Good list. Not in the order I necessarily would list them. I don’t come here to debate theological
positions..... so I’ll refrain from changing the list by either adding, subtracting, or renumbering. As to the biggies.... I’ll refrain here as well.

Good list though.

I agree with Peter.  Some of these issues have been with us for decades and more.

#1 Was brought to the forefront during the so-called “rise of liberal theology” right around the “God is dead era.” But all you have to do is look at the mainline churches and see where that way of thinking has gotten them.  They are losing thousands of church members each year.

#2 How anyone could believe this and honestly call themselves “believers” is beyond me.  If God doesn’t know the future...then how could be possibly be God.  I’m amazed at people that think that they are smarter then “The Almighty” and take one of His attributes away is plain stupid.

#3 The church as a whole will probably respond to this issue the same way it has for the past 20 years or so, by putting its head in the sand and home it goes away.  It won’t.

#5 Why bother reading the Bible if it’s not “God breathed?” If I can’t rely on ALL OF IT then I can’t rely on any of it.  By the way, there is a reason we call the Bible, “THE WORD OF GOD!” This issue is more them 100 years old make popular by liberals, but all you have to do is see the thousands of people flock to the churches that proclaim God’s Word as the final authority and compare that with declining denominations.

#6 I’m concerned about this but not to the extent that I’m going to put a whole lot of time into it.  I understand that younger people are occupied with this, because that’s been a major theme in the school systems.  However, the more time we put into this earth, the less time that Christians will put into preparing people for the next world coming.  Don’t lose focus...we are called to “make disciples” first and foremost.

#7 Once you settle #5 this one falls into place.  “ALL SCTIPTURE IS INSIPRED OF GOD”, Paul says.

#8 Now there’s something new.  NOT!!!!!!  Just read the book of Acts and see that even the early church had problems getting along.  I will admit it’s extremely serious today, which is one of the reasons I do what I do.

#10 Paul tells us that, “The preaching of the cross is foolishness, to those that perish.” So, it will most often be foe.  Always has been and always will be, until Jesus comes.  But, we as those responsible for giving out the message can make it friendlier by our approach to a dying world.

There’s one big issue missing from the list, in my opinion, and that is Christology, especially with all of the literature of both the Da Vinci Code sensationalized fiction variety, as well as the growing apologetic for a gnostic viewpoint that would deny Jesus’ full divinity and/or humanity.

Let me make a clarification on #2.  First, let me say I totally disagree with open theism and, am myself, reformed in my theology.  Having said that, I can tell you it’s not an issue that will quietly go away and that just because someone believes this, doesn’t make them a non-Christian. I know this because we have a decent sized group of believers in our church that tend towards this doctrine and nobody questions their love for Jesus.

They would also be the first to tell you that the description given in #2 doesn’t accurately portray them.  They would say that their view of God is unchanged and still believe that he is totally omniscient.  In fact, they would argue it doesn’t have to do with what God can or can’t do.  Open Theism, in this view, is not about God but more about the nature of future reality.  So, a sovreign God still knows the future but it’s an open future where he knows every possible outcome of every possible choice to the smallest degree.  This is the only way that a true freedom of choice would be preserved and would allow for a God to have a true relationship with his believers.

Again, I want to stress I think there are some really dangerous ideas associated with this theology.  But, I did want their views to be portrayed accurately as well as to say that despite the bad theology, these folks are quite genuine in their faith.

It’s important to realize where potential points of error and division lie.  But simplistic responses (like Andy above, for example—no offense meant, but as an example) are not the kind of thing that typically resolve error or heal division.  The church is facing a time when we need thoughtful articulation on these issues, but conservative Christians mus learn the beauty and strength of the Meldenius’ axiom;
In ESSENTIALS Unity
In NON ESSENTIALS Liberty
in ALL THINGS Love

This will force us to recognize that as important as some of these issues are (e.g. 2, 3, 4, etc.) they are not in fact essential to our faith, and therefore must be areas where we allow a range of freedom in Christ without so quickly drawing our lines of division.  It puzzles me why Christ followers are so unnecessarily divide themselves, when our enemy gloats.  Until we can find common ground in those with views different from ours on non essential issues, we will remain weak and ineffective.  We must come togehter around item #1—like the first disciples did, liek the church in Acts did, like the church described in Revelation does.  Thanks for your help in pulling us together over the One who draws all people to himself, Todd, rather than pushing us further apart over matters that though they be very important, are matters of discussiona and study, but not the primary question given us on judgment day.  It doesn’t mean it doesnt’ matter what we say about them now...it does mean it matters how we treat others who also serve Christ alone but who disagree with us on non essentials.  I meet too few Christians who seem to get it.  It’s too easy to simply say, “If you agree with me, you’re in.” Not smart, not helpful, and not accurate.

you hit the nail on the head.  most of us deal with the majority of these issues from week to week.  each week I look forward to receiving your blog.  it is refreshing and encouraging to have something specifically written for pastors.  information like this is few and far between.  nice work & keep the faith.

I’m an evangelical pentecostal pastor of a church in a mainstream denomination in the UK and I also hold that the future is open.  You would call me an open theist, though I would say that it is not my theism that is open, but my view of the future.  Specifically I would argue that time itself does not actually exist, and that God is so great he can make a universe that is genuinely indeterminate.

I have found this view, whilst not perfect, answers almost all of the questions and issues I had in the arena it relates to.  Frankly it was like a breath of fresh air and I hold this view and have found that it strengthened my faith & trust in God in a way that has been incredibly profound.  The outworkings of the doctrine & its effect on other doctrines bring real freedom.

I cannot however reveal this openly as presently I am sure that my denomination would call it heresy, much like most people reading this would think so too.  All I can say is that this has had a profoundly positive effect on my personal walk with God and in my vocation as a Pastor.  However, my commitment to truth, and finding the truth, is more important than my commitment to an institution - I’m just very careful with whom I share this.  But it is very important to me, to be intellectually consistent in my faith - something the other views of the future fail to do. 

Have you wondered why there is so much take up of Open Theism?  Is it tapping into something that classic theism is failing to address satisfactorily?