Where the Religious Right is Wrong by Matthew Mills
is an amazing book. Matt is a civil lawyer in Granbury,
Texas, and attends a reformed Baptist
church in Fort Worth. As soon as I heard about it, I bought the
book through Amazon and read it carefully.
I was surprised but delighted, because it is right on target. The author
says, "The main purpose of this book is to explore how Christian citizens
ought to view certain political issues from a Biblical standpoint, but it's not
really meant to serve as a blueprint."
He accomplishes that in eight chapters and 215 pages.
I am not surprised that one chapter is entitled, "The Total Depravity of Man" simply because I know Matt's solid commitment to covenant theology. I am surprised that he espouses some of the same political views that I do. I have never run across any one else who does.
I knew Jerry Fallwell personally, hosting his Moral Majority in 1975 when I pastored a church in Omaha, Nebraska, and was still hopeful or maybe wishful. I also drove him from the DFW Airport to a fundraiser in downtown Fort Worth in 1988, but I began to question the effectiveness of his efforts when they disappointed me year after year, especially on the issue of abortion.
I decided that all politicians are liars and no longer vote for candidates but against them. Over the years I have come to be anti-war, anti-foreign aid and anti-government. After six trips to the Middle East, I have become LESS pro-Israel and even more anti-foreign aid. I do not see soundness in any political party. I deplore McCain's hawkishness, John Boehner's weakness, Hillary Clinton's loudness, and Barak Obama's pro-gayness.
I also believe that our government is not based on religion but on a constitution, our founders being deists who did not think like evangelicals. We are not a monarchy or a theocracy. We cannot expect a government like that of Shlomo (Solomon).
I am not quite ready to denounce Israel as Brother Mills did. I still think the Jews (Judah) were dispersed by the Greeks and Romans into many places and that the present conflict with the Palestinians was brought on when Arab nations keep attacking them. But I do agree with Matt that the Jews are not the true spiritual children of Abraham but neither are we (the U.S.)
What Matt said in his book about war and patriotism and nation-building, the rich and powerful, the economic/banking system and foreign policy were absolutely on target. Our policies are against everything taught in Scripture. Get the book at Amazon.
I am not surprised that one chapter is entitled, "The Total Depravity of Man" simply because I know Matt's solid commitment to covenant theology. I am surprised that he espouses some of the same political views that I do. I have never run across any one else who does.
I knew Jerry Fallwell personally, hosting his Moral Majority in 1975 when I pastored a church in Omaha, Nebraska, and was still hopeful or maybe wishful. I also drove him from the DFW Airport to a fundraiser in downtown Fort Worth in 1988, but I began to question the effectiveness of his efforts when they disappointed me year after year, especially on the issue of abortion.
I decided that all politicians are liars and no longer vote for candidates but against them. Over the years I have come to be anti-war, anti-foreign aid and anti-government. After six trips to the Middle East, I have become LESS pro-Israel and even more anti-foreign aid. I do not see soundness in any political party. I deplore McCain's hawkishness, John Boehner's weakness, Hillary Clinton's loudness, and Barak Obama's pro-gayness.
I also believe that our government is not based on religion but on a constitution, our founders being deists who did not think like evangelicals. We are not a monarchy or a theocracy. We cannot expect a government like that of Shlomo (Solomon).
I am not quite ready to denounce Israel as Brother Mills did. I still think the Jews (Judah) were dispersed by the Greeks and Romans into many places and that the present conflict with the Palestinians was brought on when Arab nations keep attacking them. But I do agree with Matt that the Jews are not the true spiritual children of Abraham but neither are we (the U.S.)
What Matt said in his book about war and patriotism and nation-building, the rich and powerful, the economic/banking system and foreign policy were absolutely on target. Our policies are against everything taught in Scripture. Get the book at Amazon.
Great for Study Courses
As a Baptist you will not agree with everything in this book, but the author is well versed in the subject about which he writes and is quite prolific. He presents the five points well and shows how they are understood differently by Evangelicals. A companion study of the 1689 Baptist Confession could certainly be beneficial because it gives the Baptist a better understanding of baptism, the key disagreement we have with Michael Horton, who is Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California. Over all, the book is not for beginners, but great for the growing Christian.
You may find the forward odd but hospitable, since it is written by Roger Olson, Professor of Theology at George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and author of Against Calvinism.
For Calvinism is published by Zondervan.
As a Baptist you will not agree with everything in this book, but the author is well versed in the subject about which he writes and is quite prolific. He presents the five points well and shows how they are understood differently by Evangelicals. A companion study of the 1689 Baptist Confession could certainly be beneficial because it gives the Baptist a better understanding of baptism, the key disagreement we have with Michael Horton, who is Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California. Over all, the book is not for beginners, but great for the growing Christian.
You may find the forward odd but hospitable, since it is written by Roger Olson, Professor of Theology at George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and author of Against Calvinism.
For Calvinism is published by Zondervan.
We recommend Psalms and Hymns of Reformed Worship
This is virtually the same hymnal used by Charles Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London. It has been updated into 738 Psalms and Hymns. It "follows Spurgeon in allocating the first 150 hymn numbers to versions of the Psalms." It also retains "Spurgeon's title for this section - Spirit of the Psalms - because it perfectly describes the 'new song' approach which is taken in this selection. This is in the tradition of Isaac Watts and a host of other writers who produced...renderings of the Psalms."
This hymnal is available at the Metropolitan Tabernacle bookshop on the web.
This hymnal is available at the Metropolitan Tabernacle bookshop on the web.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
Solid Ground Christian Books has leather-bound editions of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith as well as the more common paperback.
They offer many puritan classics and a wide variety of commentaries. They have John Calvin, John Owen, Thomas Manton, John Gill, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon.
Solid Ground has Boyce, Broadus, and Wayland. They have children's books, classics and commentaries. We think you will find them a delightful source for your study guides.
Don't take our word for it. Look at their website: www.solid-ground-books.com or P.O. Box 660132, Vestavia Hills, AL 35266 (205)443-0311
They offer many puritan classics and a wide variety of commentaries. They have John Calvin, John Owen, Thomas Manton, John Gill, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon.
Solid Ground has Boyce, Broadus, and Wayland. They have children's books, classics and commentaries. We think you will find them a delightful source for your study guides.
Don't take our word for it. Look at their website: www.solid-ground-books.com or P.O. Box 660132, Vestavia Hills, AL 35266 (205)443-0311
