“Let none despise this prayer; it is matchless, and if we must have forms of prayer, let us have this first, foremost, and chief; but let none think that Christ would tie his disciples to the constant and only use of this. Let us rather draw near to the throne of the heavenly grace with... Continue Reading

“There are many words and concepts in Scripture that are completely foreign to the average 10th grader. And yet, I know many wonderful adults who have been raised in the church and openly say that they can’t get through a popular level book on theology. It does make me wonder if they can get through their... Continue Reading

“During the first day’s worship, the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman, retired Bishop of the Diocese of Quincy, preached as homilist. He and then-Presiding Bishop Leonard Riches exchanged mutual forgiveness and reconciliation between the Diocese of Quincy and the Reformed Episcopal Church. They highlighted the mistreatment and ill-will that occurred between the Episcopal Church and the... Continue Reading

“Merritt’s piece highlights why everyone should be rooting for Hobby Lobby before the Supreme Court.  If the alternative is having their consciences broken by the heels of the government, then the US environment is really no better than China.  Merritt’s critique (ironically) highlights whats at stake here:  do we want a US government that is... Continue Reading

“Is it possible for a Muslim Background Believer (MBB) to continue to live in his Muslim society?  This is how the issue is often framed by IM advocates, causing a confusion of categories.  In this scheme, Christian is not contrasted with Muslim nor “Christian society” with “Muslim society.”  Rather, the emphasis is placed on the... Continue Reading

“I have many Charismatic friends who I deeply respect and so far they are keeping a safe distance away from the edge. Many of them, for instance, are concerned about the Nigerian religious junk that is engulfing the continent. However, I am still asking the question: Can’t they see that intrinsic in their doctrinal position... Continue Reading

“Currently an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., Brat holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Hope College in Michigan, a Master’s degree in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D in economics from American University. I’m sure there are plenty of places to explore his thoughts on these matters, but one place of particular... Continue Reading

“And we need to be clear, too, that while the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ is certainly for us, it is equally certainly not about us: a failure to recognize that distinction is a mistake we often make. The gospel is not about our finding fulfillment, but about our honoring God:... Continue Reading

“At the presbytery meeting, Friendship offered a counter proposal to the presbytery’s motion to dismiss the church without property in the form of a substitute motion with an offer of a payment of $191,000 over three years. The figure represented more than 10 percent of the total value of the church’s assets, per capita for... Continue Reading

“There are conscience-bound persons who find it impossible to live in the United Methodist Church as we presently define ourselves in relation to human sexuality,” said Dunnam. “Forty years of wrestling with the issue is enough.” The first disagreements among United Methodists over homosexuality began four decades ago. Back in 2004, traditionalist leaders tried, but... Continue Reading