About PublicChristian

We (my wife and I) are very concerned about how the Gospel and Scripture are (mis-)represented in popular culture, religious media and the churches, and how truth in general is mis-represented by the neo-conservative, and neo-liberal, wealth elites in the current administration, in both major parties, and in other key segments of our cultural and national life. These things have dreadful implications for all present and future residents of our planet.

This blog was an active Christian Democrat site for a few years in the mid-oughts (around 2005). It is coming back to life – after a break largely due to time pressures.  I am still a Christian, but not a registered Democrat.

The “Christian” part means I take the Bible seriously as a profound guide in matters spiritual and moral, with special concern for the teachings by and about Jesus of Nazareth. That implies reading it carefully and honestly, and responding to it honestly. And that includes self-criticism before, and often in place of, that which is much easier – the criticism of everyone else. So I try not to write what I am not personally, spiritually engaged with to some real extent.

I was a registered Democrat from 1968 into Obama’s time. And still, much of the perspective here might be described as Christian Democrat, as long as we take “Democrat” to mean something more like FDR than like what we’ve been seeing lately.

I am an old preacher’s kid from Nebraska, currently pastor of an American Baptist church. I have also been a high school and college teacher (history, philosophy, etc.), a dairyman, and a rural mail carrier, among other things.

My cute smart wife and I have 6 kids, plus kids-in-law, in their 30’s and 40’s, including a severely handicapped daughter. We have a nice bouquet of grandkids scattered across the upper midwest. They are all smarter and better looking than I am.

We are very concerned how the Gospel and Scripture are mis-represented in popular culture, religious media and the churches, how truth is mis-represented by the neo-conservative, and neo-liberal, wealth elites all around.Click To Tweet

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See Also:
Am I ‘An Enemy of the Churches’?,
Two Types of Religion – Authority vs Love,
Let’s Build The Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “Seek Ye First The Kingdom”.

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Here’s a list of key American Baptist concerns as expressed by our local church.

1. We strongly emphasize the Lordship of Christ and encourage individuals to come to know Him directly and give their faith and lives to Him.

2. We respect the Bible so highly that we look to it for authoritative guidance in all matters spiritual and moral.

3. We emphasize the freedom of the individual conscience before God.

4. We commit ourselves to love and care for our neighbors and those in need, whether they are Christian or not.

5. We practice independence of the local church.

6. We defend the separation of church and state.

7. We seek cooperation with other American Baptist churches and agencies and with all others who work for the welfare of our community and world.