MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) -- Today Americans have a new president -- Donald J. Trump. As Christians, it is Scripturally incumbent upon us to pray for him and for all our political leaders (cf. 1 Timothy 2:1-2). It is also mandatory for us to honor all people, even those with whom we disagree (cf. 1 Peter 2:17). If we disagree with someone's opinions, we must do so without attacking the person. There has been far too much inflammatory rhetoric coming from Christian leaders throughout this … [Read more...]
The end of freedom in America?
FORT WORTH, Texas – A quick review of recent news headlines in the United States reveals an increasing number of incidents where governmental executives, legislators and judges have borrowed from the intolerant presuppositions of secular progressivism to restrict the religious liberties of believers. These incidents are strong signs of not just a lack of respect for the “first freedom,” but of an insidious, incipient hostility toward believers in traditional religion: The … [Read more...]
MBTS’s Robin Hadaway: ‘The best of 5 choices’ in 2016 Election
KANSAS CITY – It has become clear this week that there are no good candidates for President in this election cycle. In fact, some might say, “‘so-and-so’ is especially ‘no good’.” A voter has basically five choices. The first choice is to not vote at all. This form of protest “voting” is often practiced in non-democratic societies where elections are rigged or where certain segments of a population are not permitted to run for office. Reports indicate that many did not vote in the recent … [Read more...]
Paige Patterson on 2016 Election: WWII German troops offer lesson in choosing hope
What do April 30, 1945, and Nov. 8, 2016, have in common? The first date was the culmination of World War II. On that fateful day, Adolf Hitler apparently shot himself in the mouth as Russian soldiers moved in on his compound. But in the midst of all that tragedy, an interesting saga played itself out in Germany. Before Hitler realized that he had lost the war, almost all other Germans knew it well. The Russians were closing from the East, and the Americans came from the West. The dilemma … [Read more...]
The freedom two-fer
Is the writing on the wall for religious freedom in this country? Just ask two Arizona calligraphers. Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski met at a Starbucks café in north Phoenix in January 2015. Both were Christians, and both were artists. They decided to go into business together, combining their love for Jesus with their love for making beautiful things. Soon they launched Brush & Nib Studio, a for-profit art business that sells hand-drawn invitations and paintings. According to the … [Read more...]
Man and Michelangelo’s ‘David’
Perhaps the greatest statue of all time has a tiny flaw. And it’s a flaw that could bring it crashing down. There’s a lesson in this. Throughout history, there’s been no shortage of superlatives showered on Michelangelo’s stunning statue of David, sling in hand, ready to take on Goliath. Giorgio Vasari, a 16th century artist and historian said this: “It cannot be denied that this work has carried off the palm from all other statues, modern or ancient, Greek or Latin; no other artwork is … [Read more...]
God is still in our schools
Watching sand pass through an hourglass always captivated me as a child. It seemed as though the mass of sand would never pass through the bottleneck, but in quick order the final grains fell. There is a bottleneck where nearly every person over the next 20 years will pass. The church could surround this bottleneck and change communities and impact every life in across the nation over a few decades. Some churches have realized the great strategic value and have already gotten started. The … [Read more...]
Observatory earth
A stunning astronomical event next year will shed light on our world’s intelligent design. How? By leaving us in darkness. In Mark Twain’s classic story, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” a denizen of nineteenth-century New England named Hank Morgan mysteriously finds himself thrown back into sixth-century England. The resourceful Hartford man, taken for a magician and sentenced to burn at the stake, recalls reading about a total solar eclipse that took place on that date in … [Read more...]
America’s demographic winter
Is America heading for a demographic cold snap? The fertility forecast is gloomy these days. We’ve talked before on BreakPoint about the fertility crisis facing China, Japan, and much of Europe—all of which face what has been called a “demographic winter.” Until recently, the United States has been an exception to this distressing trend, but this seems no longer the case. To understand why, here’s a primer. Demographers use two numbers to measure fertility rates: the average number of … [Read more...]
Luke nails it
Acts 19 starts with Paul leaving Apollos in charge of the church in Corinth while he continues his missionary journey. It ends with Paul’s encounter with an angry mob. And, as a recent article in Biblical Archaeological Review tells us, it’s a very reliable depiction of life in the Roman world. Upon his arrival in Ephesus, Paul meets some believers whose instruction was incomplete. He teaches them about the Holy Spirit and baptizes them in the name of the Lord Jesus. But then things get … [Read more...]
Setting the world straight in 2016
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) – Political leaders, social activists and the entertainment industry are ballyhooing for extreme reform in this rather chaotic era, as if trying to reconstruct our nation ideologically. Sadly, I'm not sure the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election will get us into balance. Then what will? Hollywood plays to humanity's narcissism and love of gadgets, and a growing anger that seemingly calls for anarchy. Many of us who see the Bible as the inerrant Word of … [Read more...]
Owen Strachen: Spider webs of our making
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article first appeared online at Midwestern Seminary’s blog, For The Church (ftc.co). I’ve found a resonant image playing in my mind related to my pride. Like a squirming bug trapped in a spider web, entangled at every juncture, so too can we Christians of all backgrounds and proclivities trap ourselves in webs of pride that threaten to kill our spirituality and love for the Lord. What do I mean by this? Simply this: with activities or involvements that revolve … [Read more...]
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