SIGNS AND WONDERS:
Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, Nicene Creed, and the 50-Year Mortgage
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Signs and Wonders” is a column that shares thoughts on news items that either do not rise to the level of a news story for MinistryWatch or are slightly (perhaps even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” My goal is to be punchy, opinionated, and not to worry much about being slightly off-brand. If that is not for you, no hard feelings. But if it is…read on.
Heritage, Nick Fuentes, and Tucker Carlson. If you’ve not been following the kerfuffle regarding Kevin Roberts of the Heritage Foundation, and his reaction to an online conversation between Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson…well, what have you been doing? Seriously, it’s an important conversation. This article from The Dispatch is the best “explainer” I’ve so far seen. This conversation is one that has the potential to shape conservatism over the next few years.
Standing For, Nor Merely Against. This year marks the 1700th birthday of the Nicene Creed, among the first and still among the best statements of what Christians believe. Lots of Christians today, Christians who weren’t raised with creeds and catechisms, are skeptical of such statements. They shouldn’t be. Stating plainly what we believe is a helpful reminder to ourselves, and a powerful testimony to the world. If you are unconvinced by the importance of creeds, I refer you to this nourishing piece, “The Need for the Creeds,” by my friends John Stonestreet and Tim Padgett, of The Colson Center.
50-Year Mortgage. The 50-year mortgage is a monumentally bad idea, for all kinds of reasons that I wouldn’t need to explain to an economically literate society. It’s a bit disconcerting that those in the business of giving Christian financial advice have so far been silent on the question. Dave Ramsey addressed the 50-year mortgage directly back in February, before the current proposal was floated by the President. He explicitly warned against them, saying they trap people in debt and they don’t solve the affordability crisis for the country. The satirical website Babylon Bee jokingly said that Ramsey was admitted to the hospital in “serious condition” when he heard of the half-century-long mortgage idea. MinistryWatch doesn’t comment much about general economic news, but we care a lot about faithful stewardship. So, let me repeat, this is a monumentally bad idea.
Polygamy? Oh, Please. ChurchLeaders and other outlets are reporting that Rich Tidwell, a Missouri pastor, is arguing that the Bible allows for polygamy after announcing his marriage to a second wife, who is expecting his eighth child. Tidwell argued in a sermon titled “David’s Two Wives” and a long-form article titled “On Plural Marriage” that the Scriptures nowhere prohibit men from marrying multiple wives. In fact, he argues, polygamous marriages are “divinely ordained.” The argument is flawed in so many ways that I will let others unpack the hermeneutic and logical fallacies. For one thing, even if you could wrap your head around Tidwell’s convoluted arguments, you would still have to ignore the New Testament admonition that a pastor should be “the husband of one wife.” If you want a short, sharp defense of the Bible’s position on polygamy, click here.
Philadelphia Freedom. I was in Philadelphia this week for several meetings, and when I arrived I realized that not only was it the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps, but that Philadelphia is the birthplace of the Corps. Semper Fi, and if you want to read about my first Corps birthday party, click here.
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