In Deuteronomy 14:2 we read: “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” And in Ephesians 1:4 we read: “He [God] chose us [elected us] in Him before the foundation of the world.” Two significant themes, or assertions, in both Testaments is the idea of being chosen or elected, out... Read more
Periodically I plan to post reflections from my Patreon blog here at Patheos. These are more contemplative, reflective, and meditative in orientation. If these are helpful or interesting to you, please see my other Patreon posts. Here is a revised post: If we were to put aside the idea that hell is a geographical/physical or even metaphysical/spiritual realm, but rather a state of relative being, something we carry around in our hearts, the story of the Prodigal Son (St. Luke... Read more
I’m all for tolerance and civility. Amen brothers. However, I’m also for logic, nuance, and context. I’m for being aware of our moment. I would hope any writers for Christianity Today are for the same. If so, we don’t find it here. Here are false equivalencies and poor analysis. I get the need to appear above the fray and to sort of project that, “Hey, I’m the teacher or parent here—I’m the neutral observer who just happened upon a dispute. ... Read more
A further thought: I wonder if these types of trends are accelerating due to what I speak of in this post? Indulge me. I want to suggest there have been two events in recent times, which are portentous for what we call evangelicalism. When a rock is dropped in a pond, waves are set in motion. We see or feel them in time, based on distance. These two events, among others, are rocks dropped in a pond. Their waves are... Read more
According to this article, we are supposedly going to learn “why” this “spat” is “actually” about the sufficiency of Scripture. We have an assertion in the title: This argument may be about a lot of things, but, “actually,” it’s about the sufficiency of Scripture. Okay. So, I read with interest…and, was disappointed. Nowhere in the reporting could I see where such was what this “spat” was “really” about, unless of course, we agree with Tom Ascol and the “Founders” people. ... Read more
I’ve written before of how evangelicals get upset over the wrong things. And new examples seem to come unbidden all the time. I suppose this is what happens when evangelical pastors and leaders, out-source their discipleship and teaching duties to Fox News, Breitbart, and other right-wing propaganda outlets. The average evangelical pastor has no idea what he’s up against. They get a couple hours on Sunday and maybe an hour or two during the week, but these “news” outlets get... Read more
If one is a white male, it can be very difficult to understand white privilege (Duh). Just as, it is difficult for men in general to understand sexism, or white people, racism. Why? Because they haven’t experienced it. Certainly not every day, for generations, to the same degree or on any sort of the same scale, as have women and people of color—there is no comparison. Full stop. I’m pointing out the boringly obvious. To point out the fact of... Read more
I don’t know Mark Galli, but I like much of what he writes. I can’t speak for him, but in his writings, I sense a leaning toward Eastern Orthodoxy/Anglicanism, which is where I find myself these days. He is, in my view, hardly a typical evangelical. He is clearly aware of the problems in that world. I’m not sure he sees them deeply enough to leave that tradition, but who knows what the end of the day might bring? Perhaps... Read more
I haven’t read it, but I love the title of this book. If some schoolboy were to ask, “Is that really true?” we could easily reply: Look around. Nothing will quite ever be the same now that Pandora’s Box has been opened. A huge mirror was held up to the face of America on November 8, 2016, and even putting aside the popular vote, the image staring back at us was still quite ugly. Some thought liberalism, or the left,... Read more
With conferences like this one still in existence, there is no respite for the weary. Those still residing in the two-story universe of modernity are, again, making sure we are aware of our folly. They need us to know that an emphasis upon caring for the physical needs of the poor and marginalized, will almost certainly compromise, ironically, the Good News. We will say again, however, that the Good News is social justice and is such before it is ever... Read more
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