John Stackhouse penned an article this week for Christianity Today with the apt title, “Memo to Worship Bands: Five sound reasons to lower the volume.” Stackhouse’s central concern is summed up in this sentence: “I find almost every worship band in every church I visit to be too loud—not just a little bit loud, but uncomfortably, even painfully, loud.” He then goes on to give five reasons why worship leaders should turn down the volume.
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Celebrating the Ministry of John MacArthur
John MacArthur’s The Gospel According to Jesus: What is Authentic Faith? was probably the most important, theologically formative books that I read as a college student. The Lord used that book in my life to free me from the “easy-believism” gospel that I had unconsciously imbibed from the pervasive cultural Christianity that surrounded me. Long before I ever heard MacArthur preach a sermon, I read this book. And it changed me forever.
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Mark Driscoll on ABC’s “Nightlineâ€
ABC’s “Nightline” profiled Mark Driscoll’s ministry last night. The video is available here. The text version has been available since last week, and you can read it here. UPDATE: The ESV Study Bible also makes a cameo. Way to go Crossway!
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Piper Thunders To Obama on Abortion
Last week, President Obama released a statement celebrating the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The video above shows Dr. John Piper’s response. As I watched Piper thunder, I thought of John the Baptist’s conflict with Herod. It was a courageous, God-exalting, sin-exposing confrontation with evil. I am grateful to God for Piper’s powerful, prophetic voice in defense of life. You can download the entire sermon here or listen to it below. [audio:http://www.desiringgod.org/download.php?file=http://media.desiringgod.org/audio/2009/20090125.mp3]
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Nancy Pelosi Thinks We Need Less Children Being Born
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is defending the fact that hundreds of millions of dollars of the forthcoming stimulus package are to be spent on “family planning.” Her argument is very simple. The economy is bad. Having babies costs money. Would-be parents need to save their money by not having babies.
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Obama on Roe v. Wade Anniversary
Today marks the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade—a decision that has resulted in the legal killing of nearly 50 million unborn humans since 1973. Many Americans observe this date with special, pro-life observances. Last Sunday, countless churches across the nation observed “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.” Today, thousands of citizens will march on the nation’s capital in favor of life.
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Life: Imagine the Potential
According to Justin Taylor, this ad is appearing in select markets on Black Entertainment Television. This one is worth passing along to others.
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Being Pro-life Christians under a Pro-choice President
“Being Pro-life Christians under a Pro-choice President” is the title of a sermon that John Piper preached in 1993 three days before Bill Clinton was inaugurated as president of the United States. Piper has posted on excerpt from that sermon today on his blog, saying that these words are just as relevant now as they were then. I couldn’t agree more. Piper’s text was 1 Peter 2:17, “Honor the king,” and he closed his sermon with eight ways to honor a pro-choice president. Here’s the seventh:
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Rick Warren To Pray In Jesus’ Name
Rick Warren has told his congregation that he intends to pray in Jesus’ name at tomorrow’s presidential inauguration. He has asked for prayers from his church members. Here’s the story from Brandon Rogers (HT: Justin Taylor). Warren’s prayer will be a sharp contrast to that of Gene Robinson, whose prayer was excluded from HBO’s broadcast of the inaugural festivities yesterday. Sarah Pulliam shot a video of Robinson’s prayer for Christianity Today (see below). Aaron Barnhart notes three lines from Robinson’s prayer that were in the original written version, but were not included when Robinson voiced the prayer.
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The Bishop’s Unchristian Prayer
Even though he is a bishop in the Episcopal Church, Gene Robinson promised that he would not offer a Christian prayer at the inaugural celebration. Today he lived up to his word. At the opening inaugural festivities, not only did the Bishop fail to offer a Christian prayer, he began his supplication by addressing a false god—one that he called the “God of our many understandings.” In one sentence, he endorsed the idolatry that is endemic to the human condition—the idea that god is whoever we imagine him to be. There’s no question that the warnings of Romans 1:18-31 apply here. The rest of the prayer is filled with liberal…