The classic words of an abusive husband: “If you don’t do what I say, you are going to pay.” It makes me wonder very much what it is like for Trump’s various wives to live in the gilded castle his much boasted-about wealth provides for them. So, now we have word that if an open convention means that The Donald will not get the nomination after all, “bad things will happen.” From this article in the Washington Post, Republican presidential... Read more
Dear Thoughtful Pastor: I grew up in an “evangelical—fundamental” Christian home. My recollection is that this meant a high regard for scripture and belief in the basic tenets of the Christian faith. During this political cycle, the term “evangelical” is very repulsive to me and unbiblical, particularly with its apparent disdain for “the least of these brothers of mine.” If I ever had any doubts before whether or not I was an evangelical, I certainly know now that I am... Read more
Dear Thoughtful Pastor: The Bible tells us that as Christians Jesus forgives us for our sins (our sins are erased), but then it also says we will answer for them when we get to heaven. There is comfort in knowing that if we repent we are forgiven of our sins and they are forgotten, but are they really forgotten if we have to answer to them? I’m having trouble reconciling with this. Let’s look at a parable of Jesus from... Read more
I’m lucky enough to live in a house that has a pool in the backyard. In Texas, this pool serves ever so many advantages. The hot tub provides relaxation on cooler winter nights, the rest of the pool a great place to gather and entertain AND cool down during our extended summer months. All swimming pool owners (probably I should say, “all swimming pool slaves) know the importance of good maintenance, particularly keeping debris out of the filter. Too much... Read more
Dear Thoughtful Pastor: Why is the Catholic Lord’s Prayer different from the Protestant Lord’s Prayer? What Protestants call the Lord’s Prayer and Catholics call the Our Father is found in both Matthew 6 and Luke 11. The way most Protestants say the prayer goes like this: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us... Read more
[Note: because of the complexity of these questions, especially finding a church, I’ve posted an expanded version below of appeared in the religion section of the Denton Record-Chronicle on Feb. 26, 2016.] Dear Readers, last week, The Thoughtful Pastor promised to answer this question: “What are your recommendations on finding a good church?” I got so stuck here that I crowd-sourced (actually clergy-sourced) answers. My stuckness grew from my dismay at the consumerist pattern of church-shopping. Too many looking for... Read more
OK, the headline is a bit of a stretch. However, apparently the Pope did make a reference to the problem of the Zika virus and the many babies being born with significant neurological defects. Here’s the quote from the CNN news release: “Pope Francis suggested that contraceptives may be used to prevent the spread of the Zika virus, despite the church’s longstanding ban on most forms of birth control.” There is a precedent. In the 1960’s, nuns serving in part of... Read more
Issues about the Acts 29, neo-Calvinist church movement continue to concern me for multiple reasons. See these questions today for the Thoughtful Pastor. Two questions today over similar issues: Dear Thoughtful Pastor: I read your article about neo Calvinism and the Acts 29 network. I have attended a few Acts 29 churches. I am frustrated with how things are, and I am having a hard time finding a church that shares my convictions. I am no longer complementarian, and I... Read more
One of the latest “you must copy and paste this NOW” memes to make the Facebook rounds says something to the effect that the person posting is going to trim his/her friendship list to the “real” friends, i.e., those who actually read their posts. In order to prove that one is a “real” friend, the readers are instructed to “like” the post and then to cut and paste it and put it in their own status. On Sunday, February 14,... Read more
In Exodus, God hands down the Ten Commandments. The second commandment forbids any graven images. Later in the same book, God tells Moses how the tabernacle is to be built and decorated — and all those chapters seem to instruct Moses to have craftsmen and women to build, overlay, sculpt, weave and make jewelry for holy rites. Isn’t this a violation of the second commandment? A little background first: Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 list the first ten commandments but... Read more
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