This piece was originally published at The Huffington Post on November 1, 2012. The preservation and cultivation of tolerance is vitally important to the well-being of our multi-faith, pluralistic society. President Obama’s recent address to the U.N. General Assembly on the subject of such themes as religious liberty, tolerance and diplomacy in a violent world illustrated well why these ideals are so critically important in our world today and also reflect what makes the United States, though … [Read more...]

This piece was originally published at The Christian Post on October 30, 2012. In North America, the Christian right and left tend to conceive the individual Christian as the focal point of political life. We have a hard time conceiving the visible church as a political community, bearing witness to the kingdom of God in Christ. The visible church is often viewed inside and outside the Christian community as a voluntary association of religious individuals. In such contexts, the church is a … [Read more...]

This piece was originally posted at The Christian Post on October 23, 2012.  Christianity Today posted the following statement the other day: “The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) recently removed an article from its website that listed Mormonism as a ‘cult.’ The change followed Mitt Romney’s home visit to Billy Graham last week, where the evangelist pledged ‘help’ to the Mormon presidential candidate’s campaign. The BGEA later explained, ‘We removed the … [Read more...]

This piece was originally published at The Christian Post on October 22, 2012. Is there a connection between pluralism and secularism? In my estimation the mythological reading of sacred literature by pluralists and the privatization of religion by the secular state go hand in hand. Pluralism and secularism remove the faith from public scrutiny, where religious claims can no longer be judged as right or wrong based on universal grounds. Of course, many religious pluralists want to keep the … [Read more...]

This piece was originally published at The Christian Post on October 19, 2012. In North America, we who are Christians often reduce Jesus to a dashboard crucifix or bobble headed doll and the church to an incubator for the cultivation of privatized religious affections. Our Lord is to be sovereign over our souls, but he is also Lord over all spheres and his lordship has a bearing on all things, including how we engage the state and every other domain. The visible church is not a voluntary … [Read more...]

This piece was originally published at The Christian Post on October 16, 2012. TIME Magazine’s October 8th cover reads, “What Mitt Romney’s Faith Tells Us About His Vision and Values.” Many Christians, among others, may or may not have anxiety over Romney’s Mormon faith, and that it shapes him. To me, the question is not whether a political candidate’s faith shapes him or her, but how. Does a political candidate’s faith lead him or her to sacrifice personal gain for the good of … [Read more...]

This piece was originally published at The Christian Post on October 11, 2012. The other day, a colleague asked me if I could ever see myself voting for a Mormon for President. What about a Muslim? My colleague and I are both Evangelical Christians. My colleague is concerned that the LDS Church would influence Presidential candidate Mitt Romney or another Mormon politician’s political decisions, and so is very wary of voting for a Mormon. No longer are we looking at candidates who are … [Read more...]

This piece was originally published at The Christian Post on October 8, 2012. Conversion is a dirty word in many circles today, including among Christians: “Don’t try to convert me...” “Don’t try and convert people...” “Keep your beliefs to yourself...” However, depending on the context, conversion can be a very beautiful and purifying word. I remember when God lifted me out of the dirt and mire of my prior way of life. Christ gave me a new and profound sense of purpose and … [Read more...]

This piece was originally published at The Christian Post on October 4, 2012. Many of you may already know of Pastor Rick Warren being charged with promoting ‘Chrislam’ based on his relationships and work with Muslims. Pastor Warren and close associates have vehemently denied the claim. The critics maintain through their use of the term ‘Chrislam’ that Pastor Warren’s bridge building efforts with Muslims involve blending the teachings of Christianity with Islam. It goes beyond the … [Read more...]

This piece was originally published at The Christian Post on October 2, 2012. You may have seen episodes of Portlandia. The show is Portland culture on steroids. It speaks to how many Portlanders love to make and keep their city weird. Portland is weird: Racers and hipsters, head to foot tattoos, experimental art and alternative everything. Yes, Portland is weird, but Portland is also quite beautiful: organic food, green technology and the great outdoors. But what I don’t like about Portland … [Read more...]