First, read this. After you have done so, then you may read what follows. The two cash quotes are these: “Note that “faithfulness to Scriptures” involves politics, the arts and sciences, and movies. Note as well that Leithart himself has defended the political theology of Constantine precisely because it is a worthy alternative to secularity. …
Red State Incarnationalist
There are a number of reasons why Christians are reluctant to bring their ideas down out of the realm of ethereal abstractions. One of those reasons is that to do so requires us to take responsibiltiy. Another reason is that taking responsibility brings us into conflict. In short, we can’t come down from the heights …
In Defense of Blasphemy Codes
In one sense, defending blasphemy codes is the easiest thing in the world. All you have to do is demonstrate how everybody has them — you can defend them because everybody defends them. Blasphemy codes are inescapable — it not whether a society outlaws blasphemy, but rather which patterns of speech will be considered blasphemy. …
Book of the Month/October 2012
This is a superb little book, one that addresses a screaming need with clarity, while at the same time avoiding a simplistic 1,2,3 triteness. The theme of the book, as the title suggests, is that provocative little phrase from the Westminister Confession which says this: “The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for …
Obama’s Red Rubber Nose
I want to begin by acknowledging what all right-minded observers ought to know by now, which is that Obama’s foreign policy approach is a clownfest. And if that is the case, and it is, his Middle East bureau would be the red rubber nose. It is as if somebody decided to take a mash-up of …
Hey, This Knife Cuts in Two Directions!
Suppose the point were to be made — and it is a worthy point to make — that being a Christian trumps being an American. This is a point with which I am in whole-hearted agreement, and which I have made in this place numerous times. A conservative Republican believer in Jesus has far more …
Book of the Month/September 2012
This is a book for everyone who has been in a conflict, is now in a conflict, or will be in a conflict. Which is to say, everybody. I appreciate Alexander Strauch very much. This is because he sticks close to the text, which means that you are bound to learn a great deal, even …
Douglas the Dogmaton?
A few distinctions still remain to be made in our discussion of authoritative proclamation. A friend has reminded me that we need to bring another issue to the surface, which is the nature of claims of authority (implicit in authoritative claims) over against claims of infallibility. And this whole subject is actually trickier than it …
One of Those Yellow Rattlesnake Flags
As we continue our discussion of politics (and economics) in the name of Jesus, I want to pick up on at least a few things that have arisen in the comments. When it comes to reasoning from Scripture, applying the word of God to our lives, there are two ways of reasoning — inductive and …
Politics in the Name of Jesus, Part Two
The comments here are pursuing the question of what it means to declare something in the name of Jesus, particularly when it comes to convoluted political questions. Here are some additional thoughts on that thorny question. First, the job of a minister is to declare “thus saith the Lord,” and not “it seems to me.” …