Conservative Leader Bill Gothard Placed on Administrative Leave Following Abuse Allegations
34 women have claimed to be sexually harassed and four women have alleged molestation
The drop in finances came around the same time that the whistle-blowing websiteRecovering Grace was formed in 2011. A string of allegations have been posted on the website, including one alleging that Gothard molested a woman who was underage at the time in the early 1990s. Four articles allege Gothard was engaged in sexual harassment in the workplace, and... Continue Reading
Since Jesus Ate With Sinners, Do I Have to Eat at the Strip Club’s Buffet?
There is no evidence that Jesus ever ate with sinners and did not call them to repentance.
Our culture has conditioned us to believe that “loving our neighbor” requires accepting them as they are. We now excuse all manner of behavior that our holy God finds abhorrent simply because someone we know—friend, family, coworker—is engaged in such openly sinful behavior. We don’t want to appear intolerant or judgmental or “unloving” by separating... Continue Reading
How Elevation Church, Pastor Furtick produce ‘spontaneous’ baptisms
The first people instructed to respond to Pastor Steven’s call to baptism were not converts suddenly inspired but Elevation volunteers carefully planted in the crowd
“Although Furtick says this is a miracle, it’s not a miracle,” Duncan said. “It’s emotional manipulation.” The spontaneous baptism how-to guide describes its purpose as to “pull off our part in God’s miracle.” Church leaders have repeatedly referred to the mass response as a “miracle.” But the guide reveals plenty of human staging. You... Continue Reading
The “Well, Maybe…” of Redemptive History
The Old Testament Scriptures nullify every argument we could propose for man’s redemption of himself.
The Old Testament Scriptures are clear: man is lost in sin and he desperately needs a savior that is wholly other. We are not good. Our ideals are fallen, our efforts are fallen, our world is fallen, and we are fallen. The Old Testament nullifies every argument we could propose for man’s redemption of himself.... Continue Reading
Bob Jones University rehires firm hired to investigate sex abuse
The investigation is led by Boz Tchividjian, Billy Graham’s grandson, who said he has no further comment. Tchividjian, who blogs for Religion News Service, has written and spoken on why evangelicals struggle to report sex abuse claims. “At the heart of the struggle is a fear that is rooted in the need to self-protect,” he... Continue Reading
Was America Ethically Christian for Only 8 Years?
Was 1965-1973 the golden age of Christian America?
Concurrently cultural elites now are more hostile to public Christianity than ever before. But there never was truly a comprehensively Christian America in terms of ethics and law. Christians must not despair of today by falsely imagining a past golden age that never existed. Evil and good have always coexisted in our land and in... Continue Reading
Overemphasizing the City?
Keller’s “Center Church” vision overemphasizes the city at the expense of smaller towns and rural areas
I agree that we should be planting solid churches in large cities and urban areas. We need to focus on population centers for sure when we consider church planting. However, we have to be careful not to overstate the importance of the city at the expense of rural areas and smaller towns. In my opinion,... Continue Reading
The Crazy Alternative Lifestyle of Marriage and Children
Why is our society so afraid of families and children?
The media remind us regularly that the most important cultural value relative to family life is what’s euphemistically called “choice.” The choice of whether to have kids or not is held so sacrosanct that our laws permit the decision to be made many months after a new human life begins. Some even advocate extending the... Continue Reading
Competent to Counsel: An Interview with Jay Adams
Why is biblical counseling necessary in our day?
Whenever the process of sanctification slows down (or halts) in a Christian’s life, and he is not able to rectify that situation (for whatever reason), he needs the help of other believers who can direct him to God’s answers to his problems and how to bring about a change that honors Him. Counseling is not... Continue Reading
Jonathan Merritt, Christian Artistic Expression and the Preferential Option for Caesar
Would Jesus take a job if he were an artist and was offered cash to photograph a picture of a gay or lesbian wedding?
Baylor Professor Francis Beckwith offers for…consideration the following hypothetical: In Nye County, Nevada, prostitution is legal. So, imagine a local photographer in Parumph is asked by the local brothel, the Cherry Patch Ranch, to take photographs of the employees and staff for the establishment’s “Happy Holidays” card. Suppose the photograph is a devout Christian, who... Continue Reading