Author: Daniel Tomberlin

BS, MDiv, DMin. Ordained bishop in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN); pastor for 37 years; Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministries at Pentecostal Theological Seminary (Cleveland TN).
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Words from a Bearded Man

I have read Phil Robertson’s remarks. I have watched the subsequent responses from A&E and the gay community.

The truth is that crude language about sexuality is common. People tend to refer to themselves in an “earthy” way. Phil talks like my dad and granddad did. My reading of the prophets reveals that even they, under divine inspiration, spoke with crude words to emphasize the depths of Israel’s sin. Too often our proper English translations of the Scriptures rob the inspired words of their intended grit. That is the language which is being suppressed. How dare we speak of one’s sexuality as sinful! How dare Phil Robertson associate homosexuality with bestiality? How dare we define marriage as a civil covenant between one man and one woman?

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“Snake Salvation,” “Real Preachers,” and Strange Fire

I’ve watched a few episodes of “Snake Salvation” on the National Geographic Channel. I’ve watched the first episode of “Preachers of LA.” I’ve read John MacArthur’s Charismatic Chaos, but not his latest book Strange Fire. However, I am very familiar with MacArthur’s views of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. As I have often said, I am an unapologetic Pentecostal. But that does not mean that I lack the ability to critically view my own tradition with eyes wide open.

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Starbucks and the Gospel

I recently read a blog that posed the question “What if Your Church Marketed Like Starbucks?”

  • Churches Would Have Stellar Signage
  • Churches Would Not Use Confusing Language
  • Churches Would Be Known More for What They Are For than What They Are Against
  • Churches Would Create Guest Experiences that Make People Feel Welcome
  • Churches Would Communicate Consistently Across Multiple Channels
  • Churches Would Operate Missionally by Serving First Rather than Being Served

Full disclosure demands that I confess that I am an avid and loyal customer of Starbucks. Even as I can appreciate their marketing strategy, and affirm the intent of the blog, I would like to offer a more discerning reflection (I hope).

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Adam, Eve, and Paul: Discerning the Role of Women in the Mission of God

A Theological Reflection on 1st Timothy 2:11-15

Regarding Paul’s writings about the role of women in the church, William Mounce has written, “If it could be proven that elsewhere Paul allows women to teach… authoritatively within the context of the household of God, then it would have to be concluded that Paul is inconsistent or [has] been misunderstood.”[1] L. T. Johnson has suggested that Paul was “nervous” about the role of women in the church. He offers a very helpful discussion on the various hermeneutical options that inform interpretation. He concludes that the only viable option “is to engage the words of Paul in a dialectical process of criticism within the public discourse of the church, both academic and liturgical.”[2]

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