Sailing the Last Voyage with Newton and Pascal
Some people will complain about anything: Recently some critics of prominent Trump-supporting Dallas Baptist pastor Robert Jeffress have disapprovingly identified him as a supporter of “Two Kingdoms” theology, an historic Protestant belief about the division of duties between spiritual & earthly rule. Jeffress in public pronouncements has stressed that civil government is called to provide …
Continue reading "The Only Real Alternative to “Two Kingdoms” Theology is Islam"
Rachael Denhollander, one of Larry Nassar's sexual abuse victims at Michigan State University, makes it plain: Bethany Jenkins, vice president of forums at the Veritas Forum, which helped to organize the event, reported that Denhollander was asked about her view of the church responding to the issue of sexual abuse. When asked "how do you …
Continue reading "If You’re Not Doing It for Jesus, You Shouldn’t Be Doing It"
It's an old Evangelical tradition: the "Easter Sunrise Service," when people get out of bed early to go to church (or somewhere) and celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For some people--especially musicians--rising from the dead is an easier task than getting up in the morning. Celebrating anything before noon is …
Continue reading "The Alternative to Easter Sunrise Service…At Sunrise"
In all of their glorification of the "giants of the faith," evangelicals either overlook or ignore the fact that same giants were usually far better versed in the classics of antiquity than is common today. To some extent this is understandable: study of these works has taken a beating the last fifty years, and we …
Continue reading "Scourged and Crucified: A Good Friday Reflection"
Higher education is a competitive business. One of the things that educational institutions that are affiliated with a church or profess or call themselves Christian use to attract students is "your faith will be enhanced by coming here." Christian parents and students find that attractive, which is why many pay the premium to go to …
Continue reading "Just Because Your Alma Mater is “Christian” Doesn’t Mean You’ll Be"
While most Americans were bracing themselves for Donald Trump's first State of the Union Address (which turned out reasonably,) I got myself into a Facebook argument with the most bilious person I know about immigration policy. During that dialogue I stated my preference for a Canadian (the Aussies use a similar system) immigration system which …
Continue reading "Is Going to a Canadian Style Immigration System That Bad?"
There's a well-known Anglican "divine" (to use the old term) in this country who's engaged in a Facebook campaign/rant (take your pick) about African faith declarations and the popularity of prosperity teaching. It's gone on for some time, and the fact that he's Reformed only adds to the persistence. (Maybe he's also trying to prove …
Continue reading "The Real Problem with Prosperity Teaching Isn’t Theological (Well, not entirely…)"
It's almost like the Illinois Family Association overlooked the most important detail in their lament over the course of at least one Evangelical Covenant Church: There’s something rotten in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). It’s rotting from the inside due to the presence of wolves in sheep’s clothing like Peter Hawkinson, pastor of Winnetka Covenant …
Continue reading "Drift, Like Real Estate, Is All About Location"
At this time of year I usually think of my mother, who passed at this time of year. But I heard this gem on Jradio Rewind this AM, had to share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_AfMKuOB80
It's the classic hymn for the Second Sunday in Advent: "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending," done in good Anglo-Catholic style here: https://youtu.be/RPmO75cXXcM?list=PL203B2568FF4CD221 The lyrics were written by Charles Wesley in 1758; more than one tune has been affixed to them, this is my favourite. It's about the Second Coming, which is really what Advent …
Continue reading "The Wesleyan Advent Hymn the Wesleyan Pentecostals Don't Sing"
Positive Infinity 