by John Ellis Donald Trump was found liable of sexual abuse and defamation today. That's a stunning statement that has never been uttered before about a former President of the United States of America. A statement that should slam shut the door on his 2024 presidential bid, but it won't. As stunning and revolting as … Continue reading I Haven’t Changed and Donald Trump Hasn’t Changed; Maybe You’ve Changed
Category: White Evangelicalism
‘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
The Ten Most Read Articles of 2022
by John Ellis At the end of every year on my old blog, I would list the ten most read articles for that year. At the time, besides my blog, I had an actual writing gig, for which I was paid. Self-promotion goes hand-in-hand with seeking out writing gigs, and I was constantly looking for … Continue reading The Ten Most Read Articles of 2022
The War on Christmas
by John Ellis The outrage over the supposed War on Christmas has long been supported by the twin pillars of misplaced priorities and ridiculous conspiracy theories. White evangelicals in this country have long – since their beginning – embraced a martyr complex combined with a love for conspiracy theories. The handwringing over the War on … Continue reading The War on Christmas
Discipling the Christian Nationalists in Our Churches
Donald Trump as the Promised Seed of Genesis 3:15 by John Ellis Yesterday, I saw a clip of pseudo-historian David Barton claiming that the US Constitution is based on God’s words. His point was that only true Christians can govern in ways that allow for the Christian nature of the Constitution to fulfill its purpose. … Continue reading Discipling the Christian Nationalists in Our Churches
Has J.R.R. Tolkien Been a Bad Influence on American Evangelicalism?
by John Ellis Okay. Hear me out. Well, don’t so much hear me out as prepare to interrupt me and provide counterpoints, because I’m not stating a thesis supported by well-crafted arguments. I’m sneaking a (possible) future thesis inside of a question. So, hear me out in the context that this article is like the … Continue reading Has J.R.R. Tolkien Been a Bad Influence on American Evangelicalism?
Losing Cultural Hegemony Leaves Fascism as the Most Viable Option for Retaining Power: Here’s Looking at You, GOP!
by John Ellis The leaders of the anti-CRT/anti-social justice movement’s game plan relies on the effectiveness of scare-words as a control mechanism. I debated adding a charitable qualifier to my accusation, something like “many” or “a vocal contingent,” but after thinking through it, I concluded that even those who are operating in good faith are … Continue reading Losing Cultural Hegemony Leaves Fascism as the Most Viable Option for Retaining Power: Here’s Looking at You, GOP!
Practically Known Theology 