Evangelical Fears and the Turn Toward “Coercive Christianism”: an Essay Part 3 of 3 In Part 1 of this essay, I laid out some examples of Evangelical fears, particularly in the form of their desire for a strongman-protector. I have also presented statistical evidence of significant shifts in the demographics of faith in America. In … Continue reading Pastor Note #102: Evangelical Fears and the Turn Toward Coercive “Christianism”: an Essay Part 3 of 3
Tag: politics
Pastor Note #100: Evangelical Fear and the Turn Toward “Coercive Christianism”: An Essay Part 1 of 3
Evangelical Fear and the Turn Toward “Coercive Christianism”: An Essay Part 1 of 3 Can Christianity in America survive without a strongman-protector? Is the plight of Christianity in American such that it can only be preserved by the guardianship of a strongman-protector in government, particularly one who is not encumbered by scruples stemming from such … Continue reading Pastor Note #100: Evangelical Fear and the Turn Toward “Coercive Christianism”: An Essay Part 1 of 3
Pastor Note #99: Following Jesus in a Time of Pandemic, Poisonous Politics, and Social Unrest
In a recent e-mail to a friend, I described some of the challenges of church ministry in this time of pandemic, political divisiveness, and social unrest. I told him, “During the past six months, pastoring a church feels like jumping out of an airplane and trying to sew your parachute as you fall.” That experience … Continue reading Pastor Note #99: Following Jesus in a Time of Pandemic, Poisonous Politics, and Social Unrest
Quote of Note #80: Public Speech and Truth
"An appropriate response to the competing claims of pubic voices is to take these obligations personally. We have been 'called by name'--not every one of us to public speaking, political activism in the streets and on telephones, or investigative journalism, but all of us to seek truth and follow after it, to do justice, to … Continue reading Quote of Note #80: Public Speech and Truth
Quote of Note #74: Character and the Presidency
"As it turns out, character DOES matter. You can’t run a family, let alone a country, without it. How foolish to believe that a person who lacks honesty and moral integrity is qualified to lead a nation and the world! Nevertheless, our people continue to say that the President is doing a good job even … Continue reading Quote of Note #74: Character and the Presidency
Quote of Note #72–Failing to Upset the Powers-That-Be
"If our proclamation does not upset the powers-that-be--if it doesn't 'turn the world upside down' (Acts 17:6) -- is that because our culture is friendly to the gospel? Or have we made the gospel friendly to the culture? If we aren't treated like Paul, is that because society has changed--or have we changed? Could it … Continue reading Quote of Note #72–Failing to Upset the Powers-That-Be
Quote of Note #70 — An Allegiance a Heavenly Kingdom
"In Philippians 3:20, Paul reminds these inhabitants of of the Roman colony that, as Christians, 'we are citizens of a heavenly commonwealth [politeuma].' We are citizens of a different empire. The church of Jesus Christ is an alternative city, a counter-empire. We are the 'Messiah-people' who pledge allegiance to the Lamb. We are subjects of … Continue reading Quote of Note #70 — An Allegiance a Heavenly Kingdom
Quote of Note #69 — Our Allegiance to our King not some Party
"The gospel that Paul preached was not a message about some private, interior transformation of the heart. It is a message about a new allegiance to a King-in-waiting. As such, there was something radically political about the gospel--which didn't mean, of course, that Christians sided with a particular political party. In fact, there was a … Continue reading Quote of Note #69 — Our Allegiance to our King not some Party
Quote of Note #68 — “The World as an end, faith as a means”
{Advice from a senior devil to his apprentice tempter on the use of politics to ruin the faith of a Christian} "Let him begin by treating the Patriotism or the Pacifism as a part of his religion. Then let him, under the influence of partisan spirit, come to regard it as the most important part. … Continue reading Quote of Note #68 — “The World as an end, faith as a means”
Quote of Note #66 — A Pastor’s Vision
"I’m one hundred times more passionate about creating Christians and churches that will be faithful, biblical, countercultural, and spiritually minded in a socialist America, in a Muslim America, in a communist America, than I am in preventing a Muslim America or a communist America. That puts me in a very different ballpark than many public … Continue reading Quote of Note #66 — A Pastor’s Vision
