1) There is a scene in the movie Fury. The John Bernthal backwoods Pentecostal character asks the new guy typist turned tanker east coast coded Episcopalian "Are you born again?" He answers, 'I'm baptized." Berthal responds, "that ain't the same thing now, is it?" It's a great scene.
2) Does anybody else remember the late '80s/early '90 great "cultural Christian" purge? Lots of evangelical types full of fervor wishing that the church would be purified of all its lukewarmness? Or is that just me? I remember thinking at the time "you might miss them when they are gone, and you might chase out more than you think." Pastorally there are seasons. And it is easier heating up the lukewarm in your pews than bringing them back into them.
3) Ultimately "Cultural Christian" just means we agree on the 2nd table of the law. We also agree that the first table is a good thing, Although the Cultural Christian would not use the civic authority to support it and they themselves might be squishy. And they agree that the Sermon on the Mount is a constitution for a nice society. None of which is strictly about the Gospel. We agree on the law compared to the neo-pagans that disagree with at least 7 of the 10 commandments.
I was legit worried yesterday, not seeing anything hereabouts from Anne Kennedy, then I recalled that verse about being anxious for nothing at all but just keep checking Substack for a po...oh wait...
Today's post made me think of a flower name that I love: "heartsease". What an unsettling moment this is: attempted assassination, MIA president, etc. But in the midst of the disintegration, Mrs. Kennedy's steady voice keeps pointing out the right direction to look.
I did the same yesterday longing for my Monday morning Preventing Grace podcast. Alas I am glad for today’s excellent post and Mrs. Kennedy’s thoughtful and insightful writing. Things are going to be ok.
Yes, I long ago noticed there is a type of Anglican who says, "I was baptized" and think that trumps everything, gives a ticket straight into Anglican Heaven, and don't you dare question his/her orthodoxy, etc. Let's hope that is not that case with Elon.
On the reinstatement of Leatherwood, wow, that was a bitter pill this morning. To make matters worse, I found out immediately after I put a post up. It is quite a mess now, ever messier than yours:
Here's the tweet from Brent Leatherwood you cited: “Not only is this a historic decision, it is the right decision for our nation…Despite what some partisans will say, to walk away from power is a selfless act – the kind that has become all too rare in our culture.”
I may be naive (this is the first I'd heard of this particular incident), but I am having some trouble understanding why the tweet you cited amount to "carry[ing] water for Biden, Harris" or "lick[ing] Biden's shoe leather".
I'll grant you that it's likely Biden had to have an unusual amount of pressure applied for him to do the right thing, but isn't it a good thing to compliment even bad leaders when they end up doing the right thing, even if it wasn't entirely from the most noble motives?
I thought Peterson’s lectures on Genesis were quite interesting, providing a person can stomach the constant self aggrandizement that permeates them. One thing they reveal is the excellence of the Biblical text and how enduring those narratives can be even if analyzed through a non religious lens. It seems to me that Peterson sees Christianity in a similar way as he does those earlier narratives, as a bulwark against chaos. This incredibly perceptive of him, and it fits with his notion of Truth being structures that endure and are helpful to allow society to function better. I think Musk and Peterson are people who are interested in functionality, of being able to operate to a greater potential, and they see the significance of “Cultural Christianity” at work in that. I imagine if we were an historically Buddhist society, they might be making a claim for “cultural Buddhism” instead.
I really enjoyed this post, Anne. The inner apologist / evangelist within me has been closely following this conversation. I do think that a great deal of this idea of a ‘Cultural Christianity thing’ springs up in the intellectual spheres - Peterson, Perry, Holland, or insert your thinker du jour - at the perfectly timed confluence of things over the last few years. Maybe Tom Holland’s book (Dominion, circa October 2019) and its thesis had unintentionally primed the pump for a broader relook at the desirable fruits of Christianity by the secular thinkers searching for purpose in the growing meaning crisis. This very recent conversation (in the link below) is one of the more interesting discussions over this topic, and is between an atheist and an agnostic. I think Alex O’Connor sees this phenomenon of the ‘Cultural Christianity thing’ more clearly than many Christian thinkers do. In any case, yes, the principles of Christianity ring hollow without the full breadth and depth of what it means to be in Christ, and that is touched on in this discussion. I think it is a bit of the idea of the birds nesting on the branches of the mustard tree, from the parable. The reason I follow this topic so closely is that I am thrilled that people who are not Christians are probing into Christianity, and searching for truth and meaning. Though many will likely stay perched on the branches of Christianity “culturally” and simply enjoy the fruits, I am hopeful that some, and hopefully many, will accidentally - providentially find themselves as fruit of the tree.
Maybe Musk and Peterson are at the least seeking in the right direction. We all seek something. There are those that seek light, others seek darkness, and still others seek neutral comfort. To those that seek light, Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9)
To those that seek darkness, “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking who he may devour” (1Peter 5:8). The darkness proudly proclaims their church accepts you as you are and no repentance is necessary, or we are devout, but we believe in a woman’s’ right to choose murder over life.
My own church, ACNA, has a teetering hierarchy of proud unsupervised bishops that are beginning to look very much like lions. Sadly the churches future is their control.
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
"silly women laden with sins". White liberal females? It has come to both my husbands and my attention that many so-called "culture warriors" - i.e. Candace Owens being a prominent example - are now claiming Catholicism. I think this is in the same vein; a political move, not a spirit led one.
Three thoughts:
1) There is a scene in the movie Fury. The John Bernthal backwoods Pentecostal character asks the new guy typist turned tanker east coast coded Episcopalian "Are you born again?" He answers, 'I'm baptized." Berthal responds, "that ain't the same thing now, is it?" It's a great scene.
2) Does anybody else remember the late '80s/early '90 great "cultural Christian" purge? Lots of evangelical types full of fervor wishing that the church would be purified of all its lukewarmness? Or is that just me? I remember thinking at the time "you might miss them when they are gone, and you might chase out more than you think." Pastorally there are seasons. And it is easier heating up the lukewarm in your pews than bringing them back into them.
3) Ultimately "Cultural Christian" just means we agree on the 2nd table of the law. We also agree that the first table is a good thing, Although the Cultural Christian would not use the civic authority to support it and they themselves might be squishy. And they agree that the Sermon on the Mount is a constitution for a nice society. None of which is strictly about the Gospel. We agree on the law compared to the neo-pagans that disagree with at least 7 of the 10 commandments.
I was legit worried yesterday, not seeing anything hereabouts from Anne Kennedy, then I recalled that verse about being anxious for nothing at all but just keep checking Substack for a po...oh wait...
Today's post made me think of a flower name that I love: "heartsease". What an unsettling moment this is: attempted assassination, MIA president, etc. But in the midst of the disintegration, Mrs. Kennedy's steady voice keeps pointing out the right direction to look.
I did the same yesterday longing for my Monday morning Preventing Grace podcast. Alas I am glad for today’s excellent post and Mrs. Kennedy’s thoughtful and insightful writing. Things are going to be ok.
Yes, I long ago noticed there is a type of Anglican who says, "I was baptized" and think that trumps everything, gives a ticket straight into Anglican Heaven, and don't you dare question his/her orthodoxy, etc. Let's hope that is not that case with Elon.
On the reinstatement of Leatherwood, wow, that was a bitter pill this morning. To make matters worse, I found out immediately after I put a post up. It is quite a mess now, ever messier than yours:
https://markmarshall.substack.com/p/leatherwood-ousted-from-leading-the
I read your substack.
Here's the tweet from Brent Leatherwood you cited: “Not only is this a historic decision, it is the right decision for our nation…Despite what some partisans will say, to walk away from power is a selfless act – the kind that has become all too rare in our culture.”
I may be naive (this is the first I'd heard of this particular incident), but I am having some trouble understanding why the tweet you cited amount to "carry[ing] water for Biden, Harris" or "lick[ing] Biden's shoe leather".
I'll grant you that it's likely Biden had to have an unusual amount of pressure applied for him to do the right thing, but isn't it a good thing to compliment even bad leaders when they end up doing the right thing, even if it wasn't entirely from the most noble motives?
I understand your thinking, Miriam.
In Leatherwood's case, it was (and remains) a cumulative situation of him undermining rank-and-file Baptists to carry water for the Regime.
In other words, that was the last straw . . . for about 18 hours anyway.
I thought Peterson’s lectures on Genesis were quite interesting, providing a person can stomach the constant self aggrandizement that permeates them. One thing they reveal is the excellence of the Biblical text and how enduring those narratives can be even if analyzed through a non religious lens. It seems to me that Peterson sees Christianity in a similar way as he does those earlier narratives, as a bulwark against chaos. This incredibly perceptive of him, and it fits with his notion of Truth being structures that endure and are helpful to allow society to function better. I think Musk and Peterson are people who are interested in functionality, of being able to operate to a greater potential, and they see the significance of “Cultural Christianity” at work in that. I imagine if we were an historically Buddhist society, they might be making a claim for “cultural Buddhism” instead.
I really enjoyed this post, Anne. The inner apologist / evangelist within me has been closely following this conversation. I do think that a great deal of this idea of a ‘Cultural Christianity thing’ springs up in the intellectual spheres - Peterson, Perry, Holland, or insert your thinker du jour - at the perfectly timed confluence of things over the last few years. Maybe Tom Holland’s book (Dominion, circa October 2019) and its thesis had unintentionally primed the pump for a broader relook at the desirable fruits of Christianity by the secular thinkers searching for purpose in the growing meaning crisis. This very recent conversation (in the link below) is one of the more interesting discussions over this topic, and is between an atheist and an agnostic. I think Alex O’Connor sees this phenomenon of the ‘Cultural Christianity thing’ more clearly than many Christian thinkers do. In any case, yes, the principles of Christianity ring hollow without the full breadth and depth of what it means to be in Christ, and that is touched on in this discussion. I think it is a bit of the idea of the birds nesting on the branches of the mustard tree, from the parable. The reason I follow this topic so closely is that I am thrilled that people who are not Christians are probing into Christianity, and searching for truth and meaning. Though many will likely stay perched on the branches of Christianity “culturally” and simply enjoy the fruits, I am hopeful that some, and hopefully many, will accidentally - providentially find themselves as fruit of the tree.
https://youtu.be/XaRj1B05jyg?si=0AI2FhOE6G8PhVm8
Maybe Musk and Peterson are at the least seeking in the right direction. We all seek something. There are those that seek light, others seek darkness, and still others seek neutral comfort. To those that seek light, Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9)
To those that seek darkness, “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking who he may devour” (1Peter 5:8). The darkness proudly proclaims their church accepts you as you are and no repentance is necessary, or we are devout, but we believe in a woman’s’ right to choose murder over life.
My own church, ACNA, has a teetering hierarchy of proud unsupervised bishops that are beginning to look very much like lions. Sadly the churches future is their control.
2 Timothy 3:5-7
King James Version
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
"silly women laden with sins". White liberal females? It has come to both my husbands and my attention that many so-called "culture warriors" - i.e. Candace Owens being a prominent example - are now claiming Catholicism. I think this is in the same vein; a political move, not a spirit led one.
I thank God you are alive and writing, Anne!
I read A Woman Makes a Plan by Maye Musk (Elon's mother) a few years ago, and I don't remember anything in it about faith or religion.