I preached on Sunday, August 21, on A Christian Response to Government and Politics. In part, I taught that Christians must operate with a much higher standard than do politicians, and even the way we do politics (which is often a very dirty business) must be done according to the ethics of...
This was originally published in the FSBCA Weekly. It has since been moved to this blog. I knew it was coming, but it still infuriated me when it did. There are enough people on the “lunatic fringe” of Christianity that it was inevitable. A California pastor posted a video on...
I believe in religious liberty. I don’t just believe in religious liberty for Christians. I believe in religious liberty for all people. So I am deeply frustrated when politicians make statements that indicate that they don’t understand religious liberty. I’m offended when candidates say they want to refuse to accept...
It is well known at FSBCA that I don’t endorse candidates in my position as a pastor. My role is to preach and teach the gospel of Jesus, to lead the church, and to show God’s love to members and people in the community. I don’t ever want my political opinions to...
I’ve been asked many times recently my opinion about Kim Davis, the Kentucky County Clerk who was jailed (but now released) for her refusal to issue marriage licenses for gay couples as ordered by the courts. She went so far as to refuse to issue any marriage licenses at all,...
We are entering into the political season, with more announced (and unannounced) presidential candidates than I can count or keep track of. So it’s time for me to make some political statements that apply to the church and to me as a pastor. I ask you to read these carefully...
I believe in religious freedom. I also believe in serving people and loving people regardless of their background, their morality, and their faith. So if I’m a baker of cakes, and someone wants me to bake them a cake, I would do so. I would bake them a cake if...
On the night Jesus was born, according to the traditional reading of the Christmas story, the angels said to the shepherds, “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” “On earth, peace . . .” We have yet to experience that peace on...
The recent events in Ferguson, New York, Cleveland, and Phoenix have opened old wounds that have never fully healed in our country. Ugly truths that have long existed were brought to the surface once again, reminding us that we have much work to do to overcome racism in our country....
The very first amendment of the United States Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government...
