So forgiveness pre-requires understanding the mistakes of the past? here hear re this opposing this me-first, America-first, white-first, male-first approach>…
Weekly lessons in theology and public life • Since 2011
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Lesson 1: The Bible is About Politics
Read MORE: Lesson 1: The Bible is About PoliticsWhen I entered the ministry back in the early 1960s, pastors were warned not to get too political in the pulpit or they would lose their tax exemption. John Kennedy was elected president after promising his Catholic faith would not…
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Lesson 2: The History of Church and State
Read MORE: Lesson 2: The History of Church and StateIf the Bible can pretty much be read as God’s Word speaking truth to human political power, Church history is more diverse. It offers a variety of relationships in different periods. Before we examine what is going on in the…
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Lesson 3: Christian Nationalism
Read MORE: Lesson 3: Christian NationalismThe separation of church and state that historically has been a cherished principle of the USA is being severely threatened. The media pictures Church leaders laying hands on political candidates and popular pastors speaking prominently at campaign rallies. Election committees…
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Lesson 4: The New Apostolic Reformation
Read MORE: Lesson 4: The New Apostolic ReformationThis is probably the most extreme form of Christian nationalism. Like all the others, it assumes the church is under attack, and it calls for much more aggressive reaction. Christians must take over every area of society by replacing those…
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Lesson 5: Evangelical Christian Nationalists
Read MORE: Lesson 5: Evangelical Christian NationalistsSurprisingly, I had the same experience exploring Christian Nationalism in Evangelical churches as I did the New Apostolic Reformation in Pentecostal churches. In both, I began wondering from where these people came and found they were groups with whom I…
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Lesson 6: Conservative Roman Catholicism
Read MORE: Lesson 6: Conservative Roman CatholicismThree weeks ago, I included conservative Roman Catholics in a list of Christian Nationalists. I want to take that back. At the time, I had no idea how outlandish and dangerous these new groups are. Conservative Roman Catholics are responding…
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Lesson 7: American Exceptionalism
Read MORE: Lesson 7: American ExceptionalismThe esteemed Pew Research Center reports 45% of Americans think we should be a Christian nation. Admittedly, there is a variety of ideas about what this means. However, it is especially significant against the background of American Exceptionalism. This is…
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Lesson 8: Freedom of Religion
Read MORE: Lesson 8: Freedom of ReligionAny talk about church and politics after the Enlightenment has to look at the expectation that governments will protect freedom of religion. You get an idea how important this became when the founders of the US made their first amendment…
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Lesson 9: Religious-Political Alliance
Read MORE: Lesson 9: Religious-Political AllianceI was drawn into this series primarily to see what to was going on with Christian Nationalists. These people seem to be breaking the rules pertaining to the separation of church and state. I found this cherished separation depended on…
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Lesson 10: Christian Nation
Read MORE: Lesson 10: Christian NationI was about to move on to something else when some of you asked more questions about Christian Nationalism. Thankfully, it has become a hot topic as people are finding it is a greater threat than we imagined. At the…
Recent Comments
An extremely timely topic. Thanks, Fritz!
yes we need to forgive our leaders yet make sure they do the right thing – which they aren’t.