Author / James Ross Kelly
How a Rising Religious Movement Rationalizes the Christian Grasp for Power–David French
Today I’m going to talk about something called the Seven Mountain Mandate. While it’s a term that few people know, the core concept is deeply influential to the way in which millions of Evangelicals approach culture and politics. It’s a concept that has its uses, but it’s also subject to profound abuse. In short, it often confuses Christian power with biblical justice, and it creates incentives for Christians to not just seek power but to feel a sense of failure and emergency when they are not in positions of cultural or political control. The origin of the Seven Mountain Mandate rests with an alleged divine revelation shared by Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth With a Mission, and the theologian and philosopher Francis Schaeffer. Not one of those men is fringe. They’re among the most influential Evangelicals of the modern age. And what was that revelation? Cunningham explains it in the short YouTube below:
Source: How a Rising Religious Movement Rationalizes the Christian Grasp for Power
The Seeds of Political Violence Are Being Sown in Church–David French
On Thursday night in Castle Rock, Colorado, a group called “FEC United” (FEC stands for faith, education, and commerce) held a “town hall” meeting that featured a potpourri of GOP candidates and election conspiracy theorists. Most notably, the event included John Eastman, the Claremont scholar who authored the notorious legal memos that purported to justify the decertification and reversal of the 2020 election results. During the meeting, a man named Shawn Smith accused Colorado secretary of state Jena Griswold of election misconduct. “You know, if you’re involved in election fraud, then you deserve to hang,” he said. “Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.” “I was accused of endorsing violence,” he went on. “I’m not endorsing violence, I’m saying once you put your hand on a hot stove, you get burned.” As soon as he said, “you deserve to hang,” an audience member shouted “Yeah!” and applause filled the room. You can watch the moment here.
Source: The Seeds of Political Violence Are Being Sown in Church
The Ancient View of Atonement – David Bentley Hart – YouTube
Insurrection via Church?
Biblical Literalism Leads to Biblical Illiteracy | C. Don Jones
American Christians are often ignorant of the Bible. Remember when Howard Dean said his favorite New Testament book was Job? Many evangelicals argue folks like Dean are biblically ignorant due to a lack of respect for the Bible. True believers cherish the Bible. Godly people honor the authority of the Bible. Devout Christians can quote the Bible. Very few, however, know much about it.I live in an area of the country that worships American football. High school games are important for local pride. Southeastern Conference College Football defines most of us. I like watching a football game. When I was younger, I joined in back yard pick-up games. They are fun! But I have a secret. I cannot tell you what most of the positions of the offensive or defensive lines are. I barely know what positions make up “the back field.” Do not ask me what the differences between the Referee, Umpire, and Line Judges are. I only possess a cursory knowledge of the game. The hand signals are often a mystery to me. What’s more is I do not care to learn. I am pigskin ignorant due to willful illiteracy. People do not read the Bible for the same reason. Therefore, they do not know what is in the Bible. But it does not keep them from thinking they do. Just like how I can get upset with a coach whose team keeps losing.
Source: Biblical Literalism Leads to Biblical Illiteracy | C. Don Jones
Phoenix priest who botched baptisms for decades apologizes, seeks to make amends – Catholic World Report
The Hope Universal Restoration in the Wesleyan Doctrine – Unsettled Christianity
You cannot use universalism today without the tendency to be associated with the yahoo’s, um, UU’s) first from Germany and then infusing the American Republic, notably influencing the Founders. This is a letter written to Elhanan Winchester (here, as well) by one Dr. Benjamin Rush, a Founding Father.
Source: The Hope Universal Restoration in the Wesleyan Doctrine – Unsettled Christianity
St. John One: One 