Fred Phelps and the Anti-Gospel of Hate — A Necessary Word
Like radioactivity, Fred Phelps’ hatred will survive in lasting half-lives of animus.
Fred Phelps was so engaged in denouncing sin that the good news, the grace and mercy of God in Christ, was never made clear in his message. The gospel was never the point of his message. He did not represent the scandal of the gospel, but rather the scandal of preaching a false gospel. The... Continue Reading
Of Good Reputation With Those Outside
We need to remember that overseers are held to a higher standard because they are the public face of the church.
When a Christian falls, say, into adultery, it is a bad enough scandal. But when a leader falls, the impact is so much greater because the general public regard leaders as the moral barometer of the church as a whole. A further implication of this is that the manner in which a church handles the... Continue Reading
Missions, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
God’s sovereignty is fuel for our faithfulness–not a deterrent to hard work and sacrifice but the best motivation for it.
One of the most common objections to the doctrine of election is that people do not see the point of sharing the good news and working hard for the gospel if God has already chosen who will believe. But human logic sometimes runs in the opposite of biblical logic. The world says “Why speak if... Continue Reading
Pastor Mark Driscoll apologizes for missteps, quits social media
"I don't see how I can be both a celebrity and a pastor, and so I am happy to give up the former so that I can focus on the latter," he wrote.
Driscoll also wrote that “my angry-young-prophet days are over. I understand that people who saw or experienced my sin during this season are hurt and in some cases have not yet come to a place of peace or resolution.” He wrote, “I have been burdened by this for the past year and have had private... Continue Reading
Outrage Porn and the Christian Reader
Like pornography, this kind of outrage is ultimately self-centered and self-gratifying.
There are times for outrage. There are times to turn away from leaders who have proven themselves unworthy or unfaithful. There are times to expose the charlatan or the unfaithful and to make a fuss and to raise an outcry for the sake of distancing ourselves and protecting others. But it’s not every time. It’s... Continue Reading
The Reformation Isn’t Over
Should the Reformation continue to hold a place of importance in the church that faces such immense opposition as that coming from radical, gospel-hating secularism?
With the ebb and flow of human history, the forces arrayed against the church and her Lord and the particular front upon which the battle rages hottest will change. Rome’s theology has evolved and her arguments have been modified, but the issues remain very much what they were when Luther and Eck battled at Leipzig,... Continue Reading
Mother Nature? Nature is not our mother
Instead, nature is part of God’s creation, and our responsibility.
There is a sense in which nature is our responsibility, just as it is my responsibility to care for my children and just as it is my responsibility to invest and minister in the children of the next generation. When nature sends tornadoes our way, we cannot control them. Nevertheless, we have made huge strides... Continue Reading
Jury Finds University Discriminated Against Christian Professor in Denying Promotion
Adams’ conversion to Christianity and his outspokenness on current events soon resulted in “tension” on campus as some disagreed with his views and manner of presentation
On Thursday, the jury agreed with attorneys for Adams, concluding that he was unjustly denied a promotion because of the views he expressed in print and broadcast media, which were protected by the First Amendment. “They concluded that the University of North Carolina Wilmington retaliated against Dr Adams by denying him a promotion in 2006... Continue Reading
The Accidental Complementarian
How I came to embrace this misunderstood label.
Being a complementarian woman in an egalitarian world is wildly unpopular; it can also be perceived as decidedly ignorant. Some readers may sympathize with my hope for reprieve. And while the word has fallen out of favor with some, I know no other way to decide the contentions of my own heart than biblically. That verse... Continue Reading
Hobby Lobby’s Steve Green stands on faith against Obamacare mandate
While scores of faith-based organizations and private business owners have filed suit seeking exemption from the mandate, Hobby Lobby has become the standard-bearer for religious opposition.
Hobby Lobby has provided insurance with contraception coverage for years, paying for 16 of the FDA-approved forms, from barrier methods to pills that prevent fertilization. Not covered: intrauterine devices and morning-after pills such as Plan B. Those, the FDA acknowledges, could prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the womb. Blocking implantation would “terminate life”... Continue Reading