Richard Mouw is on the steering committee that drafted “An Evangelical Manifesto.” Yesterday, NPR interviewed him about the “Manifesto,” and the audio is available here. Or you can listen to it below. The interview begins at 27:20. [audio:http://podcastdownload.npr.org/anon.npr-podcasts/podcast/17/90266651/npr_90266651.mp3] I am not yet ready to post all of my reflections on the document, though I can tell you now that my review will be mixed. One of the reasons for my skepticism is confirmed in this interview. As everyone knows, leading evangelicals like James Dobson, Tony Perkins, Charles Colson, Albert Mohler, and others have not signed on to support the “Manifesto.” Mouw tells NPR that many of those who haven’t signed…
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The Release of “An Evangelical Manifesto”
“An Evangelical Manifesto” was released this morning at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. As I noted in previous posts, I will offer some reflections on the “Manifesto” either later on today or tomorrow. For now, I direct your attention to the media materials that have been released. There is a video recording of the event held this morning: Archived Webcast of Press Conference. You will need Windows Media Player to view it. There are two websites: www.anevangelicalmanifesto.com and www.evangelicalmanifesto.com. The latter of the two websites is a press-friendly site that has an executive summary of the 20 page document.
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Anticipating “An Evangelical Manifesto” – Part 2
USA Today has a story out in advance of the release of the “Manifesto.” There are some encouraging signs here that were missing from the AP story that I referenced in the previous post. The opening paragraph reads: ‘An “evangelical manifesto” being released today by a group of Christian scholars and theologians is expected to try to take back the term “evangelical” from politics and return it to its theological roots.’ A spokesman for the “Manifesto” says that,
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Anticipating “An Evangelical Manifesto”
This weekend the Associated Press reported that a group of evangelicals will release a document criticizing an evangelical movement that is too mired in partisan politics. ‘Conservative Christian leaders who believe the word “evangelical” has lost its religious meaning plan to release a starkly self-critical document saying the movement has become too political and has diminished the Gospel through its approach to the culture wars. ‘The statement, called “An Evangelical Manifesto,” condemns Christians on the right and left for “using faith” to express political views without regard to the truth of the Bible, according to a draft of the document obtained Friday by The Associated Press.’ I have not yet…
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What To Do with Economic Stimulus Checks
Recently, a debate has broken about whether Christians should use their forthcoming “economic stimulus checks” for missions rather than spending it on consumer goods. What are our obligations given that the rationale for sending out the checks in the first place is so that more money might be pumped into the economy? The discussion started with a short essay by John Piper, but others have been weighing in on the question. Last week, Tim Chailles interviewed David Kotter about this issue. Kotter currently serves as the executive director of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Previously, Kotter taught business courses at Trinity International University, worked as a finance manager…
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D. A. Carson on Just War
A student of mine alerted me to a lecture that D. A. Carson delivered in 2004 on the topic of Just War at a “Henry Forum” at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D. C. Immediately following his presentation, Carson fielded questions from the audience. You can download the audio from the church’s website or listen to it below. Carson is a Just War proponent who rightly views Just War as an expression of Christian love. Carson also discusses how just war theory informs our assessment of the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan, and preemptive war in general. Just War[audio:http://www.chbcaudio.org/podpress_trac/web/109/0/03-10-04.mp3] Just War – Q&A[audio:http://www.chbcaudio.org/podpress_trac/web/110/0/03-10-04q.mp3]
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Complementarian Series from Mark Dever
Dr. Mark Dever is the pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D. C. He is a faithful pastor and expositor of God’s word, and I have benefitted greatly from his ministry over the years. Dr. Dever recently completed an excellent sermon series on gender roles, and all of the audio is available via his church’s website and podcast. The four sermons are listed below. Gender Identity in Creation – Genesis 1:27 Gender Identity in Redemption – Galatians 3:28 Gender Roles in the Family – Genesis 2:20-24 Gender Roles in the Church – 1 Timothy 2:12 The introduction to the sermon on 1 Timothy 2:12 is an adaptation of…
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Journal for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood
The Journal for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood (JBMW) is a theological journal that focuses on gender issues from a complementarian perspective. Last year I was hired as the editor of that journal, and the first issue for which I am responsible has just come back from the printer. I have made some changes in the format that I hope will open up the journal to a wider audience. I explain those changes in my editorial. The current issue includes articles from John Piper, Mark Dever, Jim Hamilton, Ligon Duncan, and more. In addition to my editorial, two articles are available on the website for free: “Pursuing Manhood” by Ray Van…
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Jeremiah Wright’s Most Dangerous Comment
On Monday, Pastor Jeremiah Wright had the following exchange with the moderator at the National Press Club (transcript): MODERATOR: “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the father but through me.’ Do you believe this? And do you think Islam is a way to salvation?” WRIGHT: “Jesus also said, ‘Other sheep have I who are not of this fold.'” Wright’s response clearly implies that Muslims are among the “other sheep” to which Jesus refers in John 10:16. Thus Wright affirms that people who do not have conscious faith in Christ can nevertheless have the hope of salvation — an inclusivist position that…
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J. I. Packer Splits with the Anglicans of Canada
From The Vancouver Sun: One of the world’s most famous evangelical theologians quit the Anglican Church of Canada this week because he believes many of its bishops are “arguably heretical” for adhering to “poisonous liberalism.” James Packer, whom Time magazine recently named as one of the planet’s 25 most influential evangelicals, said he hesitated before using the harsh terms to describe the Anglican bishops, but believed he must do so in the name of truth.