Theology That Bites Back
The main category for book reviews and cultural interaction.
Introduction: My topic, if you could not guess from the cryptic title, is religious liberty. Vanity Fair, if you have not guessed, does not celebrate the Fourth of July. That’s a problem. Lots of Americans still celebrate it, but because we are now governed by non-elected functionaries from Vanity Fair, the celebrations are merely impressive …
“Fireproof and Courageous . . . could have been every bit as heavy-handed without exciting comment had the message been about climate change, treating a gay teenage boy with dignity and respect, or some down-‘n-out protagonist discovering the critical importance of ‘believing in himself'” (Rules, p. 247).
I have confessed on previous occasions that I like to read dictionaries, chipping away at them a page or two at a go. I also like to do the same thing with collections of anecdotes, and as it turns out that I have just finished one. The plotting is terrible, and it is hard to …
“Many who claim to love Jesus with their theology hate the poor with their economics, and I think we should stop being okay with that” (Rules, p. 242).
“There are only two forms of engagement that Christians can engage in — we must either adopt a transformationalist approach or a compromising approach. If we are not going to go the escapist route, waiting for the rapture, we must either take every thought captive, or we must split the difference” (Rules, p. 241)
“If we are going to be engaged in true cultural reformation, we need a gospel that kicks the devil in the teeth. And that means it must be a message of penal, substitutionary, vicarious blood-bought atonement. When it comes to this substitute, we must accept no substitutes” (Rules, p. 239).
Brussels is only 200 miles from London. I live 2,500 miles from Washington, D.C. Perhaps you see where this is going. We are living in a time of enormous upheaval. Some of it is good, lots of it is bad, and all of it is challenging. The Brexit exit was one of the good things, …
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome My rating: 4 of 5 stars Very enjoyable, a lot of fun, and some glorious writing. Some laugh out loud spots, not unlike Wodehouse. View all my reviews
