Talking with James Ward on Multicultural Worship Past, Present and Future
Rethinking the “one size fits all” approach
I was a student at Covenant College in the 70’s when Frances Schaeffer first came back to the US to speak and spread his worldview of ‘all of life redeemed.’ As a music major, I was inspired to go out and do music to the glory of God wherever that might be. I had grown... Continue Reading
Asking the Right Questions
God loves to answer questions, and the “stupider” the better
He never loses patience with a question, and neither do people who are serving him. If you take a question to more mature Christians, those who really are men or women of God, you likely will find they don’t think it is so dumb. Maybe they used to struggle with the same thing. Maybe they... Continue Reading
Archbishop Welby Throws Celibate Gays under the Bus
Where is the current Archbishop of Canterbury leading the Church of England?
Is Welby listening to his Global South brothers and sisters who make up the vast bulk of the Anglican Communion? Do his PR and media boys and girls alert him to the quicksand he is walking into with his views? Will he appear at GAFCON II if invited to Nairobi and will he sign the... Continue Reading
Muddy Creek Exits PCUSA; Unionville on Its Way Out
General Assembly actions as far back as 2008 started talk about leaving
“There were irregularities with decisions made by the General Assembly that made us realize that ship has sailed,” Kail said. “The reluctance to define marriage and changes to the Book of Order led us to believe that it was time to pursue separation from the denomination. We decided it clearly was time for us to... Continue Reading
Update on the Sovereign Grace Ministries Lawsuit
Developments since last report in May
As the appeal goes to trial and the criminal investigations proceed, we can only pray justice prevails and that moving forward, churches and ministries will do all in their power to protect children from violation. Since my last report on the Sovereign Grace Ministries lawsuit in May, more developments have unfolded in this horrific ordeal.... Continue Reading
To Fight Religious Monuments, Atheists Plan Their Own Symbols
Atheists unveiled the nation’s first public monument to secularism
But building monuments to atheism from sea to shining sea is not really their goal. They figure that once atheists join the fray, every other group under the sun will demand the same privilege — including some that Christians might find objectionable, like pagans and Satanists. In the end, the atheists hope, local governments and... Continue Reading
“My Mother’s Abortion”
The powerful influence of guilt in motivating abortion rights campaigners and in explaining the media’s prejudice and bias against pro-lifers
If abortion rights campaigners and their media supporters were polled, I believe you’d find that a hugely disproportionate number of them have had abortions or have encouraged family members to have one. This alone can explain their zeal for their cause, and also the irrational and unreasonable hostility towards any and all pro-life people and... Continue Reading
A Few Good Books
A handful of book recommendations
D.G. Hart’s long-awaited Calvinism: A History is finally here and it has proved worth the wait. The stalwart opponent of Schwaermerei everywhere does not disappoint. Again, I have thus far read only the first few chapters but the work is obviously well-written with the usual learning, wit and stimulating analysis one expects. Along with Benedict’s... Continue Reading
Why “Blinged-Out Weddings”?
Let's reconsider the hyped-out, consumerist liturgy that is the Modern American Wedding
We’re seeing not only a breakdown of marriage after the ceremony, but also before. I refer, of course, to premarital sexual ethics. Let’s be frank, shall we? Lots of newlyweds have already been either fooling around or cohabiting. What does this mean for the nuptial event itself? It means that the wedding doesn’t mark the... Continue Reading
Ordinary Christians and a Great Commission
Ordinary Christians carry out a Great Commission in ordinary ways through their ordinary lives.
Paul tells them, “Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.” When he tells them to aspire to live quietly, he is essentially telling them, “work hard to live quietly” or “make it your ambition to be without ambition.” At our guilty worst... Continue Reading