Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 41

Trump Moves U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and so Fulfills Bible Prophecy?

President Trump’s announcement that he will move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has outraged America’s allies and ignited violent protests throughout the Islamic world.  But Jewish radicals, along with End Times-oriented Christians, are hailing the decision as a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy that opens the way to building the third Temple! Background:  […]

“Your Thirst for My Salvation”

In our midweek Advent service, my son-in-law the pastor–who is doing a series on the Catechism–worked in a discussion of an advent hymn we also sung that night.  It is by the incomparable hymn writer Paul Gerhardt, whom we’ve blogged about recently.  It is entitled “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You.” We often think of […]

News Media’s “Most Humiliating Debacle in Ages”

In their zeal to bring down President Trump, journalists have been making mistake after mistake.  On Friday, television news reporters made what investigative journalism site The Intercept called the news media’s “Most Humiliating Debacle in Ages.” You should read Intercept editor Glenn Greenwald, a respected investigative journalist, who gives a fascinating and perceptive account of the debacle in […]

Man Wants to Be God; God Wanted to Be Man

How different from us is God! How different in His thinking, His desires, and His actions. For all this He does not for Himself – God doesn’t need anything and He certainly doesn’t need us!

Man Wants to be God: God Wanted to be Man

The great songster and humorist (and Missouri Synod Lutheran) Lyle Lovett has a song entitled “God Will” (lyrics at the link).  Who will love you despite your cheating ways?  Who will forgive you for all the wrong you’ve done?  “God does./  But I don’t. /God will.  /But I won’t./  And that’s the difference between God and […]

Political Ideology as Our New Religions

Nancy Pelosi describes sexual abuser John Conyers as an “icon.”  Environmentalists prophecy an apocalyptic last judgment and the end of the world.  Progressives look forward to the kingdom of heaven on earth but find saints, martyrs, and taboos in identity politics.  Conservatives demand adherence to orthodox doctrines and condemn backsliders.  John Hart notes the religious […]

Is This Still Christianity?

There is Christianity.  There is liberal Christianity, which stretches the term considerably.  There is heretical Christianity, which is outside the pale but at least claims to still be Christian.  At what point, though, does a religious expression cease to be Christian altogether?  Consider the “Transgender Day of Remembrance” Communion service at the ELCA’s Luther Seminary in St. […]

The Case of the Gay Wedding Cake

  The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop, v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.  Christian baker Jack Phillips refused to create one of his “masterpiece” wedding cakes for a same-sex marriage ceremony.  The exercise of his religious beliefs was found to be in violation of Colorado’s anti-discrimination statutes, whereupon, he lost his business. […]

Because God Is Merciful

Before we retired a couple of years ago and moved to Oklahoma, we attended St. Athanasius Lutheran Church in Vienna, Virginia.  Longtime readers of this blog may remember how I would often post about sermons from our pastor, Rev. James Douthwaite.  Well, we still get the newsletter, which this month includes  a column from Pastor Douthwaite that […]

President Trump’s Legal Problems

The Russia issue will not go away for President Trump, and Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller seems to be hot on the President’s trail.  But the question remains, what is the legal status of the elected head of the Executive branch of the government?  Can a president be indicted, should it come to that?  Is impeachment the […]