Observers of American high places, American idolatries, tend to cluster in two groups — narrow and true, and broad and false. We need a third operating category, which I would describe as broad and true. Those idolatries would include consumerism, nationalism, paternalism — in short, pretty much all our isms. Those who reject the idolatries …
Except for the Jesus Part
One of the central reasons why the Federal Vision controversy elicted such strong reactions is that it is a topic that, in one form or another, Americans have been debating since the 1630’s. The topic was debated earlier than that in Reformation history, of course, but we were debating it at the same time our …
An American Reformation
Before the Lord established a place for His name in Jerusalem, the worship of God was conducted by the Israelites in various high places. After the destruction of Shiloh, the center of worship was moved (apparently) to Gibeon, with some measure of tolerance extended to the people for sacrificing in other high places because there …
That Postmillennial Wahoo Time
Andrew Sandlin has recently posted this about American exceptionalism, and since he mentioned me (lumped in with Obama and McLaren, ouch), I thought I should say something. Of course I have no problems whatever with an appropriate patriotism, qualified as Andrew qualifies it. I made similar points in the post to which Andrew links. Americans …
Splashed Around in the Village Pond for a Bit
In an earlier post, I wrote about American exceptionalism with something less than enthusiasm. But this kind of point, however simple it is at the center, still needs to be nuanced around the edges. Some of this is a summary of what I have written elsewhere, so bear with me and here goes anyway. American …
9.8m/s2
There are a number of things that are circulated on the foxnewsright that do to my soul what an Athens full of idols did to the apostle Paul. One of the central ones, as readers of this space well know, is that I think there is enough sadness in the world without Republicans going around …
The Creed and the Pledge
Many thanks for the good discussion on the previous post. Obviously more is needed. In fact, when I consider the shape we’re in, more is desperately needed. I say the Apostles’ Creed far more often than I say the Pledge. And when I say the Pledge of Allegiance, as noted already, it is not without …
Low Empire
One of the things we have to get straight is the right relationship of the Church to various manifestations of earthly civil government. And in our setting, in our time, we have to come to grips with American hegemony in the world. That fact is a given — how shall we respond to it? One …
Deep Affection for America
Today is the 4th of July, and we have been free of the tyrannies and predations of the House of Hanover for 232 years now. Tyrants and predators have not disappeared from the earth however, and so this evening I would urge everyone to set off a firecracker or squib as a kind of taunt …
Concrete Secularism
The last chapter of Darryl’s book is obviously the one in which he steps up, wraps up, and sums up, and of course it is also the place where some of our more obvious disagreements come to the fore. Darryl’s basic assumption is that the coming of Christ ushered in a new relationship between church …