Theological underpinnings

 Our faith practices have a deep impact on how we live our lives…we know that, or at least we should, if we’ve read the Book of James. But as a faith community, our collective history also has a profound impact on how we currently live and operate, both as Christian communities and as political, secular societies. And the impact of religion on culture throughout the centuries becomes all the more significant as we study our familial roots.

Following are random thoughts on religious developments and movements through history. Feel free to prove me wrong 😂


Creative Arts in the Contemporary Church

I currently have the privilege of working on the development of this course for the Southwestern Christian University online program, and will be offering the course this fall semester (2025). As that time approaches, I hope to share a few thoughts; for now, suffice it to say that I am having a wonderful time interfacing with the worship people at The Journey West County, where Becky and I attend with our St. Louis kids, and occasionally play for the Sunday worship experience. 

The church is in a five-week sermon series on defining the mission of the church, and so far it meshes with how I have come to understand the mission and role of the church for us and for our community. With out digging too deeply, I’ll simply say that it is my opinion that the current American Evangelical Church and specifically some of its ‘contemporary’ practices have left us in a bad place in our nation. And maybe it is the ‘church’ that should heed the oft-used passage “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray…”  Feels like maybe we missed the ‘humble themselves’ bit maybe.

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