I understand the point, but is it really just churches that invite QAnon? Do we not have pastors of mega churches that became political commentators on Fox News for the duration of the previous presidential term? Did we not have people in high positions in churches, such as Southern Baptist churches, that were run out of the denomination because they refused to bend the knee and do what Mr. Erickson says, of connecting one man to prophecy and equate him to salvation? Have those events disappeared? Yes, as Mr. Erickson points out, it is associated with one man, but the man is still alive, he is still preaching as he is the savior who was faulted by faithless people. Will that go away soon? Or will it radicalize more and more people at the pews? I do not have the answer, but the thesis seems to have proven itself.
"I actually think much of the political radicalism David is writing about will fade, in large part because it is premised on one man." Erick, my friend, I'm sorry, but you are wrong. It's the so-called "progressive" Left that has radicalized not only politics, but every major institution in the United States. The Trump phenomenon is simply a response to that. People are sick and tired of IT and aren't going to take IT anymore - insert your IT laundry list here. Trump was simply the person that the backlash coalesced around. If another more capable standard bearer of the movement comes along, for instance, Governor Ron DeSantis, then so be it. I don't care if it's Trump, DeSantis or someone else with the intestinal fortitude to take on the radical Left. However, milquetoast types like Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, and those that David French and his ilk might support need not apply.
Excellent point well made. I appreciate especially the reminder about Colossians 3:13.
By the way, I'm fascinated by your mention of David French's taste in movies. Okay, I'll bite: What is your taste in movies? I would love it someday if you would publish on Substack your list of the five (say) movies you most enjoyed. Not necessarily the five you thought were the best movies ever made in an absolute sense, but just the five that you most enjoyed for any reason or no reason. If I would consider voting for someone if I knew that you thought they were worthy of my vote, I would certainly consider watching a movie that you considered worth watching.
I do not know David French, but I have read him in National Review.
Exposure to the crazy Left is peripheral at best in my world, but I have far more exposure to the crazy Right. Admittedly, I have not yet read the referenced piece, but I understand prima facie his frustration. The crazy Right could be decent enough citizens if they weren’t so, well, crazy. Based solely on relative personal proximity, the crazy Left provides humor, but the crazy Right causes consternation and heartburn. As such, I think it is right to provide constructive criticism of them.
As you try to minimize what Republicans are doing by emphasizing what “the left” has done, I’m open to evidence where the party embraced the violence you cite, whereas the Republican effort to normalize and minimize January 6 is on full display for everyone to see, by the highest level of party leadership.
Trump isn't authoritarian? Really? Trump admires strong men like Duarte, Jinping, Kim, Erdoğan. More than a few GOP members have shown they would throw away the Constitution just to have a seat at the Trump table should such a thing come to pass. Thankfully support for Trump is waning to a degree, but there is still a tremendous amount of the base that would be perfectly fine with Trump as supreme leader. No lie...
You nailed this Erick! I sincerely hope those on the Right will hear clearly what you said. I disagree with French's assertions--they're woefully inconsistent. Yet your statements regarding "who" are being allowed into the professing church, this is truly a problem. Interestingly, the problems are mounting. The climate is dying (I heard this on CNN so it must be true) and we have to have answers. Ever notice how everyone is demanding "answers" yet deny the truth when presented? Hmmm, what would happen if someone suddenly appeared who gave them their answers? [Channeling the Church Lady now] Could it be our friend Satan and his sock-puppet the Anti-Christ? : )
When I got to your 3d paragraph all I could think of was a lesson most 7th graders
used to learn - All your friends may not like each other. If you want to keep them it is best not to take sides, just remain true to your beliefs. Some may feel betrayed and drop away. They are probably not worth keeping close anyway.
Violence being sown in church is a very leftist thing to say! As the secular world becomes more ignorant of the Lord and the teachings of Christ, the churches have every reason to make their congregations wary of those political philosophies and platforms that go against Christian values, but inciting violence is NOT part of that wariness. I don't know David French but he sounds like a jerk to me. A troublemaker, not a Christian.
Once again I piggy-back on Erick's comment. If he had a more rigid Sabbath, like Eric Liddell in "Chariots of Fire" he might put all his electronic activity on hold till the sun goes down, or until after evening church. My pastor preached on Romans 12:1-2 last night and also referred us to Colossians 3:1, "If you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above...." I'm not sure when he'll get to I John 3:16-18..... People are suffering due to God's curse on the creation after our first parents' sin, and more so now due to the unrighteousness of our elected leaders, but the Book of Ecclesiastes (3:16 - 4:6) points out that this is nothing new. Nor is it new for the elites to slander Christians (James 2:6-7).
I love David French and look forward to his blogs as a Dispatch member. The tweet is WAY overstated - there’s a LOT of competition for “most dangerous” these days - but the article was spot on. I regret that David handed over the rope for his opposition to hang him (extending the language if one of the speakers David cited).
As Brian Mitchell says in the comments here, the goal should not be for the church to return to conservatism, but rather to return to the Gospel. I grew up in a time and place where there was practically no dividing line between Christianity and being a good old “flag waving American.” It was idolatry then just as “Christian Nationalism” is idolatry now. I am grateful to God for all that this nation has been, and I grieve much over what we have lost. However as believers, we must remember that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
Good morning Erick. That was a funny hit on the Lions :-).
What is the most effective technique to get on Media shows and get all this kind of attention? Do what French did. I tuned out David F. years ago. He likes to be a provocateur against Trump populism. In fact--he seems to have chosen his mission in life, all the while ignoring the real threat in our midst--the Neo-Marxist intrusion into our culture, CHURCHES, and govt. The neoCon Intelligentsia have more in common with their Leftist pundits than they do with any Conservative who has even hinted at support of Trump. At least he has not chosen (yet) to go full rampart for the Democrats like other neoCon's like Jenn Rubin, Max Boot, Bill Kristol, etc.
Personally, I hope Trump does not run again--like you advocate--we need a younger and less polarizing figure.
Trump hatred. He is the poster boy for evil even though he supports Covid vaccines. The same goes for any democrat politician. This is nothing new and has been around since the founding. It is a form of abuse and has to stop with this generation. We can’t talk to each other in order to solve problems, we just toss buckets of manure on each other.
Exactly. Church is for worship and prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ and to learn of his life and to be followers. And the climate has been changing since the beginning of time. And that is all I have to say about that.
Erick, I know that your job in media is exhausting. I come to bring encouragement. Perhaps friends might understand if you set some healthy boundaries. Sunday is the Lord's Day, for worship and rest. If you idolize news and politics, or if your friends, followers and listeners idolize you, then how is God being honored on his day? You're well-respected and people might honor a request to not bombard you with such things on the Lord's Day. Just a thought. Praying for you.
I understand the point, but is it really just churches that invite QAnon? Do we not have pastors of mega churches that became political commentators on Fox News for the duration of the previous presidential term? Did we not have people in high positions in churches, such as Southern Baptist churches, that were run out of the denomination because they refused to bend the knee and do what Mr. Erickson says, of connecting one man to prophecy and equate him to salvation? Have those events disappeared? Yes, as Mr. Erickson points out, it is associated with one man, but the man is still alive, he is still preaching as he is the savior who was faulted by faithless people. Will that go away soon? Or will it radicalize more and more people at the pews? I do not have the answer, but the thesis seems to have proven itself.
"I actually think much of the political radicalism David is writing about will fade, in large part because it is premised on one man." Erick, my friend, I'm sorry, but you are wrong. It's the so-called "progressive" Left that has radicalized not only politics, but every major institution in the United States. The Trump phenomenon is simply a response to that. People are sick and tired of IT and aren't going to take IT anymore - insert your IT laundry list here. Trump was simply the person that the backlash coalesced around. If another more capable standard bearer of the movement comes along, for instance, Governor Ron DeSantis, then so be it. I don't care if it's Trump, DeSantis or someone else with the intestinal fortitude to take on the radical Left. However, milquetoast types like Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, and those that David French and his ilk might support need not apply.
Excellent point well made. I appreciate especially the reminder about Colossians 3:13.
By the way, I'm fascinated by your mention of David French's taste in movies. Okay, I'll bite: What is your taste in movies? I would love it someday if you would publish on Substack your list of the five (say) movies you most enjoyed. Not necessarily the five you thought were the best movies ever made in an absolute sense, but just the five that you most enjoyed for any reason or no reason. If I would consider voting for someone if I knew that you thought they were worthy of my vote, I would certainly consider watching a movie that you considered worth watching.
I do not know David French, but I have read him in National Review.
Exposure to the crazy Left is peripheral at best in my world, but I have far more exposure to the crazy Right. Admittedly, I have not yet read the referenced piece, but I understand prima facie his frustration. The crazy Right could be decent enough citizens if they weren’t so, well, crazy. Based solely on relative personal proximity, the crazy Left provides humor, but the crazy Right causes consternation and heartburn. As such, I think it is right to provide constructive criticism of them.
Great comment, Mr. Ratliff. I have the same impression.
Oh, and a French Press is far inferior to an Aeropress when it comes to coffee! :D
As you try to minimize what Republicans are doing by emphasizing what “the left” has done, I’m open to evidence where the party embraced the violence you cite, whereas the Republican effort to normalize and minimize January 6 is on full display for everyone to see, by the highest level of party leadership.
Trump isn't authoritarian? Really? Trump admires strong men like Duarte, Jinping, Kim, Erdoğan. More than a few GOP members have shown they would throw away the Constitution just to have a seat at the Trump table should such a thing come to pass. Thankfully support for Trump is waning to a degree, but there is still a tremendous amount of the base that would be perfectly fine with Trump as supreme leader. No lie...
You nailed this Erick! I sincerely hope those on the Right will hear clearly what you said. I disagree with French's assertions--they're woefully inconsistent. Yet your statements regarding "who" are being allowed into the professing church, this is truly a problem. Interestingly, the problems are mounting. The climate is dying (I heard this on CNN so it must be true) and we have to have answers. Ever notice how everyone is demanding "answers" yet deny the truth when presented? Hmmm, what would happen if someone suddenly appeared who gave them their answers? [Channeling the Church Lady now] Could it be our friend Satan and his sock-puppet the Anti-Christ? : )
When I got to your 3d paragraph all I could think of was a lesson most 7th graders
used to learn - All your friends may not like each other. If you want to keep them it is best not to take sides, just remain true to your beliefs. Some may feel betrayed and drop away. They are probably not worth keeping close anyway.
Violence being sown in church is a very leftist thing to say! As the secular world becomes more ignorant of the Lord and the teachings of Christ, the churches have every reason to make their congregations wary of those political philosophies and platforms that go against Christian values, but inciting violence is NOT part of that wariness. I don't know David French but he sounds like a jerk to me. A troublemaker, not a Christian.
I read your stuff and Mr. French's. You've nailed it in this posting.
Once again I piggy-back on Erick's comment. If he had a more rigid Sabbath, like Eric Liddell in "Chariots of Fire" he might put all his electronic activity on hold till the sun goes down, or until after evening church. My pastor preached on Romans 12:1-2 last night and also referred us to Colossians 3:1, "If you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above...." I'm not sure when he'll get to I John 3:16-18..... People are suffering due to God's curse on the creation after our first parents' sin, and more so now due to the unrighteousness of our elected leaders, but the Book of Ecclesiastes (3:16 - 4:6) points out that this is nothing new. Nor is it new for the elites to slander Christians (James 2:6-7).
I love David French and look forward to his blogs as a Dispatch member. The tweet is WAY overstated - there’s a LOT of competition for “most dangerous” these days - but the article was spot on. I regret that David handed over the rope for his opposition to hang him (extending the language if one of the speakers David cited).
As Brian Mitchell says in the comments here, the goal should not be for the church to return to conservatism, but rather to return to the Gospel. I grew up in a time and place where there was practically no dividing line between Christianity and being a good old “flag waving American.” It was idolatry then just as “Christian Nationalism” is idolatry now. I am grateful to God for all that this nation has been, and I grieve much over what we have lost. However as believers, we must remember that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
Good morning Erick. That was a funny hit on the Lions :-).
What is the most effective technique to get on Media shows and get all this kind of attention? Do what French did. I tuned out David F. years ago. He likes to be a provocateur against Trump populism. In fact--he seems to have chosen his mission in life, all the while ignoring the real threat in our midst--the Neo-Marxist intrusion into our culture, CHURCHES, and govt. The neoCon Intelligentsia have more in common with their Leftist pundits than they do with any Conservative who has even hinted at support of Trump. At least he has not chosen (yet) to go full rampart for the Democrats like other neoCon's like Jenn Rubin, Max Boot, Bill Kristol, etc.
Personally, I hope Trump does not run again--like you advocate--we need a younger and less polarizing figure.
Trump hatred. He is the poster boy for evil even though he supports Covid vaccines. The same goes for any democrat politician. This is nothing new and has been around since the founding. It is a form of abuse and has to stop with this generation. We can’t talk to each other in order to solve problems, we just toss buckets of manure on each other.
Exactly. Church is for worship and prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ and to learn of his life and to be followers. And the climate has been changing since the beginning of time. And that is all I have to say about that.
Erick, I know that your job in media is exhausting. I come to bring encouragement. Perhaps friends might understand if you set some healthy boundaries. Sunday is the Lord's Day, for worship and rest. If you idolize news and politics, or if your friends, followers and listeners idolize you, then how is God being honored on his day? You're well-respected and people might honor a request to not bombard you with such things on the Lord's Day. Just a thought. Praying for you.