Dinesh D’Souza Debates Christopher Hitchens
If you have not watched Dinesh D’Souza, speaker and author of New York Times Bestseller What’s So Great About Christianity, debate Christopher Hitchens on: Is Christianity the Problem?, you should! Also, be sure to visit dineshdsouza.com for more resources and a much-needed response to the new atheist offensive. Bonus: Check out his most recent AOL News articles titled Atheist Bashing Week (the last paragraph is sharp!) and Ben Stein Exposes Richard Dawkins.
Ron Sider and Evangelicals for Social Action
Have you considered Evangelicals for Social Action? I have; I just joined as a member too! It is very likely that the continued rise of such culturally relevant and biblically solid Evangelical expression will render newer and thinner expressions pointless and maybe even a tad silly too (the more videos like this I watch, the less I want to hang out with either side).
Suggestion: If you are looking for something deeper, don’t toss out all of Evangelicalism just because a whole bunch of people may have not expressed it as well as it could have been. Don’t buy into the latest book-selling gimmick or popular fad. Just dive even deeper into faith and history and do it right yourself. You may find others who will happily join you on this deep journey at Evangelicals for Social Action.
Incidentally, ESA was founded by Ron Sider - author of Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger and The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience (these books, according to the web site, articulate ESA’s vision). Read More »
The Socio-liberal and Conservative Religious Onion
A question concerning the way the Bible is used in this left vs. right USA socio-cultural context of ours has been nagging at me for more than a few days. I can’t quite put my finger on the problem that I feel is revealed in the way the Bible is used to buttress conservative and/or liberal arguments inherent to contemporary socio-cultural debate(s). I do know this much: I think such use of the Bible only produces that which the Bible was never intended to produce. The product? A nationalistic and extremely limited expression of the Gospel. This does great damage to God’s story.
The following is my best attempt to articulate the convolution conceived during the socio-cultural left and right’s wrestling match for the Bible. It’s abstract, at best.
The socio-religious liberal is quick to brand the literal interpretation of the Bible advanced by the socio-religious conservative as detriment. For example, when an important subject such as homosexuality is raised, the liberal interpreter quickly flips to Deuteronomy and points at archaic, forgotten, and/or discarded aspects of the Code. We don’t care if our fabric is made with mixed-materials anymore; we don’t adhere to the Sabbath; we don’t execute adulterers. “This material can not, therefore, be taken literally,” says the liberal interpreter. Fair enough; no ‘major’ problems, yet. The problem, however, arises when the socio-religious liberal, in an attempt to defend his or her respective argument(s) in contemporary socio-cultural debate(s), leaps to another hermeneutic and proclaims aspects of the Code - aspects that are rooted in identity rather than historical and/or cultural relativity, and are consequently not as easy to dismiss - irrelevant. This problem is not located in the declaration of Code irrelevancy itself, but in the literal gymnastics required to make it. Read More »
Living in the Tension of Spirit-laden Journey
Living in the tension of a developing faith is not easy. If a faith is not developing than it is already cut off. A handful of simple convictions launches us into journey. The rest we have to discover, break, stitch, patch, heal, and make our own. Jesus is in all of it, somehow. The God searched for and sought after is glorified in the searching and seeking. Read More »
Notes on A Sunday Morning with Ravi Zacharias
Distinguished lecturer, Christian philosopher, apologist, and author Ravi Zacharias was in Lancaster yesterday. He was preaching both morning services at Calvary Church. We obviously couldn’t pass on this opportunity to actually hear Ravi Zacharias speak. We were not disappointed! Ravi delivered a wonderful and thought-provoking sermon. He is an amazing communicator of God’s simple (not simplistic) truth.
Ravi’s sermon was rooted in the eighth chapter Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy was Jesus’ favorite book, according to Ravi. When Jesus quotes Torah, most of his quotes come from Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is especially important for the follower of Jesus, if the number of quotes sourced by Jesus from this book is any indication. Read More »
The Third Way’s Come Let Us Reason Together
I just received the following e-mail update from Katie Barge of Faith in Public Life. The update is exciting and concerns tomorrow morning’s release of the Third Way’s “Come Let Us Reason Together,” a ground-breaking paper that is being referred to as a potential bridge of mutual agreement between Progressives and Evangelicals. Progressives and Evangelicals finally uniting on difficult cultural issues such as abortion, gay and lesbian issues, the treatment of human embryos, and the role of religion is exciting indeed. Do keep an eye on the Faith in Public Life Blog for the morning reports, details, and verdict. While you are there, check out the blogroll on the left, bottom side of the page. Read More »
I’m Done with Labels and Alternative Expressions
“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” - Gilbert K. Chesterton
So, I’ve done my fair share of investigating a variety of different expressions within my overarching Christian context. It was an interesting journey, to say the least. I’m not sorry I explored, questioned, and tried on a variety of hats. I have learned a lot. I pray God will now use all I have learned for his glory. I pray the kingdom Jesus preached is benefited by all I have collected, cognitively and experientially. It’s been edifying. God is faithful. Read More »
MCC Chapel CliffsNotes on Personal Faith Journey
I’m putting some thoughts together for tomorrow’s chapel conversation at Mennonite Central Committee. I was invited by the MCC’s International Program Department’s Executive Assistant to come and speak about my personal faith journey and Inner Metro Green. So, I’m reflecting a bit tonight about my journey. It’s constantly interesting to reflect upon where you’ve been, as far as faith journeys are concerned. It’s a good practice. Believers would do well to reflect on their journey regularly. I think looking back helps us all to keep moving forward. Read More »
Our Journey’s Primordial Silence is Genesis
Main Entry (Merriam-Webster): Pri•mor•di•al » Pronunciation: prI-’mor-dE-&l » Function: adjective » Etymology » Middle English, from Late Latin primordialis, from Latin primordium origin, from primus first + ordiri to begin — more at PRIME, ORDER 1 a : first created or developed : PRIMEVAL 1 b : existing in or persisting from the beginning (as of a solar system or universe) <a primordial gas cloud> c : earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ : PRIMITIVE <primordial cells> 2 : FUNDAMENTAL, PRIMARY <primordial human joys — Sir Winston Churchill> - pri·mor·di·al·ly /-dE-&-lE/ adverb. Read More »
