From here we read: “In contrast, whenever the New Testament speaks of the universality of God’s salvation in Christ (47 times by Hart’s count) it does so in bald theological assertions (as in 1 Corinthians 15:22: “For just as in Adam all die, so also in the Anointed all will be given life”) which can be taken in no other way but literally.” Everything about modern, Western, enlightened, mathematical, and mapped out Christianity is linear. We have timelines. We start... Read more
In regard to our present moment, when it comes to white evangelicalism and the political, in my view there are three types of evangelical pastors/leaders. The first is in complete agreement with a large percentage of their flock when it comes to the last four years and the events of January 6th in our nation’s capital. They agree the former president was wonderful, his election “stolen,” the insurrection either justified or a “false flag,” and are sympathetic toward conspiracy theories... Read more
What are we to make of these reports: see here and here? What does it tell us about evangelical discipleship and training? What should the pastor of a typical or average evangelical church take away from these reports? How should it make them feel? Yes, I get it. What if the pastor/priest believes the same sort of nonsense? We live in a very peculiar time. We think, of course, we are modern people—and we are in a certain sense. We... Read more
This post is for those white evangelicals out there who are conflicted. They are politically and theologically conservative, registered Republicans or Independents, and serious about their civic duties and their faith. They are conflicted because they didn’t really like or support Trump, or did so very, very reluctantly. They knew he was the opposite of everything they were told to support in a political candidate, but he did support many policies and views they favored. They didn’t like his tone, his anger,... Read more
Some conservative evangelicals and other voices are trying to blame the last four years of people believing false stories/lies, fake news, and conspiracy theories on postmodernism. I suppose at this point, given their forever link to Trump’s disastrous presidency, many excuses will now be offered. This is just the first of many, I’m sure. What they should really be pondering is why a wide swath of conservative white evangelicals were eager to believe false stories, fake news, and conspiracy theories if it meant they could... Read more
I don’t remember where I heard or read it, but I do recall the rumor in the 1980s that the corporate logo (which they eventually dropped) used by the manufacturing giant Proctor & Gamble, was a satanic symbol with all the nefarious ramifications. For quite a while, it was an urban legend. It turns out the rumor, with no basis in fact, was promoted by rival competitors, namely some Amway people. However, it no doubt had some negative impact, and the... Read more
What we saw on January 6, 2021 lumbering from the President’s Park South toward the Capitol Building was a Frankenstein Monster finally put together after decades in the making. Just like the fictional creature, this monster will probably end up destroying its makers, and there are many. Just like it is hard to fault the fictional creature, who is, after all, brought into this world through unnatural and unethical means, I don’t place most of the blame on those who... Read more
Consider Luke 13: 22-30 22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying,... Read more
I remember at least one pastor telling me the reason he practiced expository preaching was to avoid bias/subjectivity. His theory was that topical preaching was inherently biased because the topic was chosen for personal reasons (perhaps a pet peeve of the pastor/priest) and the Bible was brought into service to make the point of the topic (the speaker’s views on the topic, really), rather than allowing the topic to arise organically from the Bible passage. I remember attending a Calvary... Read more
Doug Wilson is an odd duck. He’s sort of a cross between Hillbilly Elegy and A Beautiful Mind. In many ways, he’s a fundamentalist, but with a classical education and bent. A man of letters, but in a William Jennings Bryan sort of way. He’s a man out of time and yet thoroughly modern in many ways. He seems brighter than most fundamentalists, and yet, as obtuse as the worst. Anyway, the Trump virus, which turns apparently reasonable and intelligent... Read more
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