In many churches, the pastor’s salary is a quiet issue. There is a sense of discomfort from both the pastor and the members when the topic is broached. Such discomfort is unfortunate, however, because a number of churches will not seek every year to make certain the pastor is paid fairly.   A couple of... Continue Reading

So bishop positions are bought, and the price is rather steep to keep the less serious out of the ranks. Perhaps that’s where there was so much emphasis laid on “success” in the early parts of the interview. A pastor of 15 people can’t be a bishop because the worldly resources of “success” won’t allow... Continue Reading

This Christmas Eve, her parents will likely stay home and watch or listen to Christian broadcasting, (the Schuler’s daughter) said. They don’t plan to attend services at the Crystal Cathedral.     The Rev. Robert H. Schuller filed an appeal to a judge’s ruling in a case that pits the well-known religious leader against the Crystal... Continue Reading

Many factors contribute to declining fertility, including a lack of hope in the future and a culture that discourages people from taking on the hard work of rearing children.  “Modernity has turned us into a deeply unserious people,” Last said.       The overall U.S. birthrate fell in 2011 to its lowest level ever... Continue Reading

We need a generalized radical attitude among ordinary Christians. We need whole congregations who desire to include the poor among their ranks. We need middle class churches willing to share their budgets with inner city congregations; not to give them pretty curtains, but help to feel the needy among them. We need tutors, we need... Continue Reading

Personally, I’d like to see a deeply theological book about the nature of church unity. I’d like to see more careful “first principles” kind of thinking on politics and the relationship between church and state. I’d like to see someone publish (at a popular level) that go-to book on the doctrine of Scripture. I think... Continue Reading

This postmodern stance resonates with a certain vision of some Calvinist theology, which presumes that those outside of faith are outside of God’s redemptive rule and are “vessels of wrath.” Walker countered that God does not “create any person to break His laws.” Today IRD was graced by a visit from our board member Graham... Continue Reading

As racism becomes more and more taboo in our day (especially among those who claim some sort of decent morality), the act of demeaning, discriminating and devaluing others is taking on a new, less-obvious, form. I call it culturism. Like a racist, a culturist (one who practices culturism) is one who allows culture to eclipse... Continue Reading

“Ana loved her God, loved to read the Bible, and loved to sing and dance as acts of worship. We ask that you pray for the legions of people who are left behind to cherish memories of her.”   Ana and Isaiah attended Linden Christian School in Winnipeg.   The funerals have begun. On Monday, the... Continue Reading

“The only time I heard from Christians themselves was in the political realm. Two issues defined them — abortion and gay marriage — leading secular folks like me to believe that Christians wake up thinking only about babies in the womb and gay people at the altar.  That perception changed when I moved to a... Continue Reading