My Take: Kim Jong Il and the danger of deifying leaders
If the worship of God is forbidden, the state may well turn its own dictator into a deity. This transforms the leader and the regime into objects of devotion and worship. The state is then beyond all rational critique and consideration. There are no atheists in dictatorships. The death of North Korea’s “Dear Leader” Kim... Continue Reading
America’s Founders would agree that ‘In God We Trust’
(Patrick) Henry’s most famous speech, the “Liberty or Death” oration, came in 1775 as Virginia was considering whether to take up arms in light of the British threat against American liberty. The speech, delivered at Richmond’s St. John’s Church, was a politicized version of a revival sermon On November 1, amidst the political wrangling over... Continue Reading
Let your faith be a light for others this Christmas
The biggest threat to Christianity is not from unbelievers, but from professed believers who water down the Gospel, slowly and steadily devaluing the miraculous and divine, to the point that the Christian message is virtually indistinguishable from the society it would seek to save. Reflections on “Black Friday” – the annual post-Thanksgiving exercise in shopping... Continue Reading
From trivial to vulgar – Be careful what survey results you wish for
“Cut the prices of food and gas,” said Lisa Reed. I wanted to ask her if that was the federal government’s task, in the first place, and if the feds had that ability even if it was their job. I was here, though, not to argue, but simply to report responses. What a difference 10... Continue Reading
To Win, To Protect, and To Settle
I am fascinated by the legal profession and by lawyers. Most of them are honorable men who work hard. But I worry about the fact that it seems so hard for lawyers not be to lawyers. It is very hard I think for an elder who is a lawyer to think like an elder and... Continue Reading
The Virgin Birth is un-scientific! Thank God!
Christmas cookies are beyond the realm of my diet, and the virgin birth of Christ is beyond the realm of science, but I plan to enjoy both this Christmas. I am finding that many young people are reading books by the new atheists such as Richard Dawkins whose book The God Delusion is out-selling Miracles... Continue Reading
Father to God, Model for Us; Mary’s husband Joseph
The implausibility of the whole thing is evident in the biblical text itself. When Mary tells Joseph she is pregnant, his first reaction isn’t a cheery “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” No, he assumes what any of us would conclude was going on, and he sets out to end their betrothal. I... Continue Reading
Must We Believe in the Virgin Birth?
This much we know: All those who find salvation will be saved by the atoning work of Jesus the Christ — the virgin-born Savior. Anything less than this is just not Christianity, whatever it may call itself. A true Christian will not deny the Virgin Birth. In one of his columns for The New York... Continue Reading
A Fresh Look at ‘Idols of the Heart’
What are you fearing? What are you trusting? Where are you taking refuge? What voices are you listening to? Where are you setting your hopes? Those simple questions take the Bible’s God-relational verbs, and turn them into questions. Such questions can help you to see how you are straying “Idols of the Heart and ‘Vanity... Continue Reading
The Life and Times of the Youth Dude at Eleventh Presbyterian Church
I would not be a youth pastor for all the money in Christendom. Like the common housefly, their life cycle is short. According to Barna, it was, as of September, about 8 minutes (okay not really). Here is a fascinating glimpse into why (drawn from real life experiences). Dear Youth Dude: So glad you are... Continue Reading