The instructions were simple. “Google Jesus,” it said. In the South we are used to lots of odd-ball religious messages on billboards and bumper stickers. They do not differ much from each other. All of them are Christian fundamentalist messages warning about the reality of Hell, the literal meaning of the Bible, and the substitution of Jesus “for you.” The majority of these could have been seen a generation or two ago. Being inundated with these messages, one is not... Read more
Resentment is the enemy. It is borne of anger. The anger may be justified or unjustified. It does not matter. Because resentment is real even when the cause is an illusion. Resentment is deadly, destructive, and the opposite of love. And it is self-destructive. Let’s expose the Devil for what it is. The Devil’s Resentment Satan, according to Milton’s Paradise Lost, is full of resentment. “Better to reign in Hell than serve in heav’n,” is mistaken to be a statement of... Read more
“The Lord your God will raise up for a prophet like me…I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet who shall speak them everything that I command…But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods or presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak – that prophet shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:15-20) Modern Prediction One morning you get a random email. It says, “the stock market will... Read more
Houseless peoples camps are being raided. And it is not right to do it. Police officers, attempting to force houseless people into shelters, are forcing these people to discard sleeping bags and tents. It is wrong to do this too. Local new media does not speak about it. That is wrong too. People without their tents and sleeping bags are freezing to death. That is an abomination before God. City officials engaged in such activities are practicing evil. But let’s... Read more
Nothing gets my dander up like biblically illiterate bible quotations. Social media makes this worse. Southerners fall into this trap quite easily. Biblically illiterate Bible quoting was once the justification for supporting slavery, the death penalty, and opposing scientific education. But there is a problem for everyone who claim to hold the Bible as authoritative and never read it. The Bible Says There is no higher appeal to authority for some folks than to appeal to the Bible. “The Bible... Read more
Americans seem to loathe the phrase “business as usual.” I am not sure which word causes the biggest reaction. Is it business? Or is it usual? Both words denote something people spend too much time doing. In a media saturated culture that promises the exciting and new with each purchase, the desire to see spectacular improvement is unfulfilled. We expect it to happen. It never does. This is the condition where “business as usual” comes to be despised. Consumers want... Read more
I just watched The Social Dilemma. The documentary on Netflix that explains how social media operate. And now I understand. Or at least I think I get it. Perhaps, I am wrong. But if I listened only to what I receive through my social media accounts I would not ask if I was wrong. That may be the whole point. Broken Friendships “Whoever opposes us will face the wrath of God someday!” I saw this on a friend’s social media page one day.... Read more
The Mainline Protestant church is dying. Church leaders have known this for decades. We developed the church consultation industry to sell us solutions. The answers we bought are only apparently true. We hear “evangelical churches are growing because of their theology.” Or “we need programs and other worship styles to attract younger people.” Is the problem theology or marketing? No. The problem is a form of cultural suicide. Mainline Is Sidelined The mainline churches are failing while a few congregations... Read more
A sermons series I once preached was called The Marks of Cain. The marks I identified were rage, greed, and domination. I pondered this series over the weekend in light of the attack on the Capitol building on January 6th. I remembered John Hancock’s line in 1776. “Don’t you see any colony opposed to us will be forced to fight on the side of England? We will be putting brother against brother. Our new nation will bear as it’s emblem the mark... Read more
I am angry. It is anger borne out of frustration. I know the people who caused the violence in DC will not be held accountable. The people who participated in it may be. But the right-wing media outlets and the alt-right platforms will not be held accountable. One deluded person died. It was a farce because of evil beliefs. Primarily, it is the belief in one’s own righteousness. Second, it is the willingness to be manipulated. But I must deal... Read more
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