A call to a new Reformation in the teaching and life of Jesus' followers
My brother Dave’s blog is primarily about economics, mine primarily about theology. But I have got to highlight to you guys, this post in which Dave quite properly calls out some of the ways in which church institutions seem to have forgotten which deity they ought to serve (Matt. 6:19-24). Churches sometimes talk a good game about justice, and even do great works for justice. … Continue reading God or Mammon?
Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! A joyous Easter to each of you. This is the day when we celebrate Jesus’ victory over the powers and their grip on the world, for in raising Jesus from the dead, the Father achieved victory over the ultimate weapon of evil – death and our fear of death. I was thinking this morning in church. . .we often look … Continue reading He is Risen, He has Conquered, He Rules!
One aspect of the Kingdom of God that we often misunderstand, is that this Kingdom is at war. The Genesis creation story teaches us that God originally created the cosmos as his own domain, and specifically on Earth, he placed his image-bearers as viceroys–rulers in his stead–and stewards of that domain. However, a deceitful enemy tempted humans to disobey their creator, and through a process … Continue reading The Kingdom of Jesus Christ – Rebels Wanted!
There are perhaps deeper issues I should pursue first, but I’d like to take a look at a couple of highly symbolic elements of the kingdom, and how they aren’t commonly practiced in church, although perhaps they should be. First the element of sanctuary. We all know the word; until the more-hip “worship center” started taking hold in churches that didn’t want to sound too … Continue reading The Kingdom of Jesus Christ – of Sanctuary and Flag
I’ve just finished the book Roger Williams by historian Edwin S. Gaustad. Loaned to me by a friend from church, this brief book is an overview of the life and writings of the man who founded the colony of Rhode Island in the early 17th century. I recommend it to anyone who, like me, is frustrated by the frequent drumbeat among conservative Americans, as to … Continue reading Roger Williams – A patriot for the rest of us
I just have to put in a plug for a blog of a friend. . .Jonathan has just started a thread on awful “worship” music over at his “Ponder Anew” blog. As he has expressed, it pains me how much content in the stuff we call “worship” is just plain lousy theology. (Beyond that, I often find it to be bad poetry and sloppy music … Continue reading "Worship" songs that make us puke. . .
Since the language of “Kingdom” implies citizenship and allegiance, it’s instructive to see what the kingdoms of this world think of citizenship. I decided to take a look at the law of the kingdom in which I reside, the United States of America. The basis for defining citizenship in the United States is the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, the first sentence of which reads: … Continue reading The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Citizenship
I have alluded in various posts up to now, about the notion that Jesus is our king, that he was anointed the same by God the Father, and that we are called to follow and obey him rather than merely to give intellectual assent to some list of propositions about him. In the next few posts I want to ruminate a bit about what this … Continue reading The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Introduction
Today I finished the book A Deadly Misunderstanding by Mark Siljander, and I vigorously recommend it. A former Republican congressman with impeccable conservative credentials, colleague of Newt Gingrich and the “Young Turks” of the Reagan Revolution, Mark was also a staunch conservative Evangelical Christian, solid supporter of Israel and opponent of communists and Muslims wherever they might be found. Challenged not long after an electoral … Continue reading Must-Read: Mark Siljander’s "A Deadly Misunderstanding"
My wife and I finally watched “Fireproof” yesterday. Though preachier than I might prefer, I overall enjoyed it as a well-done and worthwhile movie. I was bothered by the content of the obligatory “Gospel Message” in the middle, though. In usual form, the sage believer lectures the unbelieving hero on how he “can’t measure up to God’s standard” because he’s “broken God’s law.” The “Gospel,” … Continue reading Why do you "need" God?