Recent Viewpoints

Now that the midterm elections are behind us, we should focus on what is even more important: culture. Many Christians argue that elections are downstream from where real change in taking place. Often politicians and judges are making decisions to “catch-up” with the culture. Mark Steyn understands this. He writes about this in his book, The Undocumented Mark Steyn. He gives us a preview of some of his insights in his New York Post article, “The real battle for America…

According to Psalm 122:6 we are to Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! and, upon my return from a recent trip to the Holy Land, I have a new appreciation for that directive. Israel, and especially Jerusalem is a messy conglomeration of religious fervor and political division. The socioeconomic differences between Israeli and Palestinian areas are stark. During my stay, I saw hints of the heating up of hostilities that later boiled over. One evening, I was walking with fellow…

Os Guinness has been reminding Christians of the need for civility in the public square. He made that case in his previous book, The Case for Civility. And the theme surfaces once again in his new book, The Global Public Square. He talks about the concept of “soul freedom” and laments the loss of the first liberty (religious liberty) here and around the world. He sets forth a constructive vision for how society can address the issue of human dignity…

Whenever one of us complains about what is being shown on television these days, we are likely to hear the favorite cliché: “If you don’t like it, just change the channel.” Melissa Henson of the Parents Television Council took on that tired cliché by explaining how meaningless it really is. What started the discussion was a blog post by a mother complaining about what she saw on Good Morning America at breakfast. They aired what could only be considered a…

Some in the clergy are beginning to understand that the battle between church and state will not end well for those in the church. That is one of the lessons we learn from Nicholas Hahn’s commentary on “Chicago’s Archbishop at the Barricades.” He is talking about the Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George. Cardinal George has never been one to mince words in taking on those who would criticize the Catholic Church’s moral stands on issues like abortion and same-sex…

Why do people reject Jesus? That is the question evangelist Don Johnson asks and answers in his post, “Sexual Immorality and Five Other Reasons People Reject Christianity.” He concludes that many of the reasons skeptics reject the biblical message have as much to do with psychology and morality as it does with theology. Many skeptics reject the Bible and Christianity because of heartbreak. He quotes from New York Times columnist Russell Baker. In his autobiography he talks about a pivotal…

Should I go to work or should I go on welfare? If you run the numbers, the decision isn’t as easy as you might think. A new study by the Cato Institute discovered that welfare pays more than a minimum-wage job in 35 states. Welfare in 13 of those states pays more than $15 an hour. There isn’t a much incentive for Americans to take an entry-level job when welfare pays more than work. The Federal government funds 126 separate…

The youth scene is changing before our eyes. Sometimes it is hard for parents and pastors to understand what is taking place. Dr. Tim Elmore was on my radio program recently to talk about his new book “12 Huge Mistakes Parents Can Avoid.” In the midst of the interview, he explained the cultural situation parents and children are facing in this 21s century world. What is happening can be summarized with the world SCENE. The letter “S” stands for speed….

A discussion of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in Iraq has surfaced once again due to a New York Times report that the Bush administration covered up American troops’ chemically induced wounds. That lead to a story in The Daily Beast about how Karl Rove showed no interest in pursuing and publicizing the growing evidence of WMDs in Iraq. Former senator Rick Santorum lost his seat in 2006 but remembers how he tried to bring the evidence of WMDs to…

No doubt you have heard about the Houston pastors who were told by the mayor that they had to send their speeches and sermons to the city for inspection. After lots of publicity, the city backed down a little, but the intimidation remains. The controversy began because Mayor Annise Parker worked to pass an anti-discrimination law that would allow a transgendered person to file complaints if they were denied access to a bathroom. The citizens in Houston mounted a petition…

Whenever the proponents of same-sex marriage have talked about its legalization, they have usually said that ministers would still have the freedom to decline to do a marriage ceremony for a gay or lesbian couple. After all, pastors sometimes refuse to officiate at a wedding for theological reasons. It would stand to reason they could also decline to participate in a same-sex marriage for theological reasons. Earlier this month a case arose in Idaho, where city officials told two ordained…