I do not know Mark Galli, but I like much of what he writes. He is one of the few evangelical leaders/voices, I respect. 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… Read more
June 26, 2019
Dancing in the Ruins
June 26, 2019 By Darrell Lackey
1 Comment
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
June 5, 2019
Some of my Best Friends are the Least of These
June 5, 2019 By Darrell Lackey
6 Comments
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
May 18, 2019
Just, Pro-Woman
May 18, 2019 By Darrell Lackey
1 Comment
With all the recent bills passing state legislatures (by white men primarily) restricting or limiting access to abortion, I’m struck once again with how we label our views—what we are supposedly for or against. There are many aspects to all this we could discuss, but quick disclaimer, I do so hesitantly, because, as a man, I’m beginning to think we (men) should just shut up when it comes to this issue. Our physical inability to know what it’s like to… Read more
May 6, 2019
I’m Tired of Politics
May 6, 2019 By Darrell Lackey
3 Comments
I want to take a quick moment, to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to Dan Evans and their children. I believe Rachel Held Evans will be seen, in the future, as a pivotal person God used to bring people out of fundamentalism-evangelicalism, into something much more love and mercy driven. But also, justice driven. She has joined that great cloud of witnesses, but she will be greatly missed. As Christians, we don’t believe politicians, the state, kings, or empires… Read more
April 14, 2019
Lord of the Left-Behind
April 14, 2019 By Darrell Lackey
2 Comments
Growing up in the fundamentalist-evangelical world, along with the fear of a girl’s rejection, test taking, and the general anxiety and guilt of enjoying “worldly” music, movies, and television, I also worried about being, “left-behind.” In the late 70’s, sermons, songs, Bible studies, and best-selling books were rife with the eschatological belief in a “rapture” of “true” Christians, while the unfortunate rest, the doomed, are, “left-behind.” There have been many books and scholarly works over the years debunking the eschatology… Read more
April 5, 2019
You Have No Power Here
April 5, 2019 By Darrell Lackey
5 Comments
There is a scene in the Wizard of Oz, at the beginning, when Dorothy has been transported to Oz and after her house has landed on the Wicked Witch of the East. As we know, her sister shows up. She puts on a big show and tries to intimidate Dorothy. But Glinda, the good witch of the North, with laughter summarily dismisses and rebukes her: “You have no power here. Now, begone, before someone drops a house on you!” Apparently,… Read more
March 14, 2019
Government Should Not be Run Like a Business
March 14, 2019 By Darrell Lackey
4 Comments
Something I’ve heard most of my life is a sentiment along the lines of, “Government should be run like a business, with balanced budgets, a savings or reserve, and efficiently/cost effectively.” The idea is that a “bottom-line” mentality should prevail. We look around at, say, Microsoft, or Starbucks, and we say, “See how successful they have been—we should run our governments like that!” I’ve even heard church people say the “business” side of a church’s ministry should be run like… Read more
March 5, 2019
Of God and Borders
March 5, 2019 By Darrell Lackey
1 Comment
I came across this recently. Where to begin. When I read things like this, I often wonder how it was possible I spent so much time in that world. Was I really that obtuse? Was I really that impervious to logic and a proper hermeneutics? Yes, yes, I was. And I am still often obtuse and still often unmoved by logic; and yet, even I can see these sorts of arguments for what they are: Nonsense. Let’s work our way… Read more
February 16, 2019
SBC: The Problem is The Theology
February 16, 2019 By Darrell Lackey
0 Comments
Even though I was born and raised in the Western United States, I grew up attending Southern Baptist Churches, graduated from a Southern Baptist seminary, and pastored a Southern Baptist Church. Weird, I know. My point: I have some familiarity with that world. Recently we learned of a history of sexual abuse within this tradition. While the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is large, the extent of the abuse was still sobering. The report found that over 200 pastors and leaders,… Read more
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