#trending -All people of all ages have been sexualized by Western culture. Those in cahoots with the “sexual revolution” will disagree, but I would argue they don’t yet understand the consequences of their sexual ethic. There is no logical stopping point to the current sexual ethic. There is no taboo that is off-limits. The only... Continue Reading →
Trends I See
This series of posts are intended to be short thoughts on trends I see in the culture and church, both positive and negative. Given my cheery disposition, they will likely end up being mostly trending problems I see. These are not fully developed arguments, but the seeds of arguments. They are a placeholder for my... Continue Reading →
Capitalism, Greed and Self-Interest
It is not at all uncommon to hear modern critiques of capitalism citing “greed” as the root problem. Capitalism is sometimes defined as greed. Often it is said that capitalism cannot work without greed. In the movie Wall Street, the character Gordon Gekko pontificates, “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is... Continue Reading →
Socialism Mis-Defined
Our culture is wrestling with some big-picture economic questions. As polls show us, we are in a fairly precipitous slide toward the acceptance of socialism as a kind of universal panacea for culture’s ills. Having spent the first four years of my University education in economics, I am usually baffled by the general popularity of... Continue Reading →
Easter and Liberal Christianity
Around every Easter some large news item or set of columns make their way to the surface in which a few journalists tackle the intransigent Christian faith, especially the resurrection of Jesus. The point is always some version of the same idea – how crazy are those people who believe in the resurrection? Interviews are... Continue Reading →
Local Churches and a Bad Rap
If you spend a fair amount of time reading books and articles on the state of the local, evangelical church, you might come away with some pretty negative perceptions. Pastors who read a lot of this kind of stuff can also come away with the sense that if they are not trying to accomplish a... Continue Reading →
Approaching the Throne of Grace
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 When it comes down to it, this is a stunning reality. The fact that we have direct access to the presence and power of God is nearly... Continue Reading →
Defining Capitalism
In the first essay in Counting the Cost, Michael Novak updates a few of his thoughts from The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism and provides a fertile place to begin when thinking about Christianity theology and capitalism. The free market is much maligned these days. Is there anything to say about it that accords with sound Christian... Continue Reading →
My Economics Project: Introduction
I’m growing concerned about a trend in our culture that, on the face of it, may seem like just a change in economic values. That it is, but it is also a trend in a moral and spiritual direction. It may strike many as a non sequitur to see an economic belief as a moral... Continue Reading →
The Word of God is Living and Active
Hebrews 4:12-13 contains some of the best-known language regarding the beauty and power of the Word of God. It is also some of the most evocative: it is a sword sharp enough to dissect the human soul, discerning the thoughts and intents of our hearts. These are things we rarely even know about ourselves! It... Continue Reading →