Creation and Charity: A Six Day Creationist Proposes a Third Way
There is a reason why six day creation is not regarded as an essential doctrine in the Great Tradition. In two thousand years there has been no monolithic stance on the days of Genesis. Even if a majority of Christian interpreters have taken the traditional view, we should take notice that the interpretation over the... Continue Reading
The Short Term Missionary vs. Vacationary debate; More Thoughts on ‘Toxic Charity’ and ‘When Helping Hurts’
I understand why “mission trips” are so popular. They give American laypeople an opportunity to feel like they’ve done something to save the world without leaving their comfort zone for very long. Upon their return, they acquire the status of heroes of the faith (“Wow! You spent a whole week in Africa? Man, that is... Continue Reading
Top Stories of 2011 on The Aquila Report – Numbers 50- 41
In 2011 The Aquila Report has posted over 2,500 stories. This week we will feature the top 50 of those stories, 10 per day the rest of the year. The top story had over 6,500 hits; Number 50 had 1,179. We try to average 7 new stories each day, with a large variety of subjects... Continue Reading
Beards: A Hairy Topic in My Household – The cultural and religious significance of the manly mane.
It’s no coincidence, I think, that in an age of diminishing rites and rituals, one of the most prominent male physical features traditionally associated with both maleness and religion is making a comeback. As a symbol of masculinity, beards set the men apart from the boys—and the women. Every year about this time, when the... Continue Reading
Christianity’s non-European future
Admittedly, I’m not an historian and don’t know the answers to all these questions but if You Lost Me author David Kinnaman is right about nearly 60 percent of American young people involved in church life as teens drop out after high school, American Christians will need to look to Africa, Latin America, and Asia... Continue Reading
Gleaning: Blessing others as God has blessed you
First, they are told that they should do this so that God may bless them in all they do. God’s people are to remember that all they have comes from the Lord. Because He has blessed them, they are to be a blessing to others, and God promises that He will continue to bless them.... Continue Reading
We Need More Worship Wars, Not Fewer
When I insist that the rest of the congregation serve as backup singers in my own little nostalgic hit parade of back-home Mississippi hymns, I am worshiping in the spirit all right, but not the Holy Spirit. I am worshiping myself, in the spirit of self-exaltation. Self-denying humility ought to show up in the way... Continue Reading
Baby Jesus: 3 Reasons To Reject Him
Friends of God are those who have been born again. They are those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And they are those who have given up working and striving to earn God’s love and favor, but accepted the free gift of His love and forgiveness and salvation, by grace. Reason #1... Continue Reading
Ten Ways to Bring the Gospel Home This Christmas
As we dialogue with family about the gospel, let’s not default to quoting Bible verses that don’t really answer the questions being asked. Let’s take up the gospel in its accompanying worldview and engage their questions as much as possible in the terms in which they asked them. Tis’ the most wonderful time of the... Continue Reading
A Christmas Message Based on the Prophetic Lyrics of Mr Roy Wood
The message of Christmas is the message of the cross: all our human conceptions are turned upside down; greatness is found in a manger and on a cross; the most powerful autonomous aspirations of men and women are in comparison to the baby Jesus but childish acts of meaningless defiance; atheism pretends to maturity; but... Continue Reading