“Because the artistic community has its own eleventh commandment: Thou shalt grant federal funds to art that’s too intellectual for you to understand, you rube.” [Richard Grenier, Capturing The Culture (Washington, DC: Ethics and Public Policy Center, 1991), p. 320].
Thank You, Thank You
“‘Sentimentality,’ by definition, is an outpouring of false emotion—for sentimental people do not feel much genuine emotion, wallowing in substitutes. (‘You’re a wonderful audience; I love you all.’)” [Richard Grenier, Capturing The Culture (Washington, DC: Ethics and Public Policy Center, 1991), p. 313].
Some Basic Political Principles
Another election is approaching in the fall. Many Christians are distressed at the condition of the country, and they are equally distressed over the choices they have in elections. While it is never appropriate to use a Christian pulpit as a partisan platform, it is equally unacceptable for Christians to be left without biblical direction …
More Just and Safe
“Now is it more just and safe that the strong should condecend to the weak, because that is within their reach, than that the weak should be driven up to the strong, which were to overdrive them” (Durham, p. 35).
And This From An Industry That Specializes in Brazen Hypocrisies
“Low-cast Hindus, in short, suffered humiliations in their native India compared to which the carrying of identity cards in South Africa was almost trivial. In fact, Gandhi, to his credit, was to campaign strenuously in his later life for the reduction of caste barriers in India—a campaign almost invisible in the movie, of course, conveyed …
Secession As Obedience
As the evening of the Fourth of July approaches, I thought I would offer a few words that might salve the consciences of some sensitive Christians when it comes time to set off the fireworks tonight. And no, I am not here talking about the conscience issues raised by firing off what citizens have affectionately …
Against Clamorous Mouths
“Thus Paul rather hazards upon what might follow upon his refusing to take wages than to take them, because taking is of itself more apt to give offense than refusing, and does not look so single-like, and there is not so easy access to vindicate that against clamorous mouths” (Durham, p. 29).
Well, Not Exactly
“A result of all this is that New York’s purveyors of high cinema art have chosen to import from France, Germany, Italy, or wherever, a hand-picked selection of those countries’ intimate, unconventional, or intellectually ambitious movies. There is certainly nothing wrong with a nothing-but-the-best policy for that American elite within the elite which enjoys foreign …
King David On The Fourth of July
The Fourth of July is next week, and a number of us are going to set off fireworks — and, if the past is to be trusted, we will set off some really good ones. But what are we celebrating? One of the things my grandchildren have been put up to during the fireworks are …
We Don’t Have To Like It
“For there is a great difference between displeasing and offending, as also between pleasing and edifying. For one may be displeased, and yet edified; well satisfied, and yet offended” (James Durham, Concerning Scandal, p. 2).