Bryan Berghoef's Blog, page 11

Perhaps we’ve barely tried it

A few thoughts from brother Anthony Smith:

"I thought I'd give Mike a listen. I just have one question for when he says that the carnage Newtown experienced this past Friday is due to the systematic removal of Christianity in schools and in the broader society 'beginning 50 years ago.' I was struck inwardly by this question: America has always been a violent society; from the near extermination of Native Americans; slavery of blacks; tyranny over woman; and our strong propensity to be exclusi...

Christianity, gun violence & the nihilism of Mike Huckabee

When Mike Huckabee infamously said that Friday’s murders in Newtown, Connecticut took place because we’ve “systematically removed God” from our public schools, he provided yet another stark reminder of the way that Christianity frequently functions as nothing more than a nihilistic enterprise that keeps us from addressing the most serious concerns that face us as a nation.

When people like Huckabee line up to say that “taking God out of the public schools” is the reason why such horrific atro...

A New Law for a New Day

"What's on my mind right now is that the guns most likely to fulfill the purpose and intent of the Second Amendment are the very guns most likely (and needed) to be outlawed in our country.

I'm thinking that the Courts need to stop allowing for revisionist readings of the Second Amendment and we need to revoke or rewrite it entirely:

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

These are not...

Linger here and reflect

As a parent of four children, all of whom are the right age to attend Sandy Hook, and who just spent their first week in an urban public school, I was devastated to hear of this incident, and I am absolutely sick about it. I have no idea how I am going to drop off my four little precious ones on Monday, and say, “See you soon.” I am sure all parents feel the same way.

Yesterday was a day for grieving. So is today, and the day after that.

But is it not appropriate to begin to wonder: what has...

Falling Plates

So there's a new video I've seen floating around the internet. It's about four minutes. Take a look.

There's something catchy about it.

Great imagery, decent music, and so on. But what about the message? Continue reading →

A New Convergence

A few writers, thinkers, pastors, and theologians (Brian McLaren and Eric Elnes, among others) note that a new convergence is happening within Christianity. McLaren notes:

"A new coalition is already happening, as existing organizations and emerging networks discover one another and realize they have independently reached common conclusions."

Eric Elnes writes of twelve defining characteristics, which are evenly divided into three categories: Love of God, Love of Neighbor, and Love of Self. C...