A call to a new Reformation in the teaching and life of Jesus' followers
There are perhaps deeper issues I should pursue first, but I’d like to take a look at a couple of highly symbolic elements of the kingdom, and how they aren’t commonly practiced in church, although perhaps they should be. First the element of sanctuary. We all know the word; until the more-hip “worship center” started taking hold in churches that didn’t want to sound too … Continue reading The Kingdom of Jesus Christ – of Sanctuary and Flag
I’ve just finished the book Roger Williams by historian Edwin S. Gaustad. Loaned to me by a friend from church, this brief book is an overview of the life and writings of the man who founded the colony of Rhode Island in the early 17th century. I recommend it to anyone who, like me, is frustrated by the frequent drumbeat among conservative Americans, as to … Continue reading Roger Williams – A patriot for the rest of us
I just have to put in a plug for a blog of a friend. . .Jonathan has just started a thread on awful “worship” music over at his “Ponder Anew” blog. As he has expressed, it pains me how much content in the stuff we call “worship” is just plain lousy theology. (Beyond that, I often find it to be bad poetry and sloppy music … Continue reading "Worship" songs that make us puke. . .
Since the language of “Kingdom” implies citizenship and allegiance, it’s instructive to see what the kingdoms of this world think of citizenship. I decided to take a look at the law of the kingdom in which I reside, the United States of America. The basis for defining citizenship in the United States is the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, the first sentence of which reads: … Continue reading The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Citizenship
I have alluded in various posts up to now, about the notion that Jesus is our king, that he was anointed the same by God the Father, and that we are called to follow and obey him rather than merely to give intellectual assent to some list of propositions about him. In the next few posts I want to ruminate a bit about what this … Continue reading The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Introduction
Today I finished the book A Deadly Misunderstanding by Mark Siljander, and I vigorously recommend it. A former Republican congressman with impeccable conservative credentials, colleague of Newt Gingrich and the “Young Turks” of the Reagan Revolution, Mark was also a staunch conservative Evangelical Christian, solid supporter of Israel and opponent of communists and Muslims wherever they might be found. Challenged not long after an electoral … Continue reading Must-Read: Mark Siljander’s "A Deadly Misunderstanding"
My wife and I finally watched “Fireproof” yesterday. Though preachier than I might prefer, I overall enjoyed it as a well-done and worthwhile movie. I was bothered by the content of the obligatory “Gospel Message” in the middle, though. In usual form, the sage believer lectures the unbelieving hero on how he “can’t measure up to God’s standard” because he’s “broken God’s law.” The “Gospel,” … Continue reading Why do you "need" God?
I wanted to highlight a recent post by my mom over at Pioneers’ New Testament, because what she says is actually a useful foundation for some things I’m going to be writing soon. She has just posted a word study on the various Greek words that are sometimes translated as “Life” or “Soul” in the New Testament. I recommend the post, and will add more … Continue reading New Testament Word Study on Life
I know it’s probably odd for a mostly-theological blog to recommend an entirely-secular movie, but odd has never stopped me yet and I don’t think I’ll start now. . .I just saw the film “Avatar” with my brother and our sons yesterday, and I have a new addition to my top-ten all-time favorite movies. It’s really that good. Not because it’s a compelling sci-fi and … Continue reading Movie Recommendation – Avatar
A couple of friends have recently pointed me to The Manhattan Declaration with encouragement that I and other like-minded believers should sign on. I won’t be signing it, and I encourage my believing friends to think long and carefully about it too. The declaration purports to lay out three principals as particularly important for Christians to support, and to publicly advocate: the sanctity of human … Continue reading The Manhattan Declaration — I won’t be signing it