USA - 2012: Hector Casanova illustration of the Democrat donkey and Republican elephant on a seesaw with the plank breaking in the middle. (The Kansas City Star/MCT via Getty Images via Getty Images) by John Ellis By all accounts, society is fracturing. The talking heads and our eyeballs tell us that society has split apart, … Continue reading Which Side of the Political Aisle Should Christians Feel at Home With?
Category: Current Events
Understanding Systemic Racism and CRT: A Christmas Wish List
by John Ellis With Christmas around the corner, many of us are busy updating our Amazon wish list or simply compiling a “Dear Santa” list the old-fashioned way. To the best of my knowledge, most of my friends stock their lists with books. To help determine some edifying books to include on your list, below … Continue reading Understanding Systemic Racism and CRT: A Christmas Wish List
How Long Shall the Wicked Prosper?: A Competing Narrative of the United States of America
Digital image of original artifact. by John Ellis Yesterday morning before Sunday school class began, the young man teaching asked about my t-shirt. “What kind of flag is that on your shirt?” “It’s the A.I.M. logo,” I replied through my mask. His expression revealed that “A.I.M.” wasn’t translating through the double-ply cotton. “The logo for … Continue reading How Long Shall the Wicked Prosper?: A Competing Narrative of the United States of America
What Should Christians Do When Asked to Make Anti-Abortion Arguments Without Using the Bible?
by John Ellis With SCOTUS’ decision to allow Texas’s heartbeat bill to stand, abortion finds itself again among the most heated of topics within the public square. Not that the issue has ever drifted far from a place of prominence in our national discussion, but the current debate has reached a high-pitched fervor owing to … Continue reading What Should Christians Do When Asked to Make Anti-Abortion Arguments Without Using the Bible?
Facebook Fact Checkers, Foucault, and the Far Right
by John Ellis This article is my diagnosis of why it’s increasingly more difficult to have profitable conversations with friends and family who are on the other side of the debate about things like COVID (masks and vaccines), social justice issues, whether the election was rigged or not, and the myriad of other cultural hot … Continue reading Facebook Fact Checkers, Foucault, and the Far Right
Don’t Miss the Parallels Between Pope Pius XI and Evangelical Leaders Who Support Trump
by John Ellis The rhetorical bullying of Godwin’s Law aside, it hasn’t been unusual since 2015 to find those who tease out parallels between Hitler and Donald Trump as well as 1930s Germany and contemporary white evangelicalism. And it’s not unusual because parallels seemingly write themselves from time to time. While successfully resisting the urge … Continue reading Don’t Miss the Parallels Between Pope Pius XI and Evangelical Leaders Who Support Trump
Critical Race Theory and the Law’s Inability to Change Hearts
by John Ellis Why the Law? In his letter “to the churches of Galatia” (Gal, 1:2), the Apostle Paul offers pastoral-and divinely inspired-counsel to “recovering Pharisees.”[1] Theologian and pastor Philip Ryken goes on to explain, “Most former Pharisees have a problem, however. It’s hard for them to leave their legalism behind. … This means that … Continue reading Critical Race Theory and the Law’s Inability to Change Hearts
I’m Fully Vaccinated, Yet I Still Wear a Mask
by John Ellis (Today, the CDC released updated mask recommendations, saying that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks or socially distance when inside, with some noted exceptions. I appreciate the CDC's expertise and continued guidance. That being said, my overall point in this article still stands. For the moment, especially in church, … Continue reading I’m Fully Vaccinated, Yet I Still Wear a Mask
Love God and Health-Care Workers by Taking COVID-19 Seriously
by John Ellis During a dispute between the Sadducees and Jesus, a dispute in which “[Jesus] answered them well”, a scribe posited one final question, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Recorded in Mark 12:29-31, Jesus’ answer ranks among the most popular Bible verses. No doubt there isn’t a soul reading this who … Continue reading Love God and Health-Care Workers by Taking COVID-19 Seriously
About That Danish Mask Study and the Victory Lap of Antimaskers
by John Ellis Depending on which media sites you consume, the recently published Danish mask study is either confirmation that mandatory mask laws are pointless, or it is reflective of epistemological gaps in publishing protocols, even in prestigious science journals. While only recently published, the study has been making noise for months now. At least, … Continue reading About That Danish Mask Study and the Victory Lap of Antimaskers
Practically Known Theology 