All Comments for: Braking for Bloggers | Christianity Today

Free Newsletters:

RSS Feeds |

Audio |

Twitter

Home > 2008 > February (Web-only)

Christianity Today, February (Web-only), 2008 |

Braking for Bloggers

Cedarville's decision to cancel Shane Claiborne lecture highlights turmoil over the school's doctrinal identity.

Katelyn Beaty | posted 2/11/2008 01:32PM

Cedarville University, a Baptist school in southwest Ohio, decided on January 30 to cancel a lecture from Christian social activist Shane Claiborne originally slated for tonight (Feb. 11) in the school's ...

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Rate and Comment on this article

Displaying 1 - 25 of 44 comments.

Page: 1 2

Show All

Gus	Posted: February 21, 2008 9:19 AM

I've read Mr. Claiborne's book, and while I don't agree with certain points of it, I found it both informative and a challenge to we who think we are followers of Christ. In the opening paragraph of this article, the school in question is referred to as a Christian school. I would suggest that its board or whomever is in a responsible position, take a a look at its policies, mission statement or whatever documents serve as a governing piece. Feel free to classify yourself as a "conservative" institution, but please to do not use this label as an excuse to bow down to whatever entities in your community feel threatened by the revelations of some "outsider" who may cause your student body to "think" about their place and servant role in God's kingdom. And just as a side thought, are not the students attending this school paying their costs, theieby having more of a say in what should go on their than those in the community? Jesus also came with a message to challenge us.

Philip R.

Posted: February 18, 2008 3:45 PM

The administration of Cedarville (College) in 1970, when I was a student there, took a stand against Billy Graham because he had Catholics and leaders from other denominations participate in his crusades; and students were not to attend a nearby BG crusade. I was saddened and frustrated then that the students were denied an opportunity to learn about and experience the larger Christian community. In light of the recent decision, I'm saddened that the current CU students were denied an opportunity to learn about and engage with the larger Christian community.

J Sabo

Posted: February 18, 2008 3:24 PM


Having watched several videos featuring Mr. Claiborn I feel Cewdarville is doing a disservice to its students. Myself being a Christian and an older man (64) Shane hits the nail on the head. While I do not subscribe to all of his teachings he is doing as Jesus commanded. God will not ask us if we read the bible, he will ask us if we did the bible.

Ron Mewkalo

Posted: February 17, 2008 8:51 AM


King Solomon said it the best: There is nothing new under the sun. I say The SON. What is there to discuss? Bible all of it or none of it. So simple.

Dan Olson

Posted: February 17, 2008 5:39 AM

Long story short, I have never been more ashamed of my alma-mater, Cedarville University, than I am right now. While I feel I'd need to express this to the University directly, at this point in time I'm seriously considering discontinuing any future financial support of the institution. Ingrid Schlueter has absolutely nothing to do with Cedarville University, and is more of a fringe figure than even Claiborne. I've heard of her once before, in the context of a cross-blog character assassination which ended in a friend of mine losing his job. I wish her and her readers no ill will, but I wish they'd realize just how destructive they have been. Even if they're speaking the truth, which is highly suspect, there's no love in the manner in which it's being spoken.

Cedarville Mom

Posted: February 16, 2008 6:16 PM

I disagree with your characterization that bloggers and critics outside the university were influential in having the Claiborne event cancelled. I am the parent of a current Cedarville student and my son notified me that he was concerned that Claiborne was going to be speaking; he understands the deception the emgergent church brings. We are both now a bit less trusting of the discernment of CU's administration. While I agree that university students need to be aware all of the opinions within the body Christ, it is also important that they understand the difference between secondary issues, and false doctrines. There was no indication that the administration was intending to have a post-mortem on the problems with emergent church.

The G

Posted: February 13, 2008 9:00 PM

If your seeking the truth, then its in the Word of God. I'd like to think the task of educating the students in the truth would belong to the professors, not some guest speaker. Any one schooled in the Scriptures can see the emergent church is another ecumenical movement that denies the work of Christ to pay the penalty for sins on the cross as central to faith through the grace of a holy God. If Christians are not giving to the poor, etc, its because there is a problem with the Lordship of Christ (obedience to Christ to whom we should have surrendered.) Soliciting a change of behaviour without surrender to Christ will lead to same kind of results of dead lesbian churches the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Disciples of Christ now have.

Kevin Gwin

Posted: February 13, 2008 7:16 PM

As a Cedarville alum from the mid 90's, I am disappointed with the decision of the University. I loved Cedarville and received an excellent education, but one thing that lacked from the teaching was the seriousness of God's heart for the poor. Shane communicates that. Shane lives that. I run in the same circles with Shane and others like him who seek to bring the Gospel to the "least of the these" in our society. I too would differ with Shane on some areas of theology, but every time I have heard him speak or read his writing, God has challenged me and renewed my concern for the poor. When institutions choose to avoid those who are not like them, they end up staying out of the inner cities and avoiding people who think differently then them. This is scary. CU needs to be stretched as all Christians and Christian institutions do. I wish Shane would have visited when I was a student and I am saddened that after being invited, he was told not to come now.

martin

Posted: February 13, 2008 1:43 PM


Nobody is saying that serving the poor is a bad thing. But when serving the poor replaces the fundamental doctrines of the bible, then somebody has to call them out. serving the poor is a by-product of christianity. It does not define a christian. This is a real problem when someone defines themselves based on works.

Sandee

Posted: February 13, 2008 12:20 PM

The point is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. The Bible is clear on Who the Rock of our Salvation is and we are warned in many Scriptures about false teachers creeping in with us unaware. To present in any way that contempative is consistent with Scripture is wrong. To have a conference on "false teachings" would fit this emergent move perfectly. If we stray from the Foundation of the Faith, which is Christ Crucified, is pure folly. Our next leaders need to remember the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy and stand for Scripture as it is, rather than to invent another way that amounts to nothing more than political correctness. The Bible fits us today as it always has and those who think the Gospel needs to be modernized, does not know the Gospel. We live not by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God and we all need to remember that lest we ignore so great a Salvation and lose our souls. Have no blog,love the Lord...

Dawn Reagan Idaho

Posted: February 13, 2008 10:20 AM

I disagree with Carl Ruby's comment, "We need to be having these kinds of conversations on campus if we are going to adequately equip the next generation of Christian leaders." To adequately equip the next generation of Christian leaders, we need the Bible and the Holy Spirit of God. Those in the next generation aren't a bunch of mindless buffoons as the emerging church and purpose-driven nonsense assume. God and His mighty Spirit and Word are sufficient and have always been sufficient. The next generation does not need a New Age social gospel. That is a collaboration of humanism and demonism. If that's what they want to teach the young adults, then call it what it is. Do not call it Christianity! To recognize a counterfeit, you study the real thing, not the counterfeit. I suggest those called by God into Christian leadership, study the Word of God by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Coy Sawyer

Posted: February 13, 2008 10:18 AM

How blind and unbiblical are we that we use Matthew 18 in this instance. Another "out of context" use of scripture. Matthew 18 concerns a sinning (moral misconduct) brother. As for doctrinal issues...Paul named names and called them out publicly. One of the reasons our once Biblical-based institutions (Harvard, Baylor, etc) are now bastions of unbiblical thinking, is because they feared man not God and did not take God's admonition to reject heretical teacing (not entertain them). Expose vs. entertain the works of darkness. Nice job Cedarville! "Open minds" is often a cloak for hidden agendas. We are called to "bring every thought captive to Christ". In my opinion, this emergent movement could be the movement that ushers in the false Christ. When he returns will He really find faith!

Linda

Posted: February 13, 2008 7:58 AM


Was not Jesus and His disciples accused by the religious leaders of His day for being a "vigilante", for not being in the "majority", for having no "credibility", for being a "rogue"? Didn't they tell the people not to listen to Jesus?

Dan Nickel

Posted: February 13, 2008 4:25 AM

"The Claiborne lecture was only one episode in the ongoing story of Cedarville's efforts to pinpoint its doctrinal commitments in the face of what some perceive to be the school's move away from orthodoxy. Divisions came to a head when two professors were fired last year over their disagreements with two other professors who were sympathetic to the Emergent movement. Author Donald Miller's visit to Cedarville in the spring of 2006 also provoked complaints." Did bloggers stop these events? Emergence is an issue that offends those committed to Scripture. Was Jude or Jesus concerned about their critics? Emergence and contemplative spirituality are caught up with mysticism. Wake up my friends! Don't allow the critics to determine you faith system. This is why theistic evolution is popular amongst evangelicals. Some don't want to be perceived as intellectually inept. Scripture says "the fear of man brings a snare." Evangelicals are falling into the snare of the devil

Deacon Steve

Posted: February 13, 2008 12:27 AM

The depth of silliness indulged in by so-called "universities" and their administrative officers is appalling. Where is open inquiry and the exploration of divergent views - let alone "emergent" views. I hope the posting by Shane Trammel here is not indicative of American Evangelical thinking. If it is, we're all in worse trouble than I thought. Anti-intellectual closed-minded Evangelicalism seems to live on...and on and on! God help us. And "right on", njboss, in your post.

Education???

Posted: February 12, 2008 10:48 PM

Wait, is this a University that considers itself an informed and educational institution? That would mean hearing from different viewpoints and allowing one to be humble. Ingrid whatever her last name is comments' are laughable. The same ignorant and dismissive rhetoric can be said of righ-wingnut fundamentalists who are so saturated in the enlightenment thinking of Kant, Hume, and Hegel that they forgot we don't worship the Bible. We worship the God of which the Bible speaks and that interpretation must always be illlumined by the Spirit, afresh in each generation. A cursory look at doctrinal history clearly shows that doctrine is never pure and is always in dialogue with its present milieu!

Nance

Posted: February 12, 2008 9:51 PM

I suppose such responses should stop surprising me eventually. We can decry people like Mr. Claiborne and claim that he's only pushing political agendas onto students, but then we have to stop and see what these kids did when the lecture is cancelled: they considered how they could serve the poor that night instead. That's what people who aren't attacking the man associate with Shane Claiborne. If ministering to the needy is some kind of a political agenda than Christ and the early church must have all been 'lefty's...

coach

Posted: February 12, 2008 7:56 PM


the school should have listened to its students and faculty. it's scary when we start censoring differing viewpoints. why would anyone want to be an "evangelical" anymore?

jim	Posted: February 12, 2008 4:09 PM


This is a sad day for Christianity. As an academic institution educating students from a Christian perspective, it is imperative that students learn how to engage people who may think different than they do an make decisions for themselves. If they can't learn this in a 'safe' environment, where will they learn how to do this? The actions of Cedarville are shameful...

Jason

Posted: February 12, 2008 3:18 PM

I think there needs to be a very cautious and discerning look at this. There is constant confusion about emerging (up and coming) and Emergent. When we generalize everyone by Emergent we are not rightly discerning the various divides within Emergent: the range is from Mark Driscoll to Brian McLaren. This very simplistic look at Emergent(ing) overlooks a lot. Claiborne seems to believe strongly in Jesus and for that I am grateful. I just wonder why it is that maturing Christians in university aren't exposed to various view points. They get varying viewpoints in the books and articles they read, not to mention the friendships they have with nonbelievers. Can't a church or institution host someone without condoning? Or do we want to simply have echo chambers where we hear back what we already think and aren't challenged to think critically of issues of faith.

Gary Sweeten

Posted: February 12, 2008 1:30 PM

I have ministered as a Pastor and Counselor for forty years and do not see any wing of politics or church having more rigid thinkers than any other. Rigid thinkers live in a closed sytem of fear and are threatened by almost any changes. As St. Paul says about eating meat offered to idols, "the less mature are threatened so let us do what we can to reduce our threating ways". However, it is nigh impossible not to threaten rigid, immature folks so we cannot be "pushed around by every wind of immature doctrine just because we are accused of liberalism. From where I stand the emergent church is as correct in theology as any of us but doctrine is not the issue, it is rigid adherence to a specific form of doctrine.

Bob	Posted: February 12, 2008 1:18 PM

Cedarville seems like a very open and inviting place that is attempting to engage a world seeking the Truth of God's Son Jesus by talking to those (Shane Claiborne) who are actively attempting to live the life of Christ to the poor and needy. Personally I would love for my children to speak to Shane Claiborne and perhaps get an image for what it means to be a servant of Jesus Christ in the 21st Century. I would also like for my children to talk to the bloggers to understand their viewpoint (I would assume there is substance other than this ‘a step toward liberal theology’) and become better people through a variety of opinion examined in the bright light of God reveling Himself to us.

Matt Copeland

Posted: February 12, 2008 1:08 PM

Hurray for christain liberalism!!! The response of Cederville to Donald Miller and others in the emergent movement shows the stupidity of closeminded conservative christianity. Being liberal, postmodern/emergent does not mean that you are not a Christian; it is simply a different lense to look through in order to process and understand scripture. whether the bible is inspired or not, it is still written in the form of a work of literature complete with conventions of different genres, and the cultural bias of the time in which it was written. since God's message is conveyed through a work of literature that means it can be interpreted differently from gropus of people who all have a different lense and frame of reference...It is arrogant and ignorant to reject those with emergent perspectives because everyone is able to have a different interpretation and understanding eventhough they read the same scripture.

Jack D.

Posted: February 12, 2008 12:08 PM


Claiborne's involvement with Iraq Peace Team in Baghdad was most likely the reason the appearance was cancelled. We can't have the students exposed to the "extreme far left" perspective that our nation's invasion and occupation of Iraq was anything less than righteous crusade against islamofascism and spreading democracy.

Michael

Posted: February 12, 2008 11:44 AM

Wow this is getting quite ridiculous. Why does Ingrid believe she is only allowed to engage these issues and the university isn't? She can host these speakers on her radio program without anyone claiming she is emergent but do you not see the hypocrisy in that? We are a UNIVERSITY! I for one am capable of discerning just as much as she is and I am quite tired of the label that our minds are being twisted by some heretic. Our goal at Cedarville is to understand the issues at hand and to engage the world. What is wrong with that? Besides, the Claiborne event was optional for the students who could choose to buy a ticket to hear him speak. Concerning Brad Kallenberg, everyone always brings up Brian McLaren. Dr. Kallenberg had no choice in that endorsement, rather it was the publisher who chose it. Why does it matter what McLaren thinks? Have you read his stuff lately? He is all over the place and I hardly think that one man's wacky opinion should be any cause for concern.

Page: 1 2

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment