Citing ‘Exploding’ HIV Epidemic, WHO Says All Gay Men Should Consider Taking Antitretroviral Drugs
The World Health Organization predicts HIV incidence among gay men would ultimately fall by as much as 25 percent with antiretroviral medications treatment
For the first time, the WHO is strongly recommending that men who have sex with other men consider antiretroviral medications to help prevent HIV infection. The approach, called pre-exposure prophylaxis, calls for the noninfected to take a preventive pill every day. With such treatment, the United Nations organization predicts HIV incidence among gay men would... Continue Reading
Is Evangelical Morality Still Acceptable in America?
People who disagree with same-sex marriage and birth-control use have been met with accusations of bigotry. Are some Christians being unfairly shamed out of the public sphere?
Some morals affect communities more than others, but no moral is entirely contained. My choice to live my life the way I want to will impact my community, no matter how careful I am to defer and tolerate and be sensitive to others. And this is a basic tenet of evangelical Christianity, too: Faith must... Continue Reading
A Children’s Crusade?: Crisis on the Southern Border
How should the church respond to the crisis of thousands of children crossing the southern borders of the U.S.?
The political repercussions are complex. The answers are not simple. However, the humanitarian need is also complex, and these are children, not pawns in a political debate. If many conservatives are joining the anti-child lobby, I would call upon Christians to come out from them and be separate. If you are pro-family, contribute to a... Continue Reading
PLEASE, Do As I Say And Not As I Do!
When I counsel others to believe and apply the Word of God it is my deep desire they heed this counsel despite the fact I fail to do this myself
Oh, how I wish I could say that these truths fill my heart and inform my mind all the time! They don’t but I am so thankful they are true regardless. I pray you draw encouragement from them even now – it certainly has done my soul good to think on these things today. May... Continue Reading
I ‘Really’ Had a Dream: A Pastor Shares One of His Own Death
What was important and very vivid in the dream was preparation for my funeral
I wanted two passages of Scripture written out in full so that everybody passing by could read them: Romans 5:1 and Matthew 10:28-31. I wanted my name on the marker, but I wanted those verses to be as large as my name. And it would contain only my name and birth and death dates, without... Continue Reading
Are Christian Colleges Free to be Christian?
Religious liberty and Gordon College
What does all of this mean? It is but the latest assault on religious liberty in the name of sexual liberty. Nevermind that religious liberty is the first freedom mentioned in the Bill of Rights. There are people who are willing to use whatever means necessary to force religious institutions to conform to the new... Continue Reading
Total Depravity Is Key to Social Justice!
Humanity’s worse crimes were committed on the assumption of and in pursuit of social perfection
Admitting the total depravity of human nature, and the wondrous power of divine grace, permits societies that seek approximate order, liberty and justice without overweening, dictatorial ambition. Such societies respect conscience and human dignity, which sees each person as sacred not because we’re good but because we’re created in the image of and loved by... Continue Reading
Call Me Maybe
How do we deal with the tricky matter of pastors moving from one congregation to another?
Whatever our views on this important issue – and I think this topic requires a great deal more thought than I am able to give in a blog post – it seems to me that this is an area that requires greater theological reflection in our present thinking on “calling.” Not only pastors, but also... Continue Reading
Christianity Is Not Private But A Bakery Is
Secularists and Christians alike must recognize that religious convictions are not merely privately held beliefs without public consequences.
As I’ve been arguing for a while, we are experiencing some unintended consequences from the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We can see these consequences in Sen. Schumer’s remarks. By going into business, by forming a corporation, according to the senator, one’s property is no longer his. It is no longer private. This is part... Continue Reading
A Word of Encouragment to Those in Ministry: God Does Not View Your Labors as “Filthy Rags”
What does God think of our good works after we are saved?
This recognition that God’s delight in the works of his people is not, as some might think, a recipe for pride, but rather a tremendous (and much needed) encouragement to those of us who are laboring in ministry. Truth be told, ministry can be difficult. Our efforts can seem futile. We often find ourselves spent... Continue Reading