigued by "protest" practices. When people feel driven to protest against the status quo, there is almost always some truth, goodness, or beauty in what they are doing. Typically too, the protestors are often pointing to genuine problems, even if I don't agree with their proposed solutions. John Van Sloten, I believe, is such a protester. In his writings and his practice of preaching from cultural texts rather than directly from scripture (see essays and…
David L. Stubbs
December 1, 2012
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Presbyterians at the Crossroads: Part Two

APRIL 2012: ESSAY by David L. Stubbs Editors' note: In the March 2012 issue of Perspectives, David Stubbs explored recent developments within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), particularly the emergence of the Fellowship of Presbyterians and the Evangelical Covenant Order, focusing primarily on their positive role as "Spirit-filled movements of reform." Stubbs continues this month in the second part of his analysis by raising some concerns and questions about these movements and their stated tenets. I do not doubt the good…
David L. Stubbs
April 1, 2012
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Presbyterians at the Crossroads: Part One

by David L. Stubbs Editors' note: This is part one of a two-part essay. The second part will appear in next month's issue ofPerspectives. Interpreting history as it is happening is difficult. Think of Pentecost, a time when people knew somethingwas happening, but it was not immediately clear what. And so they asked, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:12). The first and easiest answer, as is often the case, was a cynical one: "They are filled with new wine" (Acts…
David L. Stubbs
March 1, 2012
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Nourishing Directions for Eucharistic Theology and Practice

Ironically, people in the Reformed tradition, people who can pride themselves on razor-sharp dogmatics even at the expense of good worship, may today be practicing the sacraments better than they understand them. On the one hand, a recent article in the Calvin Theological Journal complains of a general "stagnation of Reformed and evangelical sacramental theology," attributable to Puritan and revivalist influences.1 On the other hand, given the rich liturgical resources that have emerged in recent decades from the Christian Reformed…
David L. Stubbs
November 1, 2010
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To Vote or Not to Vote

"So...did you vote? " Normally, my response to that question would be a quick, "Yes, of course." Voting is a civic privilege and responsibility that I never take for granted. But since the question arose while I was sharing dessert with a particular group of ethically savvy individuals, I replied more slowly and carefully. It was last November, and I was out to dinner during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion. I knew that for the Catholic,…
David L. Stubbs
January 1, 2009
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Risking Beauty at the AAR

Those who are familiar with "the AAR" (shorthand for the 9,000-person annual joint meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature) know that it offers a fascinating pastiche of tones and colors. Eastern Orthodox sisters in habit walk side by side with French postmodern theorists of religion arrayed all in black; wearers of British tweed stand across from colorful Southern Baptist teachers and preachers. One's tried and true sense of theological fashion gets stretched by…
David L. Stubbs
August 1, 2004