Despite Assurances, Should PCUSA Pastors Worry about Their Future and Same-Sex Marriage?
PCUSA officials have been quick to offer assurances that no pastor would be forced to conduct a same-sex wedding and no church would be forced to host one.
So, for now the authority to marry same-sex people in Presbyterian churches is permissive and not compulsory. “But,” LaBerge commented, “If this is a genuine justice issue, which supporters of marriage redefinition claim, then how long do you think they’re really going to be willing for the denomination to limp along between two opinions? How... Continue Reading
Choose Your Own Sexual Ethics Adventure
A critique of purity culture turns into a plea for self-centered sexuality.
What’s really important—what, in Anderson’s view, is really moral—is that one’s sex life is shaped by our own sense of ethics. Given all this, perhaps it’s not so surprising that Anderson so easily falls into the trap of setting up her own values as a substitute source of authority. If one’s own viewpoint is one’s... Continue Reading
The Rumors of the Church’s Death Have Been Greatly Overstated
No matter how many studies Barna and his boys release, the church will continue to stand.
Will Millennials continue to leave the church at an “alarming” rate? Probably. Will various denominations continue to abandon sound doctrine and make concessions to the culture? Sure. Will prosperity preachers like Joel Osteen and Creflo Dollar continue to sucker people in with their message of “Everything Is Awesome”? Yes. Will the Barna group release more... Continue Reading
What Do Pastors’ Wives Do All Day?
A review of Gloria Furman's book, The Pastor's Wife
The Pastor’s Wife is a survival manual of the most glorious kind. Sweeping away the busy clutter, we are left with a sense of what is most vital—for pastors’ wives and everyone else. What do pastors’ wives do all day? If you read this book you’ll know the answer, simple enough for every day but rich enough for... Continue Reading
Practical Dangers of Teaching Women Made in the Image of the Church
The importance of teaching women to handle the Word accurately
Furthermore, extrapolations of this wrong teaching lead to patriarchy and abuse. This is so obvious I don’t want to write more on this. Simply put, bad Bible interpretation leads to bad practice by those in power every single time. It will frustrate some that I don’t explore this further. Maybe this is the most important... Continue Reading
Proverbs 18:17 — A Verse often Misused to Hurt Abuse Victims
The abuse victim who reports the evil deeds of her abuser to someone is not the first to state her case.
Who is the first accuser then that the first part of this Proverb says “seems right”? I will tell you. It is the abuser. Yep. “How can that be?” you ask? I will tell you! The abuser has constantly “stated his case” against his victim for a long, long time. Abusers accuse. Abusers tell people... Continue Reading
Is There Hope for Erskine Becoming a Decidedly Evangelical Christian College & Seminary?
Why has Erskine's new policy sexuality caused such a stir?
Is there hope for Erskine becoming a decidedly evangelical Christian College & Seminary? I hope so. This one thing is for certain: the new policy on sexual conduct and the ensuing flap from the LGBT and secular communities brings to sharp focus the challenge for Erskine College & Seminary to truly become a decidedly evangelical... Continue Reading
Ten Reasons Why the Church of Scotland is in Decline
Ten Reasons Why the Church of Scotland is in Decline
According to this theology Christianity is just one of the many world religions which are about inner transformation (which shows that Mr. McKenna knows as little about Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism as he does about Christianity!). None of it has much to do with Jesus Christ. And there is my concern. If the Church of... Continue Reading
I Know I Say I’m Not Perfect But You Don’t Have To Agree With Me
Though I’m willing to confess publicly I am a sinner in general, I don’t like others pointing out my sin in specific.
This gets too close for comfort~ too close to exposing my true heart. Confessing in generalities is so much easier, isn’t it? Functionally, I am like the rich young ruler who has the audacity to say to Jesus of the utterly unkeepable law, “All these I have kept. What do I lack?” I don’t actually think... Continue Reading
When God’s Gifts Don’t Come Wrapped in Pretty Bows
Suffering is a gift that is intended for our good
When I first unwrapped the gift of depression, I was not grateful. I did not smile and say, “Just what I’ve always wanted!” But like Joseph, looking back, I can see how God used something bad for my good (see Genesis 50:20). Though there is nothing good about depression, God used it for my good. He... Continue Reading