Wal-Mart and the Library of Sodom

Once again I recently found myself in a Wal-Mart and as usual I perused the book section. It's instructive because of the fact that Wal-Mart is only interested in carrying a relatively small number of books that are guaranteed to sell. In other words Wal-Mart carries the best-selling books within certain categories and of course it also targets its demographics, the types of people that shop in its store.

Stonestreet's Hat Trick (Part 2)

On 9 January 2020, Stonestreet addressed the situation in China. Citing the imprisonment of Wang Yi, Stonestreet seems ignorant to the fact that Beijing would consider Wang a threat due to his open collaboration with the American Empire. Once again while I think Beijing's policies are deplorable and bestial, Wang is not suffering for the gospel but for his political activism.

Stonestreet's Hat Trick (Part 1)

John Stonestreet has taken up the mantle of Charles Colson and promotes his Dominionist Theology through the BreakPoint outlet which runs its daily commentaries on Christian radio stations all across the United States. I often listen but very rarely do I agree with what is said. Even when Stonestreet is right, it's usually for the wrong reasons. Their religion is not the Christianity of Scripture but is instead Capitalist Western Civilisation, a kind of Christo-Americanism. Though ostensibly Protestant their version of Christian Sacralism is particularly broad and easily embraces everything from Roman Catholicism to significant elements within the theologically liberal mainline. What really matters for Stonestreet is that everyone is engaged in trying to build Christian culture, whatever that means.

Jeremiah 3: Covenant Lands and Kerygma Colonies

The marriage language of Jeremiah 3 contains the common Covenant language with regard to blessings and curses. This is why some have posited the existence of a Covenant of Works (or typological Edenic reiteration) overlay to the already extant covenant arrangements. On an individual level salvation was by grace through faith but corporately speaking, as a people the Israelites were in a works-based arrangement. Obedience meant staying in the land and disobedience meant to be cast out from it, to be under curse.

Inbox: Chan, Communion and Transubstantiation

I'm not terribly familiar with Francis Chan and I must confess that I've never been particularly motivated to look into him or his teachings. However I've noticed his name being recently tossed about regarding some comments he made on the topic of Communion and an apparent favourable disposition toward the Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation.

Wang Yi Isn't Being Persecuted, He's Being Punished (Part 2)

Wang Yi could have refused the state and continued to function as a leader in the church. Resulting punishment would be persecution. But instead he chose to actively disobey the law and his activities ranged far beyond the mandate of the Church. He chose to ignore building and business laws in order to construct a sizable facility and to run a business outside the strictures of the law. He committed a crime and while tangentially related to Church activity it was in fact outside its purview. His malformed and imported ecclesiology and confusion regarding the Kingdom and Classical (Enlightenment) Liberalism led him to believe that what he was doing was somehow part of his Christian duty. He was fool but unfortunately not a fool for Christ and he's paying a price for it, something the Scriptures warned about.

Wang Yi Isn't Being Persecuted, He's Being Punished (Part 1)

Early Rain Covenant Church leader Wang Yi has been sentenced to nine years in prison, a harsh sentence by any measure, but these are hard times in China. The Church is suffering a state clampdown and the state itself is under great stress. Great power politics, domestic politics, the threat of external war and internal dissent have created a volatile situation, and Wang Yi has walked right into the middle of it.

Inbox: Why the Focus on Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics? (Part 2)

Such exposés reveal the world is broken, wicked, corrupt and that in reality there are no 'good guys' to be found. There are lesser and greater evils. We are pilgrims, suffering exiles and cross-bearers. The world is at ease, building its kingdoms. It hates the forces that oppose it whether their aims are political or not. As fallen man is a political creature he is not capable of understanding our mindset and posture and thus he will be suspicious of us and ultimately because we will not bow and submit to his idolatry... he will hate us. Sadly the same is true of those who profess Christ but still give themselves to the same fleshly political impulse.

Inbox: Why the Focus on Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics? (Part 1)

I've received more than a few questions along these lines. To some it almost seems like an obsession or to others a waste of time.