MSNBC.com interviews Rachel Held Evans and Matt Anderson about evangelicals and the gay marriage debate. Here’s the intro: As the battle over gay marriage heats up in this election year, one evangelical Christian writer is calling for a truce, fearing that the outspoken opposition to gay marriage among some church leaders could alienate an entire generation of religious youth. “Evangelicals have been so submitted to these culture wars for so long, so that’s hard to give up,” evangelical writer and speaker Rachel Held Evans, 31, told msnbc.com. But “the majority of young Christians really, really, really want to stop with the political emphasis.” You need to read the rest of…
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The Slavery of Student Loan Debt
Last April we learned that student loan debt in the U.S. surpassed 1 trillion dollars (source). We also learned that Americans owe more on their student loans than on their credit cards or car loans (source). Why is this? Many people assume that a college education is the key to prosperity and is therefore worth any cost. But that assumption is profoundly inaccurate. The video above breaks down the issue as clearly and as simply as I’ve ever seen it done (HT: Ad Fontes). It argues that Americans face a “Higher Education Bubble” that is just about to burst. I think it’s right. Whether you’re a parent or a student,…
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Jeremiah and Us on Trial
Jim Hamilton preached a message on Jeremiah 26 yesterday. He compares the suffering of Jeremiah to the suffering of the faithful in every age—even our own day. It’s really good, and you can download it here or listen to it below. [audio:http://kenwoodbaptistchurch.com/podcast/download.php?filename=2012-07-01_jim_hamilton_jer_26_jeremiah_on_trial__jul_1.mp3]
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Heisman Quarterback to LSU
The video above is an ad for a new video game that allows you to put your favorite Heisman winner on any NCAA team that you want. In the ad, Les Miles catches Mike the Tiger with RG3 playing for LSU. Really hilarious. Seriously, though. We could’ve used some RG3 in that BCS title game. For those of you who were wondering, NO, I’m still not over it.
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Gagnon Calls on Exodus Leader to Resign
After reading a recent interview in The Atlantic, Robert Gagnon is calling for Alan Chambers to resign the presidency of Exodus International (an evangelical ministry to homosexuals). This call to resign carries some weight as Gagnon is the author of the single most important book defending the biblical view of homosexuality. According the Gagnon, the interview reveals serious theological error that disqualifies Chambers from remaining on as President. Gagnon says that the error represents a pattern of settled conviction on Chambers’ part. Ironically, Chambers does not revise his views on the ethics of homosexuality in the interview. Chambers still affirms the union of one man and one woman in marriage…
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Why did John Roberts side with the liberals?
Astute as ever, Charles Krauthammer explains why Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberals in yesterday’s landmark ruling on Obamacare. Ironically, it is not because Roberts himself is a liberal. Krauthammer explains: Why did he do it? Because he carries two identities. Jurisprudentially, he is a constitutional conservative. Institutionally, he is chief justice and sees himself as uniquely entrusted with the custodianship of the court’s legitimacy, reputation and stature…
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Exodus Backs away from Reparative Therapy
Some big news broke this week about Exodus International, a well-known Christian ministry to homosexuals. Exodus International is backing away from the long-held view that sexual orientation can be changed through reparative therapy. Groups like Exodus have been excoriated in the mainstream press over the years for supporting such therapies, as the AP reports:
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President Obama: It’s “absolutely” not a tax increase
In 2009 and 2010, President Obama argued that the individual mandate would not be a tax. When the law was being debated in congress, supporters as well insisted that it wasn’t a tax. Today, however, the Supreme Court ruled that the individual mandate is a tax. In an interview with George Stephanopoulos in 2009, the President made his case against it being construed as a tax. The relevant portion in the video above begins at 3:34. The transcript is below.
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CNN and FOX Really Whiffed It Today
Both CNN and FOX News whiffed it today in their coverage of the Supreme Court’s decision on Obamacare. CNN’s correspondent was breathless in her exclamation that the Supreme Court had struck down the law. I’ve seen this happen before when reporters try to break news about a Supreme Court decision before actually reading the majority opinion in full. I watch MSNBC, so I missed this while it was happening. But I did see the confusion on Twitter, and it was quite the spectacle as people tried to get their stories straight.
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What SCOTUS’s Decision Means for the Pro-life Cause
The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC released a statement today spelling out the impact of today’s decision on Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate. Here’s an excerpt: