Evangelicals, Grace, and Baptism

https://www.christianpost.com/news/nfl-legend-jim-kelly-gets-baptized-god-changed-my-life.html

Alas, this story was troublesome on many points. A few things can be gleaned from it.

Christian Celebrities and their Fraudulent Testimonies

Why do I have to keep hearing about Kathy Ireland? Why are these people celebrated for their supposed faith? The woman became famous in the 1980's for taking her clothes off. Tame by today's standards, this was a more innocent time and a publication like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition was a big deal for teenage boys and young men – that was a lot of skin to lust over. It wouldn't even grab anyone's attention today but for years that magazine's annual release was a cultural moment and viewed as scandalous by anyone with a moral compass.

More Evangelical Error and Corruption

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/27/life-surge-conference-evangelical-money-finance

American Evangelicalism has created a fusion of capitalism and Christian piety. Sacralism and Evangelical Dominionism place great stock in power and status, the middle class values of respectability and security. Those that understand this are not surprised by the so-called Prosperity Gospel. It is but an exaggerated expression of an impulse that already exists. It may be tacky, working class, philistine, and grossly overdone which certain cultural contexts tend to fuel – but in the end it's the same Cultural Christianity that produced ostentatious palaces, cathedrals in one generation and capitalist empires in another.

False Teachers, their Propaganda, and the Degenerate State of American Evangelicalism

https://www.christianpost.com/news/fox-news-hosts-launches-series-to-show-proof-of-heaven.html

This is not really a noteworthy story but it provides an occasion to reflect upon a few things. Because like it or not this is what people are buying into and as long as we're attending mainstream institutional 'conservative' churches, we're going to encounter the folks who are influenced by these people – and even look up to them.

Candace Cameron and the Heresy of Profanation

Evangelicalism is in a sad state of affairs when the likes of Candace Cameron are held up as leaders - and editors such as Richard Land continue to give them press.

Rick Warren, Feminism, and Saddleback's Rejection of Biblical Authority

In this case, it's the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) once again. Rick Warren's business and therapy oriented approach to ecclesiology made him rich and famous. He became a friend of African dictators, was invited into the circles of the Atlantic political order, and built himself a global brand. In recent years he's become little more than a huckster, selling a diet plan that claims to be rooted in Scripture but can only do so by means of wishful thinking and tortured hermeneutics. Warren isn't one to let that stop him. He knows his audience and their ignorance and they continue to fall for his scams.

Evangelical Celebrity Revealed Once Again as Devoid of Substance

https://www.christianpost.com/news/chip-and-joanna-gaines-tell-oprah-how-god-communicates-with-them.html

I must say that I have a special loathing of all the 'Home and Garden'-type television programmes. I don't have regular television but I've seen them on occasion and I've seen clips via YouTube and the like. As one who has connections to the world of home remodeling I can say the effect of these shows has been disastrous. It has been very beneficial for the Big Box outlets and the industry which sponsor the shows but in terms of society and ethics – they have been destructive.

The Low-Hanging Fruit Approach to Justice

Perusing the news, the Lori Laughlin story caught my eye again – something related to her being in prison. Overall I care nothing about the story. I don't know who this actress is and I really don't care either.

I recall the coverage of the story last year. It wasn't something I was interested in but it was often in the background on BBC while I was working or in the car.

Richard Land, The Christian Post, and Celebrity Theology

https://www.christianpost.com/news/pub-fri-morn-pls-jo-kathie-lee-gifford-says-church-has-failed-nonbelievers-feels-called-to-share-faith-through-film.html

Led by Richard Land a lobbyist, political activist and Dominionist the Christian Post wants to reach the broadest possible spectrum to make Christianity something that's not merely detected (having a place at the table) but a force that's influencing all aspects of culture.

The Christian Post attempts to provide a broad spectrum of Christian media and news coverage but instead it has degenerated into parody.

Musings on the Nobel Prize and Selling Out

It was a big news story and something of a shocker. Bob Dylan receives the Nobel Prize for Literature? While at first the Nobel committee was surprised and insulted by Bob Dylan's silence he came around... sort of.