by John Ellis In Rogues, his last book published during his lifetime, Derrida prophesied that his matrix of deconstruction requires of humanity “a certain unconditional renunciation of sovereignty.” It’s an opaque statement delivered by an intentionally opaque man. Demonized by many, atheist and Christian alike, Derrida remains a modern-day Gideon of sorts. The opaqueness of … Continue reading Our Gods Are Alive, and We Should Kill Them
Tag: Jesus
Palestine and Israel, Introduction: Justice Is Rarely a Two-Way Street
by John Ellis On April 29, 1956, Ro’i Rotberg, regional commander of the security forces for the kibbutz Nahal Oz, was killed in a planned ambush. On horseback, Rotberg attempted to chase off a group of Palestinians from Gaza who were reaping wheat from the kibbutz’s field. He was shot by hidden assailants and then … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Introduction: Justice Is Rarely a Two-Way Street
A Godless Fundamentalist Revisited 10 Years Later
by John Ellis It’s been 10 years since I began writing the first version of ‘A Godless Fundamentalist.’ It’s been 5 years since Crossway considered publishing it. At the time, over the 5 years as I spent writing, editing, rewriting, and editing some more, my objective acted as a framing mechanism calling me to downplay … Continue reading A Godless Fundamentalist Revisited 10 Years Later
Are You Allying with America’s Cows of Bashan?
“They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.” Amos 2:7 by John Ellis The elegance and dignity with which she entered my car stood in stark contrast to our surroundings. The difference was so pronounced, I found it jarring, unexpected.[1] The way … Continue reading Are You Allying with America’s Cows of Bashan?
More on Tim Ballard, Operation Underground Railroad, and ‘Sound of Freedom’
by John Ellis Sex trafficking is a serious issue. An issue that followers of Jesus should mourn while seeking justice for the victims. Unfortunately, it's an issue that is wildly misunderstood and that has been co-opted by self-serving, glory-seeking individuals and organizations. This past summer, the surprise hit movie Sound of Freedom propelled one such … Continue reading More on Tim Ballard, Operation Underground Railroad, and ‘Sound of Freedom’
A Post-Evangelical Journey of Faith, Doubt, and Shalom
by John Ellis Almost exactly four years ago, I shuttered my previous blog A Day in His Court. Over the upcoming weeks and months, I’m planning on writing more about what led me to transition away from my previous blog and start Practically Known Theology. For now, I simply want to note that by the … Continue reading A Post-Evangelical Journey of Faith, Doubt, and Shalom
Claiming that Africa Shares Responsibility for the Transatlantic Slave Trade Is Historically Deceptive (Not to Mention Racist)
by John Ellis I met Patrick Buchanan in 1996. He was in Greenville, SC, wooing voters for his bid to become the Republican nominee for the presidential election later that year.[1] A friend and fellow student at Bob Jones University had scored an invitation to a private reception for the paleoconservative stalwart. I tagged along. … Continue reading Claiming that Africa Shares Responsibility for the Transatlantic Slave Trade Is Historically Deceptive (Not to Mention Racist)
Sunday Morning is the Most Segregated Hour in America for a Reason, but Probably Not for the Reason You Think
by John Ellis Much is made of Sunday morning containing the most segregated hour in American culture. The handwringing isn’t necessarily based on a falsity. It’s true that church services, by and large, are segregated. Ironically, many of the white evangelicals lamenting this state of affairs fail to understand the reason for the segregation in … Continue reading Sunday Morning is the Most Segregated Hour in America for a Reason, but Probably Not for the Reason You Think
A Modern-Day Parable
by John Ellis Interestingly, when his disciples asked Jesus why he often spoke in parables he replied, “The secret of the Kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that they may ever be seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never … Continue reading A Modern-Day Parable
Kingdom Ethics: The American Dream versus God’s Definition of Flourishing
by John Ellis When we think of idols, our first thoughts likely go to examples like Dagon in his temple as described in 1 Samuel 5, the golden calf Aaron made for the impatient and rebellious Israelites while Moses was on the mountain meeting with God, or the altar to Baal that Gideon destroyed in … Continue reading Kingdom Ethics: The American Dream versus God’s Definition of Flourishing
Practically Known Theology 