T.S. Eliot on a difficult faith
You will never attract the young by making Christianity easy; but a good many can be attracted by finding it difficult: difficult both to the disorderly mind and to the unruly passions.
— T.S. Eliot
This quote showed up in my today, courtesy of The Plough daily dig email. Immediately I was struck by how . . .
why are we so afraid?
I have written before about the fear that grips Americans, including American Christians. Our entire political process is driven by fear—of the other party, of terrorism, of threats from other nations, of (fill in the blank).
It’s nonsensical.
Regarding political parties, they have both had about equal shares of the . . .
the cross as misfortune
"Suffering" is not a very popular word in the vernacular of contemporary American Christianity. Oh sure, we talk about 'suffering' and 'persecution' from time-to-time, even in our own cultural context, but can be we honest for a minute and admit that such things have really no part our American Christian experience? . . .
American Christians, why are we so afraid?
Of what are American Christians so afraid? I ask that question intentionally because it seems that our most important political decisions are made, not out of a theologically-informed world-view but out of a world-view that is permeated by fear.
Two examples...
Refugees from the Middle East: One of the most polarizing issues . . .
the children still suffer
thoughts on Holy Innocents' Day
We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by the order of King Herod. Receive, we beseech thee, into the arms of thy mercy all innocent victims; and by thy great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish thy rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and . . .
"this is not a day care..."
an indictment of American Christianity's self-centeredness
Until this morning, I had never heard of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, nor could I point out Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on a map. Then I read this brilliantly-written piece from the University President, Dr. Everett Piper. What is remarkable is not Dr. Piper's prose but the very fact that he had occasion to write it. As a conservative . . .
9 signs your theology is driven more by politics than historic Christianity
This post offers something to offend almost every American Christian. Do you know why? Contemporary American Christianity–both on the right and the left–is powerfully influenced by politics. The stereotype, of course, is that Republicans are in bed with conservative Evangelicals; however, it would be extremely misleading to suggest that . . .
