Skip to main content
5 Random, Disconnected Thoughts For Today

5. The reason TD Jakes gets invited to prominent evangelical conferences is that there's no definitive final authority for doctrine beyond the self, AND they may be a teensy bit racist. Just sayin.'

4. I will not vote for any of the Republicans that happen to have an 'r' in his last name.

3. Nor will I vote for a Mormon. My Trinitarianism is firm.

2. That's right, the evangelical insistence on creedalism is entirely arbitary, though admirable, and it takes a pretty recalcitrant heretic/fundie for anyone to notice the problem. Keith Mathison already pointed out the problem, even if he refuses to see it.

1. I am a good time!!!

Comments

Jamie Stober said…
So you would vote for an evil Trinitarian (hypothetical)? Would a vote for a Mormon constitute a lack of firmness in Trinitarianism? My vote for Romney should that situation in which he is the lesser of two evils arises (Romney does not have my vote in the Republican primary for policy reasons) would in no way be an endorsement of his heretical theology. I would make that clear. If he was the Republican nominee and I met the dude, my cut-through-the-crap response would be something like, "You might have my vote in this commonwealth, but I could not vote for you for dogcatcher in the Kingdom of God. Please, sir, I beseech you by all the mercies of God, embrace Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, Him only be praised, world without end, Amen." If Romney wins the Republican nomination, it is my prayer that Christians who endorse him will make this clear. I think it would be a good moment if they did. It would express coherence in how Christians deal with politicians of other religions in a pluralistic democracy and proclaim the foundational importance of the Triune God for authentic Christian faith. I fear the response you are proposing would actually result in greater confusion about why Mormonism is objectionable, and the opportunity to clarify and magnify the importance of the Most Blessed Trinity might actually be missed. Mormons are generally good citizens and upholders of virtue. We should recognize this. Mormonism is assuredly a grave Christian heresy, but if we refuse to recognize their contributions in the civil sphere, cultural anti-Mormonism (a mostly visceral prejudice against an historically mistrusted and mistreated religious minority with some goofy practices and a controversial history) rather than a stout defense of the Christian faith will be the message the American people receive from socially conservative orthodox Christians. And nothing will say that we reject Mormons as our neighbors more emphatically than a refusal to vote for one in light of the alternative. Do keep in mind that the Democratic negatives on Mormons are higher than the Republican negatives, and we know why.
3:04 PM
Jason said…
For all we know, Romney is himself exceedingly virtuous and wise. But his religion as taught poses an undeniable threat to the Church of Christ. Its infiltration through the Frankenstein monster that is evangelicalism is already under way. Unless the content of our faith reduces to virtue-ethics, we cannot allow this. Its chief danger is that it claims, and aspires, to be Christian, not that it fails. What will mainstream the Christological falsehood of it faster than a President who believes it?
8:55 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Thoughts On The Harrison Butker Commencement Speech

Update: I read the whole thing. I’m sorry, but what a weirdo. I thought you [Tom Darrow, of Denver, CO] made a trenchant case for why lockdowns are bad, and I definitely appreciated it. But a graduation speech is *not* the place for that. Secondly, this is an august event. It always is. I would never address the President of the United States in this manner. Never. Even the previous president, though he deserves it, if anyone does. Thirdly, the affirmations of Catholic identity should be more general. He has no authority to propound with specificity on all matters of great consequence. It has all the hallmarks of a culture war broadside, and again, a layman shouldn’t speak like this. The respect and reverence due the clergy is *always due,* even if they are weak, and outright wrong. We just don’t brush them aside like corrupt Mafia dons, to make a point. Fourthly, I don’t know where anyone gets the idea that the TLM is how God demands to be worshipped. The Church doesn’t teach that. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dear Alyse

 Today, you’re 35. Or at least you would be, in this place. You probably know this, but we’re OK. Not great, but OK. We know you wouldn’t want us moping around and weeping all the time. We try not to. Actually, I guess part of the problem is that you didn’t know how much we loved you. And that you didn’t know how to love yourself. I hope you have gotten to Love by now. Not a place, but fills everything in every way. I’m not Him, but he probably said, “Dear daughter/sister, you have been terribly hard on yourself. Rest now, and be at peace.” Anyway, teaching is going well, and I tell the kids all about you. They all say you are pretty. I usually can keep the boys from saying something gross for a few seconds. Mom and I are going to the game tonight. And like 6 more times, before I go back to South Carolina. I have seen Nicky twice, but I myself haven’t seen your younger kids. Bob took pictures of the day we said goodbye, and we did a family picture at the Abbey. I literally almost a...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Friend I Once Had, And The Dogmatic Principle

 I once had a friend, a dear friend, who helped me with personal care needs in college. Reformed Presbyterian to the core. When I was a Reformed Presbyterian, I visited their church many times. We were close. I still consider his siblings my friends. (And siblings in the Lord.) Nevertheless, when I began to consider the claims of the Catholic Church to be the Church Christ founded, he took me out to breakfast. He implied--but never quite stated--that we would not be brothers, if I sought full communion with the Catholic Church. That came true; a couple years later, I called him on his birthday, as I'd done every year for close to ten of them. He didn't recognize my number, and it was the most strained, awkward phone call I have ever had. We haven't spoken since. We were close enough that I attended the rehearsal dinner for his wedding. His wife's uncle is a Catholic priest. I remember reading a blog post of theirs, that early in their relationship, she told him of the p...
Post a Comment
Read more