Jun 20, 2015 | Uncategorized
As Christians we live in interesting times. Western cultural elites and much of public opinion do not much like us anymore. We are stereotypically, supposedly, narrow minded, self-righteous, hypocritical, judgmental, all those traits the dominant culture has programmed Americans to believe about us for decades. It comes as no surprise, then, that many average Americans believe that these character traits now describe most Christians. Mind you, most “average” Americans do not probably know or interact intimately with any or many conservative evangelical Christians, so cannot justly make such judgments. But in this case the actual is much less important than the perceived.
We are especially horrific when it comes to the issues of homosexuality, veritable bigots because, well, we believe about marriage what everyone in the universe believed it to be until about 15 minutes ago. We are commanded to be “tolerant” or we will not be tolerated. And this in the name of love; don’t you know that Jesus was all about love?
It is fascinating that the devil has decided to use love as the latest Christian heresy. (more…)
Jun 13, 2015 | Uncategorized
The most important of such institutions, according to Christian teaching, is the family. And that institution is being pushed more and more into the background. It is being pushed into the background by undue encroachments of the community and of state. Modern life is tending more and more toward the contracion of the sphere of parental control and parental influence. The choice of schools is being placed under the power of the state. Modern life is tending more and more toward the contraction of the sphere of parental control and parental influence. The choice of schools is being placed under the power of the state; the “community” is seizing hold of recreation and of social activities. It may be a question how far these community activities are responsible for the modern breakdown of the home; very possibly they are only trying to fill a void which even apart from them had already appeared. But the result at any rate is plain–the lives of children are no longer surrounded by the loving atmosphere of the Christian home, but by the utilitarianism of the state. A revival of the Christian religion would unquestionably bring a reversal of the process; the family, as over against other social institutions, would come to its rights again.
–J. Gresham Machen, Christianity & Liberalism (Keep in mind this was written in 1923!)
Jun 11, 2015 | Uncategorized
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld got attention this week for saying he understood why other comics such as Chris Rock have stopped performing on campuses beset by political correctness, trigger warnings and “microaggressions.” He said young people cry “racism,” “sexism” or “prejudice” without any idea of what they’re talking about.
How did that happen? It happened because weak school administrators and academics empowered tireless activists who forced all of American history and life through the four prisms of class, gender, ethnicity and identity. What emerged at the other end was one idea—guilt. I exist, therefore I must be guilty. Of something.
–Daniel Henninger, “Bye, Bye, American History: Professors and historians urged opposition to the College Board’s new curriculum for teaching AP U.S. History.”
Jun 9, 2015 | Uncategorized
This past Saturday there were two historic events in sport. One captured the thrill of victory, the other the agony of defeat. (If you are old enough the latter phrase sounds familiar–or if not since it’s 2015 you can check out Youtube–It comes from the old ABC Wide World of Sports intro of a ski jumper in a terrible wipe out as an example of such agony.) The thrill of victory was the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, American Pharoah; the agony of defeat was Tiger Woods shooting the highest score in his professional golfing career, an 85 at Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament in Ohio. He finished last of those who made the cut, and shot his highest score for a tournament in his professional career. (more…)
Jun 6, 2015 | Uncategorized
Back before baseball, basketball and football became national pastimes there was boxing and horse racing, the most popular sports in America for the first half of the 20th Century. It’s hard to conceive of that now. Every May and June we get a little whiff of what it must have been like back in the day when horse racing was king, when the only three horse races most anyone knows about anymore are run. Of course I refer to the Triple Crown races of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes, which takes place this afternoon. (more…)
As Christians we live in interesting times. Western cultural elites and much of public opinion do not much like us anymore. We are stereotypically, supposedly, narrow minded, self-righteous, hypocritical, judgmental, all those traits the dominant culture has programmed Americans to believe about us for decades. It comes as no surprise, then, that many average Americans believe that these character traits now describe most Christians. Mind you, most “average” Americans do not probably know or interact intimately with any or many conservative evangelical Christians, so cannot justly make such judgments. But in this case the actual is much less important than the perceived.
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