Christianity Today asked Philip Ryken last week what he expects “to be Wheaton’s greatest ‘identity challenge’ in relating to trends in American culture?” His answer: “I think the issue of homosexuality will for the foreseeable future be a defining challenge for the evangelical church generally, and, therefore, also for the college.” He calls homosexuality a “defining challenge” not just for Wheaton, but for all of evangelicalism. There are a number of reasons that I agree with this assessment, but let me just give you a few thoughts to consider.
-
-
Did I get married too young?
David Lapp got married last year when he was 22 years old and his wife was 21. By today’s standards, that is really young. But in today’s Wall Street Journal, Lapp makes the case for early marriage. He writes: “Did I get married too young? I may not have the freedom to globetrot at my own leisure or to carouse at a bar late into the night. But when I step into our 500-square-foot one-bedroom apartment, warmly lighted and smelling of fresh flowers and baked bread, I do have the freedom to kiss my beautiful wife and best friend—the woman I pledged to always love and cherish, and to raise…
-
The Gospel vs. Open Marriage
If you don’t think that gay “marriage” is a threat to marriage, then you need to read this. The New York Times reports on a study to be released next month that shows that many “married” homosexuals do not consider monogamy to be a central component of their “marriages.” These couples are open to multiple partners while only being “married” to one. Why is this? According to the report, “Some gay men and lesbians argue that, as a result, they have stronger, longer-lasting and more honest relationships. And while that may sound counterintuitive, some experts say boundary-challenging gay relationships represent an evolution in marriage — one that might point the…
-
Much Ado about Tebow…Nothing
If you missed the Tebow ad during the Superbowl, here it is. Believe me, it was missable. The message was so understated and Tebow’s part in it was so short, that I’m guessing most viewers probably didn’t even know what it was about. And so the “Tebow Dust-up of 2010” goes into the history books not as a hyper-politicized pro-life smack-down, but as an understated pro-family short. The feminist groups that lobbied to have CBS pull the ad have to be feeling a little bit silly today. Their overreaction in advance of the game now looks pretty extreme in retrospect. And that is probably the most notable result of this…
-
Tebow Not the First
I will never forget the 1986 Superbowl Championship when Phil Simms’ New York Giants defeated John Elway’s Denver Broncos. I was as proud as punch because my Dad had coached one of the Giants’ players when he was in high school—middle linebacker Gary Reasons. Not only did we watch the Giants win the game, but I also got to meet Reasons and see his Superbowl ring when he made a homecoming visit to his high school alma mater after the season was over. It was amazing. I know about that season, and I know about that team. But I didn’t know until today about something else that team did after…
-
Tebow’s Intolerant Critics
“If the pro-choice stance is so precarious that a story about someone who chose to carry a risky pregnancy to term undermines it, then CBS is not the problem.” That line is from Sally Jenkins’ must-read column in the Washington Post. Jenkins is a feminist and is pro-choice. Nevertheless, she believes that the National Organization for Women (NOW) needs to stop hyperventilating about Tim Tebow’s forthcoming pro-life Superbowl Ad. She writes, “Apparently NOW feels this commercial is an inappropriate message for America to see for 30 seconds, but women in bikinis selling beer is the right one. I would like to meet the genius at NOW who made that decision.…
-
The Legacy of Feminism
‘Feminist leaders would have us “Make the ‘choice’ that’s right for you,” but that sort of me-first mentality merely produced a generation of self-absorbed, Xanax-popping corporate climbers.’ –Katie Walker, Washington Post
-
“Lost” Is Back
How many of you are fans of the television series “Lost”? The new season starts this week, and Newsweek has an interesting report on it titled “The End Is Near.” “As fans start speculating about the show’s final season (set to launch on Feb. 2), they would do well to remember that more than anything else—and more than any other acclaimed show ever on television—Lost is a show about faith.” This assessment is certainly correct. I would, however, take it a step further and say that “Lost” focuses on themes related to the Christian faith in particular. It constantly alludes to the Bible, one of the main characters is named…
-
TIME on Gay “Marriage” Trial
Don’t miss Michael Lindenberger’s TIME magazine article on the closing arguments of the gay “marriage” trial in California. He sums up the stakes of this case very well: “What’s equally clear now, after nearly three weeks of evidence, is that no matter what happens, the debate over gay marriage will never again be the same
-
Leno as Hitler?
Where are the Editors at The Wall Street Journal? Not only do they allow an inane comparison between Jay Leno and Adolf Hitler, they also don’t realize that Jimmy Fallon (not Jimmy Kimmel) follows “The Tonight Show.” In his goofy Op-Ed, Joe Queenan writes, “Mr. Leno will soon go after ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ which follows ‘The Tonight Show,’ quite possibly demanding that NBC expand ‘Tonight’ to its original 90-minute length.” I expect we’ll see a correction on the on the Kimmel gaffe. The only way to correct the rest of it would be to remove the article. Meanwhile, Conan bows out gracefully. Now as Forest Gump would say, that’s all…