Of all the frustrating trends in evangelical discourse, this latest attempt to redefine Christian political engagement has been one of the worst. Coined the “woke right,” this newly-appropriated label actually functions as a paradox. This new trend claims that “woke” no longer strictly applies to those who advocate for social justice. Now, they claim that […]
Christians In A Purpose-Driven Bureaucracy
Human autonomy is often characterized by the ability to choose. All the various choices and decisions of human behavior can sometimes be generalized, but you will inevitably come across outliers in your dataset — the people who don’t fit the mold. With the rise of bureaucracy, outliers become more and more problematic. Each system designed […]
Choose Better: A Critical Review
For shorter books, it is often easier to read the entire thing through than it is to comment on it. This book was no different. After I read Choose Better: Five Biblical Models For Making Ethical Decisions, I found myself spending more time writing this article than I did reading the book. As a matter […]
The Conservative Fear Of Nationalism
Perhaps one of conservatism’s greatest failures is its tendency to define objectives in terms of what it is against. Instead of furnishing members with a new direction for society, it guides constituents by framing issues in the negative. When “wokeness” became a political issue, mainstream conservatives opted to call themselves the negative: “anti-woke,” instead of […]
Martyrdom In A Democracy
The word martyr actually comes from the Greek word martys/μάρτυς – often translated as witness. This is the Greek word used in Acts 22:20 when Paul recounted the martyrdom of Stephen. By the end of the second century, the word martyr had become increasingly associated with death. While the term still held on to its […]
Why Christianity Lost The Race Debate: Finding The Real Racists
In 2019, a self-described Christian conservative, Owen Strachan, published a book titled: “Reenchanting Humanity: A Theology Of Mankind.” Citing an online forum with sociologist Dalton Conley, the author described race as a social construct based on skin color. “The concept of race,” he claimed, “…is relatively recent and has a troubled heritage, as it was […]
The Iowan Idol Smasher and Christian Political Action
In many circles, Christian Nationalists are easily identified by their stance on blasphemy laws. A man who believes in enforcing them is often considered a Christian Nationalist, regardless of whether he affiliates as such or not. Much of the rhetoric surrounding these laws can just as easily be applied to the destruction of idols. It […]
Words That Divide A Nation
No one should ever underestimate the power of rhetoric. Both the power to unite and the power to divide are contained in these linguistic performances. But the power of language is only available to those who understand it. Stories are meaningless if spoken in an unknown language, as the very essence of communication is lost. […]
The Medical Industry’s Obsession With Guns
While tyrannical governors may have been the norm during COVID-19, it is always a bit of a surprise when politicians find a new low they can sink to. A recent act of authoritarianism in New Mexico serves as a blatant reminder of this statist phenomenon. Citing an “epidemic of gun violence,” the New Mexico governor […]
The Problem With Categories
As we engage in political discourse among our own camps, we find ourselves automatically shifting from one category to another. A hearty discussion on “political power” would be incredibly productive among Right-wing friends who understand the nature and purpose of such a thing. Outside of these like-minded friends, the discussion devolves very quickly. The Right […]