Recent Viewpoints

by Kerby Anderson During this Christmas week, I have taken the time to discuss the theology of some of the Christmas hymns and carols that we sing. Today I would like to talk about The First Noel. It is an English song dating back to the sixteenth century. Some people believe that the First Noel was French because of the French spelling of Noel, but it is actually an English song. The French word Noël does mean “Christmas” and is…

by Kerby Anderson It is estimated that Charles Wesley wrote over 6500 hymns. Perhaps his best-known hymn is “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.” Over the years it has been edited slightly, but the meaning and theology remains as he wrote it more than two centuries ago. It begins with a proclamation of the birth of Jesus: “Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” The hymn reminds us…

by Kerby Anderson This is Christmas week, and so I thought we might reflect on the hymn, “O Holy Night” by John Dwight. “O holy night! The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.” Jesus came into the world to save us and so we feel valuable and our soul feels its worth. Perhaps the most…

by Penna Dexter Presidential primary season is just around the corner — an opportunity for everyday Americans to influence who ultimately gets elected next November. Citizens can participate in their states’ primaries and caucuses to help choose the party’s nominee. Those who do this, and also those who make financial contributions to candidates, get a bigger say in who’s available to vote for in the general election. That’s democracy and it’s a way people who care can really have an…

by Kerby Anderson After every shooting there is the inevitable gun debate. But this time there are indications that the gun debate may be changing. Here are a few examples. First, there is growing evidence that law-abiding citizens have decided to ignore some of the gun laws. We all know that criminals buy guns on the black market and use them in the crimes they commit. And there are stories of people living in places like the District of Columbia…

How can we stop ISIS? That is a question many are asking, so it is worth sharing a plan that makes sense. Former CIA deputy director, John McLaughlin has written in the past about the scourge of ISIS and the tricky politics at stake. Today I want to explain his latest plan using military strategy. He is quick to explain that there is no military solution to the problem of radical Islam. But he also adds that it is impossible…

by Kerby Anderson During this election year, we will be hearing lots of promises from the candidates especially when it comes to our taxes. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is promising tax credits to lots of people. But she isn’t the only one. Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio has been proposing a larger child tax credit. But it is instructive to look at the promises already made by Hillary Clinton since she wants to find major conduits in the tax…

For the last few weeks we have been hearing how many mass shootings have taken place in 2015. It is an alarming statistic. It is also a total exaggeration. Put another way, you could call it a lie. News organization after news organization has reported that the mass shooting in San Bernardino was the 355th mass shooting this year. Newspapers like The Washington Post, Boston Globe, New York Times along with news programs like PBS, CBS, and MSNBC all reported…

A few months ago presidential candidate, Ben Carson caused a furor when he suggested that people should fight back when a shooter enters a building. Now even some in law enforcement are essentially saying that may be a wise strategy. Recently the Police Chief of the District of Columbia was on 60 Minutes. She explained: “The fact of the matter is that most active shooters kill most of the victims in 10 minutes or less, and the best police department…

Since the shootings near a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs, those who oppose abortion are being told to tone down their so-called “hateful rhetoric.” Not that the shooting is the fault of pro-lifers, say the more polite among the pro-abortion Left. They say it’s the atmosphere created by accurate descriptions of abortion and its accompanying practices that probably contributed to it. Vickie Cowart, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains stated, “We share the concerns of…

The student protests over the last few months have not only been about how a college administration responds to student demands, but it has been about changing the college curriculum. One example of that can be found at Columbia University. In a recent commentary, Dennis Prager reacts to some of these complaints. A young black undergraduate complained in an article in the Columbia Daily Spectator about having to sit in a history class. She complained that: “It’s traumatizing to sit…