Should we be trying to reduce abortions or eliminate them? That was the question that was taken up in a recent edition of “The Albert Mohler Program.” On the show, Russell Moore moderates a discussion between Tony Campolo and Robert George. On the one hand, George contends that every person’s life (including the unborn’s) should be protected in law (thus eliminating abortion as a legal option). On the other hand, Campolo argues in favor of public policies that might reduce the number of abortions in America. Campolo has recently been named to the Democratic Party’s platform committee where he hopes that an ‘abortion reduction’ plank might be introduced into the…
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Bobby Jindal’s Conversion
Don’t miss Robert Costa’s piece in today’s Wall Street Journal, “Rebel With a Cause: Bobby Jindal’s Spiritual Journey.” Bobby Jindal is the governor of my home state of Louisiana. And though he was born into a Hindu family, he converted to Roman Catholicism when he was in high school. Jindal describes his journey to Christian faith as a long process. But one passage from the Journal article describes a breaking point.
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Enns Is Out at Westminster
Dr. Peter Enns and Westminster Theological Seminary have released a joint statement announcing Dr. Enns’ departure from WTS. Here it is. “The administration and Prof. Peter Enns wish to announce that they have arrived at mutually agreeable terms, and that, as of 31 July, 2008, Prof. Enns will discontinue his service to Westminster Theological Seminary after fourteen years. “The administration wishes to acknowledge the valued role Prof. Enns has played in the life of the institution, and that his teaching and writings fall within the purview of Evangelical thought. The Seminary wishes Prof. Enns well in his future endeavors to serve the Lord. “Prof. Enns wishes to acknowledge that the…
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Talk about Chutzpa!
The openly gay U.S. Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson recently had this to say about his fellow Anglicans who think homosexuality to be a sin. “Why is the Anglican Communion tearing itself apart over two men wanting to make a Christian family together? . . . We have raised this one issue of sexuality over and above all the essentials. This is at best unhelpful — and at worst idolatry.” Talk about chutzpa! The Bishop calls opposition to homosexuality “idolatry.” Yet the apostle Paul says exactly the opposite in Romans 1 where he says that homosexuality is idolatry (Romans 1:25-27). This is what happens when biblical authority is abandoned. Anything goes.
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Witherington on CNN (and my thoughts too)
New Testament scholar Ben Witherington appeared on CNN to talk about an ancient pre-Christian tablet that has recently caused some controversy among biblical scholars. Witherington’s brief remarks are good, and to them I would add a few of my own.
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Who is the prophet in this picture?
Openly gay US Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson was preaching in London about how sad it was that the Anglican Communion was tearing itself apart over the issue of homosexuality. As he was speaking, a congregant stood up and began shouting “heretic” and “repent.” Many others in the congregation followed the outburst with claps. Watch it here. To be sure, some people will say that the outburst was just rude. But you tell me. Who is the prophet in this picture? Here are some lines from Bishop Robinson’s sermon:
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Abortion, Race, and the NAACP
Yesterday, Senator Barack Obama addressed the 99th annual conference for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). William McGurn of the Wall Street Journal notes why the meeting was important: “For one thing, the first African-American to head the presidential ticket of a major party was on hand. Yet there was another interesting appearance that went mostly unmentioned. This was a protest by African-American pro-lifers – many NAACP members – who can’t understand why America’s most venerated civil rights organization turns a blind eye to what they say is the abortion industry’s practice of targeting poor minority neighborhoods.”
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The Glories of Motherhood
I heard a fascinating interview last week with Heather Payne, a member of the award-winning Christian pop group “Point of Grace.” Recently, Payne announced that she was leaving the group so that she could focus on being a mom. You can read about her departure here, but I recommend listening to the interview below. [audio:http://www.sbts.edu/MP3/totl/2008/AMP_07_11_2008.mp3] I think what Payne has done is positively counter-cultural (in a good sense). May her tribe increase! Here’s a description of the show from “The Albert Mohler Program” website: “Can a Christian mom do everything the world tells them they can and should do? The perfect education, career, and family? Singer Heather Payne recently announced…
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Russell Moore Wallops Wright and the Right
When Russell Moore is on, he’s on. His article in the most recent issue of Touchstone magazine sounds a prophetic note that has a wallop for both liberals and conservatives. Here’s an excerpt, but you really should read the whole thing. ‘One does not have to be a political radical to bypass Jesus at church. White, upwardly mobile, pro-America preachers preach liberation theology all the time, with all the fervor of Jeremiah Wright, if not the anger.
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Gender Talk on “The Albert Mohler Program”
Yesterday, Dr. Russell Moore hosted a discussion of biblical manhood and womanhood on “The Albert Mohler Program,” and I was pleased to be a guest along with my good friend Jim Hamilton. You can hear the show at AlbertMohler.com, at the show’s podcast, or at the player below. [audio:http://www.sbts.edu/MP3/totl/2008/AMP_06_30_2008.mp3] At the beginning of the program, Dr. Moore mentioned that he had been in the Dallas area to deliver some messages at Denton Bible Church. Not only that, he offered a noteworthy tribute to Tommy Nelson, the pastor of Denton Bible Church: