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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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.
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Making Sense of the Texas Polygamist Controversy
Dr. Albert Mohler did an interesting show yesterday on the legal battles of the Fundamentalist Mormon sect that has been all over the news. While almost everyone would agree that the state needed to intervene in this case, he points out that there is a potential for precedents to be set that could adversely affect Christian families. You can listen to the show by pressing the “play” button below. [audio:http://www.sbts.edu/MP3/totl/2008/AMP_04_24_2008.mp3]
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Speaking of Evangelicals and Politics . . . Jim Wallis
Yesterday I lamented the fact that the evangelical left has their priorities all wrong. They refuse to treat abortion-on-demand as a transcendent moral issue. In other words, they do not think it should be a priority for Christians to support the protection of the unborn in law. Christians might try to reduce the abortion rate through social action, but they should not seek to protect the unborn through political means. At least that’s what the religious left is urging us to do.
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Young, Restless, Reformed by Collin Hansen
Collin Hansen, Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008). 160pp. $14.99. In 2006, Christianity Today editor-at-large Collin Hansen wrote an article about the rise of Calvinism among younger evangelicals. The piece had the title “Young, Restless, Reformed,” and it was a CT cover-story that raised eyebrows across evangelicalism. That is one of the reasons that news of Hansen’s book (published under the same title) caught my attention when I heard it was in the works last year. When Justin Taylor noted that the book was finally released on March 30, I ordered it almost immediately.
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Baptist Press on the Criswell Decision
Gary Ledbetter of the Southern Baptist Texan has more on the news that I wrote about yesterday. He writes: “A rumor that Criswell College, started in 1975 by First Baptist Church of Dallas, would become part of nearby Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was laid to rest by the college’s trustees during their regularly scheduled board meeting April 10. “As the college and the church continue to discuss their future relationship, some had suggested that Criswell College might become part of the seminary’s undergraduate program. That was apparently the motivation for the Criswell College trustees’ vote, which was without dissent, that the college would not become part of the seminary in…
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Criswell College Not Going to Southwestern
I have some news to report concerning the college at which I am a professor. There have been rumors floating around the Southern Baptist Convention to the effect that Criswell College would be moving to Fort Worth, Texas to become a part of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. There was such a proposal before Criswell College’s trustees. But today Criswell’s trustees voted unanimously against making Criswell College a part of Southwestern Seminary. Criswell College will not be going to Southwestern but will continue in Dallas under its current governing structure. There should be an official press release sometime today or tomorrow.
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Not Your Father’s L’Abri
Don’t miss Molly Worthen’s article “Not Your Father’s L’Abri” in Christianity Today. Among other things, she notes that currents residents at L’Abri are ambivalent about Francis Schaeffer’s legacy and are fond of the writings of emergent church leaders. Some excerpts:
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What is Christian Music?
Brent Thomas has some interesting reflections on the question “What is Christian music?” He writes: ‘We must understand that we have created our own sub-culture which runs by its own rules. Just because something may be purchased at a Christian bookstore does not mean it may be trusted. Conversely, just because something may not be purchased at the same store does not mean the people behind it are not glorifying God in what they do. These issues are not new to anyone involved in “Christian” music or books at any level. However, we must be sensitive to the fact that many well-meaning believers are sincerely swayed by labeling, and the…