Tag Archives: theology

GMC Catechism Class

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Richard Heyduck

Since our congregation has recently transitioned to the Global Methodist Church, I thought it would be a good idea to look at the basic doctrine of the denomination. The class uses the GMC Catechism which is based on the Nicene … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine, Global Methodist Church, Theology | Tagged Doctrine, Global Methodist Church, GMC, theology | Leave a comment

Love, Jesus, and the Bible

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Richard Heyduck

I saw this cartoon on Facebook this morning and found it stimulating. First thought: Who are the people in the picture? Reading left to right, as we do in English, we see five people who are dressed in modern western … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Culture, Hermeneutics, Jesus, Language, Liberalism, Love, Philosophy | Tagged bible, Hermeneutics, Love, theology | Leave a comment

Being Human

Posted on August 15, 2022 by Richard Heyduck

Sunday’s message was on theological anthropology – the Christian view of what it means to be human. I made two broad claims: Humans are made in God’s image. Being made in the image of God is better understood functionally or … Continue reading →

Posted in Dallas Willard, Discipleship, John Wesley, Salvation, Sin, United Methodism | Tagged anthropology, Image of God, Imago Dei, salvation, sin, theology | Leave a comment

Review: 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Richard Heyduck

Gregg R. Allison’s 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith is a helpful survey of basic Christian theological teachings. Though Allison is a professor at a Southern Baptist seminary, he writes for a broad evangelical audience. The first thing I … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Theology | Tagged Book Reviews, theology | Leave a comment

United Methodist Convictions

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Richard Heyduck

In their book Convictions: Defusing Religious Relativism, James Wm. McClendon, Jr., and James M. Smith work from this definition: “A conviction… means a persistent belief such that if X (a person or community) has a conviction it will not easily be … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Current events, Ecclesiology, United Methodism | Tagged Church, Convictions, theology, United Methodist Church | 2 Comments

Our United Methodist Mission

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Richard Heyduck

The mission of the United Methodist Church is “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” As a slogan goes, it has deeper rooting in the Christian tradition than our marketing slogan, “Open Hearts, Open Minds, … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Discipline, Diversity, Doctrine, United Methodism | Tagged Doctrine, Mission, theology, United Methodist Church, Unity | 2 Comments

Two Commissions Coming out of the 2016 General Conference

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Richard Heyduck

Anyone who has been following GC news knows about the commission that will be studying issues of “human sexuality.” In the post-GC letter from the Council of Bishops this is referred to as “a way forward, postponing decisions about sexuality … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine, Ecclesiology, United Methodism | Tagged Church, Culture, theology, United Methodist Church | Leave a comment

Christian Politics

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Richard Heyduck

We’re in a season where American Christians are thinking about politics. Well, maybe not. Maybe it’s truer to say we’re in a season where the politics of the current American polarizations have colonized Christian minds. Candidates and their flunkies are assuring … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church & State, Clash of Civilizations, Culture, Current events, Ecclesiology, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Church, Culture, Ethics, Jesus, politics, theology | Leave a comment

Communities with Multiple and Conflicting Conviction Sets

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

In a previous post I noted McClendon & Smith’s work on the nature of convictions. Convictions are the beliefs that are so important to us that they define our identity. If we give up or change these convictions, we become … Continue reading →

Posted in Theology, United Methodism | Tagged theology, United Methodist Church | 1 Comment

Dead Men Don’t Bleed?

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

You’ve probably heard this old joke. Once upon a time there was a man who was convinced he was dead. After being badgered by his friends, he finally gave in and went to a doctor. The doctor took it upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy | Tagged Epistemology, Philosophy, theology | 1 Comment