Category: Politics
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The One Maxim That Comforts My Soul in the Midst of Social & Political Storms
On this Election Day, wearied by the rancor that too much permeates our culture – and that has infested the Church – these words from slave-trader-turned-pastor/poet John Newton are at the forefront of my mind: I meddle not with the disputes of party, nor concern myself with any political maxims, but such as are laid…
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Selling Out the Gospel at the Altar of Politics
I don’t do politics on social media (nor in the pulpit), but I feel an exception is warranted – on social media, anyway. With the exception that I don’t really care that Donald Trump has not previously held public office, nor do I care that neither Ben Carson nor Carly Fiorina have ever held public office, pretty much…
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Evangelical Typecasts
It is interesting. It is even more troubling. CNN Religion Editor Daniel Burke has posted an article to CNN Politics titled 7 Types of Evangelicals: And How They’ll Effect the Presidential Race. The post is interesting in that it describes differences among those who label themselves “Evangelical”, and creates categories for each. It is troubling,…
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Christians & Politics: Faith-filled or Faith Fooled?
In case you have been sleeping like Rip Van Winkle, this is a Presidential Election year in the USA. Faith will be declared, inspected, invoked, and provoked from all sides over these next few months. Some will offer opinions from positions of knowledge, while others will offer authoritative sounding opinions from positions of functional ignorance. …
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Never Exchange the Pulpit
With all the hubub that has surrounded Glen Beck and his aspiration to ascend to top of the Religious Right leadership, I was encouraged by an open letter written by Nancy Guthrie to the pastors of her church. Guthrie states that what has concerned her more than the fact that Beck is a Morman…
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What’s Glenn Beck Doing at Liberty University?
It was with some bemusement that I took note of the speaker for Liberty University’s 2010 Commencement: Glenn Beck. I am not sure what message was conveyed by this choice. One possibility seems commendable. Another possibility, I fear, may be a sad reflection of attitudes within and around contemporary American Evangelicalism. Liberty University, long steeped in Baptistic Fundamentalism, maintained its commitment to the conservative…
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To Speak or Not to Speak
I am torn. According to a recent article by the Florida Baptist Witness, a group of concerned citizens are recruiting pastors to challenge a 55 year old law that prohibits non-profit organizations, including churches, from endorsing specific political candidates. Practically speaking this law empowers the IRS to censor the content that is offered from church pulpits. …
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Navigating the Narrow Path Between the Gospel and Politics
It is a constant tension for me. How do I juggle my personal political views with my responsibility to remain faithful to the Gospel? How do I strive to keep the Gospel message pure and not pollute my teaching with political biases interjected? It is a difficult dilemma. Many political issues have moral roots, and can be informed by…
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Hi Ho, Hi Ho… It’s Off to the Polls I Go
Call me old fashioned, but I don’t open presents before Christmas morning. And I don’t vote before election day. That’s not a point of pride. It’s just what I do. I am comfortable that way. I go off the the polls this morning comforted by these thoughts: 1. I am confident about the “class” of both…
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Why I Am NOT Part of the Religious Right
One would think I’d be a good prospect to be a part of the Religious Right. 1. I am a conservative Evangelical pastor. 2. I first identified my political identity as a Republican in the 2nd Grade. (My teacher at Cedar Road Elementary School, Mrs. Manning, wanting to teach us a little about Civics, listed several candidates…
