by John Ellis “The current direction is not sustainable. I am walking down a dark road with no light ahead. The future of BJU requires the Chairman and the President to work together. It is not happening now, and I can’t see it happening in the future.” BJU President and CEO Steve Pettit in a … Continue reading The Coup at Bob Jones University Isn’t Over
Author: practicallyknowntheology
‘A Just Mission’: Biblically Critiquing the American Missionary Movement
by John Ellis “The journey toward true mutuality is hard work for all of us, but it may be especially difficult for a white person who holds a missiology shaped by the doctrine of discovery.”[1] Mekdes Haddis While reading A Just Mission: Laying Down Power and Embracing Mutuality by Mekdes Haddis, I had to stop … Continue reading ‘A Just Mission’: Biblically Critiquing the American Missionary Movement
The Cultural War: Parental Rights or Parental Tyranny?
by John Ellis This story is bonkers but predictable. Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the principal of a Tallahassee charter school had been fired because an art teacher showed the 6th grade students a picture of Michelangelo’s David and some parents complained.[1] There are so many exit ramps out of that previous sentence, it’s … Continue reading The Cultural War: Parental Rights or Parental Tyranny?
The Quixotic Pursuit of Pluralism Leads Into a Tower of Babel
by John Ellis The contemporary embrace of book banning reminds me of the adage that if you wait long enough your clothes will come back in style. Making that connection, though, requires the surrender of the deeply entrenched belief that pluralism is part of this country’s warp and woof. I surrendered that belief a while … Continue reading The Quixotic Pursuit of Pluralism Leads Into a Tower of Babel
Women’s and Men’s Ministries in Churches are Problematic
by John Ellis History tells me to tread lightly here. But I’m going to ignore history and put on my adult-sized stomping boots. So, if you ask me what I think of women’s and men’s ministries, I’ll say, “I don’t like them and believe they do not belong in the church.” Often – not always … Continue reading Women’s and Men’s Ministries in Churches are Problematic
Anxiety and Fear Are NOT Sinful
by John Ellis "Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent." Psalm 4:4 Psalm 4:4 can be a difficult verse to navigate, especially in terms of application. Understanding a little something about Hebrew poetry goes a long way towards making the navigation less tricky. To that … Continue reading Anxiety and Fear Are NOT Sinful
Kingdom Ethics: The American Revolution and Al Mohler’s Error
by John Ellis How should Christians view July 4, 1776? More specifically, what, if anything, does Kingdom ethics say about the American Revolution? This is a tricky topic to wade into because it carries the potential to increase unholy divisions within the Church. Unity is (should be) a hallmark of Christ’s Bride that serves to … Continue reading Kingdom Ethics: The American Revolution and Al Mohler’s Error
Hookworm and the Idol of Liberty
by John Ellis By all accounts, hookworm is nasty. An intestinal parasite, victims suffer from diarrhea, pain, lethargy, and debilitating anemia. For most of human history, hookworm was relegated to the African continent and was non-lethal owing to the levels of immunity built up over generations. That changed after, “Western doctors first realized how dangerous … Continue reading Hookworm and the Idol of Liberty
Introduction to the Psalms: The Anatomy of the Soul
(Note: this is my somewhat rewritten manuscript for the Sunday school class – or “equipping hour”, as we call it at my church – I taught. It’s the first class in a ten-week series on the Psalms.) by John Ellis “Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” Samuel Beckett Outside of the Psalms, or … Continue reading Introduction to the Psalms: The Anatomy of the Soul
The Ten Articles of 2022 I Wish Had Been Read by More People
by John Ellis Over the course of 2022, I wrote 68 articles (not counting this one) – using almost 146,000 words. Looking back over those articles, I’m proud of many of them and only see a few I wish I hadn’t written or that need serious rewriting. Among the article I’m proud of are quite … Continue reading The Ten Articles of 2022 I Wish Had Been Read by More People
Practically Known Theology 