The Last American Virtue: A Conversation with Greg Horton

The last sacred thing is choice–individual choice. That line in a recent Facebook Post prodded this conversation.

Even more, the conclusion of the post:

. . . and we will have mass shooting after mass shooting, and churches, temples and mosques are not exempt because no one except the adherents considers them sacred anymore.

Only adherents consider them sacred anymore.

The assertion may come as a shock unless you track with the stacked sentences in the post:

There is no sacred space in America. The last sacred thing is choice–individual choice. Choice has become a premise to every moral conclusion, and we cannot avoid the consequences of our unrestrained individualism. Couple that with an ethic of violence and a myth of redemptive violence, and we will have mass shooting after mass shooting, and churches, temples and mosques are not exempt because no one except the adherents considers them sacred anymore.

An astute observation from a religion observer/writer.

Ask most pastors and they will quickly tell you unrestrained individualism may be the undoing of his or her congregation. For Greg, it seems, this is the undoing of our lives together.

Pay Close Attention

Preparing for a recent sermon led me to read up on the short run television show, Police Story. The writers decided to spoof police/detective television shows that ran between 1950-1970. Consider it a parody. It lasted six episodes. According to the always correct Wikipedia, the show was canceled after six episodes when it was decided viewers would have to pay too close attention.

Cue to comparisons.

What are the underlying commitments that leave us with the last sacred virtue?

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About the Author
Husband to Patty. Daddy to Kimberly and Tommie. Grandpa Doc to Cohen, Max, Fox, and Marlee. Pastor to Snow Hill Baptist Church. Graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reading. Photography. Golf. Colorado. Jeeping. Friend. The views and opinions expressed here are my own and should not be construed as representing the corporate views of the church I pastor.

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