This is Part 1 of what will be a three-part series on homosexuality and the way in which evangelicals have related themselves to homosexuals. I wanted to begin with stories, with confession, and with a profession of love and respect. Part I. Stories of Love and Sin Consider the following story from the early 1980s: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – They begin to arrive before sunset, shuffling in out of the dark streets of the Haight-Ashbury district and into the half-lit... Read more
Greetings to everyone arriving for the Consultation on Re-Imagining the Relationship Between Evangelicals and Gays. If you're just joining the conversation, it is best to go to the Guide document and find links to all the relevant articles and stories. We will also post links and reflections here on the Cross and Culture blog. If you are an expert in this subject and want to contribute, or have a story you would like to add, please feel free to email [email protected]. The Consultation will continue for at least two weeks, and longer if necessary. At the same time, we will continue to post articles of other kinds. This morning, an interesting question was raised at Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog... Read more
Scott Sabin's new book, Tending to Eden: Environmental Stewardship for God's People, is well worth a close look. Read more
Anyone who follows the world of milblogging (military blogging) will know that Michael Yon has been an object of controversy recently, ever since his embed with a Stryker brigade in Afghanistan was cut short at the same time as Michael was accusing General Stanley McChrystal of being incapable of successfully managing this war. Here is the story behind my interview with Michael Yon. Read more
Andy Crouch has just posted at Books and Culture a fantastic review of James Davison Hunter’s “masterful” new book, To Change the World. Crouch’s review is an example of what great book reviews are capable of doing, in making the interplay between the book and the review much richer than the book could have been on its own. This is cultural conversation on a high level, and it’s a breath of fresh air from those who have spent too long... Read more
Christian and secular news and commentary one Christian found important or entertaining this morning: 1. HAPPY EARTH DAY. Two Patheos pieces (here and here) I was very happy to present when the Public Square considered Religion and the Environment, and which now are relevant all over again due to Earth Day. And again, I think this article from Bjorn Lomborg is quite worth reading. Lomborg is not an alarmist, but he is a responsible environmental activist with some real outside-the-box... Read more
Links to secular and religious news and commentary that one Christian found important or entertaining this morning. Read more
Sophia was about a year old when we visited our friends for dinner in Malden, Massachusetts. She sat in a booster chair that was strapped to a larger chair, and I sat beside her on her right. We had noticed that her face seemed flushed a few minutes earlier, but she was happy and active. Then, as we sat for dinner, I noticed that she looked straight up — up — and up — looking at the ceiling, and then... Read more
Christian and secular news and commentary that one Christian found important or entertaining this morning: 1. CHAN CAN BOOK. The well known pastor and author, Francis Chan, announced to his congregation in Simi Valley that he would be leaving. What for? To take up ministry in a major urban environment. The movement of evangelicals into the cities continues. Hear Francis explain his decision. 2. THE ARTISTRY OF GOD. Marvin Olasky at World Magazine has an interesting conversation with Makoto Fujimura... Read more
Secular and Christian news and commentary that one Christian found interesting or entertaining this morning: 1. MOUW ON BECK AND WALLIS. Our Cross Examinations question last week concerned the right relationship between social justice and evangelistic ministries. Richard Mouw, President of Fuller and a revered figure within the evangelical intellectual community, was asked the same question by On Faith. He answered: “I think we have to concede a little bit to Glenn Beck on this one. Often faith-based calls for... Read more
Philosophical Fragments
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