Linkathon!

Linn says:

So much to think about in this selection of links! But, after some scanning, reading, and careful thought:
-Charlie Brown: I love the guy. He can make such a mess of things, but always come up on the right side of the situation-meaning there is hope for us all.
The Gen-Z revival-we do have more young people in my church, some new converts, and others who have drifted in from other churches. Most are in their 20s and active in different ministries. Many are opting to be baptized and take on membership. They appear committed, and they are supplying a needed new bloodline to a church that has many faithful seniors staff significant volunteer ministries. Three of our pastors are also Gen-Z, and they are excellent preachers and relating well to us “old” folks. This group has also been ethnically diverse, and they look like the people who live in the church’s immediate community. So, for my church, I could say we are seeing a Gen-Z revival, and may their tribe increase!
Finally,, Christian leaders endorsing slavery=they don’t understand the nature of chattel slavery, nor do they understand the slavery that led to the Civil War, post-Reconstruction Jim Crow, and the undercurrent of racism (especially towards blacks) that shamefully continues to exist in the United States. I must confess that this is one of the reasons I despise Doug Wilson so much.

filbertz says:

Wickham was definitely a timely and worthy read.

The Evangelical Elite article was interesting, but for me failed to convince about the why part of the equation.

I’ll keep reading (and viewing) the others…

DavidP says:

I could be around for a long time talking music — I’m late-GenX and I think outside of some 60s classics no one my age would have been caught dead listening primarily to music made 15-20 years before we were born. That seems to be extremely common these days.

But I am thankful it’s not just us older (40+) types noticing that music seems to be in a rut, at least in the pop chart world. Outside of that there’s some wonderful gems: I spent the morning listening to Pharaoh Sanders final album and discovered some decent new groups too.

filbertz says:

Michael, you were right about me liking the Pete Enns’ interview. His gracious thoughtfulness is inspiring.

Robert F says:

KIngsnorth’s article is very thought-provoking. I wish I could undertake significant practice of some of the disciplines on his list. We don’t use smart phones in our home, nor do we have television, so I guess that is something; but that’s about as far as we can go. My wife and I have upper-middle class educations, but, now in our mid sixties, we are very financially insecure and downwardly mobile. Since a good amount of what Kingsnorth suggests seems realizable only for people with relatively secure vocations and resources, his vision feels quite unreachable for people like us, and I’m sure feels more unreachable for people with even fewer resources than we have. It’s a depressing thought, because the world needs so much mending by real contrarians, and I wish it were otherwise for us.

Robert F says:

Oh, Michael, I have my share of unhealthy escapist habits, but I think I can truthfully say that I don’t kid myself about them somehow being healthy anymore.

Robert F says:

I sometime feel as if I need some of my escapist habits as well. But sometimes they feel like a burden to me, like smelly old clothing that clings to me; I just don’t know what to put in their place, so I return to them. The empty places left when I step away from old habits become intolerable; I try to pray, but confess that prayer takes much effort while relapsing to the habit or escape is very easy.