Gay-hatin’ Gospel (pt. 4)

Last updated on: October 25, 2007 at 12:53 pm By Fred Clark

According to research by the Barna Group: The most common perception is that present-day Christianity is “anti-homosexual.” Overall, 91 percent of young non-Christians and 80 percent of young churchgoers say this phrase describes Christianity. As the research probed this perception, non-Christians and Christians explained that beyond their recognition that Christians oppose homosexuality, they believe that Christians show excessive contempt and unloving attitudes towards gays and lesbians. One of the most frequent criticisms of young Christians was that they believe the... Read more

A remonstrance

Last updated on: October 23, 2007 at 10:59 pm By Fred Clark

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were “brave people, most of whom, by the way, were clergymen.” — Gov. Mike Huckabee Few years back I got a call from a friend who was putting on a community theater production of 1776, the musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It’s an audience-pleaser, but it’s not done that often since it requires a large and overwhelmingly male cast and the gender ratio in community theater tends to tilt... Read more

Relocation blues

Last updated on: October 22, 2007 at 10:22 pm By Fred Clark

The lead story in today’s business section tells us about how “You can reduce the pain of relocating.” The relocation assistance an employer offers can range from a couple of hundred dollars to ship your belongings to outright purchasing your home. There is no “standard” relocation package. Worldwide ERC, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that represents corporate relocation companies, reported that the average amount a company spent to relocate a current homeowning employee in 2006 was $62,185, while the average cost... Read more

Gay-Hatin’ Gospel (pt. 3)

Last updated on: October 22, 2007 at 5:39 pm By Fred Clark

L.B.: New Babylon

Last updated on: October 19, 2007 at 3:17 pm By Fred Clark

Left Behind, pp. 346-353 Buck Williams and Hattie Durham are in a cab on their way to meet Rayford and Chloe Steele at the airport, when Buck decides to swing by his office to pick up his cell phone and laptop. Hattie waited in the cab, but she told him she was not going to be happy if she missed her appointment. Buck stood by the window of the cab. “I’ll just be a minute,” he said. When Buck gets... Read more

If I …

Last updated on: October 19, 2007 at 7:29 am By Fred Clark

If I was honest I would probably be ashamed … “If I Can’t Change Your Mind,” Bob Mould “If I Could,” Jack Johnson “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,” Sting “If I Had a Million Dollars,” Barenaked Ladies “If I Should Fall From Grace With God,” The Pogues “If I Was Your Girlfriend,” Prince “If I Were You,” Kasey Chambers “If I’m Drowning,” Over the Rhine BONUS: “Still the Night,” Bodeans (I always think of this song as... Read more

Gay-Hatin’ Gospel (pt. 2)

Last updated on: October 18, 2007 at 2:27 pm By Fred Clark

The Bible gives us the word “shibboleth,”* but the Bible is more than a book of shibboleths. So how did gay-hatin’ come to be the “most-common perception” of Christianity? Theory No. 2: Inner Demons This theory has the virtue of being true. Or, at least, of being true in some cases — some very notable, high-profile cases. The idea here is that many of the loudest, angriest and most single-minded preachers of the anti-gay gospel doth protest too much. They... Read more

Gay-Hatin’ Gospel (pt. 1)

Last updated on: October 16, 2007 at 8:40 pm By Fred Clark

How did gay-hatin’ come to be the “most-common perception” of Christianity? Theory No. 1: The Safe Target “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all,” St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:13. If you’re a preacher, and if you possess the slightest bit of self-awareness, that’s problematic. It means that preaching against any temptation or sin implicates your entire congregation and yourself as well. That can be really uncomfortable for all involved. Pick any of the... Read more

By our love, by our love

Last updated on: October 15, 2007 at 10:17 pm By Fred Clark

My favorite Sunday school song from my childhood among the fundies was called “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love.” The song’s optimistic lyrics were countered by its sad, minor tone, so even as a kid I had the sense that it was at the same time celebrating what ought to be and mourning that it was not so: We will work with each other, we will work side by side We will work with each other, we will... Read more

L.B.: Mystery Dance

Last updated on: October 12, 2007 at 8:58 am By Fred Clark

Left Behind, pp. 344-346 There’s a new reporter at the top of the heap. While Buck Williams has been running around conducting off-the-record interviews, squelching stories and making random introductions in hotel rooms, CNN’s Dan Bennett has captured the world’s attention with his on-the-spot coverage of the trip-and-fall guys in Jerusalem. CNN has been replaying Bennett’s report for the past 24 hours, and this story is all that anyone is talking about. The aftermath of the Event, the attempt for... Read more