We all know that it’s virtually impossible to totally agree with anyone about everything, but is there any one scholar, theologian, pastor, or just regular person in your life that you almost always agree with on almost everything? If so then who is it? Oh, I’m interested in the reverse as well. Who’s out there that you hardly ever agree with on anything?
B”H
Hmm… great question(s). Right off the bat I would say no… I mix and match. But I’ll have to think about this one. Interested in hearing others’ responses
My wife and I agree on almost everything. I can only think of three exceptions.
As for disagreement, Rob Bell. I would rather have a dentist drill my teeth than listen to, or read, anything by him.
I agree with my wife a lot. I agree with Simon Cowell, Ron Paul and John Stott a lot.
I agree with almost everything John Stott puts out, the same with I.H. Marshall with exception to their annhiliationism or tendencies to such, and Gordon Fee.
hardly ever agree with NT Wright especially his take on Luke 15 and his views on the NPP.
Probably the biblical scholar I most consistently finding myself nodding in agreement with is Stephen Westerholm.
As for disagreeing constantly…I could put many more here, but I’ll settle for Stanley Hauerwas!
While he is not necessarily a scholarly theologian, Chip Ingram is very dear to me. If my calling is to be a pastor and shepherd God’s sheep, I am convinced Chip Ingram is what 99% of my ministry would like, at least I hope I could have a ministry like his own. My favorite pastor, hands down.
I think of this question often. My father-in-law once posed it to me and it has stuck with me.
So far, I think the closest I’ve found is Thomas Yoder Neufeld. Tom is the son in law of John Howard Yoder, but I agree with Tom more than I agree with JHY. Tom is a NT scholar and prof up at the Conrad Grebel University College of the University of Waterloo.
He is firmly rooted in Anabaptism, but highly sophisticated and nuanced in his approach to biblical scholarship. That is what I aspire to. He’s also a wonderful human being!
Nick John Zizioulas, Colin Gunton except for his calvinist rants, Rowan Williams and N.T. Wright
Nick, I just finished Westerholm’s Perspectives New and Old on Paul — and completely loved it. What else do you recommend by him?
I would have to say my husband…We agree on money matters…children matters…and Jesus! There is very little boat rocking about our home…*: ) When I was much younger and considerably less wise…I used to try to get him to be “reactive”…He is the most even tempered and stable person I know and I am a far better person for being with him these many years.
And, on the pastoral front…David Wilkerson, especially at this time in his life…His total reliance on our Sovereign God is sooo evident in his wisdom and peace…this is what we should see in an older Christian who has walked so closely with the Lord…
Agree Almost Always: Turretin (Shocking, I know) and Venema.
Agree Almost Never: Patrick Madrid
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Marcy, “Old and New” is an amazing book, isn’t it? Anything Westerholm writes is worth getting, but I’d really recommend his books “Understanding Paul: The Early Christian Worldview of Romans” and “Understanding Matthew”….both quick reads but phenomenal!
Gordon Fee. Honestly I don’ know if I disagree with any of his views. But it’s not because I already automatically agree with him, he just has a way of always convincing me. Other than him I can’t think of anyone I’ve read enough to say I agree with them almost always.
I probably never agree with John Piper.
BTW I had my teeth drilled earlier this week and I would much rather read or listen to Bell than that ; ) I actually like some of the things I’ve heard and read him say.
Brian:
What have you read from Wright that you disagree with so strongly? When I first read him I found him extremely convincing and I would even say he’s one of my favorite authors, although I haven’t really revisited a lot of his views in a while. I’m not really big on him as a cultural critic and I’m not sure about all his theology (not sure because I don’t know where he stands on everything and he’s not aalways easy to pin down. But I love reading his biblical studies stuff.
Well Nick? What about you? Hurtado is it?
Bryan L
Hey, great blog! I really enjoy it. Please do check mine out and comment (click my name).
In terms of a scholar I agree most often with . . . those who follow my blog will know this already–and it may be a ‘dangerous’ admission–but I would say Walter Brueggemann. The honesty with which he interprets the text, ‘warts’ and all, and his attempts to make it relevant for the contemporary life of faith is beautiful, inspiring, and quite often I think he is spot on.
Check out my blog for some Brueggemann related items. I recently had a wonderfully positive email exchange with him in which I sent him a copy of my forthcoming article on divine deception in the Jacob cycle. He has responded in a resoundingly positive way. I won’t be so arrogant as to say Brueggemann agrees with everything I’ve published (which, though, is seemingly a true statement!), but he and I, I would argue, are quite close in terms of how we read God in the Hebrew Bible.
Bryan: I look forward to seeing who (if anyone) you come up with.
Stan: I’m with you on the dentist thing.
Ranger: Ron Paul’s a genius, I’ve only read one Stott book, and I’ve never watched an episode of American Idol so I couldn’t say if I’ve ever agreed with Cowell.
Brian: Interesting, especially since Wright is one of Fee’s favorite authors.
Nick: I’m not at all familiar with Westerholm and I refuse to read Hauerwas on general principle.
Michael: It’s always good to have someone to look up to in ministry.
Patrick: Is it just an interesting coincidence that they both have Yoder in their name or is there more to the story?
Andrew: And not a Roman Catholic among them! Intriguing…
Nancy: It’s good to agree with your husband. I’m reminded of Amos 3:3.
TurretinFan: Yeah, big shock!
Bryan L: Yeah, I knew you’d say Fee. I was going to name YOU as the one I agree with most! ;-) Seriously though, I don’t know. I agree with Hurtado on Christ devotion but Bauckham persuaded me against Hurtado’s reading of the Johannine Community. And I never agreed with Hurtado’s massive treatment of Q in Lord Jesus Christ.
John: Thanks. I’ve heard quite a bit about your blog from various people. I’ll check it out. I’ve yet to read Brueggemann but he’s on my list. It’s nice to be able to interact woth those whose opinions we really value, isn’t it?
Just that he shares his name with his wife. His birth name is Neufeld. Their combined married name is Yoder Neufeld.
Yes Nick but they are all Catholic in the true sense
Thanks Nick. I am glad to hear people are at least talking about it.
If you want some Brueggemann recommendations, let me know. Again, some are on my blog. Please do take a peek (and point others there as well, please).
I will keep in touch!
Nick:
You would have been wise to name me as the one you agree with most because by default that would have meant you were agreeing with Fee he most : )
I didn’t realize there was anything you disagreed with Hurtado about. Interesting.
What about Michael Brown?
Bryan L
Patrick: Fascinating, albeit a bit weird (= non-traditional).
Andrew: I suppose so.
John: When I get around to Brueggemann I’ll be sure to let you know. Right now it’s Childs for me.
Bryan: I agree with Michael Brown on a lot of things but I wouldn’t say nearly everything. I just really appreciate his ministry and the way he conducts himself. I’m naturally a contrarian though so I doubt I’d be able to find anyone I almost always agree with.
Childs is no doubt an interesting character, and has produced a paradigm shift, I would contend, in biblical scholarship for which I am very grateful. I see you have read (or are reading) his Old Testament Theology in a Canonical Context. To me, the meat of that volume is in the first 20 pages where he lays out his method. Beyond that, I think there are other more substantive books by him which I am sure you are aware. The benefit of that volume, though, aside from being brief, is that it does provide a nice exercise in the intertextuality that he sees as part of the canon’s interpretive process.
Do check out my blog for some Childs, also.
John: Interestingly enough that’s the part of the book I’ve enjoyed the most! And I am certainly aware of his other works. Just in the last few months I’ve procured most of his works (thanks to the kindness of publishers). And don’t worry, I’ll be keeping tabs on your blog, I added it to my Google Reader yesterday.
You must let me in on your secret of ‘publisher procurement’
John: I assumed from your last post that you had discovered the legendary ‘fountain of books.’ I give the play by play on how to get review books here.