I have often heard Christians who want to be culturally engaged and relevant appeal to the old statement from Augustine, when he justified Christians partaking of classical learning, saying that we were “plundering the Egyptians.” And there is something to that. We don’t want simply to echo Tertullian’s famous comment when his famous Jerusalem said …
Get Between the Hogs and the Bucket
As I have been writing on “creation and food,” and the whole ag-econ system that gets food on our plates, some may assume that I want to be nothing more than a shill for the status quo. However, this assumption would go clean contrary to quite a number of things I have written about it, …
How Many Idahos Would It Take?
These numbers are approximations for the most part, sketched out on the back of a napkin. They may be a reflection of my deficient education in math growing up, or of me believing the wrong web site on how much hay an acre of grassland produces, or perhaps a function of some other gross personal …
That Poor Mutt, the Taxpayer
So let’s talk for a bit about what “sustainable” means. But before talking about sustainable at the level of food and food production, we should first consider the sustainability of ideas. One thing that is not really sustainable is fear mongering. That is why faddists are nomadic. They stay camping on one fear fad until …
Here. Try a Bigger Knife.
So last night I watched Food, Inc., a movie about the unsavory side of the food manufacturing industry in America. And, not surprisingly, I have a few things to say about it. But only a few — no need to answer every twig and leaf when the trunk is right there. But first, I want …
A Rabbi With a BLT
A great question was raised in the previous thread which I would like to bring to the top of the discussion. There is an important aspect of all this that we can’t let slide. Andrew asks: “I’m hoping you will respond to Matthew’s more general question, which is the same one I’ve had since you …
Common Ground in Which We May Grow a Veggie or Two
Some may wonder why I appear to be on a food jag. The principle is a simple one. If, for example, I encounter two or three instances of husbands getting angry with their wives and families, you can bet that I will assume that these three guys do not represent an exhaustive list, and the …
Or a Michael Moore Lie Montage
The idea of separation is a biblical idea. Come out from among them and be ye holy (2 Cor. 6:17). But in order to do this it is necessary actually to separate on biblical principle and in a biblical way. We need to learn how God’s intends for His people to be distinct. Too often …
On Their Way to My Pie
In God in the Dock, Lewis addresses in his typical trenchant way the dangers of national repentance. And, of course, one of the first things to note is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with national repentance, the real kind. But sinners have a consistent way of foisting the guilt of their moral failings off …
Deep Fried in Something Icky
Many years ago, when we were first learning how to handle our weapons in the culture wars, I had to sort through what I thought about boycotts. And where I landed is related to a point that has continuing relevance for Christians who are trying to sort out how to relate to the broader culture. …