In the United States, where speech is given the most protection among Western countries, there has been a recent effort to carve out a potentially large category to which the First Amendment would not apply. While we have always prosecuted people who lie to achieve financial or other benefits, some argue that the government can outlaw any lie, regardless of whether the liar secured any economic gain.

Machen told this seminary community (Princeton) of soon-to-become Presbyterian ministers. “This church is now in a period of deadly conflict with a totally alien type of religion. As always, the enemy conceals his most dangerous assault under pious phrases and half-truths. Increasingly it is becoming necessary for a man to decide if he will stand or not stand for the Lord Jesus Christ as he is presented to us in the Word of God. If you decide to stand for Christ, you will not have an easy life in the ministry

“I hope that Mo Yan’s thoughtful criticism of the one-child policy will help others see its role in causing gendercide,” said Chai, the founder of All Girls Allowed, a nonprofit group that fights the effects of the one-child policy, in a statement. “It is the largest challenge facing girls in China. Every day the policy continues, another 3,000 girls are lost to sex-selective abortion, infanticide, or abandonment.”

He said he was also concerned about the situation of Christians taken to prisons in recent days. "We know that many have been forced to say they will no longer attend church services in exchange for freedom." There was no immediate response from Iranian officials.

The legal test case will set the scene for what could be one of the largest land and property wrangles in Scotland, as evangelical congregations prepare to challenge the Church of Scotland's stance on gay ordination at the next General Assembly.

Below are two extracts from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assocation website. The first is up and running as of the posting of this story. The second is from a source showing a webcache from June of 2010, but that page is currently not available on the site, apparently removed just after the meeting.

"I think that the word “missional” is useful because it means something more (though not less) than being very evangelistic. It means recognizing the post-Christian character of our western society, and revamping everything we do in accord with that." --T. Keller

This book is not ultimately about manhood and womanhood, headship and submission, or the complementarian and egalitarian debate. At its root this book questions the validity of the Bible. And denying the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture is a denial that will ultimately erode the gospel of our Savior.

What is the role for denominations? What is the role for broad parachurch ministries or organizations? How should we understand confessional identity? If we are to have unity in essentials, what are those essentials? Where should Christians agree to disagree? Where should churches agree to disagree? What are the right doctrinal boundaries for churches, for denominations, for movements, for institutions, for friends?

It’s a terrible thing to do to someone: to suggest that hope for abundant life in Christ goes only so far, and they’re permanently on the other side of the fence. Many people with mental illness may not seamlessly fit into church life the way most of us experience it on Sunday morning. But let’s be honest—how many of us really do?