I love Robby's idea of a two part celebration of this season: lament for Juneteenth, followed by celebration on July 4th, a la Jewish holidays.
I believe everything we are going through is a spirit of delusion as Paul mentions in 2 Thessalonians 2. I don't believe in one worldwide anti Christ anymore, but we are seeing many now. Look at how many evangelical men who have claimed God's name, that look like cult members now. Like, all of them! We have merged the kingdom with wealth, power and celebrity for decades now in ways that I had always accepted and benefitted from, while ignoring the least of these. I am not optimistic that I will live to see the end of this era, since "the church" in America is stubbornly refusing to repent. I am trusting that he will lead those who remain faithful.
I'm not going to lie to you. I did not want to listen to this. It sounded so ominous, but I loved it. The discussion about Rev. Wright's language vs Boelter's is excellent. The distinction is so nuanced and so critical to make everyone aware of because people just chant along with it without really thinking about what they're saying or what the leaders are actually asking of them. Thank you for that. I have to go back and listen. Would love to see transcripts sometime.
Your title implies that theology is a problem, or that evangelicalism leads to error, but it is the distortion of the evangelical theology of spiritual warfare that is the problem. When Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" is read as aligning with the conquest narratives from Joshua and Judges and defining the "world" broadly as encompassing what is seen in this world, and not brought into line with Scriptures such as Exodus 34:6-7, Proverbs 17:19, and even Matthew 5:43-48 and Luke 6:27-38, the war is wrongly interpreted as one fought between faithful and evil humans rather than a spiritual battle which God himself is waging on our behalf. Our contentious spirits lead us astray, but God's Spirit promotes truth and peace. When Amos declared in 5:14-15,
"Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.
Hate evil, love good;
maintain justice in the courts."
He was calling human hearts to turn away from evil thoughts and deeds, not to kill extrajudicially those who do evil.
And when prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation proclaim with Jeremiah (as they often do), "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (31:11) they need to make sure that they include not only verses 12 and 13, "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." which admonish us to humbly devote ourselves completely to Him, but also take to heart the preceding verse 7 which tells us the attitude we are to have to those nonbelievers in whose midst we live in exile: "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” And in regard to those prophets who proclaim only part of the truth, let us remember verses 8 and 9 and the need for discernment: "Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord." Many in the New Apostolic Movement are faithfully living according to Jesus's admonition to love one another which was reiterated by Peter, Paul, John, James, the writer to the Hebrews, the church fathers, the Reformers, and all who know God's love. It is a shame to avow faith while promoting division and hatred.
I love Robby's idea of a two part celebration of this season: lament for Juneteenth, followed by celebration on July 4th, a la Jewish holidays.
I believe everything we are going through is a spirit of delusion as Paul mentions in 2 Thessalonians 2. I don't believe in one worldwide anti Christ anymore, but we are seeing many now. Look at how many evangelical men who have claimed God's name, that look like cult members now. Like, all of them! We have merged the kingdom with wealth, power and celebrity for decades now in ways that I had always accepted and benefitted from, while ignoring the least of these. I am not optimistic that I will live to see the end of this era, since "the church" in America is stubbornly refusing to repent. I am trusting that he will lead those who remain faithful.
I'm not going to lie to you. I did not want to listen to this. It sounded so ominous, but I loved it. The discussion about Rev. Wright's language vs Boelter's is excellent. The distinction is so nuanced and so critical to make everyone aware of because people just chant along with it without really thinking about what they're saying or what the leaders are actually asking of them. Thank you for that. I have to go back and listen. Would love to see transcripts sometime.
I heard “evil liberals” used many times in evangelical settings.
Just came across Tim Alberta's article on Mike Lee's 'conversion' https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/10/senator-mike-lee-trump-support/679565/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
Amazing reversal... Wonder what his 7 children think of their father... Tim's article referenced in Sidney Blumenthal's Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/21/minnesota-shootings-trump-mike-lee-vance-boelter
Your title implies that theology is a problem, or that evangelicalism leads to error, but it is the distortion of the evangelical theology of spiritual warfare that is the problem. When Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" is read as aligning with the conquest narratives from Joshua and Judges and defining the "world" broadly as encompassing what is seen in this world, and not brought into line with Scriptures such as Exodus 34:6-7, Proverbs 17:19, and even Matthew 5:43-48 and Luke 6:27-38, the war is wrongly interpreted as one fought between faithful and evil humans rather than a spiritual battle which God himself is waging on our behalf. Our contentious spirits lead us astray, but God's Spirit promotes truth and peace. When Amos declared in 5:14-15,
"Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.
Hate evil, love good;
maintain justice in the courts."
He was calling human hearts to turn away from evil thoughts and deeds, not to kill extrajudicially those who do evil.
And when prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation proclaim with Jeremiah (as they often do), "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (31:11) they need to make sure that they include not only verses 12 and 13, "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." which admonish us to humbly devote ourselves completely to Him, but also take to heart the preceding verse 7 which tells us the attitude we are to have to those nonbelievers in whose midst we live in exile: "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” And in regard to those prophets who proclaim only part of the truth, let us remember verses 8 and 9 and the need for discernment: "Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord." Many in the New Apostolic Movement are faithfully living according to Jesus's admonition to love one another which was reiterated by Peter, Paul, John, James, the writer to the Hebrews, the church fathers, the Reformers, and all who know God's love. It is a shame to avow faith while promoting division and hatred.
Amazing job folks. As always. Thanks for shouldering the heavy weight for us!