Elephant in the pews: Is the GOP the party of Churches of Christ?
But according to Pew, 39 percent of members of Churches of Christ identify as or lean Democratic. The remaining 11 percent indicate no political preference.
speaking my mind on politics: a Q & A
A single human life is far, far more complex than any single issue. A single life is such deep water that only God can fully fathom it. How much more so then when we’re talking about one life influencing and/or directing the lives of millions, or billions, of people on an ocean full of matters?
I will venture further. This question is usually put to me – usually, but not always – with abortion being the subject that fills in the blank. I will only say that while abortion is an extremely important matter, it is only one of a great many matters of life and death that a President decides daily that affects a multitude of lives. That is to say, there is much, much more to being truly “pro-life” than being “against abortion.”
Why Max Lucado Broke His Political Silence for Trump
There was one occasion he held up a Bible. On another occasion, at Liberty University, he read from Scripture. On multiple occasions he’s said “Of course I’m a Christian.” There was a time in Iowa when he said “I’m a Christian,” and somebody asked about forgiveness and he said “I’ve never asked God for forgiveness.”
I can’t imagine that. I’m just shaking my head going “How does that work?” Does a swimmer say “I’ve never gotten wet?” Does a musician say “I’ve never sung a song?” How does a person claim to be a Christian and never need to ask for forgiveness?
Why Evangelicals Are Born Again for Donald Trump
In this post-apocalyptic environment, it becomes increasingly clear why Southern evangelicals would drop their requirements that a political leader who seeks their backing be one of them, ideologically or faithfully. They have different priorities now: They want an ally who will protect them, regardless of his personal ethics.
That’s why Trump has been able to peel away so many evangelicals as his supporters, despite being an unchurched secularist with three wives who couldn’t tell a communion plate from an offering basket. It is because of the increasingly large portion of evangelicals who believe the culture wars are over, and they lost.
Why we can now declare the end of ‘Christian America’
But for that love to be genuinely Christian, and not a projection of our own fear, anxiety or arrogance, citizens are going to have to separate once and for all the false identification of American and Christian ideals. They may overlap from time to time, but they are not the same.
Do Christian Parents Flirt with the Idol of Sports?
Am I guilty of being a sports idolater? Yes. Does this mean I may continue modeling this pattern of behavior for my family? By no means! (Rom. 6:2). Rather, in God’s amazing way, he continually takes my idolatry and redeems it by the power of his gospel. He gives me opportunities to model for my children repentance and the outpouring of his grace (Rom. 5:20). And he continues to grow us as we live in this tension.
Jeremiah 29:11 is Not About You!
This was a promise of future welfare for the nation at large, not a promise of prosperity for any one particular person. I feel quite certain that the people hearing this message for the first time would not have responded as we often do today. We read this verse and we zero in on the prosper part. We focus in on how God is going to bless us in amazing ways. However, the message to God’s people is that everything’s going to be alright…eventually. After years and years of suffering they’re going to come back home and be restored; not them, per se, but their kinfolk. The grim reality surrounding Jeremiah 29:11 is that hard times were in store for God’s people. Someday there would be restoration. There was hope on the horizon, but only after decades of harshness.
#TBH: Is the Invitation Still Effective?
Now I have been accused in the past of being anti-tradition but please hear me out. I am not saying that we should not provide people with an avenue to voice their hurts, ask for prayers, or ask to be baptized. We need to allow people to do this. My question is: Is a public invitation the best way to do this?
I’m thinking no.
In my experience, people aren’t converted by a sermon but by a study. People are more apt to voice what they are struggling with, and ask for prayers over a cup of coffee than in a room full of people. And even when people do come forward and receive a prayer and all the hugs from the congregation, this type of involvement and care rarely lasts or changes people.
Time to Ditch Retirement? Global Leaders Confront an Aging Population
That gets us back to the Aegon survey. In addition to the eye-opening results it offers, the authors provide concrete suggestions about how public and private policies can translate strategies into action. As one example, governments can launch public awareness campaigns to promote “the opportunities for continuing to work past the traditional retirement age,” while also identifying and removing “disincentives in workplace retirement plans to working past a fixed retirement age.”
Even more important is the suggested corporate response, which includes conducting studies to assess the value of retaining older workers, promoting aging-friendly work environments, establishing “intergenerational employee resource groups,” and providing training for older workers. These policies would go a long way toward realizing age-friendly workplaces.
Signed Lionel Messi shirt makes Afghan child’s dreams come true
The youngster pictured wearing a striped plastic bag with Lionel Messi’s name and number on it is now the proud owner of a real Messi shirt — thanks to the soccer superstar and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).