The Sweet Taste of Vomit

https://petehurst.com/wealth-is-not-the-problem/

I was sorry to see (but not terribly surprised) the confused publishers of The Aquila Report endorsed this article by republishing it.

Hurst is a former PCA pastor who still speaks in PCA/OPC circles. He retired from the ministry and decided to get into real estate and get rich. He justifies this by means of Kuyperian argument. He is unapologetic in his celebration of wealth and the 'good life'.

NPR on Trump: The Threat of Authoritarianism Challenged by the Imperial Establishment

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/21/nx-s1-5155005/trump-threatens-to-use-the-military-and-doj-to-go-after-those-who-are-disloyal

It's enough to make you take to your bed. The media storm has become such a morass, such a realm of chaos. It's often case of liars calling out liars and answering distortions with what can only be described as manipulation.

To make sense of this story or exchange it helps one to think of clash between the Roman Empire under the Late Republic and the threat of Sullan Dictatorship. Both were evil entities and yet the political winds are noteworthy and applicable. Lives were affected as was the course of subsequent history. That's no less true today. As Christians we live in this society and even though we're strangers and pilgrims it behooves us to understand what is happening.

Anabaptists and Veteran Discounts

I recently witnessed a further slide of Anabaptism into cognitive and ethical dissonance. As the Amish have moved more and more into the mainstream economy (our local paper's 'Service' section is now dominated by them), they are falling into the traps and enticements of mammon. And as a result, they are getting involved in politics - no doubt fostered by the Christian Right's outreach and attempts to woo them.

The Anabaptist Straw Man

https://adfontesjournal.com/andrew-koperski/christians-in-the-employ-of-the-pagan-empire/

In many ways the linked article simply repeats and rehashes many of the same old arguments used against those who argue for Kingdom ethics in the Early Church – and the narrative of their subsequent corruption. The line of reasoning followed by Koperski is in keeping with the arguments and the muddying of the waters tactics used by the likes of Peter Leithart.

Mendacity and Distortion: Another Mark Tooley Commentary

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/the-death-of-christian-pacifism.html

Tooley's powers of perception must immediately be questioned when he asserts that Neo-Anabaptist Christian Pacifism was so prevalent in 2015. The position has always been (since the fourth century) an almost inconsequential minority at best.

Mastriano, Dominionism, and Mennonite Capitulation

https://currentpub.com/2022/05/19/where-does-doug-mastriano-go-to-church/

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/doug-mastriano-governor-christian-nationalism-qanon-20220504.html

Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate and GOP nominee Doug Mastriano represents the extreme edge of the Trumpite spectrum. A Christian Nationalist – or in terms used here, a Dominionist and Christo-American, Mastriano promotes the many lies of the Far Right and even the myths and delusions of QAnon. His ties range from the Far Right fringe to sections of the Neo-fascist militia movement.

A Usurious Alliance: Evangelical Avarice and Anabaptist Defection

While visiting the BreakPoint website I made another discovery which I must say initially startled me but upon reflection it wasn't too surprising. I noticed the website was promoting Eventide Mutual Funds as a form of Christian investment. That name was familiar to me. I clicked on the link and within a few seconds I had the answer.

Sloppy Religious Reporting From The Intercept

https://theintercept.com/2019/03/30/domestic-terrorism-donald-trump/

The Intercept has at times produced praiseworthy work but overall the news magazine continues to exhibit would I would consider a downward slide. What was once insightful and somewhat adversarial journalism has (with a few exceptions) slipped into the mainstream of the American Left and at times all but echoes the narratives of the less-than-left wing Democratic Party.

Niebuhrian Transformation: Anabaptists in the Wake of WWII

http://www.christianpost.com/news/nm-mennonite-church-becomes-first-in-denomination-to-appoint-openly-lesbian-head-pastor-200073/

What can we say about modern Mennonites? They have lost their way. Despite what differences I might have with them I could say that Anabaptist theology used to focus on Bible.

Comey and Conservative Theological Liberalism

It is not my intention here to comment on the Comey-Trump scandal and all that goes with it. I hope to write something about these early days of Trump in the near future.

I found this article interesting because awhile ago I picked up on the Comey connection to religious education and the fact that he had been a Sunday School teacher in a United Methodist Church.

Suddenly this Niebuhr-related article tied it all together. His place in the grand order of things suddenly made sense.

Attack The System: An Interview with Todd Lewis

http://attackthesystem.com/2013/11/28/attack-the-system-an-interview-with-todd-lewis/

This is a long but interesting podcast. I appreciate the viewpoints of the guest. Anarchism is little understood in Christian circles, particularly those that are Conservative and wish to defend some form of the old establishment order.