"Spiritual wisdom is false unless it goes beyond pious sacrifices and regulated worship services and enters into the bloodstream of society by giving justice to the downtrodden, the lonely, and the destitute, and ending the oppression of social outcasts (Isaiah 1:10-20; 29:13-24; 58-59; Amos 5-6; Micah 2-3, 6)." Calvin G. Seerveld, Biblical Studies and Wisdom … Continue reading Quote of Note #179: Spiritual Wisdom and Justice
Tag: Christianity and culture
Pastor Note #135: A Pro-Life Voter Votes Democrat
A Pro-life Voter Votes Democrat Why would a pro-life voter vote for Democrats? I’ll explain. The Republican Party portrays itself as the “pro-life” party. I would note, however, that the term “pro-life” never appears in the Republican Party’s official 2024 platform. But in the section of the platform that addresses the issue of abortion, we … Continue reading Pastor Note #135: A Pro-Life Voter Votes Democrat
Pastor Note #129: How Would Christian Nationalist Government Work?
As a committed Christian, I have to say that the assertion that America is a Christian nation troubles me, rankles my faith, and in many ways leaves me a bit baffled. Those who make that assertion are not making a merely demographic claim based on the fact that the majority of Americans claim to be … Continue reading Pastor Note #129: How Would Christian Nationalist Government Work?
Quote of Note #131: The Well-being of All
photo by GAC "In the past civility was understood in much richer terms. To be civil was to genuinely care about the larger society. It required a heartfelt commitment to your fellow citizens. It was a willingness to promote the well-being of people who were very different, including people who disagreed with you on important … Continue reading Quote of Note #131: The Well-being of All
Pastor Note #114: Michael Flynn and One National Religion
“If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion. One nation under God, and one religion under God." Michal Flynn, speaking at a “Reawaken America” event in San Antonio, TX on November 13, 2021 Washington County (Pennsylvania) Courthouse; photo by GAC It is hard to … Continue reading Pastor Note #114: Michael Flynn and One National Religion
Quote of Note #123: Christianity & Coercion
Photo by GAC "Christian civility takes human freedom seriously. I may want people to believe as I do about some basic matters--but what I want is for them to choose to see things that way. This means that I must rely on testimony and persuasion in presenting my views to them. Civil Christians will be … Continue reading Quote of Note #123: Christianity & Coercion
Quote of Note #95: The Cross-Shaped Life
"Jesus's cross-shaped life and death modeled the cruciform life that is our calling. Like Him, we do not overcome imperial powers through earthly means. Instead, we embody His 'revolutionary way of being revolutionary.' Whether the world receives or rejects us will hold little weight if we are incarnating his way of being and doing, for … Continue reading Quote of Note #95: The Cross-Shaped Life
Pastor Note #93: Religious Liberty, Privileged Christianity, and the Art of the Deal
Religious liberty, if it is pure and principled, is a beautiful and precious thing. It can also become a desperately dangerous concept if allowed to become conditional, qualified, or contingent in any way. And that’s where this gets very tricky right away. Everybody who wants to live in a humane and civilized society agrees that … Continue reading Pastor Note #93: Religious Liberty, Privileged Christianity, and the Art of the Deal
Quote of Note #90: Grace for Neighbors. . . and Enemies
"To be people of amazing grace is to see ourselves as recipients of kindness and understanding not owed to us, and if we really believe it's been lavished upon us undeservedly, maybe we can lavish a little upon the people we find ourselves least inclined to view generously. If we're showering only the people we … Continue reading Quote of Note #90: Grace for Neighbors. . . and Enemies
Pastor Note #87: Christmas — A Peasant King and the Foolishness of God
Christmas as a holiday in America is in many ways sacrosanct. I’m not referring to the Christian holiday. Most American, including Christian Americans, don’t really celebrate Christmas as a biblical holiday. We love the warm, cozy sweetness of the “traditional” Christmas holiday. In order to preserve that warm, cozy sweetness, we have to gloss over … Continue reading Pastor Note #87: Christmas — A Peasant King and the Foolishness of God
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 