Author: bibleandculture

The Manhattan Declaration – Should You Sign It?

Last November 20, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the Manhattan Declaration was announced and released to the press, what Charles Colson called “one of the most important documents produced by the American Church.”

Drafted by two Baptists and a Roman Catholic; Colson, Timothy George of Beeson Divinity School, and Robert George of Princeton University; and originally signed by 140 Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Evangelical Christians, the Manhattan Declaration addresses three of the most pressing moral and social justice issues of our day; the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, and religious liberty (including the rights of conscience).  Continue reading “The Manhattan Declaration – Should You Sign It?” →

Anniversaries Come and Go – January 22, 1973

The fallout from the Supreme Court this week is about free speech and campaign spending limits, the setting aside of McCain/Feingold and other restrictions. I have opinions about that, but I don’t have a firm enough grasp of the issue to voice them, so I’ll leave that to others. And anyway, though I have strong political views, I generally consider them outside the purpose of this blog.

But where I cannot be silent is in regard to the infamous decision made by the Supremes thirty seven years ago today that struck down existing laws against abortion. The Court arbitrarily established a trimester system for pregnancy, but even then, effectively declared all the unborn not sufficiently human to deserve even the most basic right to life, let alone liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Continue reading “Anniversaries Come and Go – January 22, 1973” →

What does the LORD require?

With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high?

 

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

 

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

 

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

 

Micah 6:6-8 English Standard Version

 

“What does the LORD Require?” is the heading over this passage in the ESV Study Bible. The danger of even that question is that it is incomplete.  What does the LORD require for what purpose? Continue reading “What does the LORD require?” →

George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:” Continue reading “George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation” →

Then you shall know that I am the LORD!

The Old Testament book of Ezekiel is probably the least known of even the Major Prophets of the Bible; Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel.  It has much in common with these other prophets in declaring both the judgment of God on the nations and the people for their sin and rebellion against God, as well as God’s ultimate plan of saving his people by giving them a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26; see Jeremiah 31 as well as Ezekiel 36, 37). Continue reading “Then you shall know that I am the LORD!” →

Are We Hindus or Christians?

It was Sunday morning.  I was supposed to preach at Faith Church from the Sermon on the Mount, but instead, I was lying in a hospital bed with a case of cellulitis that required IV antibiotic infusions. Looking for a biblically faithful sermon on television was useless; Charles Stanley was about done with his message when I looked; the only others I could find were Joel Osteen and Sheila Schuller Coleman.

 

So I resorted to the Internet, looked for Alistair Begg at Parkside Church in suburban Cleveland and was blessed with a great sermon from Mark 5 on the raising of Jairus’s daughter. Pastor Begg started his sermon by reading an article from Newsweek by Lisa Miller, “We Are All Hindus Now.” Continue reading “Are We Hindus or Christians?” →

Minnesota Tornado

I was in Minnesota last week.  Beautiful late September weather. I only wished I’d had my bicycle with me to ride on the wonderful trail system throughout the Twin Cities area. I saw no evidence of any storm damage.  The only hassle was that MSP International Airport is down to one active runway due to construction so that a minor sprinkle makes it tantamount to the horrors of Chicago O’hare.

This may be old news for you, but I first heard last week what happened one month earlier on August 19 as Minneapolis was hit with a tornado. There was no foul weather in the forecast. It was another beautiful day. But with no warning, a tornado hit and did roof damage to the downtown convention center where the Lutherans (ELCA) were meeting to vote in favor of allowing active homosexuals to serve as ordained ministers in their churches. Central Lutheran Church, right across from the Convention Center had its steeple split and the cross left hanging upside down.

Coincidence? Continue reading “Minnesota Tornado” →