The media mouths continue to heap scorn (and blasphemy in some cases) on Brit Hume for his comments about Christianity and Buddhism (e.g., Keith Olbermann, Jon Stewart, ad infinitum). Tom Shales also adds some barbs of his own in his regular column for the Washington Post. One sentence in particular from Shales’ article struck me. He writes:
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Offering Redemption and Forgiveness
Brit Hume has been taking some flak for his remarks yesterday about Christianity and Buddhism. My previous post has the video of his full remarks in which he encourages Tiger Woods to become a Christian. In his own words, “Whether he can recover as a person depends on his faith. He’s said to be a Buddhist. I don’t think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. So my message to Tiger would be, ‘Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.'”
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Brit Hume to Tiger Woods
“Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.”
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My Plan To Read the Bible in 2010
In years past, my usual mode for reading the Bible through every year involved starting in Genesis and reading right through to Revelation. I estimated that about four chapters per day would get me through in under a year’s time. The method worked reasonably well, but it wasn’t without its problems. Sometimes I would miss a day (or days) and get behind, and I had no way to keep up with my progress. I needed a schedule so that I could keep myself accountable for finishing in a year.
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The Incarnation
There is hardly anything more mysterious and wonderful to me than the incarnation of Jesus Christ. God became a man. Jesus Christ is at once fully God and fully man. God took on mortal human flesh and became subject to all the things that every other mortal is subject to. He sneezed. He coughed. He got headaches and an upset stomach. Every morning he got up, shook the dust out of His hair, and served His Father faithfully.
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Evangelical Church Endorses Homosexuality
The Associated Press reports that an “evangelical” church in Colorado has decided to endorse homosexual monogamy as a valid Christian lifestyle. The pastor of the church reasons this way: “Our position is not one of lenience, but a matter of justice. It’s not that we don’t acknowledge the reality of sin. It’s not a sin to be gay or act in accordance with your nature.” The article also suggests that this particular church has found a middle-way and has transcended the typical conservative-liberal divide on this issue. But as you read on, it becomes clear that the pastor has embraced traditionally liberal interpretations of key biblical texts.
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USA Today on Multi-site Churches
USA Today reports on the burgeoning multi-site church phenomenon. Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, and Ed Stetzer are interviewed in the article. Here’s how the report describes it: It’s not the traditional American mom-and-pop church, where the same pastor counsels parishioners, visits when they’re ill or marries or buries them. . . This form of high-efficiency evangelism allows thousands of worshipers to hear the same message from a lead pastor or a member of his team, in person or by video at three, five, even a dozen or more locations. Meanwhile, others take over the one-to-one side of ministry — counseling, ceremonies and small-group guidance. . . The multisite model can…
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On Matt Chandler
Matt Chandler received a pathology report today indicating that he has cancer (read the statement here). I will be praying for him and his family, and I’m sure that many of you will be as well. I’m grateful that in the midst of this trial, he’s got the smell of grace all over him. Yesterday, he wrote this on his Twitter site: “The pathology report is secondary at best. A good report doesn’t mean much, and bad report doesn’t mean anything. My days are numbered and not by this report.” So true. We love you and will be praying for you, brother. Psalm 139:16: “All the days ordained for me…
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Christmas and Easter Christians
Here’s an important report on Christians who only attend church at Christmas and Easter. Don’t miss this one. Here’s an excerpt: ‘The Burnett family and thousands of other Christmas-and-Easter — or C&E — Christians are gearing up for “the Season” which runs from roughly Thanksgiving to Easter. C&E Christians relish church holiday services, or feel duty bound to attend, but refuse to show up the rest of the year. But as churches grow more aggressive about courting new members, C&E Christians are devising more complex strategies for navigating their church visits.’ Read the rest here.
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Carl Trueman Is Not My Friend
Just to be clear. Though I like Carl Trueman’s writings, I have never met him, and he is not my friend. Moreover, if we ever were to meet, I’m sure he wouldn’t like me. Nevertheless, you should read his latest article on Reformation21. It’s devastating and good. And there’s not a one of us who doesn’t need to hear it. The article lambastes Christians who use the web to puff-up their own egos. Here’s an excerpt: