Like millions of other red-blooded, American sports fans…I love football. In many ways it has challenged baseball as the American past-time. (My apologies to all the baseball purists.) Between college football and the NFL, August through February have become some of the best months of the year for sports enthusiasts. I cannot deny that I enjoy watching a football game whether I have a vested interest in the teams or not. The sport has done much to provide an entertainment product that is even transcending the male gender bias as more and more women are tuning in to watch. And this remarkable ascent is culminated in the final game of the year called, “The Super Bowl”. It is amazing to think that the first Super Bowl, 51 years ago, wasn’t sold out. Today, if you can even find a ticket, the price of that seat almost demands a bank loan. The Super Bowl is not simply a game to decide the championship team, it has become the sports Mardi Gras which literally consumes a week and has captured the scheduled Sunday. On that “Super Sunday”, everything revolves around “the game”. Church services, family gatherings, sports bars, individual parties, and the like. Life is ostensibly suspended for the big game. And let’s not forget the commercials which cost advertisers millions of dollars per 30 seconds. You have to give credit where credit is due, the NFL has marketed and moved its way into a financial goldmine.
Cultural Reformation
FOUR (4) Lessons We Can Learn From Bonhoeffer
For those who might maintain a subscription or keep current with this blog site, you are aware that Dietrich Bonhoeffer has been a newly created historical superstar to much of the Church. Several mainline denominations have ascribed to him martyr status and honestly, I would not debate that honor. That being said, he has also generated a discussion as to the appropriateness of looking to him as a model for cultural engagement considering his theology was originally formed through German theological liberalism of the 1930’s. I have already written concerning my perspective of his journey and the distinctions I personally hold compared to what we know of Bonhoeffer. I would like in this blog, in a more practical way, highlight what I believe to be the four lessons the conservative evangelical Church might learn and what pastors of those churches need to embrace.
The Theology Of The Bonhoeffer Institute
This is part two in a two part series on The Bonhoeffer Institute. Allow me to start by saying…Theology divides people.
That is not necessarily wrong, however it is a fact. And honestly, sometimes doctrine needs to have a certain clarity to make sure what is going on is actually orthodox Christianity. Especially in our era which I have affectionately called, “The no-doctrine, doctrine age”. So, I completely understand when people have, on occasion, asked about the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and to what extent is The Bonhoeffer Institute tied to his theological positions.
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How The Bonhoeffer Institute Was Born
This is part one of a two part blog to help interested pastors and Christians leaders understand a little bit more about The Bonhoeffer Institute. Some of this information can be found on the Bonhoeffer web page which is linked directly with this personal blog site by simply tapping on the MENU. The Bonhoeffer Institute vision, goals, and mission can be read at that site to understand clearly where this organization is headed and why it exists.
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Legislating Courage
Our soon to be President, Donald Trump, made a campaign promise to evangelical pastors of repealing the Johnson Amendment (JA) to the IRS Code 501(c)3. For those of you unfamiliar with this amendment you may recognize it as the prohibition for churches (and by extension pastors) of participating in and influencing elections and “endorsement” of specific candidates. It has been the “stick” the government has used on occasion to attempt to keep the church disengaged and pastors silent on crucial public policy questions and legislation.
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