- Rachel Tabachnick - Joni Eareckson Tada - Adam Russell Taylor - Barbara Brown Taylor - Kandiss Taylor - Matthew Taylor - Boz Tchividjian - Tim Tebow - Eli Tenenbaum - Lysa Terkeurst - Bill Tevet - Knox Thames - Liz Theoharis - Derek Thomas - Barkley S Thompson - Karli Wallace Thompson - Tim Thompson - Warren Throckmorton - Scott Thumma - Krista Tippett - Jemar Tisby - Ben Toews - Jim Tomberlin - Brian Tome - Rob Toornstra - Charles Toy - Scott Traynor -
rachel tabachnick
Rachel Tabachnick (former PRA associate fellow) researches, writes, and speaks about the impact of the Religious Right on policy and politics including civil rights, education, economics, environment, foreign policy, and labor. She produces presentations and speaks on conservative infrastructure and the intersection of the Religious Right and other sectors of the Right, including “free market” think tanks. Rachel has been interviewed on NPR and other radio and print media across the nation on topics including the New Apostolic Reformation, Christian Zionism, and education privatization.
Christian reconstructionism is "about bringing government in all areas of life under biblical law, a continuation of the Mosaic law in the Old Testament, with some exceptions...........This dispensation would include, according to Gary North, public execution of women who have abortions and those who advise them to have an abortion.....Nobody cares about the theocratic, draconian future envisioned by reconstructionists because they don't believe it will happen.......Christian reconstructionism is the merger of a distinct brand of Calvinism with Austrian School economics. In other words, it's an interpretation of the Bible grounded in property rights. What Rushdoony provided is a package that included attacking what these fundamentalists hated and feared most in society, often expressed in terms of "This is communist. This is socialist......Rushdoony's ideas went out in bits and pieces. The Christian right leaders took what they wanted and discarded what they didn't.........Throughout these movements there is also an attempt to turn the tables on the claims of racism.......This is one of the roles that anti-abortion activism as abolition plays. Also, there's a promotion of narratives that provide a different history and legal justifications for interposition, nullification and even secession. One of the things that Christian reconstructionism has added to this dialogue is the concept of the lower magistrate."
Tabachnick explains it, the "lesser magistrate" is a heroic figure who "resists the tyranny of a higher authority" — defining "tyranny" in biblical terms, potentially including any number of popular or common-sense laws or policies. This notion first gained salience in the anti-abortion context in the 1980s and '90s.........Many violent anti-abortionists have justified their actions in reconstructionist teachings," she said. "One of these was Paul Hill, who studied under one of the major reconstructionist leaders and corresponded with others....After Hill went on to murder Dr. John Britton, a physician who performed abortions, in 1994. Hill was executed in 2003, but the reconstructionist movement sought to cast him out well before that.........Gary North responded, after the murders had taken place, in a book called 'Lone Gunners for Jesus............His message to Hill was, "You're going to burn in hell, you've been excommunicated. This was because Paul Hill stepped outside the bounds of the guidelines set by the movement......On the basis of their belief of what the law or the word of God is, they are allowed — on the advice, on the interposition, of a lesser magistrate — to commit acts of violence..........This movement believes that rights come from God and not from any government. Therefore, any 'rights' that conflict with their interpretation of God's law are not actually rights. They are 'humanist' or a product of man's laws and not God's laws. This theme of 'human rights' versus inalienable rights from God has been at the center of the Christian Reconstructionist movement since its beginnings. The goal of reconstructionism is to tear down the existing order and reconstruct a new society based on biblical law. Even if we assume that this vision of a theocratic America will never come to fruition, it's important to recognize the movement's impact on the ideas, strategies and tactics of the larger religious right and its role in sacralizing the actions of other anti-statist fellow travelers. As I wrote almost a decade ago, the theocratic libertarianism of Christian reconstructionism has been surprisingly seductive to Tea Partiers and young libertarians — many of whom may not realize what is supposed to happen after the government is stripped of its regulatory powers." --Rachel Tabachnick on "Christian Reconstruction" and RJ Rushdoony; Salon; 10.31.21
Tabachnick explains it, the "lesser magistrate" is a heroic figure who "resists the tyranny of a higher authority" — defining "tyranny" in biblical terms, potentially including any number of popular or common-sense laws or policies. This notion first gained salience in the anti-abortion context in the 1980s and '90s.........Many violent anti-abortionists have justified their actions in reconstructionist teachings," she said. "One of these was Paul Hill, who studied under one of the major reconstructionist leaders and corresponded with others....After Hill went on to murder Dr. John Britton, a physician who performed abortions, in 1994. Hill was executed in 2003, but the reconstructionist movement sought to cast him out well before that.........Gary North responded, after the murders had taken place, in a book called 'Lone Gunners for Jesus............His message to Hill was, "You're going to burn in hell, you've been excommunicated. This was because Paul Hill stepped outside the bounds of the guidelines set by the movement......On the basis of their belief of what the law or the word of God is, they are allowed — on the advice, on the interposition, of a lesser magistrate — to commit acts of violence..........This movement believes that rights come from God and not from any government. Therefore, any 'rights' that conflict with their interpretation of God's law are not actually rights. They are 'humanist' or a product of man's laws and not God's laws. This theme of 'human rights' versus inalienable rights from God has been at the center of the Christian Reconstructionist movement since its beginnings. The goal of reconstructionism is to tear down the existing order and reconstruct a new society based on biblical law. Even if we assume that this vision of a theocratic America will never come to fruition, it's important to recognize the movement's impact on the ideas, strategies and tactics of the larger religious right and its role in sacralizing the actions of other anti-statist fellow travelers. As I wrote almost a decade ago, the theocratic libertarianism of Christian reconstructionism has been surprisingly seductive to Tea Partiers and young libertarians — many of whom may not realize what is supposed to happen after the government is stripped of its regulatory powers." --Rachel Tabachnick on "Christian Reconstruction" and RJ Rushdoony; Salon; 10.31.21
joni eareckson tada
Joni Eareckson Tada (born October 15, 1949) is an American evangelical Christian author, radio host, artist, and founder of Joni and Friends, an organization "accelerating Christian ministry in the disability community".On July 30, 1967, when she was 17 years old, she dove into the Chesapeake Bay after misjudging the shallowness of the water. She had a fracture between the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae and became a
quadriplegic (or tetraplegic), paralyzed from the shoulders down. During Tada's two years of rehabilitation, according to her autobiography Joni, she experienced anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, and religious doubts. However, during occupational therapy, she learned to paint with a brush between her teeth and began selling her artwork. She also writes this way, although for most writing tasks she relies on voice recognition software. To date, she has written over forty books, recorded several musical albums, and starred in an autobiographical movie of her life, and is an advocate for people with disabilities.
quadriplegic (or tetraplegic), paralyzed from the shoulders down. During Tada's two years of rehabilitation, according to her autobiography Joni, she experienced anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, and religious doubts. However, during occupational therapy, she learned to paint with a brush between her teeth and began selling her artwork. She also writes this way, although for most writing tasks she relies on voice recognition software. To date, she has written over forty books, recorded several musical albums, and starred in an autobiographical movie of her life, and is an advocate for people with disabilities.
Fantasies, silly thoughts, vain imaginations, useless daydreams. These are the sorts of things which, if you let them, will puff themselves up so high in your head and heart that you’d swear they were true. A furtive thought that lingers on your mind and begins to wear a rut, repeating itself time and again. Maybe it could be a false hope; it could be an unfounded fear; whatever it is, it doesn’t belong in your head. It’s nothing but a vain imagination.
And I know from experience that if you let these vain imaginations grab hold of you, they become just that: powerful strongholds. And every time you rehearse that daydream it’s like laying more bricks, making the stronghold higher in your head. The more you repeat the imagination, the more powerful the hold it has on you – so powerful that even when you want to kick the thoughts out of your head, you can’t. The pull of the imagination has become, at that point, too strong.
Now you can try the self-help route, the old turning over a new leaf. “I’m not going to think these thoughts. I’m not going to let these imaginations rule my day. I’m not going to waste any more time daydreaming.” I’ve tried to do that. You know, single-handedly dismantle strongholds in my mind. But it doesn’t work. And that’s why I am so grateful for 2 Corinthians 10:4 because it says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.” Christians have got divine power, and that’s the key. Divine power – power to tear down every vain imagination. And the next verse goes on to assure you and me that we can actually “demolish every stronghold that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and [then we can] take captive every thought [and] make it obedient to Christ.”
-- Joni Eareckson Tada: Joni & Friends: Vain Imaginations 4.15.21
And I know from experience that if you let these vain imaginations grab hold of you, they become just that: powerful strongholds. And every time you rehearse that daydream it’s like laying more bricks, making the stronghold higher in your head. The more you repeat the imagination, the more powerful the hold it has on you – so powerful that even when you want to kick the thoughts out of your head, you can’t. The pull of the imagination has become, at that point, too strong.
Now you can try the self-help route, the old turning over a new leaf. “I’m not going to think these thoughts. I’m not going to let these imaginations rule my day. I’m not going to waste any more time daydreaming.” I’ve tried to do that. You know, single-handedly dismantle strongholds in my mind. But it doesn’t work. And that’s why I am so grateful for 2 Corinthians 10:4 because it says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.” Christians have got divine power, and that’s the key. Divine power – power to tear down every vain imagination. And the next verse goes on to assure you and me that we can actually “demolish every stronghold that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and [then we can] take captive every thought [and] make it obedient to Christ.”
-- Joni Eareckson Tada: Joni & Friends: Vain Imaginations 4.15.21
adam russell taylor
Rev. Adam Russell Taylor is president of Sojourners and author of A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community. Taylor previously led the Faith Initiative at the World Bank Group and served as the vice president in charge of Advocacy at World Vision U.S. and the senior political director at Sojourners. He has also served as the executive director of Global Justice, an organization that educates and mobilizes students around global human rights and economic justice. He was selected for the 2009/2010 class of White House Fellows and served in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs and Public Engagement. Taylor is a graduate of Emory University, the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology. Taylor also serves on the Independent Sector Board, the Global Advisory Board of Tearfund UK, and is a member of the inaugural class of the Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellowship. Taylor is ordained in the American Baptist Church and the Progressive National Baptist Convention and serves in ministry at the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va.
“This kind of overt embrace of white Christian nationalism continues to pose a growing threat to the witness of the church and the health of our democracy. This pastor and this effort are trying to impose a Christian theocracy. It’s imperative that Christian leaders of all backgrounds including conservative ones speak out about this effort as a threat to our democracy and to the church." -Adam Russell Taylor; Sojourners; 5.1.23
barbara brown taylor |
April 2, 2023: Amarillo Globe News: Another view: Gratitude for our clergy
As we rejoice at the coming of the risen Lord, I am reflecting upon Barbara Brown Taylor’s extraordinary memoir, Leaving Church. Despite being raised in a strict religious, church-going home (I even lived with Incarnate Word nuns in San Antonio my junior year in high school), I had no idea how difficult it is to be a member of the clergy. May 2, 2018: Christianity Today: Tim Keller, John Piper, and Andy Stanley Among the 12 ‘Most Effective’ Preachers
Barbara Brown Taylor, former Episcopal priest, professor, author, and theologian. She has served on the faculties of Columbia Theological Seminary, Emory's Candler School of Theology, and Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology. Taylor wrote for CT Pastors on “preaching the terrors” and ventured into “unconventional spirituality” with more recent books like An Altar in the World. She also made LifeWay’s top 10 list. |
kandiss taylor
March 8, 2023: Religion Dispatches: SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE A RISE IN CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST VIOLENCE IN THE US?
Consider the words of Kandiss Taylor, a former candidate for governor of Georgia: “The good thing about the First Amendment is that if you’re a Jew or you’re a Muslim or you’re a Buddhist, you still get to worship your god because you’re in America. But you don’t get to silence us,” she declared last year to an approving audience. She went on to proclaim: “we’re running the state with Jesus Christ first.”
Consider the words of Kandiss Taylor, a former candidate for governor of Georgia: “The good thing about the First Amendment is that if you’re a Jew or you’re a Muslim or you’re a Buddhist, you still get to worship your god because you’re in America. But you don’t get to silence us,” she declared last year to an approving audience. She went on to proclaim: “we’re running the state with Jesus Christ first.”
matthew taylor
Speaker Johnson's close ties to Christian right — both mainstream and fringe
"Dutch Sheets did more, in my estimation, than any Christian leader to organize Christians for January 6th," said Matthew D. Taylor, a senior scholar at The Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies. Taylor has a forthcoming book on the role Christian extremism played in efforts to fraudulently overturn the 2020 election and fuel the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Johnson may not know Sheets personally, but they have deep ties to a network of religious leaders who have advocated to end or weaken the separation of church and state, and for Christianity to play a more dominant role governing society. Taken to its extreme — as it was by some adherents on Jan. 6 — it embraces anti-democratic means to achieve their end. Johnson's rapid elevation to the height of power in Washington gives allies of this movement — who also boast close ties with presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump — direct lines to leaders of the Republican Party.
(Susan Davis/NPR 11/15/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
"Dutch Sheets did more, in my estimation, than any Christian leader to organize Christians for January 6th," said Matthew D. Taylor, a senior scholar at The Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies. Taylor has a forthcoming book on the role Christian extremism played in efforts to fraudulently overturn the 2020 election and fuel the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Johnson may not know Sheets personally, but they have deep ties to a network of religious leaders who have advocated to end or weaken the separation of church and state, and for Christianity to play a more dominant role governing society. Taken to its extreme — as it was by some adherents on Jan. 6 — it embraces anti-democratic means to achieve their end. Johnson's rapid elevation to the height of power in Washington gives allies of this movement — who also boast close ties with presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump — direct lines to leaders of the Republican Party.
(Susan Davis/NPR 11/15/23)
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Jan 10, 2023: Baptist News Global: The New Apostolic Reformation drove the January 6 riots, so why was it overlooked by the House Select Committee?
These are some of the questions Matthew Taylor, a Protestant Scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies, seeks to answer in a series on the Straight White American Jesus podcast titled Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.
Taylor says while the January 6 insurrection was a conglomeration of different groups and perspectives coming together, a significant portion of the attack holds the markings of “charismatic revival fury.”
These are some of the questions Matthew Taylor, a Protestant Scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies, seeks to answer in a series on the Straight White American Jesus podcast titled Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.
Taylor says while the January 6 insurrection was a conglomeration of different groups and perspectives coming together, a significant portion of the attack holds the markings of “charismatic revival fury.”
Boz Tchividjian
“Boz” Tchividjian is a former child abuse chief prosecutor and is the founder and executive director of GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment). Boz is also a Professor of Law at Liberty University School of Law, and is a published author who speaks and writes extensively on issues related to abuse within the faith community. Boz is the 3rd-eldest grandchild of the Rev. Billy Graham. He is a graduate of Stetson University and Cumberland School of Law (Samford University).
SBC President Bart Barber apologizes for filing legal brief seeking to limit liability for sex abuse
Billy Graham’s grandson and former child abuse prosecutor, Boz Tchividjian, who now helps abuse survivors through his private practice Boz Law, appeared to endorse on X Monday, a recommendation by other survivor advocates, Christa Brown, David Clohessy, and Dave Pittman, that the SBC Executive Committee withdraw the brief and write a new one supporting the Kentucky law in favor of survivors.
“Merely withdrawing the brief is not enough. They still would benefit from it because, once filed, a brief can’t be unseen. So, if indeed the Executive Committee is remorseful about the brief, then it needs to affirmatively disavow the brief,” the advocates wrote in an op-ed for Baptist News Global.
(Leonardo Blair/Christian Post 10/31/23)
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Billy Graham’s grandson and former child abuse prosecutor, Boz Tchividjian, who now helps abuse survivors through his private practice Boz Law, appeared to endorse on X Monday, a recommendation by other survivor advocates, Christa Brown, David Clohessy, and Dave Pittman, that the SBC Executive Committee withdraw the brief and write a new one supporting the Kentucky law in favor of survivors.
“Merely withdrawing the brief is not enough. They still would benefit from it because, once filed, a brief can’t be unseen. So, if indeed the Executive Committee is remorseful about the brief, then it needs to affirmatively disavow the brief,” the advocates wrote in an op-ed for Baptist News Global.
(Leonardo Blair/Christian Post 10/31/23)
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tim tebow
Mar 24, 2012: New York Times: Tebow in Babylon
There was a moment last week when it looked as if the trade shipping Tebow from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets might somehow fall through — that Tebow might end up a Jacksonville Jaguar instead, with a guaranteed starting job, a heavily evangelical fan base, and none of the insanity involved in eclipsing Jeremy Lin as the most famous Christian athlete in Babylon-upon-the-Hudson.
O ye of little faith. Did you think that the Lord God of Hosts, having raised Tebow up as a Gideon of the gridiron, would pass up the opportunity to put his faithful servant to the test? Did you think that the angelic screenwriters responsible for scripting last year’s succession of Tebow-related improbabilities had nodded off after the Broncos were dispatched in the A.F.C. playoffs? Did you think that the archons and demiurges who preside over America’s culture war would be content to let Tebow fade into obscurity — some red-state-friendly endorsement deals, a few 6-10 finishes, and then early retirement and a lifetime of under-the-radar charity work?
There was a moment last week when it looked as if the trade shipping Tebow from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets might somehow fall through — that Tebow might end up a Jacksonville Jaguar instead, with a guaranteed starting job, a heavily evangelical fan base, and none of the insanity involved in eclipsing Jeremy Lin as the most famous Christian athlete in Babylon-upon-the-Hudson.
O ye of little faith. Did you think that the Lord God of Hosts, having raised Tebow up as a Gideon of the gridiron, would pass up the opportunity to put his faithful servant to the test? Did you think that the angelic screenwriters responsible for scripting last year’s succession of Tebow-related improbabilities had nodded off after the Broncos were dispatched in the A.F.C. playoffs? Did you think that the archons and demiurges who preside over America’s culture war would be content to let Tebow fade into obscurity — some red-state-friendly endorsement deals, a few 6-10 finishes, and then early retirement and a lifetime of under-the-radar charity work?
Jan 5, 2023: New York Times: Prayers for Damar Hamlin Show Bond Between Football and Faith
Former N.F.L. quarterback Tim Tebow — now one of several ex-N.F.L. players who are popular speakers at Christian conferences and churches — was known for dropping to one knee and bowing his head on the field, a move that became known as “Tebowing.”
Former N.F.L. quarterback Tim Tebow — now one of several ex-N.F.L. players who are popular speakers at Christian conferences and churches — was known for dropping to one knee and bowing his head on the field, a move that became known as “Tebowing.”
Nov 14, 2022: Baptist News Global: Tim Tebow, male leadership and the ‘feminine,’ ‘weak’ church
We should know by now that the way of Jesus abolishes any kind of system — there is a new world order in God’s kin’dom. God is continuously working to regain what was lost in Eden, by pointing us back to God’s original vision, says Carolyn Custis James in Malestrom: How Jesus Dismantles Patriarchy and Redefines Manhood
We should know by now that the way of Jesus abolishes any kind of system — there is a new world order in God’s kin’dom. God is continuously working to regain what was lost in Eden, by pointing us back to God’s original vision, says Carolyn Custis James in Malestrom: How Jesus Dismantles Patriarchy and Redefines Manhood
May 27, 2017: New York Post: Ravi Zacharias, Preacher Who Used Reason to Defend Faith, Dies at 74
His high-profile followers include Tim Tebow, the professional baseball player and former N.F.L. quarterback. Mr. Tebow formed a friendship with Mr. Zacharias, and in early May, as the preacher battled cancer, posted a video tribute on Instagram in which he said, “I think it’s really important in life to have heroes, and especially in the faith, and one of my heroes of the faith is a man named Ravi Zacharias.
His high-profile followers include Tim Tebow, the professional baseball player and former N.F.L. quarterback. Mr. Tebow formed a friendship with Mr. Zacharias, and in early May, as the preacher battled cancer, posted a video tribute on Instagram in which he said, “I think it’s really important in life to have heroes, and especially in the faith, and one of my heroes of the faith is a man named Ravi Zacharias.
eli tenenbaum
June 29, 2022: Omaha World Herald: Ricketts says Nebraska schools should consider allowing 'religious accommodation'
Earlier in the press conference, Rabbi Eli Tenenbaum suggested schools add a moment of silence during the day for students of all faiths to be able to reflect on their religion, and Ricketts supported this idea.
Earlier in the press conference, Rabbi Eli Tenenbaum suggested schools add a moment of silence during the day for students of all faiths to be able to reflect on their religion, and Ricketts supported this idea.
lysa terkeurst
The Top 10 Religion Stories of 2023
7. Lysa TerKeurst Tops in Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers ‘Redeeming Love’ Remains #1
Proverbs 31 Ministry president and bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst landed at #1 in Religion Nonfiction with her book Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, which detailed the author’s divorce. In an interview with PW, TerKeurst described the techniques she uses for self-preservation and why. “Biblically speaking, I discovered that boundaries are not just a good idea, they’re actually God’s idea,” she said.
(Emma Winner/Publishers Weekly 12/13/23)
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7. Lysa TerKeurst Tops in Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers ‘Redeeming Love’ Remains #1
Proverbs 31 Ministry president and bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst landed at #1 in Religion Nonfiction with her book Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, which detailed the author’s divorce. In an interview with PW, TerKeurst described the techniques she uses for self-preservation and why. “Biblically speaking, I discovered that boundaries are not just a good idea, they’re actually God’s idea,” she said.
(Emma Winner/Publishers Weekly 12/13/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
bill tevet
April 12, 2023: Bharat Times: Trump and Iowa evangelicals: A bond that is hard to break
“He is not a perfect man. No one would say that. He is no King David,” said Rev. Bill Tevet of Oskaloosa. “But David was also tempted.”
Tveidt also compared Trump to the Biblical figure Cyrus, who was not a Christian but is lauded as an Old Testament hero for freeing the Jews from Babylonian captivity. “He’s a Cyrus, more of a keeper,” Tevet said.
“He is not a perfect man. No one would say that. He is no King David,” said Rev. Bill Tevet of Oskaloosa. “But David was also tempted.”
Tveidt also compared Trump to the Biblical figure Cyrus, who was not a Christian but is lauded as an Old Testament hero for freeing the Jews from Babylonian captivity. “He’s a Cyrus, more of a keeper,” Tevet said.
knox thames
I don’t disagree with praying for persecuted Christians, to be clear. I pray for them. They need help, as a global pandemic of persecution confronts believers daily with violence on account of their faith. However, to truly follow the Bible’s teachings I believe we shouldn’t exclusively pray for our fellow Christians. Rather we are called to pray for all who suffer violent persecution, Christian and non-Christian alike.........Christians only helping Christians is not “Christian.” Troublingly, this exclusive Christians-first approach seems unique to the international religious freedom sphere.
In other contexts, believers have heroically demonstrated Christ’s love to a hurting world by feeding the hungry and assisting those in need, regardless of faith. Their generous approach reflects the best of Jesus’ message. If Christian aid groups acted otherwise, we would recoil in horror.
-Knox Thames; Christianity Today; Stop Praying for Persecuted Christians Only 11/4/22
In other contexts, believers have heroically demonstrated Christ’s love to a hurting world by feeding the hungry and assisting those in need, regardless of faith. Their generous approach reflects the best of Jesus’ message. If Christian aid groups acted otherwise, we would recoil in horror.
-Knox Thames; Christianity Today; Stop Praying for Persecuted Christians Only 11/4/22
liz theoharis
May 4, 2023: Word & Way: Faith Leaders Ask Biden to Mark Mother’s Day With Prayer Day Against Gun Violence
Signatories on the letter include the Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Bishop Vashti McKenzie of the National Council of Churches, Rabbi Jill Jacobs of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, Shane Claiborne of Red Letter Christians and the Rev. Liz Theoharis of Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice.
Signatories on the letter include the Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Bishop Vashti McKenzie of the National Council of Churches, Rabbi Jill Jacobs of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, Shane Claiborne of Red Letter Christians and the Rev. Liz Theoharis of Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice.
April 21, 2023: Religion News Service: Christian nationalists have provoked a pluralist resistance
Meanwhile the Poor People’s Campaign, a social movement led by the Rev. William Barber II and the Rev. Liz Theoharis, attacks Christian nationalism in the arena of policy and politics. The group has identified Christian nationalism as “a key pillar of injustice in America that provides cover for a host of other ills” and is leading a multiracial and multi-faith “moral movement” to confront it in the minutia of public policy, but also in demonstrations outside statehouses and the nation’s Capitol buildings.
Meanwhile the Poor People’s Campaign, a social movement led by the Rev. William Barber II and the Rev. Liz Theoharis, attacks Christian nationalism in the arena of policy and politics. The group has identified Christian nationalism as “a key pillar of injustice in America that provides cover for a host of other ills” and is leading a multiracial and multi-faith “moral movement” to confront it in the minutia of public policy, but also in demonstrations outside statehouses and the nation’s Capitol buildings.
j michael thigpen
Returning to Genesis 3, might not the first proper targets of subduing be Adam and Eve themselves? What if Eve had chosen to rule over sin, to subdue herself? What if Adam had subdued the serpent? What if he had intervened and subdued Eve instead of merely standing with her? What if Adam had subdued himself when offered the fruit? Yes, the serpent needed to be subdued, but so much more so did Adam and Eve. They failed to love God and to love each other by failing to rule over their own sin in the first place, and by failing to intervene lovingly with one another. --J. Michael Thigpen, “Flourishing, Justice, and the Gospel as “Subduing” the Earth,” in Human Flourishing: Economic Wisdom for a Fruitful Christian Vision of the Good Life
derek thomas
Dr. Derek Thomas became Senior Minister at The First Presbyterian Church of Columbia: Columbia, South Carolina on August 11, 2013. He originally joined the staff in 2011, coming from Jackson, MS, where he was Chairman of the Theology Department at Reformed Theological Seminary and Minister of Teaching at First Presbyterian Church. He is from Wales. He is a graduate of the University of Wales (Bc.S), Reformed Theological Seminary (M.Div), and University of Wales/Lampeter (Ph.D.). He was ordained in the Evangelical Church of Ireland, where he served Stranmillis Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Belfast for 17 years before going to Mississippi. He is the Robert Strong Professor of Systematic and Practical Theology at RTS Atlanta and is Editorial Director, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. He is also a well published author.
(Nehemiah 13:1-31)
He's angry. Verse 8 — "I was very angry." Note that. Well, we might sit in judgment on Nehemiah tonight. There are lots of things here that make us question Nehemiah's character. You might read this text and think that Nehemiah has grown too big for his boots; that time spent in the presence of the great Persian king Artaxerxes has made him high and mighty, and a bit of a bully, and a bit of a tyrant. He's come back to Jerusalem and he's throwing his weight about. But let me ask you something, my friends. What is he angry about? That the holy temple of God has been desecrated. That vessels and items that were regarded under Jewish law as holy unto the Lord have been defiled, and the precincts defiled, and the equipment and the utensils defiled. The holiness of God is at stake here.
Now, my friends, does anything make you angry? Are you ever angry that the holy name of God, the honor of God, is defiled? Does that not make you angry? Righteously angry? Angry for the vindication of God that His name is trampled underfoot of men? Let's note his anger, and before you rush to judgment, surely this reminds you of an episode in the life of Jesus in this same temple — overturning tables and chairs of money lenders, coins that needed to be exchanged …Roman coins that needed to be exchanged for use in the temple that had its own coinage system, and seeing a way to make some shekels, some profits, profiteers had set up stalls and commerce within the very precincts of the temple. Jesus, you remember, in anger — in righteous anger — stormed through this place of merchandise, citing the book of Jeremiah that God's house had been made into a den of thieves and robbers. Yes, the first thing that he discovers is that twelve years down the line, God's house has been desecrated.
--Derek Thomas; Reformed Perspectives; Nehemiah: The Cost of Reformation 3.1.09
He's angry. Verse 8 — "I was very angry." Note that. Well, we might sit in judgment on Nehemiah tonight. There are lots of things here that make us question Nehemiah's character. You might read this text and think that Nehemiah has grown too big for his boots; that time spent in the presence of the great Persian king Artaxerxes has made him high and mighty, and a bit of a bully, and a bit of a tyrant. He's come back to Jerusalem and he's throwing his weight about. But let me ask you something, my friends. What is he angry about? That the holy temple of God has been desecrated. That vessels and items that were regarded under Jewish law as holy unto the Lord have been defiled, and the precincts defiled, and the equipment and the utensils defiled. The holiness of God is at stake here.
Now, my friends, does anything make you angry? Are you ever angry that the holy name of God, the honor of God, is defiled? Does that not make you angry? Righteously angry? Angry for the vindication of God that His name is trampled underfoot of men? Let's note his anger, and before you rush to judgment, surely this reminds you of an episode in the life of Jesus in this same temple — overturning tables and chairs of money lenders, coins that needed to be exchanged …Roman coins that needed to be exchanged for use in the temple that had its own coinage system, and seeing a way to make some shekels, some profits, profiteers had set up stalls and commerce within the very precincts of the temple. Jesus, you remember, in anger — in righteous anger — stormed through this place of merchandise, citing the book of Jeremiah that God's house had been made into a den of thieves and robbers. Yes, the first thing that he discovers is that twelve years down the line, God's house has been desecrated.
--Derek Thomas; Reformed Perspectives; Nehemiah: The Cost of Reformation 3.1.09
barkley s thompson
Whatever it may mean to bear the cross of Christ as faithful disciples, it must always be a means by which the world is blessed. If there is a litmus test by which we can judge whether the burden laid upon us is part of our walk of faith, or whether it is laid upon us by God, then that is it, and it is worth saying again: Whatever it may mean to bear the cross of Christ as faithful disciples, it must always be a means by which the world is blessed. Bearing the cross of Christ may include suffering at times—indeed, it will—but only if that suffering is a blessing to someone. Bearing the cross may bring challenge; it may lead to difficult decisions; it may sometimes disrupt relationships; and it will definitely require us to confront powerful forces that can do us harm; but it will only ask such things of us if doing so facilitates God’s blessing upon the world...........The miraculous thing is, when we understand bearing the cross in this way, rather than as some foreboding and myopic walk of doom, we begin to experience intuitively what faith really is. When we bless, we become agents of grace and of God’s own gracious will. That Christian smile ceases to crack like a thin veneer and instead becomes an authentic expression of who we are and who we strive to be in the world. In other words, somewhere in the midst of our cross-bearing—somewhere in the mix of faithfully following God and pursuing grace—we find joy. Joy can reside alongside challenge, or sorrow, or pain, and joy’s presence redeems all these others. Joy renders them ultimately transient, whereas joy is permanent. This is what it means to lose one’s life for the sake of the Gospel and thereby regain it. --Barkley S Thompson; What does it mean to “take up the cross”? 2.28.21
karli wallace thompson
“Leaders who selfishly exploit Christianity for their own personal and political gain must be held accountable to the Christian values of peace and justice. Christian nationalism is sowing further division in our churches, politics. and local communities. These false prophets must be exposed for the wolves in sheep’s clothing they are to protect the future of our religion and our multiracial democracy.” --Karli Wallace Thompson, digital organizer for Faithful America. 11/6/23
“Leaders who selfishly exploit Christianity for their own personal and political gain must be held accountable to the Christian values of peace and justice. Christian nationalism is sowing further division in our churches, politics. and local communities. These false prophets must be exposed for the wolves in sheep’s clothing they are to protect the future of our religion and our multiracial democracy.” --Karli Wallace Thompson, digital organizer for Faithful America. 11/6/23
tim thompson
Pastor Tim Thompson is the founding pastor of 412 Church Temecula Valley. He is a loving husband and father of two. He and his wife, Nicky, have been married since 1996. He is a preacher/teacher of eschatology, and a leader in engaging the Church in the political arena by dealing with sensitive issues to have a positive impact on our culture.
Christians and climate change: Southern California churches preach very different messages
“From the Biblical perspective, it is an exercise in futility to try and save the planet,” said Tim Thompson, pastor of the conservative Murrieta church. Thompson preaches that climate change is a “man-made issue.” But instead of saying it’s environmental degradation caused by human activity, he describes it as a talking point invented by humans “to distract people from other issues that really matter.”
. (Brooke Staggs/Orange County Register 11/19/23)
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“From the Biblical perspective, it is an exercise in futility to try and save the planet,” said Tim Thompson, pastor of the conservative Murrieta church. Thompson preaches that climate change is a “man-made issue.” But instead of saying it’s environmental degradation caused by human activity, he describes it as a talking point invented by humans “to distract people from other issues that really matter.”
. (Brooke Staggs/Orange County Register 11/19/23)
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June 12, 2023: Word & Way: With Turning Point Faith, Pastors Use Politics as a Church-Growth Strategy
In another panel discussion, Tim Thompson, a California pastor who made headlines after he was detained while protesting against pandemic restrictions in May 2020, testified that since the protests and clashes with school boards fighting what he calls “the indoctrination of our children,” he has seen “500%” growth at his church. “God’s definitely blessed it, for sure,” Thompson said.
In another panel discussion, Tim Thompson, a California pastor who made headlines after he was detained while protesting against pandemic restrictions in May 2020, testified that since the protests and clashes with school boards fighting what he calls “the indoctrination of our children,” he has seen “500%” growth at his church. “God’s definitely blessed it, for sure,” Thompson said.
May 29, 2022: Denver Post: Christian nationalism on the rise in some GOP campaigns
Pastor Tim Thompson of 412 Church in Murrieta, California, who hosts a YouTube channel with more 9,600 subscribers and envisions a conservative future for the state, recently started a political action committee aiming to “take back our school boards” and give parents authority over curriculum.
“We don’t want teachers or any other adults talking to our kids about sex,” Thompson said. “We don’t want teachers categorizing our kids into oppressed or oppressor. These are not political issues. They are moral and biblical issues.”
Judeo-Christian values are the foundation of America, he argued.
“People are afraid to speak up for these values because they are afraid that the left is going to slap a label like ‘racist’ or ‘Christian nationalist’ on them,” Thompson said. “I don’t care about those labels, because my wife, children, church and community know who I am.”
Pastor Tim Thompson of 412 Church in Murrieta, California, who hosts a YouTube channel with more 9,600 subscribers and envisions a conservative future for the state, recently started a political action committee aiming to “take back our school boards” and give parents authority over curriculum.
“We don’t want teachers or any other adults talking to our kids about sex,” Thompson said. “We don’t want teachers categorizing our kids into oppressed or oppressor. These are not political issues. They are moral and biblical issues.”
Judeo-Christian values are the foundation of America, he argued.
“People are afraid to speak up for these values because they are afraid that the left is going to slap a label like ‘racist’ or ‘Christian nationalist’ on them,” Thompson said. “I don’t care about those labels, because my wife, children, church and community know who I am.”
warren throckmorton
Mark Driscoll’s Safe Space: How The Embattled Pastor Built A New Church
“The church is more of a religious business than a church,” said Warren Throckmorton, a psychology professor at Grove City College who has studied and chronicled Driscoll’s ministries for years. “The thing he learned was to set himself up as the sole authority. There are not functional elders in the Trinity Church. He learned to structure things so that he is in control.” (Chris Moody/ Religion Unplugged 10/2/23)
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“The church is more of a religious business than a church,” said Warren Throckmorton, a psychology professor at Grove City College who has studied and chronicled Driscoll’s ministries for years. “The thing he learned was to set himself up as the sole authority. There are not functional elders in the Trinity Church. He learned to structure things so that he is in control.” (Chris Moody/ Religion Unplugged 10/2/23)
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scott thumma
July 14, 2023: NPR: Megachurches are getting even bigger as churches close across the country
Liquid Church also steers clear of politics, he says. That's common in most megachurches because they are more diverse, according to Scott Thumma, a professor of sociology of religion at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. "The vast majority of them have nothing to do with politics," he says. While megachurches currently represent only a tiny portion of all U.S. churches, the size of their congregations puts them in an "elite class," Thumma says.
He compares megachurches to more traditional churches in the same way that Walmart posed a challenge to mom and pop shops.
"Many small churches either have disappeared around the megachurch ... or they've created their own mission ... and have figured out a way to offer alternatives to what the megachurch offers. [They've] made sort of their peace with the big kid on the block," says Thumma.
Liquid Church also steers clear of politics, he says. That's common in most megachurches because they are more diverse, according to Scott Thumma, a professor of sociology of religion at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. "The vast majority of them have nothing to do with politics," he says. While megachurches currently represent only a tiny portion of all U.S. churches, the size of their congregations puts them in an "elite class," Thumma says.
He compares megachurches to more traditional churches in the same way that Walmart posed a challenge to mom and pop shops.
"Many small churches either have disappeared around the megachurch ... or they've created their own mission ... and have figured out a way to offer alternatives to what the megachurch offers. [They've] made sort of their peace with the big kid on the block," says Thumma.
krista tippett
Krista Tippett born November 6, 1960) is a broadcaster, journalist, and author. She is best known for creating and hosting the public radio program On Being (formerly Speaking of Faith), distributed by American Public Media. The program is currently broadcast on more than 200 public radio stations in the United States and globally via NPR Worldwide, its website, and its podcast. Tippett's first book, Speaking of Faith — Why Religion Matters and How to Talk about It, was published In 2008. Of the book, the author Elizabeth Gilbert wrote, "Her intelligence is like a salve for all who have been wounded or marginalized by the God Wars."
Apr 24, 2022
Hosted by CLC Co-Youth Coordinator Josie Luetke with special guest Jay Lyons, Director and Producer of the film.
The Long Goodbye: The Kara Tippetts Story (2019) is a documentary about a wife and young mother as she journeys through terminal breast cancer with dignity and grace, surrounded by her support network.
Apr 4, 2015: World: A bird in winter
When I see my friend Kara Tippetts these days I think of a bird, delicate and vulnerable to the harshness of this life.
When I see my friend Kara Tippetts these days I think of a bird, delicate and vulnerable to the harshness of this life.
Apr 2, 2015: On Being: The Calling of Delight: Gangs, Service, and Kinship
A Jesuit priest famous for his gang intervention programs in Los Angeles, Fr. Greg Boyle makes winsome connections between service and delight, and compassion and awe. He heads Homeboy Industries, which employs former gang members in a constellation of businesses. This is not work of helping, he says, but of finding kinship. The point of Christian service, as he lives it, is about “our common calling to delight in one another.”
A Jesuit priest famous for his gang intervention programs in Los Angeles, Fr. Greg Boyle makes winsome connections between service and delight, and compassion and awe. He heads Homeboy Industries, which employs former gang members in a constellation of businesses. This is not work of helping, he says, but of finding kinship. The point of Christian service, as he lives it, is about “our common calling to delight in one another.”
Mar 15, 2015: Episcopal Cafe: Is free will an illusion? Krista Tippett hosts a discussion about the mind and morality
On Being, the Peabody-award winning radio show about the human condition, hosts a conversation between Michael McCullough, professor of psychology, and Arthur Zajonc, physicist, about morality and the ways our practices and thoughts may shape our morality.
On Being, the Peabody-award winning radio show about the human condition, hosts a conversation between Michael McCullough, professor of psychology, and Arthur Zajonc, physicist, about morality and the ways our practices and thoughts may shape our morality.
Mar 19, 2015: Washington Post: Kara Tippetts, a woman who wrote an open letter to Brittany Maynard, is about to die
A Christian author and blogger with terminal cancer who tried to convince Brittany Maynard to reconsider her November decision to die through doctor-assisted suicide is facing her own death.
A Christian author and blogger with terminal cancer who tried to convince Brittany Maynard to reconsider her November decision to die through doctor-assisted suicide is facing her own death.
Oct 8, 2014: A Holy Experience: Dear Brittany: Why We Don’t Have To Be So Afraid of Dying & Suffering that We Choose Suicide
After I read Brittany’s story yesterday… my friend Kara Tippetts dropped an email into my inbox — Kara was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36.
After I read Brittany’s story yesterday… my friend Kara Tippetts dropped an email into my inbox — Kara was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36.
Nov 4, 2014: The Greene Space: Krista Tippett Live: Discovering the Cosmology of Bach
In a live taping of On Being, national public radio's program about the big questions at the center of human life, Chazelle will speak with host Krista Tippett about Bach’s human and aesthetic virtues, and how he inspires our own.
In a live taping of On Being, national public radio's program about the big questions at the center of human life, Chazelle will speak with host Krista Tippett about Bach’s human and aesthetic virtues, and how he inspires our own.
June 2, 2014: Day 1: A Conversation with Krista Tippett
Day1 host Peter Wallace talks with Krista Tippett about her award-winning public radio radio program, "On Being," and her experiences and spiritual backgroun, which make her such an effective communicator regarding faith today
Day1 host Peter Wallace talks with Krista Tippett about her award-winning public radio radio program, "On Being," and her experiences and spiritual backgroun, which make her such an effective communicator regarding faith today
jemar tisby
Jemar Tisby is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Color of
Compromise: The Truth about the Church's Complicity in Racism, and How to Fight Racism. His latest book is How to Fight Racism: Young Reader's Edition. Jemar has been a co-host of the "Pass the Mic" podcast since its inception seven years ago. His writing has been featured in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and the New York Times among others. He is a frequent commentator on outlets such as NPR and CNN's New Day program. He speaks nationwide on the topics of racial justice, U.S. history and Christianity. Jemar earned his PhD in history and he studies race, religion, and social movements in the 20th century.
Compromise: The Truth about the Church's Complicity in Racism, and How to Fight Racism. His latest book is How to Fight Racism: Young Reader's Edition. Jemar has been a co-host of the "Pass the Mic" podcast since its inception seven years ago. His writing has been featured in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and the New York Times among others. He is a frequent commentator on outlets such as NPR and CNN's New Day program. He speaks nationwide on the topics of racial justice, U.S. history and Christianity. Jemar earned his PhD in history and he studies race, religion, and social movements in the 20th century.
“This is cotton country — the land of slavery and sharecropping,” said Tisby. “You can see it in the landscape, you can see it in the generational poverty.” --Jemar Tisby
How evangelical Christian writer Jemar Tisby became a radioactive symbol of ‘wokeness’
Over the past decade, Jemar Tisby’s life has largely been shaped by two forces: the Bible, and the deaths of young Black men, often at the hands of law enforcement. About a decade ago, Tisby, then a seminary student in Jackson, Mississippi, helped start a new group called the Reformed African American Network — an offshoot of the “Young, Restless, and Reformed” movement that had spread like wildfire among evangelical Christians in the first decade of the 21st century. (Bob Smietana/Religion News 5/30/23)
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Over the past decade, Jemar Tisby’s life has largely been shaped by two forces: the Bible, and the deaths of young Black men, often at the hands of law enforcement. About a decade ago, Tisby, then a seminary student in Jackson, Mississippi, helped start a new group called the Reformed African American Network — an offshoot of the “Young, Restless, and Reformed” movement that had spread like wildfire among evangelical Christians in the first decade of the 21st century. (Bob Smietana/Religion News 5/30/23)
Read More>>>>>
“This is cotton country — the land of slavery and sharecropping. You can see it in the landscape, you can see it in the generational poverty.....The thing that struck me was that there are churches on every corner. Not only were they racially divided, it also didn’t seem like they were having much impact in the community. That’s where I started thinking about the relationship between faith and justice.”
--Jemar Tisby on coming to Arkansas; Roys Report; 5.30.23
--Jemar Tisby on coming to Arkansas; Roys Report; 5.30.23
ben toews
Feb 22, 2023: Religion News Service: How big Christian nationalism has come courting in North Idaho
Another is State Sen. Ben Toews, who told Altar Church he prayed for people while knocking on doors for his campaign, and who introduced a bill this month that would prohibit any instruction involving human sexuality, sexual orientation or gender identity before the fifth grade.
According to the Idaho Capital Sun, Toews was also one of the founding incorporators of the Idaho Family Policy Center, a group created in 2021 that has authored or championed some of the most conservative bills placed before the state Legislature — including one this month with a provision that would ban books depicting homosexuality from libraries. The Idaho Family Policy Center’s head, a recent transplant, has described himself as a Christian nationalist, and the group’s board includes two men connected to Doug Wilson’s churches and schools in Moscow.
Another is State Sen. Ben Toews, who told Altar Church he prayed for people while knocking on doors for his campaign, and who introduced a bill this month that would prohibit any instruction involving human sexuality, sexual orientation or gender identity before the fifth grade.
According to the Idaho Capital Sun, Toews was also one of the founding incorporators of the Idaho Family Policy Center, a group created in 2021 that has authored or championed some of the most conservative bills placed before the state Legislature — including one this month with a provision that would ban books depicting homosexuality from libraries. The Idaho Family Policy Center’s head, a recent transplant, has described himself as a Christian nationalist, and the group’s board includes two men connected to Doug Wilson’s churches and schools in Moscow.
jim tomberlin
July 14, 2023: NPR: Megachurches are getting even bigger as churches close across the country
Typically, the mergers are with a church in decline or a pastor ready to retire, according to Jim Tomberlin, a member of The Unstuck Group, a consulting organization that offers a service to support church mergers. It's a case of "you need a building, we need a pastor," he says.
Tomberlin sees it as a win-win. The larger church grows its membership. The smaller congregation gets "a great communicator," in the form of a dynamic pastor, but also a local pastor "who's not consumed or distracted by preparing sermons 10 or 20 hours a week, every week," he says. "That gives them time to serve that congregation."
Typically, the mergers are with a church in decline or a pastor ready to retire, according to Jim Tomberlin, a member of The Unstuck Group, a consulting organization that offers a service to support church mergers. It's a case of "you need a building, we need a pastor," he says.
Tomberlin sees it as a win-win. The larger church grows its membership. The smaller congregation gets "a great communicator," in the form of a dynamic pastor, but also a local pastor "who's not consumed or distracted by preparing sermons 10 or 20 hours a week, every week," he says. "That gives them time to serve that congregation."
brian tome
Jan 5, 2023: New York Times: Prayers for Damar Hamlin Show Bond Between Football and Faith
Brian Tome, a former high-school football player and a Bengals fan, watched the game at home Monday night. What struck him, he said, was how television commentators struggled for words as they pivoted from covering a late-season game to the outpouring of fear and sadness around an emergency medical event. “America got to see people be empathetic,” said Mr. Tome, the pastor of Crossroads Church, with locations in Cincinnati and elsewhere. “These moments of crisis are bringing something out in us that’s really positive.”
About a mile from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Mr. Hamlin remained sedated and in critical condition, Mr. Tome hosted a community prayer service at his church for Mr. Hamlin on Tuesday.
“We can’t participate in the medical process,” he told the assembled crowd of about 100, with hundreds more streaming the service online. “But we can participate in prayer.”
Brian Tome, a former high-school football player and a Bengals fan, watched the game at home Monday night. What struck him, he said, was how television commentators struggled for words as they pivoted from covering a late-season game to the outpouring of fear and sadness around an emergency medical event. “America got to see people be empathetic,” said Mr. Tome, the pastor of Crossroads Church, with locations in Cincinnati and elsewhere. “These moments of crisis are bringing something out in us that’s really positive.”
About a mile from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Mr. Hamlin remained sedated and in critical condition, Mr. Tome hosted a community prayer service at his church for Mr. Hamlin on Tuesday.
“We can’t participate in the medical process,” he told the assembled crowd of about 100, with hundreds more streaming the service online. “But we can participate in prayer.”
Rob Toornstra
Understanding God’s purpose for us in sex helps us both to set proper boundaries and to embrace what God permits. At creation, God's designs his image-bearers as embodied and sexual beings, and he creates marriage as the context for sexual expression. God establishes marriage as a covenant relationship that both unites as one flesh and forsakes all others (Genesis 1). Furthermore, Paul writes in Ephesians 5:32 that the relationship between husband and wife mirrors that of Christ and the church--marriage reflects the glory of Christ’s covenant-love for his bride. Marital sex, then, is a way we may glorify Christ by experiencing the joy of covenant intimacy. The pleasure of sex points us to the ultimate reality of our relationship with Jesus.
The Old Testament book Song of Songs gives fuller expression to what this looks like. This lengthy and sexually graphic poem describes what sex can be between husband and wife when it points to Christ. Because some of the metaphors are admittedly strange, the message can be missed (I’m pretty sure I’ve never told my wife that her nose looks like the Tower of Lebanon). But with careful reading, the sensuality of this book begins to emerge. In the pages of this book, we find the woman admiring her husband’s erection (5:14), and her husband delighting in his wife as she becomes sexually aroused (7:2). It is clear that God’s intention for sex is our sensual enjoyment of one another. The two lovers enjoy one another with all their senses, and they embrace the delight of sexual pleasure – including (quite likely) oral sex (2:3-6).
This means at least that God intends sex to be sensual, playful, and exciting. Sex isn’t just for procreation or physical release – it’s a way that we enjoy the bodies that God created. And that can allow us the freedom to explore a variety of sexual activity. However, other factors must be considered.............Some sexual activities may not be explicitly forbidden in the bible, but are nonetheless unwise. Any sexual activity that puts you or your spouse at risk of injury or illness would be unwise. Anal sex, for example, exposes a person to significant risk – risk of infection and risk of damaging tissue. Sending explicit pictures of one another carries the risk of the images falling into the wrong hands. As we consider what is and is not acceptable in our marriage bed, we must weigh the wisdom of what we wish to try – even if it is not explicitly forbidden by God.
--Rob Toonstra; Family Fire; Is this Allowed? Guidelines for Christian Sex 1.1.16
The Old Testament book Song of Songs gives fuller expression to what this looks like. This lengthy and sexually graphic poem describes what sex can be between husband and wife when it points to Christ. Because some of the metaphors are admittedly strange, the message can be missed (I’m pretty sure I’ve never told my wife that her nose looks like the Tower of Lebanon). But with careful reading, the sensuality of this book begins to emerge. In the pages of this book, we find the woman admiring her husband’s erection (5:14), and her husband delighting in his wife as she becomes sexually aroused (7:2). It is clear that God’s intention for sex is our sensual enjoyment of one another. The two lovers enjoy one another with all their senses, and they embrace the delight of sexual pleasure – including (quite likely) oral sex (2:3-6).
This means at least that God intends sex to be sensual, playful, and exciting. Sex isn’t just for procreation or physical release – it’s a way that we enjoy the bodies that God created. And that can allow us the freedom to explore a variety of sexual activity. However, other factors must be considered.............Some sexual activities may not be explicitly forbidden in the bible, but are nonetheless unwise. Any sexual activity that puts you or your spouse at risk of injury or illness would be unwise. Anal sex, for example, exposes a person to significant risk – risk of infection and risk of damaging tissue. Sending explicit pictures of one another carries the risk of the images falling into the wrong hands. As we consider what is and is not acceptable in our marriage bed, we must weigh the wisdom of what we wish to try – even if it is not explicitly forbidden by God.
--Rob Toonstra; Family Fire; Is this Allowed? Guidelines for Christian Sex 1.1.16
charles toy
May 16, 2023:
National and state Christian leaders spoke out against the white supremacist ideology espoused during two recent Christian nationalist rallies in South Florida. Christians Against Christian Nationalism and Faithful America organized a livestreamed event as a counter perspective to the May 11 “Pastors for Trump” reception and the May 12 ReAwaken America Tour rally, both held at the Trump Doral resort in Miami. “We are here today as Christians who are horrified to see the faith we hold dear being used to spread lies, violence and authoritarian theocracy,” said Amanda Tyler, executive director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and lead organizer of Christians Against Christian Nationalism. Tyler was joined at All Angels Episcopal Church in Miami Springs by Nathan Empsall of Faithful America, Russell Meyer of the Florida Council of Churches, Jennifer Butler of Faith in Public Life Action, James Golden of Pastors for Florida Children and Charles Toy of The Christian Left. More at Baptist News Global
National and state Christian leaders spoke out against the white supremacist ideology espoused during two recent Christian nationalist rallies in South Florida. Christians Against Christian Nationalism and Faithful America organized a livestreamed event as a counter perspective to the May 11 “Pastors for Trump” reception and the May 12 ReAwaken America Tour rally, both held at the Trump Doral resort in Miami. “We are here today as Christians who are horrified to see the faith we hold dear being used to spread lies, violence and authoritarian theocracy,” said Amanda Tyler, executive director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and lead organizer of Christians Against Christian Nationalism. Tyler was joined at All Angels Episcopal Church in Miami Springs by Nathan Empsall of Faithful America, Russell Meyer of the Florida Council of Churches, Jennifer Butler of Faith in Public Life Action, James Golden of Pastors for Florida Children and Charles Toy of The Christian Left. More at Baptist News Global
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