Kevin Miller has an article at CT’s Leadership Journal reflecting on the departure of Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, and Don Miller from evangelicalism. Ten years ago, these three were supposed to be the leading lights of a new kind of Christianity. But where are they now? Miller writes:
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Is temptation a sin?
Earlier this week, I contributed a piece to the Canon & Culture blog titled “Is homosexual orientation a sin?” I argued that homosexual orientation describes one who experiences an enduring sexual attraction to persons of the same-sex. Because the Bible teaches that it is sinful to have a desire for illicit sex, homosexual orientation is by definition sinful. So yes, homosexual orientation is a sin. Since publishing the article, I have received a good bit of feedback—some positive and some negative. By far, the most frequent response has been with respect to temptation: “Are you saying that all temptation is sin? Wasn’t Jesus tempted like us yet without sin (Heb.…
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Are conscientious Christians the new Jim Crow?
Kirsten Powers argues in USA Today that Kansas’ recent effort to protect religious freedom is akin to enacting Jim Crow laws. She writes: What’s the matter with Kansas? A bill protecting the religious freedom of businesses and individuals to refuse services to same-sex couples passed the state House of Representatives last week. It was blessedly killed in the state Senate on Tuesday… Christians backing this bill are essentially arguing for homosexual Jim Crow laws. She goes on to argue that Christian business owners have an obligation to serve people they disagree with because that’s what Jesus taught us to do. She invokes Pastor Andy Stanley for support on this point:
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The most satisfying thing to the inventor of the jump-shot
Kenny Sailors is 91 years old. He is credited with inventing “the jump shot as an alternative to the two-handed, flat-footed set shot.” He won an NCAA championship, and he played in the NBA. He was married to his sweetheart for sixty years. And yet there is one thing that has been the most satisfying thing to him in all his life. Watch the video above to see what it is.
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“My Beautiful Woman”: Powerful Pro-life Message
The video above may well be the most powerful pro-life movie you’ll ever see. It is not produced by Christians. In fact, it was produced by a lingerie company. Nevertheless, it reveals the inherit value of every human life—a fact that is written across every person’s conscience. I don’t want to spoil the end, but I will say this. It is worth seven minutes to watch. Very powerful.
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The tragic case of Richard Jewell
In 1996, a bomb exploded at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. In the immediate aftermath, a hero emerged who had saved lives by warning people to flee to safety. Within a matter of days, that hero unjustly came under suspicion. He was tried and condemned in the press and in the court of public opinion. When the truth finally came out, no one was paying attention anymore, and a man’s life was ruined by a false accusation. The ESPN documentary above tells the story of Richard Jewell. It’s a tragic example of what happens when we act as if news reports are flawless depictions of reality. They are not.…
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T4G Roundtable on Evangelism
The 2014 meeting of “Together for the Gospel” is just around the corner. The T4G guys recently convened a planning meeting in Louisville, and while they were here they recorded a roundtable conversation about the conference theme. It includes Piper, Platt, Chandler, Mohler, Dever, Duncan, and Anyabwile. Here’s the description of their conversation from the T4G website: Is “evangelist” a separate office in the church? Should pastors share the gospel with everyone? What’s wrong if a pastor is “a beast in the pulpit but a coward in the community?” Listen in as the T4G guys prepare for the April 2014 gathering. You can download the audio here or listen to…
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Wheaton students protest Rosaria Butterfield
Over the weekend, I read the news of Rosaria Champagne Butterfield’s recent visit to Wheaton College. The reports I read focused on a demonstration led by Wheaton students who were concerned about Butterfield’s testimony. It’s no surprise when students on a secular university campus stage a public protest against Butterfield. But it is quite surprising when about a hundred students demonstrate at an evangelical bastion like Wheaton. The question is this: Why did these students feel the need to demonstrate?
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The simplest explanation for bias in the press
I really miss Richard John Neuhaus. His regular commentary in the “On the Square” section of First Things was worth the price of the journal. He could always see right through to the heart of an issue and then expound and reprove with wit and humor. There was no one like him. In 2006, he wrote a short bit about bias among news reporters. It’s devastating and hilarious all at once. I bring it to your attention in case you have grown frustrated with the kind of reporting that we’ve had to endure in recent days. There is nothing new under the sun. Enjoy.
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Don’t miss the 2014 Band of Bloggers
Pastors and leaders often face pressure to build their “platform” in order to gain an audience and build influence. This is especially true if you are seeking to publish a book. With all the encouragement to self-promote and brand your identity online, how does this relate to the gospel call of taking up your cross and denying yourself? How do we make much of Christ when it seems so necessary to make much of our work? On Tuesday, April 8th the 2014 Band of Bloggers with gather to fellowship together at Heritage Hall on the campus of Southern Seminary and discuss the important topic of “Platform Building and the Gospel.”…