Five Reasons Christians Should Care About Bioethics
Five reasons why Christians have a particular responsibility to understand and be involved in bioethics
In both society and in our personal lives, either the Christian perspective on bioethics will achieve a dominant level of acceptance or the secularist view will win, slowly but assuredly, by default. Each path will lead to sharply different results. The Christian approach leads to freedom, equality and respect for all humanity. Basing bioethics on... Continue Reading
Practical Atheism vs. Biblical Christianity
What is deadly to the church is when the external forms of religion are maintained while their substance is discarded
Biblical Christianity knows nothing of a false dichotomy between devotion to God and concern for man. The Great Commandment incorporates both. It is because God is that human life matters so much. It is because of the reality of Christ that ethics are vital. It is because the cross was a real event that the... Continue Reading
Azusa Pacific University Students Rally Behind Embattled Transgender Professor
Professor H. Adam Ackley, formerly Heather Ann Clements, formally asked Azusa Pacific to recognize his name and gender change
“It doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll all agree on the same thing, but we are very much committed to the care and compassion of our students,” said Kim Denu, an Azusa Pacific professor. Ackley, who was once the school’s chair of theology and philosophy, said he has received an “overwhelming amount of support” from students and... Continue Reading
Picture of Jesus Costs Jackson School $95,000
A southern Ohio school district has agreed to keep a picture of Jesus off district property and pay $95,000 to settle a lawsuit
The picture of Jesus had hung in either Jackson High School or the district’s middle school since 1947. Jackson is 75 miles southeast of Columbus. The lawsuit, filed in February, said the image was an unconstitutional government endorsement of Christianity. The school board had argued that it belonged to the Hi-Y club, a religion-centered student... Continue Reading
Applause at Church Raises Question of Appropriateness
Is it appropriate to applaud in church, if so, when?
We are certainly grateful for these wonderful people who have given so generously to share their time in preparation and their talents in adding great beauty and reverence to the worship of God, but that’s the whole point: it’s done for the glory of God. Musicians are artists, and should take as their example the... Continue Reading
Sinclair Ferguson Called as Dean of the Ligonier Academy Doctor of Ministry Program
Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies has announced that Dr. Sinclair Ferguson has accepted the position of Dean of its D.Min. program
In his role as the Dean, Dr. Ferguson will assist in the evaluation of the overall curriculum, and be involved in the selection of D.Min. professors. He will also be a point of contact for the students, available for consultation and counsel in person as he hosts the on-campus classes and continues to teach in... Continue Reading
How Are You Doing a Year After Your Daughter’s Passing?
I weep not from emptiness, but from fullness. Jesus walked out of a tomb alive. That changes everything
All her life I took special care of Shannon. All her life she took special care of me. I fed her her meals. She fed me my peace. I held her hand, keeping her body steady. She held my hand, keeping my soul steady. She looked up to me in trust. Now I look up... Continue Reading
Top 10 Books on the Bible’s Authority
What are the best books to read on the authority of the Bible?
Due to the popularity of that question, I have compiled an annotated list of the 10 best books on this topic. It goes without saying that such a list is highly selective (and debatable). So many good books deserve to be included. But my list is guided by these main criteria: (a) books that focus... Continue Reading
The Religious Alternative To Obamacare’s Individual Mandate
Sharing Health Burdens
While the federal health law includes an exemption for health sharing ministries, some states have sued to try to keep them out. The concern is that consumers shopping for insurance will be confused about what ministries really guarantee in the way of coverage. “We do not share in every medical need that a person has,”... Continue Reading
Do You Know Your Pastor?
Many times we don't actually look after the soul of the man leading our church
I’ve written about this many times, and I cover it again in the video below, but pastoral ministry is never shaped solely by knowledge, skill, ministry philosophy, and experience. It’s always shaped by the condition of the pastors heart. And if we, as the body of Christ, aren’t intentionally pursuing the heart of our pastor,... Continue Reading