Category Archives: Faith and politics

A statement from Denver Seminary president Mark Young regarding recent events

Here I simply wish to quote and recommend a statement posted on January 8 by Denver Seminary president Mark Young. Against the background of many unwise statements issued by other putative evangelical leaders, his stands out. It neither endorses nor condemns particular politicians or parties by name, but it delivers a serious, substantive admonition—and exemplifiesContinue reading “A statement from Denver Seminary president Mark Young regarding recent events”

By the dawn’s early light

What a day! What a night! Early this morning, these words come to mind: O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?And the rocket’s red glare, theContinue reading “By the dawn’s early light”

By the waters of New Zion (Psalm 137, nationalized)

By the waters of New Zion, here we dance and sing! We have long since retuned our lyres to the tonal system of this blessed land. Our leaders smile on us and swear that we are chosen of the Lord and precious in his sight so we say they are too. Our tongues flap freelyContinue reading “By the waters of New Zion (Psalm 137, nationalized)”

The self-mutilating apostasy of White American Evangelicalism

The “evangelical leaders” who became the apostles of Christotrumpism were not previously the leading lights of the evangelical movement. They were on its fringes. For the most part they were always its uncouth underbelly, as they still are. Those who have followed them have rejected the real intellectual and spiritual leaders of the evangelical movement.Continue reading “The self-mutilating apostasy of White American Evangelicalism”

Trump as mirror and shadow

After the election results began to come in, observers began to say things like this: As of this moment on Friday morning, we do not yet know for sure that Joe Biden will win. But we know for sure that Donald Trump is a mirror. Others have been saying so: Andre Parry of Brookings, EddieContinue reading “Trump as mirror and shadow”

Are you calling Trump a fascist?

Jason Stanley, a Yale University philosophy professor, published How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them in 2018. The paperback was released this May with a new preface summing up developments since 2018. In short: the fascist talk in the US and elsewhere is being concretized in fascist policies, and democratic institutions are beingContinue reading “Are you calling Trump a fascist?”

Psalm 95 and discipleship failure: An invitation and a warning

O come, let us sing unto the LORD:let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.For the LORD is a great God,and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the deep places of the earth:theContinue reading “Psalm 95 and discipleship failure: An invitation and a warning”

WSJ down the rabbit hole

Daniel Henninger’s Wonderland column in the Wall Street Journal is aptly named. A scan of his recent columns shows that he’s so far down the rabbit hole he may never reemerge. Or maybe he’ll emerge as a high priest or grand dragon or whatever QAnon decides to call its clergy when it get around toContinue reading “WSJ down the rabbit hole”