So today my sweet son pointed out that b2w has a list of books coming out in the next year and asked if they were on my wish list yet. Harumph …..
The one that interested me the most is G. K. Beale’s You Become What You Worship. That one sounds like it would be particularly germane to today.
Which brings me to the whole subject of my ever expanding wish list and whether I have made an idol out of scholarship? Surely it is excessive to have a wish list that runs to 15 pages?!? It seems that I find two new books I want for every one I get. Would that be idolatry, or just plain coveting?
Of course, I can try to justify all these books by saying that they give me lots of fodder for articles for The Commoner, our newsletter. Not sure that one flies, though.
And then there is the ‘rithmetic portion … how will I ever pay for all the books I have on my wish list? So many books, so little money!
So today we got an e-mail from the local school, who were the ones who provided the names for our Thanksgiving baskets. We knew there was a real need for the items we provided, but the school confirmed it: “For all of these families, your donations enabled them to have a true Thanksgiving celebration!”
Over the past few weeks, members of Common Ground Church have been gathering non-perishable foods to make up Thanksgiving baskets for people in need in our community. Through a generous donation from Sam’s Club, we had money to purchase the perishable items. One of the grocery stores was running a special on turkeys … $.38/lb with a $25.00 purchase … limit one. They let us purchase 20 turkeys at the special price with no minimum order. With help from these businesses plus the many members who were willing to contribute food items, we were able to provide the fixings for a full Thanksgiving meal for 20 families.
Psalm 95.1-2 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Ben Witherington posted A Voter’s Guide for Thinking Evangelicals. Many of the points he mentions could serve to guide all of us. Evangelicals are not the only ones who often let single issues sway their vote.
So I said I wouldn’t endorse a candidate and I won’t. And I won’t talk about the merits of one over the other, either. But that doesn’t mean I can’t comment on the political scene in general. It seems to me that it can be described with just one word:
ex pe di en cy – noun
the quality of being expedient; advantageousness; advisability.
a regard for what is politic or advantageous rather than for what is right or just; a sense of self-interest
something expedient.
[syn: opportunism]
op por tun ism -noun
the policy or practice, as in politics, business, or one’s personal affairs, of adapting actions, decisions, etc., to expediency or effectiveness regardless of the sacrifice of ethical principles
action or judgment in accordance with this policy
Yep … those words fit really well when applied most of the candidates, regardless of party. There are a few who seem to speak plain truth, but the media ignores them except to denigrate them. And it is really sad that the pundits are talking about campaign fatigue. What do they expect?
I pondered whether I should post this in light of my previous comments and left it sitting as a draft for a few days. Which just raised questions as to my silence.
I’ve been doing a study of Paul’s letters … 1st Corinthians right now. As I’ve studied the history of Corinth, I am struck by how much it is like our society. Maybe we aren’t as advanced as we think? It doesn’t say much for humanity that we haven’t learned much in 20 centuries.
“We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.” … George Bernard Shaw
“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” …Â George Santayana
Scary thought … who wants to repeat the last 100 years, let alone the centuries between Paul’s letter to Corinth and today?!
I’ve been struggling with what I think and what I want to say on an issue for about two weeks. I finally have my head wrapped around it, so here we go …
A well known theologian wrote an article endorsing Mitt Romney for President. This has gotten a lot of mileage in the news and on many blogs. I fully support his right to support any candidate he choses. He bases his endorsement on a number of criteria, but does not try to convince us on religious grounds as was done when Dubya was running. For that, I applaud him. Yet I still question whether endorsing any candidate is the right course for any of us.
We have come through nearly twenty years of being courted by political operators who see us only as a large block of voters ripe to be plumbed. I don’t think the political masters really care what we believe although they will learn the lingo to bring us into their political fold. In spite of what we have been told for nearly twenty years, nothing much has changed except that there is greater public animosity against evangelicals. The public generally blames us for much that is wrong. They do not accept the concept that evangelicals were used by the politicos.
I agree with John MacArthur that government can’t save us. Governments have specific roles and I believe ours is a better system than anything else out there. That being said, I think it is my responsibility as a citizen to vote. And to do so I need to be informed about the issues and where the various candidates stand. And then I need to prayerfully consider how I should cast my vote.
I was curious as to how other scholars would respond to this endorsement. The ones I asked didn’t chose to comment. I guess that coheres with MacArthur’s view.
So I end being no less disturbed by this endorsement than I was previously. I think it is fine to support a candidate with money and by sharing your views with others. I think it is O.K. to work on a candidate’s campaign if you are so inclined. BUT I believe we need to be very careful how we seek to influence others in the political arena. I keep in mind MacArthur’s observation that when Christians get into the political process we often end up behaving as badly as those we sought to change through the process.
All this is to inform you that you will not find an endorsement here at Dei. I keep in mind the name of this blog and what it means … it is necessary. It is necessary that I not fall into the political trap. If you want to know who I support, ask me privately. You might be very surprised by the answer!
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6, ESV)
