 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"All the literary men of Massachusetts were Unitarian. All the trustees and professors of Harvard College were Unitarians. All the elite of wealth and fashion crowded Unitarian churches. The judges on the bench were Unitarian, giving decisions by which the peculiar features of church organization, so carefully ordained by the Pilgrim fathers, had been nullified." -- Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1825
"They sowed tares while men slept and grafted heretical churches on orthodox stumps." -- Lyman Beecher
This semester I'm taking "American Religious Liberalism" with Dr. Albert Mohler (the President of my seminary). His lecture last week, which built the philosophical base on which American Religious Liberalism is founded, was pretty awesome. I look forward to hearing him dig deeper.
The reading is remarkable -- Dorrien's trilogy "The Making of American Liberal Theology." Dorrien is, by confession, a Christian liberal, so it's not like he's writing with a conservative slant. He seems to treat the subject very objectively.
What I'm struck with, and have suspected for years, is how well intentioned (no matter how misguided and unchecked) liberal theology is -- both in its early days as well as in it's present form. Reason stands above revelation -- "it functions not merely as the interpreter of scriptural revelation, but also as its legislator," and sentiment often informs and interprets theology and operates as a foundation rather than a means of coloring and enlightening what scripture tells us.
Sentiment and reason -- praise God, they are good, but in and of themselves, they are only tools subject to the authority of God. The gist: There is no genuine Christianity without the external authority of God's transcendence.
And all that said, I don't mean to suggest that there isn't something to be learned from liberal theology or that liberal theology hasn't brought valid points to the table or good influences to our society, but liberal theology is, I think, unjustifiably optimistic, both in its view of man and it's eschatology. And despite its positive contributions, I think that liberal theology poses a larger threat to historic Christianity than does any other worldview -- atheist, Muslim, Hindu, etc. I say that because, when orthodoxy succumbs to liberalism, Christianity is rendered quite impotent to be anything more than a system of morality. There are plenty of systems of morality out there, but there is only one worldview that teaches Christ, crucified on our behalf -- the penal substitutionary atonement for those who'll put their faith in Him for their salvation -- resulting in our being rescued from a very real, very deserved hell. And there is only one triune God, immutable in His goodness and character, who created us and rightly judges us and saves us -- for His glory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He's just not that into youObama attracted many pro-life voters in 2008, but he's done nothting but jilt themBy Penny Young Nance August 6, 2009 The battles on Capitol Hill over Sonia Sotomayor and health care have convinced me that pro-life Americans should take a cue from a popular chick flick. A hit movie newly out on DVD recently proclaims a shocking truth to women who make excuses for the bad behavior of men they date. That fact is: If he lies, cheats and treats you disrespectfully, "he's just not that into you." The movie evokes cringes as one recognizes realistic scenes of bright women and men making humiliating mistakes and errors in judgment. In 2008, many pro-life Americans made a horrific error in judgment. Exit polling from the presidential election sponsored by Beliefnet.com showed that 20 percent of those voting for Barack Obama defined themselves as "pro-life." According to Christianity Today, 25 percent of self-identified evangelical or born-again Christians voted for President Obama. Why? Most of these same folks turned out in both 2000 and 2004 for George W. Bush. The reasons for this change of heart are complicated, as in any breakup. They may have been reacting to the war or overspending by Republicans or any number of scandals. Maybe the spark was gone. Or maybe they were seduced! It's OK, admit it. He's cute, he's smart, he's likable and he's charismatic. He promised change and attention to issues men and women of faith care about, such as poverty. One Christian conservative professor even wrote a book proclaiming that truly living like Jesus includes a vote for Mr. Obama. (Good to know.) However, pro-lifers have been wronged. This lover who showed so much original ardor lied to you - and it started on the honeymoon. On the president's third day in office - one day after the 36th March for Life - he issued an executive order reversing U.S. policy that prohibited the use of U.S. funds to promote or pay for abortions abroad. In March, he restored funding to the United Nations Population Fund that had been frozen due to its support of organizations that promote and even coerce poor women in other countries to have abortions. He opened the door for the federal funding of research that requires the destruction of human embryos and canceled the Bush "conscience clause" regulation that protected health care workers from being penalized for refusing to participate in providing abortions. The president has meticulously chosen advisers and top administration officials who have outstanding pro-choice credentials, including Kathleen Sebelius, who is in charge of the nation's health care system as secretary of Health and Human Services. Make no mistake; in Washington, people are policy. Then, of course, there is his appointee to the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, who said in her Senate confirmation hearing that Roe v. Wade is settled law and that there is a constitutional right to privacy. Americans United for Life's research of her record warns that she is far more radical then even former Justice David Souter. There are many other "indiscretions," but let's cut to the Mac daddy of all slights: heath care reform. The Obama administration is pushing relentlessly and recklessly for government-run health care that would force almost all health care plans to include unlimited numbers of abortions for any reason and would make Americans complicit in these abortions due to the pooling of premiums. The legislation on the table amounts to the largest expansion of abortion in U.S. history. How could he, you say? My fellow pro-lifers, grab a tissue and listen up. The truth is, he's not scared to get into a relationship, he hasn't lost your number, and he is not simply busy. Noooo. He is in bed with someone else. That's right! President Obama loves the abortion lobby. He takes their money and their calls, but more importantly, he does their bidding. Apparently Mr. Obama doesn't think abortion is above his "pay grade" after all. He is 100 percent dedicated to the idea that babies in the womb are not life and deserve no protection. But don't get mad; get even. Get involved in backing truly pro-life candidates and let Congress know what you think. Break up with Mr. Obama. It hurts - but he's just not that into you! Penny Young Nance is a former special advisor to the Federal Communications Commission on family policy, a board member for Concerned Women for America and the President of Nance and Associates. Her e-mail is penny@nanceandassoc.com. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.prolife06aug06,0,1924976.story
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
or if you'd prefer 
αρχη