In short, if someone asks a pastor, a priest, or a Christian friend to pray for him that his sexual desires or gender dysphoria might be changed, that pastor, priest, or friend runs the risk of committing a criminal offense. Presumably this also applies to parents praying for their children—or perhaps even parents teaching their... Continue Reading

There are a number of Christian lawyers who have been discussing these issues.  And they have observed that the real danger is not for church leaders, but parents (Christian and non-Christian) of children who have been indoctrinated with the gender fluidity teachings through Safe Schools, online social media groups. This is because the Act weaponizes those... Continue Reading

Certainly pastors are not to shelter the flock to the degree that they are never exposed to ideas which contradict the truth and wisdom of Scripture. After all, what pastor never uses error to help illuminate the truth? Quoting from Nietzsche, Freud, or Dawkins can help God’s people find their way through those ideas which,... Continue Reading

Although a phobia has been historically understood to be a fear of something (e.g., arachnophobia is a fear of spiders), adding the suffix today is intended to signal that you hold a bigoted view on that subject…and that’s bad. You’re supposed to be so afraid of being labeled phobic that you’ll change your position or,... Continue Reading

The Court may not be done protecting worshippers from Newsom. Justice Gorsuch, who would have overturned the singing ban as well, observed, “Even if a full congregation singing hymns is too risky, California does not explain why even a single masked cantor cannot lead worship behind a mask and a plexiglass shield. Or why even... Continue Reading

After reading Kendi and his explicit endorsement of racial discrimination, I’m convinced that anyone heeding his advice will end up being more racist, not less. It would be pastoral malpractice to commend such sources as if Christians should be mining them for all their worth. I’m doing the opposite. I’m warning them and pointing them elsewhere.  ... Continue Reading

None of this is good for a regime that depends on a belief in Islam to stay in power. Crackdowns have been increasingly harsh, especially over the past five years. But evangelism hasn’t slowed. Despite the pandemic, ministries have reported growth in engagement and interest in the gospel via social media outreach or personal evangelism... Continue Reading

Some of the social concerns that our society classifies as justice issues are actually matters of mercy. Caring for the poor and the needy are often matters of mercy in Scripture–rather than civil principles of justice. The context determines the approach. Though the oppression of the poor is a social injustice, the compassionate care of the poor is a... Continue Reading

The political problem, of course, is that this expressive individualism that allows, even requires, that we create our own identities and destinies is still limited by notions of harm, as the executive order makes clear. Any form of social organization that denies or challenges the identity of transgender people is by definition discriminating against them. And... Continue Reading

What will fall next? Will it be the taboo on incest? Will it be the taboo on pedophilia? I hope the taboo on neither falls, but I think we have to accept that the conceptual framework for holding those things in place has long since vanished. So be shocked, but do not be surprised. If... Continue Reading