(or, “Is Truth Only for Those Who Believe It?”) Christians believe that a human being is, from conception, an eternal transcendent soul enfleshed in a physical body, a special creation of God, every one of them—created by God, for God, and in the image of God. A human being is a moral agent accountable toContinue reading “Many Beliefs, but Not Many Truths”
Category Archives: Culture
Culture and Counterculture
Christianity and the Church used to be very much part of our nation’s culture. I don’t mean to say that most Americans were Christians. They weren’t really Christians, but they were culturally Christians. Seventy-five years ago Most people were connected to a church, even if only nominally. In fact, almost half attended worship services fairlyContinue reading “Culture and Counterculture”
Morality and Reality
Suppose technology developed to the point where human beings could be efficiently grown in artificial, easily accessible, test-tube wombs, without the need of sexual intercourse or pregnancy. There would be many advantages to this. Future generations could be carefully grown under ideal conditions, and only the healthiest test-tube humans, and only as many as needed,Continue reading “Morality and Reality”
Is There Anything Wrong with Green Hair?
I suppose the first question to address is why anybody would want to dye their hair green in the first place. The short answer is, they want to express themselves, that is, their unique, inner self, and they want other people to notice (and hopefully appreciate) their uniqueness. They want to stand out, and greenContinue reading “Is There Anything Wrong with Green Hair?”
Some Clarifying Words about Homosexuality
Occasionally in sermons or in a Bible class I will reference homosexuality. When I do so, I think I’m generally pretty clear that homosexuality is sinful and is to be avoided by Christians. Nevertheless, most of us probably know homosexuals, and many have relatives or even close friends who are homosexual. Not only that, butContinue reading “Some Clarifying Words about Homosexuality”
Enemy Within the Gates: Our Culture and Our Church
I wrote last week about radical individualism and promised a follow up. Here is the follow up: Since the end of the Second World War, there has been a profound shift in the thinking of our culture, a shift away from an objective, God-centered understanding of reality and of the individual’s place within it (aContinue reading “Enemy Within the Gates: Our Culture and Our Church”
Theology, Political Theory and the Virtue of Authenticity
I have had a number of fairly intense debates / discussions of late, mostly, but not entirely, with young Christians, regarding abortion, homosexuality, and LGBT lifestyle issues. I have been struck by the intensity of their feelings and by their sincerity. What have I heard? Dissatisfaction with a perceived lack of compassion among traditionally-minded ChristiansContinue reading “Theology, Political Theory and the Virtue of Authenticity”
Separation of Truth and State
We Christians at First Lutheran in Benton love our country. We are proud to be Americans, we are thankful to our God for our nation, and we pray for it. But we must be candid about this: there are things about America and its culture that are not only not very good, but are reallyContinue reading “Separation of Truth and State”
The One Thing Needful and its Enemies
Our life with God is the work of God’s Spirit, which comes to us in His Word. Life in Christ is planted in us through the Word, and it is sustained in us by the Word, and only by the Word. (1 Pet 1:23-25) The Word is our connection to Christ. Without the Word weContinue reading “The One Thing Needful and its Enemies”
Church, Politics and Partisanship
Political issues are by and large moral issues, and the Church not only has a right but a duty to speak clearly about them. Matters relating to life and sexuality and discrimination and economic, social and legal justice are all highly political, but they are also deeply moral. How can we Christians not teach andContinue reading “Church, Politics and Partisanship”