John Calvin on Divorce

By on May 16, 2012 in Theology/Bible

“They who, for slight causes, rashly allow of divorces, violate, in one single particular, all the laws of nature, and reduce them to nothing. If we should make it a point of conscience not to separate a father from his son, it is still greater wickedness to dissolve the bond which God has preferred to all others.” –John Calvin’s commentary on Genesis 2:24

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Matt Anderson on Getting beyond the Culture Wars

By on May 15, 2012 in Christianity, Politics

Matthew Anderson writes about the culture wars and the future of evangelical witness. The whole thing is a good read, but there are some nuggets in here worth highlighting. On marriage amendments, he writes,

The overwhelming passage of traditional marriage amendments are not signs of our society’s health, but its disease–and we are all implicated in it.

Anderson goes on to show that calls to get beyond the culture wars really miss the point. I think Anderson nails it in this paragraph. Continue Reading →

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How Pres. Obama Invokes Jesus’ Support for Liberal Policies

By on May 15, 2012 in Christianity, Politics

Michael Gerson takes on President Obama’s proclivity for invoking Jesus in support of liberal public policies. Pay special attention to the last line. Gerson writes:

Agree or disagree with the policies Obama recommends, his arguments can’t be called sophisticated. They are the liberal political application of a “What Would Jesus Do?” wristband. In a mirror reflection of the religious right, Obama has a tendency to engage in partisan proof texting — which is divisive in service to any ideology. Saying “I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount” is a claim of divine authority that short-circuits democratic debate. Even when Obama changes his political views, Jesus somehow comes around to agreeing with him.

Read the rest here.

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R. T. France on Divorce and Creation Ethics

By on May 14, 2012 in Theology/Bible

Much debate surrounds Jesus’ remarks about divorce in Matthew 19:3-12. R. T. France observes why so much of the discussion is off-base from the start. In doing so, he provides some sage advice about Christian ethics in general. He writes: Continue Reading →

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Horton and Wilson Spar over “Muscular Christianity”

By on May 13, 2012 in Theology/Bible

Michael Horton and Doug Wilson have begun a conversation about gender roles that is not to be missed. Horton began the discussion last week in a short article in Modern Reformation titled “Muscular Christianity.” Doug Wilson responded on his blog just today in a post titled, “Michael Horton, Gender Stereotypes, and Me.” Continue Reading →

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Tony Dungy on Pres. Obama’s Gay Marriage Stance

By on May 13, 2012 in Christianity, Politics

Tony Dungy tweeted a short word about his take on President Obama’s gay marriage announcement (HT). Dungy writes:

I was disappointed he veered from biblical view.

In 2007, Dungy spoke out publicly in favor of an amendment to the Indiana state constitution that would define marriage as between one man and one woman. He took some criticism for this, but he explained that his feelings on the matter grew directly out of his Christian convictions. In his own words:

We’re not trying to downgrade anyone else. But we’re trying to promote the family — family values the Lord’s way.

Elsewhere, Dungy says this:

Family is important, and that’s what we’re trying to support. We’re not anti-anything else and not trying to hate anyone else. We’re trying to promote the family, family values, the Lord’s way. Just like I’m trying to win on the football field the Lord’s way. I’m on the Lord’s side when I’m on the field, and on the Lord’s side when I’m off the field.

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Frank Beckwith on Pres. Obama and The Golden Rule

By on May 11, 2012 in Christianity

Frank Beckwith has a short piece on President Obama’s facile application of the Golden Rule to same-sex marriage. Here’s the bottom line:

The Golden Rule is not about merely protecting your neighbor’s preferences, but rather, advancing your neighbor’s good… Continue Reading →

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The Blasphemy of Barack Obama

By on May 10, 2012 in Christianity

It’s one thing to support gay marriage. It’s quite another for a professed Christian to bear false witness about Christ to make the point. That is why Joe Carter doesn’t mince words in an open letter to President Obama. Carter writes:

Implying that Jesus supports same-sex marriage—and there really is no other way to interpret your statement—is nothing short of blasphemous. Continue Reading →

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President Obama’s Scriptural Defense of Gay Marriage

By on May 9, 2012 in Christianity, Theology/Bible

Earlier today, President Obama became the first sitting president to endorse gay marriage. In his remarks to ABC News, the president cited his Christian faith as the basis for his decision. In particular, he cited Jesus’ words in the “Golden Rule” as a key factor in his thinking. He says,

[Michelle and I] we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that’s what we try to impart to our kids and that’s what motivates me as president and I figure the most consistent I can be in being true to those precepts, the better I’ll be as a as a dad and a husband and, hopefully, the better I’ll be as president. Continue Reading →

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President Obama Endorses Gay Marriage

By on May 9, 2012 in News, Politics

The evolution is over. President Obama has officially endorsed gay marriage (see video above). He says that civil unions are not sufficient and that gay marriage should be legal. In his own words:

I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.

I thought it was interesting that his endorsement was qualified by “for me personally.” As I said in my previous post, my hunch is that he’ll personally endorse gay marriage while advocating policies that don’t go much beyond what he’s already doing. He still has an election to win, and he needs to minimize the electoral damage that he’s doing to himself in places like North Carolina, Virginia, and perhaps even Ohio. That is why it’s not accidental that he says the matter should be left to the states. For a similar analysis from Chuck Todd, see the video below.

Make no mistake, however. If President Obama wins a second term, he will be free to advance gay marriage at the federal level without electoral consequence. I believe that he will do just that if he’s reelected. Continue Reading →

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