In our culture today, to believe in — much less confess and defend — absolutes is deemed arrogant. To insist that something is one way and not another provokes charges of egotism, presumption, and superiority. That’s tricky for Christians because we absolutely believe in absolutes. (more…) Read more
Joel Osteen’s disturbing inability to say that Mormonism is something other than Christian reflects a particular affliction from which our culture suffers. I’m not sure what to call it other than the cult of agreeableness, a widespread tendency to avoid disagreement, conflict, and contradiction whenever possible, a disposition to never draw hard lines for fear that we’ll upset or make ourselves unattractive by the action. (more…) Read more
Here are some lessons you’re supposed to learn as a child that will definitely serve you when you’re older: Don’t touch that. Say please. Use your words. Say your prayers. Don’t beat up the little guys; they might grow up bigger than you. Play nice. If you break the rules, it won’t go well. When you’ve done something wrong, you should go to your room and think about what you’ve done. Don’t sit with your stinky stuff too long; it’ll... Read more
The early Christians and later patristic writers read the Old Testament with a view to Christ. They saw his shadow in the law, the prophets, and the writings like Psalms. They also saw him in the Song of Solomon, seeing in the Hebrew love poem a picture of Christ and the church. (more…) Read more
I knew the sound the second I heard it, a loud sustained cry, undulating but strong. “Is that the call to prayer?” I asked Eva, a Christian woman operating a small crafts shop. “It is for Muslims,” she said. (more…) Read more
My son Fionn held up two toy cars. “Which one is faster?” he asked. I gave him my answer and he said, “No. Neither is faster. It depends on who is driving them.” Trick question. I confess to being a little irritated in that moment by this answer. “Then why ask me which one?” I asked. Oblivious to my irritation, Fionn answered with a question: “What’s the point of a test if you don’t learn something?” That’s an interesting answer.... Read more
Mormons have been trying to pass as mainstream Christians for some time now. They're not. Here's why and why it matters. Read more
It turns out that criticizing Joel Osteen ruffles feathers. Perhaps this shouldn’t surprise. His congregation is more than forty-thousand strong, his sermons air worldwide, and his book sales are stratospheric. He’s got more than a few fans available to take offense at someone holding his feet to the fire. In response to my piece Friday, “The insufferable Joel Osteen,” several people said that I was “judging” Osteen, which is a considerable no-no. I was told I should be ashamed and... Read more
A soldier came upon a monk and asked him if a repentant man would be received by God. He was worried that God might reject him. “Would you discard your coat if it were torn?” asked the monk. “No,” said the man, perhaps at that moment grasping the garment. “I’d patch it and keep wearing it.” “If you would take such care of your coat,” said the monk, “won’t God show even greater care for his own image, which you... Read more
Joel J. Miller
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