By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist Convention official says gay marriage functions as a “truth serum,” distinguishing real evangelicals from those who don’t affirm the Bible’s authority. Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary, wrote a March 27 column…
The ethics of Christian blackmail
Yesterday, while pondering the Christian reaction to the initial World Vision decision, I wrote a short article (unpublished) on how (not) to talk about World Vision on the Internet – don’t be hateful, clam down before you publish, and other…
Social media reaction of World Vision controversy
This week World Vision, the para-church organization that fights hunger, announced that they ended their ban on hiring people in a same sex marriage. After considerable blow back from supporters and Christians, World Vision reversed its policy. Some supporters said…
The crazy lady in the attic
Fred Phelps is dead and there is no one to mourn his passing. In the end, poor Fred was abandoned even by the cult his hate built. One is tempted to see Fred Phelps as an extreme expression of the…
Baylor’s Ken Starr weighs in on Hobby Lobby case at DC event
By Robert Dilday One day before the Supreme Court was to hear oral arguments in what may result in its most significant religious liberty ruling this term, the president of one of Baptists’ largest universities joined a noted Harvard law…
SBC leaders blast World Vision for hiring openly gay Christians
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist leaders say World Vision’s decision to hire gay Christians in legal same-sex marriages puts fundraising ahead of doctrinal fidelity for the Christian humanitarian organization started in 1950 by Youth for Christ evangelist Bob Pierce. World…
Chick-fil-A CEO seeks to get beyond gay marriage debate
By Bob Allen Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy says it was a mistake for him two years ago to involve his company in controversy over same-sex marriage. Cathy, 61, recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he hasn’t changed his mind about the…
Learning to listen
I am afraid of well-meaning Christians. This is probably because I am one myself, but it is also because I encounter well-intentioned Christians all the time. They have a vision for all the good they could do to other people….
Loving neighbors and reading the Bible: Some reflections upon the death of Phelps
The world recently learned of the death of Fred Phelps, Sr., founder and “pastor” of Westboro “Baptist” “Church,” the group who has become known for their protests of military funerals and signs that say “God hates ____.” They have traveled…