James K. A. Smith’s new book is available: Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism?: Taking Derrida, Lyotard, And Foucault to Church (h/t Macht). Since it is destined to be one of the books we ought not read, you can be sure I’ll get my copy soon.

Reformed Baptist theologian Michael Bird posts an insightful, balanced criticism of an issue he has with T4G. I’ve been waiting for someone to make this very point. To me, such analyses are far more helpful than line-by-line analysis of the published statement. I am interested in the cultural and social forces that shape these events for I think they are just as informative about the gospel that is in view by participants as are their positive statements. I didn’t include Article XVI in my earlier post because I thought it was a negative, harmful example of “cultural renewal” that grates against the much better XV and XVII.