New Definers of Christian Community
Some years ago, I opined the defining issues establishing Christian community in the future would be marriage and morality. Specifically, how a church or denomination defines marriage and interprets biblical morality will position it relative to historic, orthodox Christian beliefs – more than past confessional statements or doctrinal creeds. A Christian’s position on these issues […]
The Toughest Issues
Some of the toughest pastoral challenges today are handling issues related to gender, sexuality, morality, and marriage. A friend recently confided in me his son is now identifying as a woman and asked for guidance on how to respond. Another friend’s son recently got married, to a man, and he also asked me for counsel […]
Three Fatal Flaws in the “Gender as Social Construct” Position
Typical Southern Baptists are barraged with the message that gender is a social construct, which means that gender is something subjective and not the result of nature, purpose, or design. They hear this message on television, in movies, in popular songs, in schools, and even in corporate training material. Southern Baptist churches need to educate […]
The Struggle is Real: The Power of Culture
There is a great concern regarding the impact that mainstream culture has on each one of us, our communities, and importantly, the church. Culture is incredibly beautiful – allowing humans to express an immense depth of creativity as we use culture to communicate, cooperate, and ultimately, thrive. As a working definition of culture, I appreciate […]
Preposterous
One of the cultural conflicts taking place in multiple school boards across Southern California – and likely in many other places across the country – is a debate about whether school personnel should disclose gender-related conversations initiated by students with parents. Many education leaders – including teachers’ unions – are adamant school personnel must not […]
Reaching Men
Incomprehensible. That’s the best word to describe my response to the recent shooting in a Buffalo, New York supermarket. Reading the racist manifesto of the shooter leads me to another word—despicable. It’s hard for a person with so many non-white friends, employees, pastors, and fellow church members to understand—on any level—hatred directed toward African-Americans or […]