Things I Think…
1. The most controversial thing I said last year was that MAGA in general and Charlie Kirk in particular worshipped a different god than I do.
The reason I said that (and I’ve said it before) is my belief that being a Christian means more than a simple assent to doctrinal propositions about Jesus, but actually living out the commands and ethos of Christ.
It precludes demonizing whole people groups and supporting Herod because he hates the same people you do…and not seeing that he hates you too.
It precludes demonizing empathy because someone might care about people you don’t.
It precludes denigrating and marginalizing women and the poor.
It precludes the love of the useful lie.
The God I’ve encountered and believe in does not allow me to harbor hatred and love lies…period.
The only power I’m allowed to seek is in prayer and a life marked by love and sacrifice…even for my enemies.
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? (Luke 6:46 NLT-SE)
2. I cannot judge the state of another soul…I can only judge the actions and fruit…against the words of Jesus…in fact, I am commanded to do so…
3. After all these years of exposing abusive clergy and watching them continue to have the support of congregations, it has been easy to draw a direct line from evangelical support of abusive clergy to their support of abusive politicians…
4. The most important thing I’ve learned since leaving evangelicalism is that Christians conquer through the same means that Jesus did…through love, suffering and death. No other way of “winning” will have the Spirit…
5. The second most controversial thing I wrote last year was that I rejected biblical inerrancy…which upset a bunch of folks, but was the most powerful and enlightening idea I’ve ever embraced theologically…and one that made me fall in love with the bible all over again…
6. The third most controversial thing I wrote about, I’ve wrote about on and off for years now…which is that I embrace the hope for the eventual reconciliation of all things in Christ…an idea that you would think people would at least want to explore…
7. If you’re certain I’m wrong about all these things, you may be right…the only thing I’m certain of is the love of God in Jesus Christ…
8. There was a time when we could have vigorous conversations about all this and more…but many just want to check your voter registration…
9. News came this morning that Phillip Yancey fell into sin and disqualified himself from the ministry…a sad day for those of us who appreciated his work. There’s a lot to this story that raises questions…but for now Yancey has confessed and removed himself from public ministry…as he should.
10. Russell Moore writes on why Christians ignore what the bible says about immigrants…and nails it.
The Philip Yancey news is hitting me hard.
When I was in high school I started reading Campus Life where he and others wrote regularly. There was a realism to the writing that helped me make the transition from mainline to evangelicalism which lasted for decades.
It’s hard because somehow part of me identifies with him. I wonder if other readers feel a strong kinship with an author. There’s a trust that develops but now is shattered.
Whatever, this is a really rough one. I pray he and his wife, who’s said she’s staying with him, are able to reconcile.
bob1,
It’s a hard one to deal with.
The hardest part is that he had an eight year affair…eight years of living in rebellion to God and to his own stated morals…yet he still wrote with grace and truth.
It raises profound questions…
Michael,
In regards to your controversial statements, ancient Israel rejected their prophets for much the same reasons (controversial, against the prevailing views, current political leaders, etc.). History proved who was right, though it took for most of the people of ancient Israel to be killed, exiled, and their entire way of life, country, etc. to be destroyed. Perhaps it will take something similar to happen to the MAGA population.
Ra’s al Ghul,
At the rate their leader is going, we may find out sooner than later…
The Yancey news hit hard. He was different than many of the other big names as he always carried himself with humility and grace and avoided so much of the crap that the others would get themselves involved in. Yet even he, far more than just making a “mistake”, was living a double life for many years. Methinks we are only hearing his confession now because he was likely caught.
At the very least, he is doing the right thing now by removing himself from public ministry and is not trying to manipulate or fight for his power and position like so many of the other creeps do. But when seeing even those who appeared to be of great heart and character fall, it really makes you wonder if it would be wiser for any and all Christians, no matter how gifted or well intentioned, to avoid circumstances and activity that could make them a “Christian star”.
It is very clear that what has developed around Trump and his administration is not a political movement, but religious cult. This cult will believe whatever they are told by the cult leader and his inner circle, even when the proclamations change from one week to the next and contradict each other; truth is what the cult leader and his inner circle says it is at this moment. What was said in the past is not binding on the truth that the cult leadership proclaims at the moment. This is not the god I believe in, follow, and worship; this is an entirely different religion, one that worships power and victory at any cost, and the people who exercise that power and achieve that victory. This is a different god. This is a god that feeds on blood, not the true God of self-giving love.
From my experience with family members this recent Christmas, it seems that they are at this point not drinking the koolaid, but swimming in it. In fact, they seem to have developed gills so they can breathe in it.
There’s “hundreds of videos “ that prove every ridiculous untrue statement they make, experts and reliable sources are all part of the conspiracy to thwart the mission of their holy ones, etc.
I too am a universalist; sometimes a hopeful universalist, sometimes a hard universalist, but always a universalist. One of my favorite hymns has always been “There is a Wideness in God’s Mercy”. I look to some Bible texts, and some theologians, for support of my belief, but I really believe universalism for reasons of the heart that reason may or may not know.
A woman in Minneapolis was shot in the face by ICE agents for no good reason.
She was unarmed and in no way a threat to the safety of the ICE agents.
How does this happen in the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Here’s the vid:
RobertF,
I hold to universal reconciliation pretty strongly.
The scriptures are unclear about the issue so I can’t be dogmatic…but when pushed I find I’m more dogmatic than I think…
Muff,
I mourn for this woman, her family, and our country.
There are no words sufficient for my rage tonight.
Me too Michael, me too.
This also happened to the German people in the 1930(s).
After the news about Venezuela (I expect civil war will break out soon), the ICE shooting, and the fallout of same, I fell into a quiet state of despair. I am slowly climbing out this morning. Last night, as the kids from our Hispanic congregation were playing after we had our Bible lesson, I had an extended conversation with my co-teacher (who is Hispanic and has lived in the States for 20 years-her immigration status is none of my business, by the way). She too was dumbfounded at the. news cycle. She also told me that if she could have voted, it would never have been for Trump. She thinks Christians have been deceived, and I heartily agree with her. So, to the tasks of the day and my students (my second place of refuge after taking all my issues to the Lord.
As to possible civil war in Venezuela-since the rest of the Maduro administration has been left intact, there are already groups of armed goons rounding up non-Maduro supporters. There are many armed gang groups in the country, and the western portion (on the Colombian border in the eastern Andes range) is governed mostly by armed dissident Colombian groups who have been driven there by the Colombian government. Happy peaceful transition! (which I don’t think will be possible).
With 1, 5 and 6 you hit the trinity of things you can’t talk to evangelicals about. God is a Republican, the Bible contains not a single imperfection, and the gospel is about going to heaven instead of hell. Those are unchallengeable. Its as if they were part of an unspoken creed.
I’ve been feeling like Evangelicalism has become just a barely nicer version of Fundamentalism. Fundamenalism Light. Maybe they were distinct 50 years ago, but underneath, Fundamentalism is now the core view.
Linn,
Well said, as always.
I’ve got pastoral duties today and still must bring the hope of the Gospel to people…
Terry,
I grieve over the fact that we can’t even have conversations about these things…conversations have been the impetus for so much of my theological education and growth.