Social activist Julia Ward wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” in 1861, the same year that Henry Timrod composed his “Ethnogenesis” (the poem which kicked off part 2 of this series). In it, she penned that God will use His “terrible swift sword” to bring judgment upon “condemners” and “crush the serpent with his …
“Religion, taking every mortal form But that pure and Christian faith makes warm, Where not to vile fanatic passion urged, Or not in vague philosophies submerged, Repulsive with all Pharisaic leaven, And making laws to stay the laws of Heaven!” — From “Ethnogenesis,” by Henry Timrod South Carolinian Henry Timrod penned these words in February 1861 at …
I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed. I’d say I’m your average-smarts kinda girl. No super genius by any means. So, how come I understand that not only is virtue signaling not virtuous, as explained in part 1 of this series, but that it’s also downright dangerous? Really, clear-thinking people need to smash this repellent practice when they see …
“Racism is bad.” Nooo, really? “Hate is evil.” Gasp, no way! “The Klan is offensive.” Shocking! “White supremacy is unchristian.” What the heck is “white supremacy”? Oh, you mean white people who aren’t self-loathing and want to advocate for themselves and their families in our identity-politics-obsessed culture? Meh. “No Trump. No KKK. No fascist USA!” …
Recently, Business Insider editor, MSNBC contributor, and public-radio personality Josh Barro called the left’s war on American culture “annoying.” He explained that “Liberals have supplanted conservatives as moralizing busybodies.” New York Magazine‘s Jonathan Chait even tweeted support of Barro’s “sensible thoughts,” calling out the Democrats’ supposedly new-found misadventure of “liberal sanctimony.” Funny that in all his talk condemning such “moralizing,” neo-liberal Barro went on to further pontificate …
Remember last summer when the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) banned the Confederate Battle Flag? Because, you know, of all the things going on, scapegoating an indigenous people-group and attacking their cultural and ancestral symbols is way up there with being the hands and feet of Jesus. Apparently, last year’s charade of an “apology that was needed” wasn’t penance enough for …
The old leftist mantra “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention” seems to have never been more apt. Even for news junkies like me, there are enough outrageous things happening by the nanosecond in our upside-down world that the weight of it all can start to crush your spirit. In reality, people throughout the ages have always …
Whatever is your take on the Good Samaritan (as discussed in part 1), it’s important to remember that the Samaritan doesn’t use a government agency in his aiding of the traveler. He doesn’t use universal healthcare to doctor the wounds. He doesn’t thieve from the innkeeper or compel through legal force that his fellow Samaritans provide continued care for the injured man. The Samaritan …
The past few Sundays, in many Protestant and Catholic churches alike, congregants no doubt have heard their pastor’s or priest’s emotional retelling of the Good Samaritan as it relates to Syrian refugees. So what is this parable about? And what should be the Christian response to Trump’s executive order banning “entry into the U.S. by anyone from seven majority-Muslim countries for …