DocSandlin

Dear friends, While plans are still being finalized, CCL’s major event this December 5-6 will be a special endeavor, the Silver Anniversary Celebration overlooking San Francisco Bay. I am sending this “reserve the date” notice earlier than usual because attendance must be capped at 200. There will be a small registration fee, and plenty of hotel rooms available for those who need to spend Friday night, particularly those of you flying in. Confirmed speakers besides yours truly are David Bahnsen, Joe Boot, Jerry Bowyer, Brian Mattson, and Jeffery Ventrella. We’re waiting for confirmation from one other speaker. There will be, as always, superb food. The tentative theme is “Christian Culture: Now More Than Ever.” If you want to lock in your reservation, please contact me privately. I do expect spots to fill up quickly. If you’ve never attended a CCL event before, this would be one to start with. Finally, we’re encouraging sharper teenagers and young adults to attend: 14 to 18 year-olds and college and seminary students. There will be grants for qualified registrants.

A host of articles that deserve to be read from one of my favorite authors, @MitchBahnsen bahnsen.com/etcetera-etcet…

Mike, I swear I read it. All the way through. And if all it said was, "one can have a different view of [immigration] or [some contemporary social or political issue] and still be a Christian," I would just shrug it off (because it would be true, and really not need to be said). But he doesn't do that. He pits traditional conservative views (the one David got famous advocating for) AGAINST a Christian view of feeding the hungry and healing the sick (a false dichotomy that David knows darn well is a manipulative ploy). He brushes off that illogical, manipulative device - even commends it - and then goes on to repeat the inane argument from silence that the Bible being written thousands of years ago means it doesn't really actually care about contemporary and practical issues (David and I both criticize the anti-intellectualism of MAGA, but that is the most anti-intellectual asininity I can imagine). David's critique of MAGA's hypocrisy and selectivity is not the focus of my criticism of David's article. He is spot on there, and the MAGA defense of Paxton should be blasted. But so should any attempt to defend Talarico. This is not mere "political" diversification (I fully accept that one can be theologically orthodox and politically progressive, even if I think it is rare). The issue David ignores is that Talarico is not remotely theologically orthodox. If what I am supposed to get out of his article is "being kind is good and Talarico is kind," I concur that kindness is a fruit of the spirit. But David is clearly whitewashing the grotesque, unorthodox universalism and social gospel works righteousness Talarico has repeatedly promoted. And I know that David knows better.

Nobody should take any “Christian MAGA” person seriously who is not blowing up your feed in protest of this lunatic being appointed Surgeon General.

“Calvinism condemns not merely all open slavery and systems of caste, but also all covert slavery of women and of the poor; it is opposed to all hierarchy among men; it tolerates no aristocracy save such as is able, either in person or in family, by the grace of God, to exhibit superiority of character or talent, and to show that it does not claim this superiority for self-aggrandizement or ambitions pride, but for the sake of spending it in the service of God” Kuyper, Lectures

Words of wisdom from @IsaacWillour via @newguardpress ! "The 'vibe shift' is real. But a genuine culture shift has to run on something more concrete than just vibes. Getting there means taking our obligations to truth seriously. Winning in the public square means we have to understand the values we’re bringing to it. It’s much deeper than based-posting and apple pie, as useful as those things are. And it means that we have to understand that not all of the issues we’re facing are “same-team problems.” Holding our team to genuine standards is the only way we’ll still have a team to win with." newguardpress.com/avoiding-conse…

Christian Nationalists: “Adultery should be death penalized.” Christian Nationalists when someone in their camp commits adultery: “Guys, stop being mean and pray for him!” Do you understand now that they’re Larpers? Find real and godly role models.

Periodic reminder. When there is a controversy, don’t get on one side right away. Do some analytical work first, on both positions. Consider these possibilities:

Finally, brethren, whatever is trending, whatever is hot, whatever is meme-worthy, whatever pisses off liberals, whatever makes you lol, whatever makes a good gif, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of reposting, dwell on these things.

Just extremely proud of @MitchBahnsen for this really outstanding, thoughtful, important, and, might I add, well-written, article rlo.acton.org/archives/12793…

If you’re entertaining public opposition to interracial marriage on alleged biblical grounds, you might want to spend a little time trying an exegetical refutation of @douglaswils’s post here. Good luck.

I scrolled my top ten sources for people furious about various left wing 2020/21 cultural absurdities, particularly as it pertains to gender, life, and other traditional conservative values issues … those loudest about being principled and angriest about evangelicals who were silent in that moment requiring cultural courage. I scrolled them and went back as far and deep as I could to see their boldness now in the face of HHS sanctioned support of Planned Parenthood, and the barrage of predictable RFK moves against traditional values re: life and marriage etc (many other places of compromise and capitulation besides HHS). You know how many incidents I found of “courage” and “people calling out” such things? Zero. I found zero. We live in a day and age of tribalistic cowardice. If I ran this same test around economic principles most of the culture war zealots of 2020 would actually be SUPPORTING the state-sanctioned moves to central planning of the last year. I will be clear as can be: those who were quiet and cowardly in 2020/21 deserved scorn - it was a despicable assault on our values. Those silent (or even cheerleading) now, also deserve scorn - not just for the same cowardice they once accused others of, but for rank hypocrisy. The future belongs to the truth-tellers.

Nations change when hearts bend to Jesus Christ.

Joel Webbon just said 9 out of 10 people who thought he lost the debate had a low IQ of 90-100. But people with an IQ over 130 thought he won. 😂 If us simpletons think you lost, it's not the compliment you think it is. Correct theology is understandable for the commoners.

This article by @douglaswils is notable not only for its incisive, no-holds-barred exposé of Candace and all the fellow travelers, but also for its articulate, impassioned, biblical gospel appeal in the final paragraphs. What many on the New Right need more than anything is not a reengineered political philosophy, but… the glorious, saving gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I believe I was fair and charitable, and I am quite certain I am being truthful and accurate. No one would be hurt by these ideas more than the people supposedly being helped. nationalreview.com/2026/01/the-sa…

An endless stream of rubbish is being said at the moment about marriage by some primordial nationalists in the US whose grasp of cultural history and biblical teaching is severely lacking. So let me help here. The scriptural norm for marriage is very simple: one man, with one woman, for life. If you can do that, it’s normative. The Christian norm for marriage is equally simple: one Christian man, with one Christian woman for life. Everything else is detail - couples work it out. All the other nonsense being spouted is driven by motives other than the Word of God.

Mr. President, does this mean you will have to give back your inheritance?

I’m going to post four reels over the next four days with excerpts from my recent speech at CCL in San Francisco, where I try to extract from my life story and the premature passing of my father how and why my life’s mission is a thoroughly Christian understanding and application of economics, finance, and vocation. The whole link is here - bahnsen.com/etcetera-etcet…

It’s vital Christians articulate a scriptural view of culture and politics. At the Ezra Institute we have been doing so for 17 years & pleading with the church to engage the issue. Failure to do so is proving catastrophic. What rushes in to fill the void is variously neo-Marxist progressivism, Islamism and fascistic ethno-nationalism. Without a covenantal politics centred in Christ, God’s law and the principles of Sphere Sovereignty, we are condemned to endure only variations of statist-totalitarian forms of civil government. To get your bearings…

@elimcgowan Such a classic. It froze my blood.

This was so good.