Biblical Justice is Social Justice

Last updated on: July 15, 2020 at 4:12 pm By Darrell Lackey

Running through the theological framework of fundamentalism and evangelicalism, perhaps even the Protestant tradition, is the discernible need to dichotomize everything. Of course, it’s a feature of modernity. Whether it’s works vs. grace, scripture vs. tradition, etc., it has to be either one or the other; see here for another example regarding the gospel and social justice. We see the same thing happening in this post. We see two mutual concepts being needlessly opposed or separated. I would counter that biblical... Read more

Is Separating the Gospel from Social Justice a Sign of White Privilege?

Last updated on: July 9, 2020 at 3:00 pm By Darrell Lackey

I’m suspicious. When I read or hear something put out by those most critical of the social justice movement, I often wonder if the true reasons for their opposition are more cultural than theological. There are obvious reasons I’m suspicious. The overwhelming number of voices critical of social justice are white, male, and evangelical/fundamentalist. Here is a good example. The great majority have rarely, if ever, had to deal with the same cultural, social, political and economic issues as their... Read more

Evangelicals Are Attracted to Conspiracy Theories—Why?

Last updated on: June 16, 2023 at 5:54 pm By Darrell Lackey

Many voices from across the evangelical spectrum have all noted the same problem, which is that too many evangelicals in the pews are prone to believe and echo conspiracy theories. See here, here, and here. However, while these critics, to their credit, note the problem—there doesn’t seem to be many theories as to why evangelicals do this, other than to agree it’s a problem. They point out the harm it does, but, again, not why the problem exists. Few seem... Read more

Who’s Afraid of Progressive Christianity?

Last updated on: June 7, 2020 at 10:22 am By Darrell Lackey

Clearly, Alisa Childers is. Obviously, I write on the Progressive Christianity platform created by Patheos. However, I’m not especially fond of or enamored with the label. Labels are boxes that too often hide more than they reveal. I would hazard to guess that many Christians feel the same way, whatever the label, whether “conservative,” “evangelical,” whatever. All of us are more than the labels used to describe us. The only thing a label can do is offer a tendency, a... Read more

When There is No Peace

Last updated on: May 31, 2020 at 4:10 pm By Darrell Lackey

This is something (revised) I posted some time ago. However, given recent events, I thought it was pertinent once again. Unfortunately, the attitude expressed here by Dr. Iorg is too prevalent among evangelicals and other Christians when it comes to race and protest in this country. America’s two national blood stains, that like Abel’s blood still cry out to God, are the genocide of the native inhabitants of this land and the slavery of those brought from Africa. For too... Read more

How to Read the Bible

Last updated on: May 23, 2020 at 10:01 am By Darrell Lackey

When Christians read the Bible, what is it they want or hope to gain? There are some peripheral things we obviously want. We want to gain a cursory (at least) knowledge of the history, language, culture, the people therein, and the over-arching story the Bible tells. These are basic desires most of us bring to our Bible reading. However, I don’t think this gets to what we really desire. I think what most of us genuinely want is to hear... Read more

We Are All Monastics Now

Last updated on: May 9, 2020 at 12:14 pm By Darrell Lackey

Whether we ever thought of ourselves as contemplatives or monks before, we are now. And, by state orders no less. Oh, the irony. Whoever thought our secular masters would do the Lord’s work in our lives? The Lord, does indeed, work in mysterious ways. We are told to “be still,” and know that God is God. And now, we get to try and live that out—whether we want to or not. We have renounced the world, by worldly decree amazingly... Read more

We Are Sheep-We Are Goats

Last updated on: April 19, 2020 at 11:40 am By Darrell Lackey

In the Christian narrative we find the picture of humans and their response to God (lived lives) portrayed by the categories of sheep or goats. There are positive connotations associated with sheep and negative ones with goats. For example, we have Matthew 25 regarding the, “Final Judgment.” We read: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations,... Read more

Presumption not Faith

Last updated on: April 7, 2020 at 9:42 am By Darrell Lackey

From stories like these (here, here, and here), one could credibly assert that certain parts of the Christian church (evangelical/fundamentalist/Pentecostal) and their pastoral leadership are guilty of theological malpractice. While we might shake our heads at the profound ignorance and lack of wisdom displayed by the people in these stories, we should remember they are simply navigating by what their pastors and leaders are teaching them. As for the pastors in these stories, their seminary professors or the sources of... Read more

What the World Needs Now

Last updated on: April 1, 2020 at 11:53 am By Darrell Lackey

We need a lot of things right now. We need a vaccine. We need ventilators. We need protective gear for our doctors and nurses. We need rent. We need economic help. We need science. We need medical judgment and wisdom. We need political leadership. We pray God speed for all these. We also need prayer and spiritual wisdom. We need to fast and pray. We need to repent. Some of these we have needed all along. I wonder if we... Read more