Welcome to a new edition of A La Carte. These weekend editions focus on long-form content and think pieces. There’s a lot of good material here, so I’m sure you’ll find something that’s of interest.
For some of the articles, I have provided gift links, which should get you around any paywalls. Note, however, that these gift links may expire in a few days or weeks.
Sales & Deals
Today’s Kindle deals include several noteworthy books. At the top of the list is Don Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.
Recommended Reading
Work Will Always Matter. Whatever else is true of the world today, and especially the world after the entrance of AI, it is changing (and will continue to change) our relationship to work. Chris Griswold considers all the tech-utopians today who claim AI means the end of work. He says, “Whether anything like this will in fact transpire remains to be seen. But even the prospect of such an outcome is prompting real anxiety in the American workforce. A mass political revolt by white collar workers angry that their credentials no longer secure middle class stability, for example, is a serious and sobering prospect.”
The Rise of Techno-Feudalism. If you would like to think deeply about technology, then Brad Littlejohn’s article on techno-feudalism should be of interest. He explains how modern technology companies threaten to impose a new kind of feudalism upon the world.
The Gospel According to Karl Marx. I was glad to see this article in the Wall Street Journal. “What if Karl Marx wasn’t merely an economist or revolutionary theorist, but an eschatologist—someone who didn’t abolish the Christian drama of redemption but relocated it within the realm of humanly achievable history? The question might seem mad. Eschatology belongs to theology, religion’s study of the final destiny of time. And Marx famously dismissed religion as an illusion, calling it the ‘opium of the people.’ Yet when his thought is examined carefully, a striking parallel emerges: Marx didn’t eliminate redemption. He translated it into political economy.” (Gift link)
Steve McQueen, Born Again, Set Free. Patrick Luscri writes about some of the parallels between his life and Steve McQueen’s. “Contrary to my previous understanding, Steve McQueen was drawn by Christ months before his cancer diagnosis, according to his wife. I was drawn years before mine. I believe her. I also believe McQueen was chosen by God to be an adopted child way, way before that moment. Eons ago. The same for me. Before God made the world and everything else, he loved us.”
The Challenge of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology. I think most Reformed Protestants are at least reasonably familiar with the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. However, far fewer are familiar with the false teachings of the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Tony Costa does a great job of laying them out in this long article. “On a personal and pastoral level, I have been contacted by a number of people belonging to Evangelical churches who have raised concerns that members of their own families converted or were in the process of converting to Eastern Orthodoxy. But before we ask ourselves ‘why is this happening?’ and ‘what can be done?’ we first must become familiar with the theology of Eastern Orthodoxy—and why it is dangerous.”
Cornfield Baptism Near Omaha, Nebraska. This is a sweet article about coming home. Note that it begins with a bad word, but just one. “I didn’t always miss Nebraska while I was studying in Ann Arbor or during my first years in New York City, but sometimes waves of homesickness would swell and overtake me unexpectedly—when a cousin bought a house or had a baby, or Mom celebrated a birthday. When I smelled lilacs at the dog park, or when Grandpa Jack’s delighted face returned to me at the first bite of strawberry ice cream in Williamsburg.” (Gift link)
My Manifesto on AI and Religion. “Humanity is facing a significant problem that we’ve not encountered to this point. We’re about to go from a species that acquired knowledge through primary sources to a species that acquires knowledge through secondary sources. This moment places foundational AI models in a kind of high priestly epistemological seat. This is both good news and bad news for the foundational AI models.” Michael Graham considers how AI might best be trained to answer religious questions.
5 Things Most People Don’t Know About Writing Books (And How Readers Can Help). Pierce Taylor Hibbs writes from the standpoint of an author and editor to explain what many readers don’t know about the process of writing and publishing books. He also explains how readers can help. If you love to read, I think you’ll enjoy this one and benefit from it.
A Review Request
The article just above mentioned that authors are deeply reliant on reviews from those who have read their books. If you’ve read any of mine, would you be willing to jump over to Amazon to leave a quick review? It will take only a moment and will help make a difference! Here are a few of my books:
Flashback
What Jesus Does Not Pray. Jesus does not ask that we will be kept from all trials, all suffering, all sorrows. He prays simply that as we remain here, we will be held firm in the grip of God to carry out his will.
You will never turn from a sin you don’t hate.
—Jen Wilkin
