Premillennialism on the Decline -- The Evangelical Free Church Drops "Premillennial" from Their Doctrinal Statement

A generation ago, this was not even thinkable.  Most evangelicals truly thought amillennarians were closet anti-Semites who really did not take the Bible seriously.  Times have changed!  Apparently, the case has been made, as someone has put it.

On June 19, 2019, the Evangelical Free Church (EFCA) approved the following change (which passed with 79% of the vote) to their doctrinal statement:

The EFCA Board of Directors has introduced a motion to amend Paragraph 9, Article III of the Articles of Incorporation of the EFCA, the Statement of Faith, as follows:

We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

The EFCA drops "premillennial" from its doctrinal statement

What's Wrong in America and How to Fix It

This is well worth your time.  Arthur Brooks and Ben Sasse tackle a host of important issues raised in Ben's new book, Them

Take a Moment to Listen . . . Especially if You Are Under Forty

On June 6, 1944--seventy four years ago today--the allies sucessfully landed on five beaches in Normandy.  Many celebrations of this world-changing event (known simply as D-Day) have come and gone.  Few are left alive who fought this day to breach Hitler's supposedly impenetrable Atlantic Wall and open that "second front" which would bring Nazi Germany to its final defeat nearly a year later.

On the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of D-Day, Ronald Reagan gave his famous speech, "The Boys of Ponte du Hoc."  I post this because it is the most fitting tribute I know to the soldiers who fought there.  But as I too am getting older, I find fewer and fewer people who know the significance of what happened at Ponte du Hoc on June 6, 1944, or who have heard Ronald Reagan give a speech.

In our age of political lunacy, banality, corruption, and incompetence, Reagan's words harken me back to the courage of my father's generation.  They also remind me how much I miss Ronald Reagan in this age of Trump.

Please take a moment to listen.  It is well worth your time.

Gene Veith on How Churches Can Better Retain Their Youth

Gene Veith's take on two recent LCMS studies exploring the reasons why our kids leave our churches, and why others stay.  How Can Churches Retain Their Youth?

Ben Sasse on the Future of Cyber and Economic Warfare

Senator Ben Sasse (as Jonah's Goldberg's guest) discusses the possibility of future cyber and economic warfare with China and Russia.

Only Ben can discuss these things with authority while mentioning Calvin, two kingdoms, and North Korean Christians who have never known the freedom of assembly.

Sasse on the Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

Water From Iraq?

The media's ignorance of the most basic biblical facts and Christian doctine continues to amaze me.  Even the otherwise reliable Wall Street Journal was forced to recant their recent statement that according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "Moses brought water from Iraq . . ."

Of course the correct statement is "Moses brought forth water from a rock."

Read about it here:  Water from Iraq?

"Got Me a Gator"

That is one big alligator--more than 15 feet with a huge head.  It had been killing the rancher's cattle when they came to drink.  That won't happen again.

Bernie Sanders Berates Nominee for White House Budget Office on the Grounds of His Christian Convictions

Scary stuff. 

Apparently, Bernie missed the fact that the U.S. Constitution forbides any religious test for holding public office (h.t. Justin Taylor).

I highly recommend David French's response, including a transcript (Sanders Imposes a Religious Test for Office)

Senator Sasse on the Importance of Civics

Senator Ben Sasse has made a number of media appearances promoting his recent and excellent book, The Vanishing American Adult.  But whenever Ben gets the chance, he reminds his audience (especially on his twitter feed--which is a must follow) that one reason behind a number of the problems facing modern America is a lack of education in basic civics.

In light of Ben's media appearances and our recent Academy course on Allen Guezlo's American Mind (The American Mind), a number of people have asked me where to turn for a better understanding of the U.S. Constitution and the history of its ratification. Here are a couple of suggestions. 

Start with the U.S. Constitution Reader which was put together by the Political Science department of Hillsdale College.  You can find it here:  Constitution Reader

I would also recommend The Constitution: An Introduction.  Written by Michael and Luke Paulsen, this volume provides a basic commentary on the history of Constitution and an informative survey of how the constitution frames so much of American life.  Not scholarly, but informative.

If you prefer audio/video, well then you can do no better than Dr. Guelzo's new offering from the Teaching Company, Americas Founding Fathers.  Guelzo is a great historian and a brilliant story teller--telling the story of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution as a fascinating series of debates and compromises among the rather colorful participants.  You ought to purchase this when on sale (it often is).  My wife and I listened to much of the series while commuting to and from Escondido during my recent teaching stint at Westminster Seminary California.  Listening to this made the commute bearable (well almost).

Thanks Senator Sasse for reminding us of how quickly we can lose our basic freedoms if we do not know how and why a republican government providing ordered liberty came into being and what it means for us as a citizens during a time of eroding freedom.

Yup, Baseball Is Better Than Golf!

This living dinosaur was chasing golfers on the green at the Kiawah Island Club's River Golf Course.  No thanks!