Are We Witnessing a Writing Resurgence in Evangelicalism?

Last updated on: December 10, 2014 at 8:11 am By Owen Strachan

What’s up with Christian fiction? We had a fantastic burst of production in the mid-twentieth century. Some good works have come out since then. But for many years, we waited for another Lewis or Tolkien to no avail. There are signs of stirring in the evangelical movement. We’re young, restless, and writing. N. D. Wilson has deservedly gotten a great deal of attention in recent times. He shows serious promise as a man of letters. Karen Swallow Prior is publishing numerous exquisitely-crafted... Read more

What Do Evangelical Professors Do, Anyway?

Last updated on: December 9, 2014 at 8:10 am By Owen Strachan

I have a suggestion for a fun question you could throw out at your annual Christmas party. “Professors,” you could say vaguely. “What is it they do, anyway?” You’ll likely get a bunch of answers, many of them expressing confusion. Some will voice skepticism–the professorate is an escape from real life. Thinking, after all, is much harder to justify in empirical terms than other disciplines. Do not underestimate the power of empiricism in America. Whatever your view of empiricism, this... Read more

Pastors Are Not Politicians (But They Are Convictional)

Last updated on: December 5, 2014 at 10:21 am By Owen Strachan

Pastors are not called to preach on local ordinances. Pastors are ordained by God, however, to shape and fire the convictions of their people. So I argue in an essay for the new 9Marks eJournal. My piece is entitled “The Wilberforce Test: Preaching and the Public Square.” Here’s a swatch: Pastors are not politicians. They are appointed by God, however, to shape the worldview and thus the convictions of their people. Faithful handling of the Word of God means preaching... Read more

The Smallest UPS Driver in the World

Last updated on: December 3, 2014 at 9:35 am By Owen Strachan

It’s a bit odd to share a UPS ad on this content-driven, theology-and-cultural-engagement-heavy blog. But this one caught my eye on Twitter. It is one of the sweetest videos I’ve seen. I don’t know what it is about little boys and trucks, but my little son is much like Carson. There is just about no event that is more exciting in a given day than the arrival of a truck. He loves UPS, too. (Does any company have a better... Read more

5 Highlights for CBMW in 2014

Last updated on: December 2, 2014 at 8:42 am By Owen Strachan

The leaves have fallen. The campus in Louisville is quiet. The dust has settled. It has been an exhilarating year at the Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood. 2014 was chock-full of good stuff, namely, more ministry to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We’ve been busy, as our December newsletter shows. That is a very, very good thing. In that spirit, and as we launch a December giving campaign to raise another $30,000 by the end of the month, I wanted... Read more

On Thanksgiving and Saying “You’re Welcome”

Last updated on: November 27, 2014 at 7:59 am By Owen Strachan

This blog is an edited repost from a couple years past. Happy Thanksgiving 2014, everyone. It’s Thanksgiving day, and we’re all gearing up for Black Friday. Let’s pause and think. Is something wrong with that sentence? This is not the way I remember it. Growing up in New England, Thanksgiving was a big deal. My family would travel to be with extended family in Massachusetts and Maine. We got out of school early due to the much-cherished “half day.” Then... Read more

The Vatican Colloquium and the Future of Complementary

Last updated on: November 17, 2014 at 12:39 pm By Owen Strachan

Right now in Rome, the Catholic Church is holding an international colloquium on a very important, and highly controverted, subject: sexual complementarity. The title of the gathering is Humanum Colloquium, “The Complementarity of Man and Woman: An International Colloquium.” The colloquium’s focus is on the institution of marriage (video above was just released at it). This is a landmark event. Leaders from the whole religious spectrum are speaking at it. These include Rick Warren, Pope Francis, Robert George, and Russell Moore.... Read more

“You Are Not Running Late–You Are Rude”

Last updated on: November 14, 2014 at 10:26 am By Owen Strachan

We find ourselves in a coddled, hands-off society. It’s impolitic to address faults directly. For this reason, posts that tell the truth sometimes go viral. Here’s a good example. A Sydney businessman named Greg Savage just wrote a fiery piece in which he addressed those who are habitually late. “You are not running late,” he writes, “You are rude.” Here’s a swatch: And it is not that we lead ‘busy lives’. That’s a given, we all do, and it’s a cop... Read more

Wesley Hill & Friends on Sexual Orientation at ETS 2014

Last updated on: November 11, 2014 at 9:58 am By Owen Strachan

Next week at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in San Diego, California, I moderate a panel on whether homosexual orientation is sinful or not. The presenters will be Wesley Hill, Denny Burk, and Preston Sprinkle. Because of the timely nature of this discussion and the ability of these three scholars, this session should spark needed conversation and debate. I’m looking forward to a discussion among friends even as I am hoping that it will push the church’s... Read more

Do Not Go Quietly: 5 Takeaways from “Interstellar”

Last updated on: November 10, 2014 at 12:43 pm By Owen Strachan

“You are not far from the kingdom of God.” –Jesus, Mark 12:34 If you have not seen the film Interstellar, you should. It’s just out, and in many ways it’s a masterpiece. No one today with the possible exception of Ridley Scott attempts epic pictures like Christopher Nolan. Sure, there are 17 comic-book films a year now, but those don’t count. Nolan is in my view an auteur, if one with a popular sensibility. He makes exquisitely-crafted movies and explores the complexities... Read more