Tried With Fire

These are more quotes from Made in America by Michael Horton. The 2nd chapter is titled "The "How-To" Gospel" and discusses the problem with pragmatic Christianity, which in my opinion is a slightly less noxious version of the prosperity gospel. "If we seek to justify Christianity on pragmatic grounds, ours will continue to be just another self-help, self-improvement program. Among the array of wonder drugs and guaranteed formulas, Christianity may continue to be stocked, but only as long as it is not replaced by something that works better. Temporal salvation, however, is not the goal of the gospel. The Bible doesn't offer us simple solutions to our political, financial, or physical ills." pg. 51 "[T]he seed of civil religion (that is, a religion that worked best for society) was planted. Pragmatism is only a further more systematic exploitation of vague Christianity. The eminent British research group, Oxford Analytica, predicts, "As...

I can't remember when I purchased this used copy of Michael Horton's Made in America . I think it may have shown up in the "other customers purchased this" section on the web site after I got Christless Christianity . I probably flipped through it and then shelved it until last night when I picked it up in light of Jerry Falwell, Jr.'s recent interview at the Washington Post. This book was first published in 1991 and the paperback in 1994. It's remarkably appropriate for today but in a sad way. It would have been better if we had heeded this call 25 years ago. The Bible commands, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). While much fuel has been spent on trying to get people to act like Christians, the Bible insists that we must first think like Christians. The transforming of our minds takes place not through magic, superstitious techniques, or superficial devotions,...

I am a rabbit trail reader. If a quote or reference grabs my attention, I check out the footnote or the bibliography to find out more, which leads me on the trail of yet another book by another author. I also take note of what others are reading via social media. Thus the majority of my 2019 potential reading list is a result of those tangential excursions. Some of the books are already waiting on my shelf, and many are available through the public library/interlibrary loan. ( Worldcat.org is my friend.) I want to savor books this year and read not just because I'm supposed to or to meet a quota. I will allow myself to put a book down if I need a break or even leave it unfinished. (gasp!) I will allow myself to read just for the fun and pleasure of it. But I also hope for the stamina to read with a commitment to the truth no matter what it may uncover. And finally, I will allow myself to follow whatever new and unexpected rabbit trails await me this year. So even though the fo...