Dec 7, 2022The Nazi TheologyThe Godwin Temptation is real, and not everything pertains to Nazis. When it comes to the latest iteration of Christian Nationalism, however, the Nazi comparison applies. Why? Not because of the Kinist tendencies of the people floating around the movement. …Nazis28 min readNazis28 min read
Nov 22, 2022“Spiritual” Marriage vs. The Marriage PenaltyI wrote this paper as we wrestled with a couple of specific situations in my church. I figured it was salient given the current discussions around marriage. Two situations in the church have caused more consideration of this issue which I had never considered before becoming Pastor at FACWS! The…Marriage13 min readMarriage13 min read
Sep 3, 2022A Brief Defense of Liberal DemocracyAnd an even briefer indictment it as a guiding personal philosophy. First, note the definitions that will be used in this essay: LIBERALISM — a political philosophy centered around freedoms — personal, familial, congregational — and ensuring the government protects those freedoms. This is NOT what might be called liberalism…Liberalism12 min readLiberalism12 min read
Aug 11, 2022V Marks of Nationalist ConservativismHazony’s Conservativism: A Rediscovery (sort-of) reviewed Before we go anywhere with Yoram Hazony’s Conservativism: A Rediscovery, we have to mark from the outset that what Hazony calls conservativism is nothing like what might pop in your mind as political conservativism. …Conservatives20 min readConservatives20 min read
Jul 26, 2022Fearing Death4th in a Series on Fear. See: Fearing Failure, Religious Nostrums, and Viral Fear A young girl would appear in my backyard from time to time playing with the neighborhood kids when my girls were preschool-aged and encountering so much of the world for the first time. Raven-haired and lithe…Death22 min readDeath22 min read
Jul 5, 2022Jesus Freak Revisited1995. It contained multitudes: rap-rock, grunge, alternative, and pop ballads. The themes seemed to cover every bit of the Evangelical teen experience of the 1990’s, wrapped in a retro-ish album cover that looked something like a talisman. It was the thing for a few years. …Jesus Freak21 min readJesus Freak21 min read
May 24, 2022Jesus Commands: Repent“When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” - Martin Luther, 95 Theses (this article excerpted from “Repent: The First Sermon of Jesus”)- The first sermon of Jesus is this: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is…Repent11 min readRepent11 min read
Apr 19, 2022Viral Fear(3rd in a Series on Fear. 1 here, 2 here) Fear is a virus. It multiplies and spreads from host to host rapidly, consuming every new host until a mass hysteria takes hold and irrational fear becomes the guiding principle for a group, culture, or government. I remember as a…Fear34 min readFear34 min read
Mar 23, 2022Religious Nostrums(2nd in a Series on Fear) Vainly we seek salvation in anyone and anything but the God. This is the human way. Every election we hear “I can fix your problems” and the corollary “my opponent will only hurt you.” “Finally,” supporters think, “we will get the one person in…Fear38 min readFear38 min read
Mar 17, 2022Fearing Failure(1st in a Series on Fear) I‘ve strained for success my whole life. My hunger was not for things but for recognition. I wanted to be a great writer and thinker. Rather than seek to serve others with quiet joy, content in the service as an end unto itself, I…Fear32 min readFear32 min read
