Got the latest print issue of Christianity Today. In it was a essay by Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary. He recounts a story where then pastor of Tenth Pres (Philadelphia) Barnhouse was shooting grackles that were messing with his beloved bluebirds. With him was defender of the faith, Al Martin. After shooting a grackle from some distance, they come find out that Barnhouse had actually shot a bluebird. Barnhouse apparently made the spiritual lesson to Martin saying something like, “better to leave a grackle for the Lord to deal with than kill a bluebird and have to answer for that at the judgment seat of Christ.” (My memory of what Mouw wrote as I left my copy home).
Good advice. In the academy, we take great delight in shooting down bad theologians (armchair or otherwise). But, there will be collateral damage. We’d better make sure we don’t mind taking responsibility for that damage when we face our Lord.
Musings on Faith and Psychology 
I find myself torn between the “defenders of the faith” and the “liberals” who appear to me to be more gracious in conversation. I suppose it is because I’ve seen multiple bluebirds shot.
Mehinks it must be easy to slip from pure defense of the faith into arrogance. I believe there IS absolute truth. I also believe no person can absolutely know it.