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.
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How Pres. Obama Invokes Jesus’ Support for Liberal Policies
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…
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Tony Dungy on Pres. Obama’s Gay Marriage Stance
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…
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Frank Beckwith on Pres. Obama and The Golden Rule
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…
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The Blasphemy of Barack Obama
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.
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President Obama’s Scriptural Defense of Gay Marriage
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…
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N. T. Wright Sings Bob Dylan
Last night, N. T. Wright made an appearance at the Church of the Redeemer in Nashville, Tennessee. He regaled the gathering with his version of Bob Dylan’s classic “When the Ship Comes In.” Watch above. Read about it here. As the kids say, mad props to Reverend Wright, theologian and bard!
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Eric Metaxas Takes on Dan Savage’s Bullying
Eric Metaxas takes on Dan Savage in today’s Breakpoint commentary. You can listen to it below or download it here. [audio:http://www.breakpoint.org/images/content/breakpoint/audio/2012/050812_BP.mp3] Here’s a snippet: Tolerance used to be defined as a willingness to put up with the beliefs or practices of those with whom we disagree. Today, tolerance means we must accept the beliefs and practices of others as correct — or risk being called a bigot. It’s interesting that this redefinition of tolerance almost always involves debates over homosexuality — and it always seems to be people on just one side of the debate calling those with whom they disagree “intolerant.”
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Tennessee Baptists Decline Recognition at Vanderbilt
The Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) on the campus of Vanderbilt University has decided after all not to accept recognition as a campus group. At issue is Vanderbilt’s new policy requiring Christian groups to accept non-Christians as potential leaders in the BCM. The Baptist Press has the scoop with an explanation about the change from Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Here’s the relevant portion from the report:
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Update on the Stanley Conversation
For those of you following the conversation about Andy Stanley’s controversial message, a few remarks by way of update: