Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Education Pick, Is A Billionaire With Deep Ties To The Christian Reformed Community
Betsy DeVos, Trump’s choice for education secretary, has ties to the Christian Reformed community in Michigan.
But in religious circles, the DeVos name is synonymous with key philanthropic efforts in Christian communities. DeVos, 58, graduated from Calvin College, a Christian Reformed Church school that is named after the famed Protestant reformer John Calvin, where the DeVos name is well-known. The DeVos family, heirs to the Amway Corp. fortune, are prolific donors... Continue Reading
Is The World Becoming Protestant?
Protestantism has an affinity with modernity, giving it considerable reach in today’s age.
Whatever one may say about Evangelical Protestantism, empirically it is a massive fact on the global religious landscape, likely to remain so, with significant consequences in every area of social life. How one relates to this fact will obviously depend on one’s religious and political positions….Staying within an empirical perspective (that is, without invoking divine... Continue Reading
Mom Sues To Regain Parental Rights Over Transgender Teen
The suit claims her son received treatment without her consent
A Minnesota mother has filed a lawsuit in federal court to re-establish her parental rights after a legal aid attorney declared her minor son emancipated from his parents last year. The suit contends the emancipation letter allowed her then-16-year-old son to receive public assistance, which he used to begin hormone treatments for gender-transition therapy. ... Continue Reading
Extending An Olive Branch
The news is full of olive branches this week in the aftermath of a long, divisive election
The phrase “extend an olive branch” is derived from the Bible, from the well-known story of Noah and the worldwide flood. God has created humanity, but they have rebelled against God. Their rebellion has become so great that God can say, “the every intention of the thoughts of their heart was only evil continually.” ... Continue Reading
Blackhawk Presbyterians for Fidelity Launched
BPF is a para-denominational mission like many others including teaching and ruling elders maintaining credentials in the PCUSA
“It is a significant movement recognizing the inertia of a denomination increasingly and irretrievably apostate under current management and the necessity of identifying, encouraging and equipping faithful sisters and brothers for worship, work and witness.” “Blackhawk Presbyterians for Fidelity” (BPF) was launched on November 11, 2016 in Rockford, Illinois during a gathering of representatives... Continue Reading
Pronoun Privilege
When we go around the room in class, students visibly react when they hear that someone they thought looked male goes by female pronouns or vice versa
At some colleges and universities, it’s common for students to introduce themselves, whether in class or in student group meetings, by name, followed by a string of pronouns. “I’m Lizzie; she/her/hers,” for example. My fall classes started recently, and I had to face the pronoun question. It’s simple for me: My appearance matches my... Continue Reading
First Christian Governor in Indonesia Suspected of Blasphemy
Uproar over alleged 'misuse' of Qur'an creates tense situation for pluralistic country
Ahok apologized for his words, saying he “never intended to insult Islam or the Qur‘an.” But thousands of hardline Muslims marched in protest anyway, eventually clashing with police and lighting vehicles on fire. Thousands of Indonesians protested this week after police named the first Christian governor of the nation’s capital, Jakarta, as a suspect... Continue Reading
Some Vossian Thoughts on the Visible-Invisible Church Distinction
The Reformed have always taught that the distinction between the visible and invisible church is not a bifurcation of a generic concept into two species, but the description of one and the same subject
“1. There are visible and invisible aspects to the church. 2. These aspects are not separate churches, but have a large amount of overlap. 3. The visible and invisible do not entirely overlap: there are many false sons within her pale, and some true believers outside her administration.” I’m reading the 5th volume of... Continue Reading
Gasps, Tears As Group of Iraqi Christians Return to ISIS-Destroyed Parish
As the Rev. Thabet Habib recited prayers at the St. Addai church, the sound of broken glass crunched beneath worshippers’ feet
“Inside the church, Habib, the priest, and several other men banged bibles and other holy books against each other, creating puffs of dust. A 54-year-old woman, Almaz Sleiman, sobbed quietly, holding a tissue against her face as she looked around. Prayers were held under the watchful eyes of armed Assyrian Christian militiamen, known as the... Continue Reading
They Excommunicated My Dad
I had no idea what excommunication was. I blamed it for splitting my family and my church.
“The church was split over my dad’s discipline. Some members argued it was right, some argued it was wrong, and others ranged between these two. Disunity struck my family, too. Some of us were confused, others angry.” One Sunday after our church service, the senior pastor extended his hand to greet my dad, one... Continue Reading