University in Ohio threatens Christian group for requiring members to be … Christian
March 4, 2009
Colson: ‘In this time, which many see as a political exile, true believers must live in such a way that the world sees a difference in our lives.’
February 9, 2009
Obama’s faith-based involvement criticized from right and left
February 6, 2009
‘Victory for Christian nurse suspended over prayer offer’
February 5, 2009
UK: Muslim boy scouts may pledge allegiance to Allah
January 26, 2009
Rick Warren to use Jesus’ name in prayer
January 20, 2009
BullyPulpit.com (HT: Denny Burk)
Humanists attempt to remove “so help me God” from US inaugural pledge
January 2, 2009
CNN Politics (HT: Sharper Iron)
Warren Piece
December 19, 2008
The blogosphere is abuzz with reactions to the announcement that Saddleback pastor/Purpose-Driven Life author/lightning rod Rick Warren will pray at Obama’s swearing-in:
“One thing is clear– controversial appointments and actions do indeed smoke out people’s real views and feelings, and often those feelings are subChristian at best, and positively carnal at worst.”
“I have issues with Warren theologically and ecclesiastically, but am in broad sympathy with much of his politics and so it was interesting to see him clobbered as too right wing for a change.”
“I will give our new president major credit if he still lets Rick Warren say the prayer.”
“I’d like to ask Mr. Warren how civil it is to cut up a pre-born baby with a knife and hurl out the parts with the trash?”
“Whatever you think of Warren, make no mistake: he’s a social conservative, my favorite kind.”
“I am not throwing Rick Warren to the wolves over this. He now finds himself in a whirlwind, and he will not be the last.”
Jordan Ballor also has a more in-depth wrap-up and discussion of the announcement, at the Acton Powerblog.
Neuhaus sees heightened conflict between church and culture in years ahead
November 14, 2008
Richard John Neuhaus has posted an essay (The Coming Kulturkampf) at First Things: On the Square in which he asserts that Obama’s expansion of abortion rights will necessitate (and perhaps bring) resistance from both Catholics and Protestants:
“The Church is much more disposed toward conversion, providing moral guidance, and the transformation of culture. The Christ against culture model is never chosen, but sometimes there is no choice.”
“Multi-faith prayers for Parliament”
November 13, 2008
Story in The Independent.
UK blogger Cranmer comments:
“Why Parliament – one of our greatest institutions – would wish to model any of its practices upon those of the BBC – one of our most inept – is quite incomprehensible. Until, of course, one considers that both are concerned with managing decline in an era obsessed with image.”
More (yes, more) election debrief
November 6, 2008
Mike Ratliff is pessimistic about an Obama presidency, and encourages believers to stand firm:
“A careful reading of the book of Judges in the Old Testament makes it clear that it is God who raises up and takes down leaders. God uses evil or unrighteous judges and leaders to bring His righteous judgment to bear on a people. With the victory of Barak Obama yesterday all of the dread about what would happen to this country if an ultra-liberal came to power seems about to become reality.”
Collin Brendemuehl is concerned about the future of conservatism, positing that if it fails, America fails …
“Because only conservatism today stands against socialism … Because conservatism today can stand against economic excesses … Because conservatism can keep business out of government …”
Steven Waldman finds it peculiar that a Focus on the Family member would portray Obama as a Nebuchadnezzar figure.
The Boar’s Head Tavern bloggers are mulling over the similarities between Obama and JFK:
“I’m struck by how now finally I can understand how so many people were excited at the election of Kennedy, who was: A younger man …Charismatic … Handsome/Striking … Intelligent …”
James Anderson argues that this is no time to be proud (glad, yes), philosophically speaking:
“Suggesting that the election (or electability) of a non-white president is praiseworthy or prideworthy is to confuse the obligatory with the supererogatory. There should never have been any barrier in the first place.”
Phil Johnson takes issue with Scott Klusendorf over the role of Christians in politics, underscoring what he believes is “the wrongheadedness of seeking political remedies for every manifestation of human depravity” (Klusendorf’s post here).
Similarly, Michael Spencer suggests that “spiritually empty, poorly led and poorly taught evangelicals are mistaking the Kingdom of God on earth for the victory of their political and cultural preferences.”
Jake Bouma tells why he thinks the release of official statements by Christian denominations on the election is dumb (i.e., counter-productive); and the Rev. Churck Currie exhorts church leaders to meet with Obama’s administration and offer an agenda:
“Our churches should support the new president’s agenda when it is appropriate and push and prod when needed. We should be a loving critic of the world around us. No one should hesitate to challenge this president if the occasion calls for it.”
Reviews …
November 5, 2008
Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture, by Graeme Goldworthy — reviewed by Michael Dewalt:
“I chose to do this review as a personal project in hopes that writing this paper in a personal way will display to you the deep impact that Goldsworthy’s book had on my life, being a part of bringing my head and heart to a further understanding of Reformed theology, which when seen and understood was exactly what I needed.”
At the Triablogue, Paul Manata reviews Michael Horton’s Christless Christianity:
“This is a book you get and read and apply to yourself first. This is a book for all of us, and all of us need to read it and take its warnings seriously.”
Healing for a Broken World, by Steve Monsma, is discussed by Trevin Wax at Kingdom People:
“I knew I had to buy this book when I saw that both Chuck Colson and Ron Sider were recommending it. Healing for a Broken World: Christian Perspectives on Public Policy
(Crossway, 2008) by Steve Monsma helps evangelicals consider how our Christian faith influences our view of politics and public policy.”
And Kyle Campos reviews an album — John Mark McMillan’s The Medicine — at the Worship.com blog:
“I don’t think there can be any question this is John Mark’s finest work.”
The secular EU
October 13, 2008
Cranmer voices his concerns about the body’s indifference to Europe’s religious heritage:
“Cranmer is with Pope Benedict XVI in his opposition to the EU’s militant secularism. One cannot be ‘neutral’ in matters of religion - pretending to broker between ‘equal’ faiths and impartial in arbitration between competing worldviews - for that neutrality presupposes a higher level of knowledge and constitutes itself an article of faith.”
