It seems that what has happened here is that persecution in America has become just another example of the way we view “problems” in a first world setting. Regardless of what actually is occurring elsewhere, we’re consumed with what we perceive is happening here, and behave on a practical level as if our “problem” is way worse. The way we’ve come to view persecution is no different than how we’ve come to view so many other issues. Read more
Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, the woman who was just freed from death row in Sudan, has been arrested AGAIN. Ibrahim had been previously arrested on death row and awaiting 100 lashes plus death by hanging once her baby, born in prison, was older and weaned. She was sentenced to the 100 lashes for adultery as the courts did not recognize her marriage to a Christian, and was sentenced to hang for apostasy because she is a Christian. After huge international outcry,... Read more
Continuing the discussion on hell we started yesterday, I was asked to show the third option that exists beyond eternal conscious torment (the traditional hell), and annihilation. The third option that exists, of course, is universalism. Yes, there are Christian Universalists– and they’re not a new thing. Christian Universalists existed among the early church, contributed to Christian thought well throughout the rest of history, and seem (by my unscientific observation) to be a growing number today. I think this is... Read more
Affirming that scripture is inspired and true means one must also affirm the “eternal, conscious torment” of hell, correct? Nope– not at all, and today I’ll explain how it’s possible to let go of hell without letting go of the Bible. I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while, and saw that Evangelical Theologian Scott McKnight has been discussing it of late (you can find his posts on it here), so seems like a good time to... Read more
The Bible calls bankers who lend money for interest an "abomination". Why aren't we putting them out of the church? Read more
True story: nearly loosing my eye 14 years ago taught me how to better read and interpret the Bible. I was just moving into my condo in Tumon, Guam. I was so excited to move in– it had a beautiful balcony overlooking the Philippine Sea, was just a short walk from the beaches, and I couldn’t wait to get settled. I had been busy moving all day and by now it was later in the evening, so I told myself... Read more
If there’s one thing I don’t understand about modern Christianity in America, it’s this: The offensiveness of enemy love. If one takes a public stand against, say, any sin you can think of, one is considered “courageous” and a “defender of the faith”. Folks will quickly applaud you and tell you how much they admire you for “taking a stand” on biblical truth. Except if you quote Matthew 5:44 and invite people to apply it in any sort of meaningful,... Read more
Many individuals walking from conservative expressions of Christianity perhaps would walk away from Christianity entirely if they did not have a safe place to ask hard questions. We must continue to encourage and welcome the asking of these hard questions, and continue embracing a God who is big enough to handle it. Read more
The other day I posted a video that has since made the rounds on the internet of John MacArthur responding to a listeners question on how to respond to an adult child who has admitted they were gay. MacArthur’s response was two fold: if the child isn’t a Christian try to evangelize them, and if the child is a professing Christian, use the process of church discipline: invite repentance, and if denied, cast the child out. I, of course, weighed... Read more
Sexual abuse in the church is a serious issue, and one that for far too long, has been swept under the rug and quickly dismissed. Abusers have too often been quickly restored only to prey again, victims have been marginalized, and criminal behavior has been justified. Now, with the Leadership Journal, we're seeing it again-- and we should be appalled. As if the original publication of the story didn't demonstrate this, the complete lack of repentance and refusal to remove the story from the journal ought be further evidence of how badly we still don't get it. Read more
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