Almost Unstated: A Christian Worldview Podcast: Recent Episodes
Louis DeCaro Jr.
In this episode, Lou reflects upon the idea of a "Judeo-Christian Tradition," from the awkwardness of the term to the problem of Christian anti-Jewish prejudice and anti-Semitism, and finally to the fundamentally irreconcilable difference between Judaism and Christianity. As it turns out, at the depths of this issue, the conundrum is not just about anti-Semitism, but about the ancient argument between Judaism and Jesus followers regarding Jesus himself. Without negating the former, however, we have to acknowledge the latter, which is why the notion of a "Judeo-Christian Tradition" is both historically and theologically empty.
In this devotional we reflect upon Psalm 48 concerning the true eternality behind the psalmists' view of Jerusalem of old. How does Jerusalem of old relate to our faith as Christians? In this reflection, we find that our security and hope lies not in any city, but in the Eternal God, the builder and maker of the Eternal City, and His Christ, our Lord Jesus, Who has made everyone who trusts in him to be a citizen of the Eternal City, Jerusalem above, "our mother" (Gal. 4:26).
In this episode, Lou discusses the "post-Protestant" development of gospel-preaching Protestant Christians adopting practices that come from outside their theological framework as Protestants. Of course, some liturgical Protestant traditions observe Ash Wednesday, but the concern is here for traditions that have no theological consistency with practices like getting ashes, or like Pentecostalists adopting Roman Catholic hierarchy and "apostolic succession," or evangelicals imitating synagogue worship. The question is, are we being consistent with out theological standards, and what is going on in our "post-Protestant" churches, where doctrine is subordinated to identity images?
Listeners are welcomed to draw their own conclusions, of course, but perhaps this is a conversation that some need to consider.
Here is a link to the article referenced in this episode: Ashley Ross, "The Long History Behind Ash Wednesday Traditions," Time Magazine, Feb. 10, 2016.