Atheist or Believer? Frank Schaeffer Is A Bit of Both
Frank Schaeffer, 62, is comfortable with the confusion of whether he is a believer or atheist
He’s gone from steeped-in-the-blood Christian to vocal nonbeliever, from Christian conservative to liberal Democrat, from Hollywood director to novelist, from angry young man to slightly less angry older man — chronicled in two best-sellers, “Crazy for God” and “Sex, Mom & God.” But the new book, “Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God,”... Continue Reading
The ‘Cause’ of the Cross
The only ‘cause’ that led God to give His Son was his love for sinners
It was not our sins that “caused” God to give His Son. The only cause was the love of God set on sinners, who deserved only condemnation. Despite our sins, God’s hand was not constrained to save. But He did, and did it out of love. I read a devotional recently that spoke of... Continue Reading
An Honest Assessment of the Southern Baptist Convention
Any objective analysis of the SBC’s achievements and challenges is elusive
The best-known and most public debate concerns the doctrines of Reformed theology (Calvinism), which a growing number of the SBC’s most influential figures now embrace. SBC leaders are pleased that the convention is having a robust debate about the doctrines of salvation and not, like many other Protestant bodies, about same-sex marriage and LGBT issues. ... Continue Reading
Squawk On: U.S. Circuit Court Green-Lights Discrimination Case Against the IRS
Z Street sued the IRS in early 2010 for engaging in viewpoint discrimination
According to court filings, Z Street discovered in late 2009 that its application for tax-exempt status was delayed and under consideration by a special “Israel Task Force.” Apparently, this task force was reviewing Z Street’s activities, rhetoric, and governance. The IRS asked specific questions about Z Street’s political beliefs and educational content including, “Does your... Continue Reading
Iraq: A Colossal Failure of Secular Moralism
The rule of law has disappeared, replaced by legislation to manage the problems created by our own lawlessness
With the decline of the influence of Christianity in America, our nation has lost any moral compass to make decisions about just wars, or any other issue for that matter. The moralism of secular leaders has replaced the Law of God as a foundation for all of life. They promise us life, but they give... Continue Reading
Gay Danish Couples Win Right To Marry In Church
Homosexual couples in Denmark have won the right to marry in any church they choose; one third of the country's priests: we won’t participate
The country’s parliament voted through the new law on same-sex marriage by a large majority, making it mandatory for all churches to conduct gay marriages…. Under the law, individual priests can refuse to carry out the ceremony, but the local bishop must arrange a replacement for their church. The country’s parliament voted through the... Continue Reading
Colleges And Evangelicals Collide On Bias Policy
The effect of nondiscrimination policies on student religious groups
“Similar conflicts are playing out on a handful of campuses around the country, driven by the universities’ desire to rid their campuses of bias, particularly against gay men and lesbians, but also, in the eyes of evangelicals, fueled by a discomfort in academia with conservative forms of Christianity. The universities have been emboldened to regulate... Continue Reading
Why You Should View Church Conflicts as Blessings
Throughout the Bible, God uses conflict to grow his people
“Conflict is everywhere people are, and it seems to be escalating. The incivility of our culture is having a toxic effect on ministry and congregations. The Faith Communities Today survey of 14,000 congregations found that 75 percent of churches have experienced some level of conflict. At any given time, one-fifth of congregations are in active... Continue Reading
4 Lies the Church Taught Me About Sex
The evangelical church has a lot of work to do correcting the distorted ways we talk about sex
“As someone who waited until I was married to have sex, I was assured that I would be guaranteed an easy and rewarding sex life. When reality turned out to be different, I was disappointed and disillusioned. Only through gradual conversations with other married friends did I realize I wasn’t alone.” I’ve heard people... Continue Reading
The Future of Christianity in America
The case for what might seem like an unusual spiritual indicator
“While there are numerous leading indicators that can foretell the future of a nation’s economy, there are few metrics that serve to predict its spiritual direction. Such metrics can be useful, though, which is why I want to make the case for what might seem like an unusual spiritual indicator: Annual baptisms in the Southern... Continue Reading