Pope: Non-Heterosexual Behavior Destroys God's Work

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Jennifer Gold
Christian Today Reporter
Tue, Dec. 23 2008 04:06 PM EST

Saving mankind from homosexual and transsexual behavior is just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction, said Pope Benedict on Monday.

In an end-of-year address to Vatican officials, the Pope said the Catholic Church “should also protect man from the destruction of himself.”

A “sort of ecology of man is needed,” he said.

The Catholic Church strongly opposes homosexual relationships and same-sex unions.

“The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less,” he said in the address, which was later released to the media.

In an attack on transsexuals, the Pope said, “It is not man who decides who is a man or woman but God.”

Non-heterosexual behavior was “a destruction of God’s work,” he said, adding that humanity needed to “listen to the language of creation” to properly define the roles of man and woman.

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Pastor Rick Warren Clarifies Position on Homosexuals, Marriage

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Dec. 23 2008 08:39 PM EST

Evangelical Pastor Rick Warren believes America is being destroyed by "the demonization of differences" and the media is to blame.

"[T]he media often fans controversy and conflict to create a story and we start yelling at each other so much, nobody listens to each other anymore," Warren said in a lengthy video message, posted Monday, addressed to members of Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif.

As the media creates or fuels conflict, it's creating more polarization and causing people to be more rude and inflamed, the renowned pastor said.

Warren also blamed bloggers for contributing to the polarization of the country and said one of his three life goals is to restore civility to civilization.

The evangelical pastor posted his comments on his "News & Views" blog page to address concerns and questions raised by his congregants.

In recent weeks, Warren has been inundated with criticism from evangelicals as well as gay-rights groups after he accepted the invitation to deliver the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration in January. Obama has also been blasted for his selection of the evangelical pastor for such a significant role.

But while countless reports have covered the controversy around homosexuality – Warren supported Proposition 8, protecting the traditional definition of marriage – the Saddleback pastor says the media has totally missed the real story.

"The fact that an evangelical pastor believes in keeping the historic definition of marriage – that's not news ... it's a non-story. And the fact that the gay community would disagree with me, that's not news either," he said in the video.

"What's the real story?" he posed.

"The real story is that a couple of different American leaders have chosen to model civility for the rest of the nation and that Barack Obama and Rick Warren have decided to try to create a new politic that says 'we can disagree without being disagreeable; we can walk hand in hand without seeing eye to eye; we can have unity in our nation without uniformity; and we can have collaboration for the best of America.'"

Although both Warren and Obama are receiving flak, they're both "willing to be criticized in order to try to bring America into a new day of civil discourse and to create a new model that says 'you don't have to agree only with your side on everything; you can reach out in the middle and try to figure out to have a way that we can make America a better place without having to agree on everything," Warren stressed.

"See, that's the story that the media's missing. It's the story of risk-taking."

In the video message, Warren also clarified what he really believes about gay marriage as he responded to questions raised by his congregants.

"My views have not changed in 30 years ... I have been accused of equating gay partnerships with incest and pedophilia. Now, of course, as members of Saddleback Church, you know I believe no such thing. I never have," he said, as he cleared up false accusations and clarified comments he made in a recent interview with Beliefnet.com.

"...I'm not opposed to gays having their partnerships. I'm opposed to gays using the term 'marriage' for their relationship and I'm opposed to any redefinition of the definition of marriage – the definition of marriage that's been universally accepted since the beginning of man," he said.
He also stated, "Now gay partnerships are typically between consenting adults. And while I believe that the gay view of sexuality is contrary to God's word, I do believe that God gives us free choice and He gives us the choice to obey His word or to disobey it.

"Because of that, I believe I must give everybody else that same freedom of choice. I'm opposed in forcing people to act the way I believe that I ought to act. That's not what it's about. It's what I believe God wants me to act and it's the way I believe God wants other people to act but God has given me the choice."

He continued, "Now I believe that God says I must love everybody. You've heard me say that a thousand times. I have to love everybody regardless of the choice they make. In fact, I am never ever free to hate any person."

"Not only God, but America gives us this great freedom to make choices," Warren added. "And so I simply believe that while we're all free to make choices, I think gays should use another term for their consenting adult relationship and partnership. I oppose the redefinition of the meaning of marriage. I hope that's clear."

And in terms how he will deal with the incessant verbal attacks, false accusations and hateful slander, Warren said, "We return good for evil. We return love for hate. We overcome evil with good. We will love and ... we will pray."

On the Web: Rick Warren video message

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Rick Warren: Christian Liberalism is 'Marxism in Christian Clothing'

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Jennifer Riley
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Dec. 16 2008 03:35 PM EST

Best-selling author, social activist and megachurch pastor Rick Warren described the social gospel supported by many of the mainline churches as “Marxism in Christian clothing.”

“[W]e don’t need to care about redemption, the cross, repentance. All we need to do is redeem the social structures of society and if we make those social structures better the world will become a better place,” explained Warren as he described the beliefs behind those who support the "social gospel," in his interview with Beliefnet.com, which was posted Monday.

“Really in many ways it was just Marxism in Christian clothing,” he criticized. “[I]t was in vogue at that time that if we redeem society then man will automatically get better. It didn’t deal with the heart.”

Warren, recognized as one of the most socially active Christians in the world, did not hold back his criticism of those who call themselves Christians but seek to make the world a better place by focusing on the body – issues of poverty, disease, social justice and racial justice – and not the soul.

But he also disagreed with their counterpart – Christians who disregard the body altogether while caring only for the soul and personal morality.

“Who’s right? Well in my opinion they’re both right,” Warren concluded. “Part of my desire as a leader is to bring these two wings back together. I think we need them both.

“I think it’s very clear that Jesus cared about both the body and the soul. He cared about both personal and social issues and I think they’re both important but there’s been this split.”

Historically, evangelicals were leaders when it came to changing society, Warren pointed out. Evangelicals were at the forefront of the abolition of slavery, with pastors leading that movement. It was also evangelicals who were on the frontlines of calling for the right of women to vote and protesting child labor laws.

“That’s my whole job is I’ve gotta reawaken what I call the 19th Century evangelicalism,” Warren said, noting that Protestantism split in the 20th Century with mainline Protestants on the side of the social gospel and evangelicals and fundamentalists who emphasized morality and salvation.

The evangelical pastor noted that the mainline groups have “died,” pointing out that mainline denominations have been in decline for 40 years while charismatic and evangelicals have continued growing.

“There are more Muslims in America than there are Episcopalians,” Warren highlighted. “There’s less than 2 million of them (Episcopalians).”

In addition to the social gospel, Warren's interview with Beliefnet also covered negative views of Christianity, human problems and God’s plan, gay marriage and divorce, and the Bush administration’s policy on torture.

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Presbyterian Church Seeks to Deal With Churches Leaving Denomination

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Dec. 16 2008 02:48 PM EST

The departure of congregations from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) poses major risks, including the threat to both church unity and independence from the state, says one leader in the denomination.

Kears Pollock, moderator of the Pittsburgh Presbytery, has invited fellow Presbyterians to join an "informative" convocation, titled "Our Freedom of Religion at Risk – A Presbyterian Crisis," next year amid an exodus of a growing minority of congregations from the PC(USA).

"The unity of the church is at risk from within and from without," Pollock states in his invitation to the Feb. 19, 2009, event. "The current activities of some congregations and ministers encouraging division within the church can lead to subordination of the church to the state particularly when congregational sessions/trustees file civil suits against Presbyteries."

Pollock was addressing the court battles between congregations that left the denomination and their presbyteries – regional bodies of the PC(USA) – over church property ownership.

According to a June report by the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, 40 presbyteries face, or have faced, legal battles or similar challenges.

Pollock believes involving the courts threatens the religious practices of the denomination. "Court orders to prevent presbyteries from dealing with division, disorder, disobedience, dismissal and determination of the true church threaten the beliefs and practices of our denomination," according to a promotional flier for the convocation.

"The evolving civil law in many jurisdictions appears intent on adopting a default condition of requiring all non-hierarchical denominations to be treated as congregational in character ignoring the Biblical and historical nature of Presbyterian ecclesiology," Pollock stated.

"It weakens the constitutional barrier against government interference in religion."

Conservative Presbyterians who have left the PC(USA) have argued that the denomination has abandoned its Reformed roots and biblical foundation. Controversy was stirred in 2001 when the General Assembly – the denomination's highest governing body – did not affirm the "singular" saving Lordship of Jesus Christ. Conservatives became even more discontent when the 2006 General Assembly adopted a resolution that some believe allowed leeway for homosexual ordination.

Furthermore, this past summer the high governing body voted to remove from the denomination's constitution the requirement that clergy live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness." The proposal has been relegated to the presbyteries for approval.

The Pittsburgh moderator suggested that Presbyterians in property disputes are practicing "me centered" religion.

"We have not emphasized fully that Christ’s church is not the building where one worships. Nor is the church the congregation of one’s membership. Rather, we are one church united by the shared covenant through Christ and ultimately, through ecumenism, connected with the whole church, catholic," Pollock stated.

The Feb. 19 convocation will be webcast on the Pittsburgh Presbytery website.

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Ripped Away

By Marie Jon'

Imagine being suddenly ripped away from your home and left standing in an unfamiliar place that completely contradicted your way of life. The extreme pressures are overwhelming. You find yourself in a society that you were never raised to believe in and that no one can sufficiently explain. One could describe the feeling as an unfavorable.

I'm afraid that many people living in our country are feeling just this way. The horrendous, rapid pace of social change is throwing us off balance. It seems that we're living in a different place.

What has happened to America? Our social mores and values are being redefined. What can be done?

Christians have to resist these dramatic changes because they do not conform to the teachings of a loving yet firm God. “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:23)

At a recent Bible study class I was asked if I would be ready to die for my faith. My response was “absolutely not.” The thought of dying doesn’t appeal to me. However, I believe if that moment were to actually come, God would give me the courage to do it rather than denying my Lord.

Have you ever wondered if you had it in you to become a martyr, ready to die for your faith? While going through the prophecies of the Bible, I found an answer that gave me hope. It’s a powerful thought that provides an unmovable confidence. No matter what might come my way, I can face it. Here is that prophecy and true the story that helped me reach my conclusion.

There once lived a young man named Daniel, who was just eighteen years old. This exemplary teenager could inspire many to get up early on the Lord’s Day and attend their churches’ weekly Bible classes.

Total strangers approached Daniel. They meant him no good, to say the least. The city he once lived in was totally wiped out. All the beautiful homes that once stood in his neighborhood were left in smoldering ruins. He and his friends and neighbors were bound in chains and unwillingly taken off to a land where everyone spoke in a strange language and held strange customs.

And oddly enough, this uncanny happening was pre-told in the written Word. The Israelites knew it was coming. The dramatic fulfillment of an old prediction was made clear to them by the prophet Isaiah years before it happened. Look at 2 Kings 17-20; Isaiah predicted:

“‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord.”

Everything that took place was exactly as Isaiah had predicted. Sometime between 606 and 605 B.C., the Babylonian armies overtook the royal city of Jerusalem and laid it to destruction.

Daniel was just one member of the royal family who became a victim of another ruler of ancient times. The entire family was carried away in chains, along with Daniel’s neighbors. They were forced to march hundreds of miles across the burning desert to the city of Babylon. They felt humiliated because they were subjected to the shame of slavery.

Daniel was placed into servitude in the home of a pagan king. While most young men would begin living their adult lives, he became nothing more than a slave. Daniel felt helpless. What was there to look forward to?

However, as bad as that was, his personal situation could have been a whole lot worse. At least he was not put to work in the fields or forced to work in a rock quarry.

Daniel was given a job in the palace of the king. One of the first things he was asked to do was graduate from the Royal University of Babylon.

King Nebuchadnezzar had an extraordinary master plan for world domination. The king took the brightest and the best, and put them through his own universities so that they would learn to think like the Babylonians and rule over the conquered Israelites.

Over time, the king knew that the people of Israel would settle in to their new way of life. By using Daniel he felt assured his brilliant strategy would work. He counted on no uprisings against his Babylonian kingdom. Rather than beat, starve or use other cruel measures to isolate and alienate his captives, Nebuchadnezzar’s plan was to simply absorb them into the empire.

It is a plan that is being used today right here in the United States of America. It’s much easier for the ungodly to entice people into open sin by changing the way they think. It’s better than fighting them tooth and nail.

One way to achieve silencing any opposition is by telling our school age children that Darwinism is the be all and end all. There is no open debate allowed in the sciences for “Intelligent Design", neither in grade school, high school, nor universities of higher education.

Today, we sadly find ourselves in a rapidly changing world. Values are changing. The world is telling us that nothing is right or wrong, and that everything’s a matter of personal preferences.

Like the Trojan Horse, we allow the entertainment media into our homes. Today’s Pop music is seductive and devoid of morals. The melodies and the lyrics are no longer about boy meets girl and puppy love. It is any wonder why our society is spinning out of control?

Our teenagers are encouraged to become sexually active. Our public schools allow Planned Parenthood to pass out free condoms and birth control pills. However, babies are still being born out of wedlock, and worse, abortion on demand has hardened our society. There is no remorse connected with aborting an unwanted pregnancy.

While evil seems to chase God’s people, some lose their way and peacefully join the ranks of the secular progressive way of life. It's perfectly fine to allow the gay community to dictate to the rest of society regarding their version of marital Nirvana.

The Babylonian education program was much like our own public school system. They were lacking in the moral values of the God of the Bible. Our faith will not grow if we can't call the words of God to mind. America needs to become known as the people of the Bible. It’s our heritage, and we're losing it.

During the time of his captivity, Daniel exhibited special qualities of intelligence. Given the choice between working in the rock quarries all day or attending the best schools the Babylonians had to offer, the choice was a no-brainier. However, the Bible unfolds the rest of the story. In spite of the cushy living conditions, Daniel didn’t have it so easy. He faced much greater difficulties in the opulent palace.

One would believe that Daniel took a big sigh of relief, thankful that his prison sentence wasn’t any worse. But even at his young age, he had common sense and could see past the luxurious perks. Daniel recognized that Nebuchadnezzar wanted to change everything he stood for.

Little by little, Israelites were stripped of everything that made them Hebrews. They were unwillingly given new names. In our day and age, that doesn’t seem like a bad thing. People change their names all the time. Many immigrants took on slight changes to their last names as they entered Ellis Island. Not so in the ancient world. To change your name was to change your character. Your name represented who you were and what you stood for.

Parents chose their children’s names very carefully. They wholeheartedly believed that your name would dictate your course in life. Your name would help shape your character. The right name would give you a better chance at a good life.

The king of Babylon wanted to change the character of every Hebrew. So he simply changed their names and sat back to see the fruits of his labor. (Daniel 1:6, 7 NKJV):

“Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. to them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.”

Originally, Daniel’s name meant, “God is my judge.” Hananiah meant “Jehovah (or Yahweh) is gracious.” Mishael means “the one who belongs to God,” and Azariah means “Jehovah helps.”

The young men were named as a special tribute to The Almighty. Because Nebuchadnezzar didn’t want them to remember their Hebrew religion, he removed their identity and gave them pagan names of Babylonian gods instead.

Belteshazzar became Daniel’s new name. The king brazenly believed he had won the battle over the human mind. His strongest weapon was the ability to make people accept the culture of the general population. The reason we find the city of Babylon all through Bible prophecy is because of its powerful symbol of religious confusion, especially in the last days.

The Book of Revelation describes a people who have become drunk with the wine of Babylon. People who will be alive to see the Second Coming of Christ are found immersed in false teachings and bad philosophy. Liberal doctrines lead them astray, thus their moral judgments will leave them seriously impaired.

Some Christians have taken a lesson from the Babylonians by mixing God’s truth with error. They are no longer able think for themselves. (Thessalonians2:7): “The mystery of iniquity doth already work,” and it’s happening today.

The ancient empire of Babylon was built on the ruins of the tower of Babel. After the flood, the human race became very haughty. They build a monument to their greatness. However, The Almighty put a stop to it by confusing their language. Even today, the word “Babel” or “Babylon” means unintelligible gibberish.

The Bible speaks of a special end time message that goes to the entire world. (Revelation 14:8 NKJV):

“And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen.”

The prophecy can’t possibly be referring to the literal ancient city of Babylon, because the old ancient city has been gone for centuries. God says that Babylon will never be rebuilt: Isaiah 13.

Just before the end time, however, ”spiritual” Babylon will prevail over the citizens of the world. They will find themselves in a state of religious confusion. The scriptures portray a very sad picture of where the human race is heading. Within the opening chapter of the Book of Daniel, one can envision the issues that Daniel was facing and we see a little glimpse of what we are going to face as time goes by.

The secular progressives of today are trying to woo us to their way of thinking, just as the Babylonians tried with an eighteen-year-old. Daniel was continually tempted; his lifestyle and religious beliefs were under fire.

In today’s world, our morals have been thrown to the wayside. We are bombarded on a daily basis with the temptation to conform. Everything changes in direct opposition to the Word of God. The amazing thing is that it was all predicted in the book of Revelation: (Revelation 18:3, 4 NKJV)

“‘For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.’ And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’”

There is a Holy Spirit clarion call going out to America and to the world. Christian activism calls for a people who will stand tall and true. There is more at stake than ever before. Liberalism undermines America. It compromises our convictions, while many wander away from God. Secularism often equals atheism. They offer every evil under the sun without condemnation or shame.

In your heart, you know that this is true. There is a part of you that remembers what life was like when people still believed in their faith, and you know that you would like to stand up for what’s right. You have a desire to never throw in the towel.

If what you feel is righteous indignation, then hold fast. Cling to Jesus. You can walk away from every temptation that this world has to offer, and live a life with no regrets.

The story of Daniel tells us what we can do. Against all odds, anyone can stand for God. If only more Christians embraced the “Daniel approach” to life, maybe this world wouldn’t be in the compromising moral mess it finds itself in.

Men and women, with a strong determination and the help of the Word of God, must stand against the falsehoods of spiritual Babylon.

Become part of the answer, and not the problem. Begin today. Allow the voice of Jesus to call you to stand firm while ignoring worldliness. Understand that He is leading you to make something better out of your life. Get on your knees and pray that you may feel His gentle touch. Crave the kind inner strength that a young man once had in the palace of a pagan king.

Will you pray and ask God to help you stand firm?



The Ishtar Gate of Babylon was built during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II (604- 562 BC). The foundations of the gate were discovered between 1899 and 1914, including numerous glazed bricks and unglazed figures. The gate resides at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

Related Reading:
Babylon: The Jewel of the Semites-Youtube
Exhibition in Berlin- Babylon
Take a tour of Babylon: Flickr Photos

Marie Jon' is a political/religious-based writer and founder of www.DrawingClose.org and www.PeoplePoliticallyRight.com — sister websites to RenewAmerica. Marie extends her hand of welcome; visit DrawingClose and receive your free gift of salvation by taking an online Bible study.

Marie's writings have appeared on many sites, including The New Media Journal, ChronWatch, and ABCNews, to name a few. Marie brings a refreshing and spirited point of view that is reflected in her writings. Marie is a nurse, a lay student of the Bible, and a patriot. She is an advocate for American troops serving abroad, as well as the Blue and Gold Star Mothers of America and their families. Marie enjoys Townhall.com radio, Rush Limbaugh, Bruce Elliott Saturdays 5AM-9AM EST and her friend Larry Elder.

Appeals Court to Decide on Gideon Bible Distribution in Public Schools

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Lawrence Jones
Christian Post Reporter
Fri, Dec. 12 2008 09:07 AM EST

A federal appeals court in St. Louis heard arguments Thursday in a case involving the distribution of Gideon Bibles to children in public schools.

The South Iron R-1 School District formerly had a policy that allowed outside religious groups to distribute Bibles to fifth graders during the school day.

The policy prompted a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, which sued the district in September 2006, demanding a stop to the distribution.

Catherine D. Perry, a lower federal court judge, ordered a halt to the Bible distribution, calling it "an instrument of religion."

Following the order, the district then adopted a written equal access policy that treats the distribution of secular and religious literature outside of class on an equal basis. Under the new policy, outside groups could apply to distribute literature from stationary tables in two designated locations but were prohibited from distributing material inside classrooms.

Mathew D. Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, who represents the school district in the case, asked the appeals court Thursday to reverse the ruling.

"The Bible cannot be singled out for special penalties like contraband. How ironic that in America, until recent times, the Bible formed the basis of education, and now its mere presence is radioactive in the opinion of some judges," said Staver in a statement.

"The Founders never envisioned such open hostility toward the Christian religion as we see today in some venues. To single out the Bible alone for discriminatory treatment harkens back to the Dark Ages. America deserves better. Our Constitution should be respected, not disregarded."

At issue during the hearing was whether the permanent injunction entered by Perry was based on the revised policy or the former policy.

Staver argued before the court that the permanent injunction did not take the new policy into appropriate consideration.

"It would be inappropriate for this previous injunction based upon a specific incident to literally gut the public forum and single out one single piece of literature...namely the Bible," stated Staver.

The court is expected to issue a decision in a few months.

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Media Publishes Factual Errors, Misconceptions About Homosexuality

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Dec. 09 2008 03:35 PM EST

In the aftermath of the passage of California's Proposition 8, Newsweek and Hollywood are the latest players to launch their attacks on traditional marriage supporters and the biblical case against homosexuality.

And Christians are taking issue with the misconceptions, factual errors and holes in the arguments being presented in popular public spheres.

"It doesn’t surprise me. Newsweek has been so far in the tank on the homosexual issue, for so long, they need scuba gear and breathing apparatus," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, according to Politico. "I don’t think it’s going to change the minds of anyone who takes biblical teachings seriously."

Land's comments were directed at Newsweek's current cover story, "The Religious Case for Gay Marriage," written by religion editor Lisa Miller. In the story, Miller says "examples of 'the traditional family' are scarcely to be found" in the Old Testament and that the Bible does not explicitly define marriage as between one man and one woman. She further argues that the modern married couple would not look to the Bible as a guide while citing polygamy in the Old Testament.

"Religious objections to gay marriage are rooted not in the Bible at all, then, but in custom and tradition," Miller writes. "The Bible was written for a world so unlike our own, it’s impossible to apply its rules, at face value, to ours."

Rejecting Miller's arguments, Land said the Bible clearly prescribes marriage as heterosexual, citing passages in Genesis, where God pairs Adam and Eve, and Ephesians (in the New Testament) when the apostle Paul compares the relationship between husband and wife to the relationship between Jesus and the Church, according to Politico.

Newsweek's story reflects the confusion that many people have regarding Scripture and homosexuality.

And the media isn't the only one to blame for it.

"Part of that [confusion] is skillful misrepresentation, and part of it is the failure of the church to faithfully and diligently promote biblical apologetics and exegesis," according to Bob Stith, who heads the Ministry to Homosexuals Task Force in the Southern Baptist Convention.

The confusion is also played out in the Funny Or Die video, "Prop 8 – The Musical," which was posted last week. In it, popular celebrities, including Neil Patrick Harris and Jack Black, weigh in on the amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. The musical accuses Christians of picking and choosing Bible verses to make their case against gay marriage and mocks them as hatemongers.

"Leviticus says shellfish is an abomination," Black, who portrays Jesus in the musical, states in the musical as he responds to the Christians' argument that the Bible says homosexuality is an abomination. "The Bible says a lot of interesting things like you can stone your wife or sell your daughter into slavery."

"Well we ignore those verses," says John C. Reilly, who plays a Christian.

"It seems to me you pick and choose. Well please choose love instead of hate," Black sings.

Randy Thomas, vice president of Exodus International, responded saying the musical showed a "sincere misunderstanding of Scripture."

Tim Wilkins, a former homosexual who heads Cross Ministry, argued that gay marriage supporters "are doing the very thing they accuse Christians of."

"They focus on Leviticus and ignore New Testament passages that forbid homosexuality. WHY? Because Leviticus provides easier arguments with its prohibitions against certain foods."

SBC's Stith also denounced Hollywood's attempt to make biblical arguments. "Anyone who cares to spend thirty minutes of serious study would see the many flaws in Black’s argument," he said.

Clearing up some of the confusion, Stith called it a "factual error" to claim that Scripture nowhere says homosexuals are an abomination.

"In the same passage in Leviticus that speaks about homosexuality the Bible also warns against incest, bestiality, and adultery," he said. Also, "while the New Testament doesn’t mention shellfish (and some would argue that Acts 10 clears that argument up) it clearly continues the biblical prohibition on homosexual acts."

Additionally, "Nowhere in the entire canon of Scripture are homosexual relationships ever spoken of approvingly," Stith continued. "The Bible is clear that God created us as sexual beings. But it is also clear that He provided us boundaries and guidelines for the use of that wonderful gift."

Addressing a more sensitive topic, Stith sees the label "hate" being used in ignorance or willful malice against those who simply disagree.

"On several occasions, sometimes with tears in my own eyes, I’ve said to people about actions in which they were involved, 'You know, this isn’t God’s best for you. He has something better if you’re willing to walk in obedience.' Does this make me a 'hater' or does it mean that I care about that person and genuinely believe that God knows what He’s talking about?" Stith posed.

But again, Christians aren't entirely blame-free in this gay marriage debate – which Newsweek's Miller believes is a full-scale war now.

"Unfortunately, we live in an age of sound bites and slogans. It should challenge us as Christians to be much more diligent not to settle for the same thing," Stith said. "We do that when we trot out the same tired arguments against homosexuality without acknowledging that we unnecessarily wound people by the way we use those arguments. We don’t acknowledge the real pain felt by many in the homosexual community. And honestly, we often slip into a trap of 'us vs. them.'"

"We must evaluate whether our arguments are based in our love for God as well as for all people. Do we speak against homosexual acts because we genuinely care; because we genuinely believe that sin – any sin – brings pleasure for a season but ultimately hinders the fullness that God wants all of us to enjoy?"

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Bible-Believing Episcopalians Split, Form New Denomination

The Episcopalian denomination, like many Protestant denominations, has been in the throes of a battle with liberal elements who prize politically correct pop-culture doctrine over God's word. And as has happened in some other denominations, the liberals have gained control of the Episcopal denomination.

One of the most egregious abandonments of truth in the Episcopal Church has been the embrace of homosexuality. The Bible is very clear in both Old and New Testaments that God's design for the expression of human sexuality is between a man and a woman in marriage. The Bible is equally clear that God does not approve of homosexual behavior, as it is clearly a violation of that design.

Yet the Episcopal denomination has gone so far as to appoint the openly and militantly homosexual V. Gene Robinson as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.

The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the Anglican Church, with its roots in the Church of England. The worldwide body of Anglicans has for the last year or so struggled to maintain its allegiance to Biblical truth while avoiding a total split with the apostate American branch.

But now a split has happened. Those in the Episcopal Church who have more loyalty to the Bible than political correctness have announced the formation of a new denomination of conservative Episcopalians called the Anglican Church in North America.

The new denomination will include four Episcopal dioceses that recently split from the U.S. church, along with breakaway Anglican parishes from Canada.

From Fox News:

The announcement Wednesday in Wheaton, Ill., comes after decades of debate over what Episcopalians should believe about issues ranging from salvation to sexuality. Tensions erupted in 2003 when Episcopalians consecrated the first openly gay bishop.

It's sad that Bible-believing Episcopalians weren't able to regain control over the denomination. But at least honor has been restored to a segment of the Anglican presence in North America.

The apostate Episcopalians would do well to take a long, hard look at what their embrace of sin has wrought. Maybe if they take an honest look at their loyalties and repent soon, the Episcopalian denomination could be brought back together before too much time has passed.

But when such an advanced state of apostasy has transpired, repentance is against the odds, so I won't hold my breath.

Kudos, though, to the Episcopalians who have clearly declared where their loyalty lies: with God.

Breaking News: Christian Church Teaches from Bible!

You know our society is in trouble when it's controversial news that a church would actually stick with Biblical teaching about homosexuality.

New Bible Arranged Chronologically

If you've ever read through the Bible, you've probably figured out that not all the books are arranged in chronological order. Rather, they are mostly grouped according to type.

For instance, the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) are attributed to Moses for their authorship, and do run pretty consistently in order. They cover events ranging from "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..." to preparations for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land.

Other divisions include historical books that primarily record the events of the nation of Israel, such as the Kings and Chronicles. There are the "wisdom" books such as Ecclesiastes, Job and Proverbs. There are the books of the major and minor prophets. There are the Gospels, the historical book of Acts, the epistles of Paul and other apostles, and the prophetic book of Revelation.

While there are definite advantages to this arrangement, it can be difficult for the Bible student who wants to get a feel for the flow of history and events.

For this reason, Christian publisher Thomas Nelson has come up with a new chronological Bible where not just books but passages within books of the Bible are chopped up and rearranged according to their historical sequence.

According to the Christian Post, some people like this approach, while others definitely don't.

"I do think you do lose something when you start demolishing any book of the Bible," said Richard Hess, professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary in Colorado, according to The Tennessean. "You lose the literary and theological context."

I'm currently reading through the new Archaeological Study Bible published by Zondervan. It contains archaeological references on practically every page from countless archaeological sources. Many include references to similar historical notations in other extra-Biblical writings of the ancient world, such as the "serpent motif" mentioned on page 14 of this sample of the Bible.

I would have to read this chronological Bible to form a solid opinion of how I liked such an arrangement...but I would like read the Bible in this manner, and plan to get this new Bible.

I've read through the Bible in it's traditional order several times, and that arrangement does have it's advantages. The divisions by type can help the reader to get into a certain frame of mind to better absorb the type of material being discussed.

But having done that several times, and being an avid fan of history, I'd like to take that journey again in chronological order.

I don't think I would recommend a Bible arranged like this for the new Bible student, but it sounds like it could be an enlightening experience for someone who's traveled the road before and comfortably knows the way.

Maybe I'll try and remember to come back sometime and write about it after I've read the chronological Bible...which could take quite a long time, with my heavy reading list and still working my way through the Archaeological Study Bible.

The Abortion Monkeys

Pastor Hickey's latest in his series on "Is Abortion Wrong" is out at Voices Carry.

For those who may remember the 2006 debate of Referred Law 6, you'll recall that some reprobate religious groups such as Pastors for Immoral Choices claimed God left us in the dark on abortion, and some claimed that none of the major religions addressed abortion, either.

Pastor Hickey lays such lies to rest in this piece, covering not only Judeo-Christian references from the Old and New Testaments, but also examining extra-Biblical references.

Hickey looks at some Jewish writings of the ancient world which condemned abortion and pointed to the value of the child in the womb.

He also looks at some of the extra-Biblical writings of the early church leaders which likewise condemn abortion.

Those who see nothing wrong with abortion are either ignorant, or don't want to see.

Folks Haven't Been Readin' the Bible

This is an Obama ad from pHforAmerica.com.

A couple of months ago, Barack Obama spouted some Marxist drivel wrapped up in some "Christian" wrapping paper and called it "Biblical." He said anyone who didn't agree with his "Christian"-wrapped Marxism hasn't "been readin' the Bible."

As I've said before, and as this ad reiterates, it's Barack Obama who hasn't been readin' his Bible.

Seal of Jeremiah Persecutor Found

From The Trumpet comes word that archaeology has uncovered the seal of one of the men who had the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah imprisoned for his prophecy of doom against Jerusalem.

One of Jeremiah’s accusers, Gedaliah the son of Pashur, had his name stamped on a small clay seal that was recently discovered about 600 feet south of the Temple Mount. Dr. Eilat Mazar, one of Israel’s top archaeologists, found the bulla earlier this year, in mint condition, while wet-sifting debris excavated under a tower at the north end of the City of David—the original site of ancient Jerusalem.

Archaeology is continually finding evidence of the truth of the Bible's claims. The scientific statements of the Bible are being found to match up with research, as are the historic claims.

Only where biased assumptions, such as ones that claim everything could have come from nothing without an outside cause, are made is there the appearance of inconsistency.

Voltaire's prediction over 200 years ago that "One hundred years from my day there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker" has fallen a little flat.

A book that has withstood such monumental attempts to wipe it out, and such prolific and sustained attempts to discredit it, might be something worth taking a second look at, if you're a non-believer.

Archbishop of Uganda Says Anglican Head Betrayed Biblically Faithful Churches

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Maria Mackay
Christian Today Reporter
Fri, Aug. 01 2008 09:00 AM EDT

The Archbishop of Uganda, the Most Rev. Henry Orombi, has accused the head of the Anglican Communion of betraying biblically faithful churches by inviting bishops involved in the consecration of an openly gay bishop to their global conference.

Orombi, one of more than 200 bishops boycotting the two-week Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, said in a comment for The Times that the current system for appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury, currently Dr. Rowan Williams, was a “remnant of colonialism.”

“Even the Pope is elected by his peers. But what Anglicans have is a man appointed by a secular government,” wrote Orombi.

“Over the past five years, we have come to see this as a remnant of British colonialism, and it is not serving us well,” he added. “The spiritual leadership of a global communion of independent and autonomous provinces should not be reduced to one man appointed by a secular government.”

Bishops are in the process of drafting final reflections, largely drawn from the outcomes of the discussion groups at the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference. In the document, the bishops acknowledge a “lack of confidence” in the structures of Communion.

They also state, “We must acknowledge that there are great tensions in our relationship at present, and an erosion of trust between us.”

Nevertheless, bishops at Lambeth want to work together and some have called Orombi's remarks disrespectful.

"They were very strong words, I must say, especially since the Archbishop [of Canterbury] has tried to keep the church together," said the Rt. Rev. Ragnar Persenius, Bishop of Upssala, in Communion through the Swedish Lutheran Church, according to VirtueOnline, a conservative Anglican publication.

"I wonder what conservatives are doing to keep the church together. They do not seem to contribute to a solution. Some are not even speaking to others. Although they have serious theological disagreements, they also have to get into the conversation," Persenius added, while noting that most Lambeth attendees "want to stay together."

Orombi’s attack comes as bishops debate the most divisive issue in the Anglican Communion, human sexuality. The 2003 consecration of openly gay bishop Gene Robinson widened rifts within the global Communion.

Bishops said that Thursday’s discussions on sexuality had been characterized by generosity and respect.

“We haven’t suddenly reached a consensus about the issues of human sexuality. The problems are not all solved but there are significant differences,” the Most Rev. Philip Aspinall, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Australia and spokesman for the Conference, told reporters.

The Chair of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, the Most Rev. Ian Ernest, commented, “We are able to look at each other. We are able to shed tears with one another, but at the same time knowing that we’ve got different ways and different convictions.”

On Friday, bishops are tackling the controversial Anglican Covenant on structures of unity in the Communion.

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Anglicans Disagree Over Biblical Authority

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter
Thu, Jul. 31 2008 06:12 PM EDT

Before entering talks on human sexuality on Thursday, Anglican leaders took a deep look at the issue underlying the ongoing and highly publicized gay debate – the Bible.

"The issue of homosexuality comes down to an issue about the Bible," said the Most Rev. David Moxon, Archbishop of New Zealand, according to VirtueOnline, a conservative Anglican publication. "Underneath all the discussions and debates is how do we view the Bible?"

Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, said a lot of the division in the Anglican Communion "has to do with the Bible."

Bishops attending the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England, this week spent Wednesday in conversations under the theme "Living Under Scripture: the Bishop and the Bible in Mission."

"Everyone in the Anglican Communion has their own process of making sense of the Bible. People who claim that their way of making sense is taking the Bible more seriously than someone else are just trying to talk more loudly or stamp their foot more firmly," said Prof. Gerald West, Professor of Old Testament at the University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa and coordinator of the Bible Studies at Lambeth, according to VirtueOnline.

While noting that he doesn't believe there are wide differences in the Anglican Communion over biblical authority, West said Anglicans maintain a "common commitment" to Scripture, as reported by VirtueOnline.

During the discussions, bishops were asked to look at the way they view details of Scripture from various perspectives and to discuss whether the theme of homosexuality is in the Old and New Testaments in the same way that it exists for marriage, polygamy and rape, according to the Anglican Journal.

"Is there such a thing as homosexuality in the ancient world? Did it exist then?” West explained. He also said bishops looked at the context in which Scripture is engaged.

In most cases, according to West, "what you think is important in your context shapes the way you see Scripture."

Weeks before the Lambeth Conference, renowned evangelical theologian Dr. James Innell Packer affirmed that homosexual behavior is sin and that those who affirm such behavior "are understanding the Bible in a very different way from that in which the rest of us think that it asks to be understood."

"God uses language to tell us things, and the Bible is the language that He's used," he said. "The Bible is personal communication from the Creator to us creatures, and in personal communication you speak and write to be understood. You don't communicate in code; you don't say one thing in a way which is intended to be understood as meaning its opposite."

"God is, we believe, straight forward; the Bible, in that sense, is straight forward, and Paul in 1st Corinthians is straight forward."

Packer left the Anglican Church of Canada earlier this year, citing "poisonous liberalism" and arguing that top leaders in the Canadian church body have changed their interpretation of Christianity.

"I'm simply being an old-fashioned mainstream Anglican," Packer said.

The Anglican Communion has been wracked by divisions, particularly since the 2003 consecration of openly gay bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire and the blessing of same-sex unions in the British Columbia diocese of New Westminster.

Conservative Anglicans have argued that The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican Church of Canada have departed from Scripture and Christian orthodoxy.

According to Moxon, Wednesday was the first time Anglican bishops together discussed the question of "how do we use the Bible?" He added that the intent of the discussions was to simply ask "What’s the high common ground when we approach the Bible?"

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Study: Evangelicals Lives Substantially Influenced by Faith

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Audrey Barrick
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Jul. 22 2008 11:22 AM EDT

Most Christians, notional and evangelical alike, desire a personal relationship with God, a new study showed. But evangelicals were the only Christian segment that desired much more in their faith life.

At least 90 percent of Evangelicals, who make up 8 percent of the population, according to The Barna Group, said they wanted a clear purpose for living, one marriage partner for life, good physical health, to live with a high degree of integrity, and to be deeply committed to the Christian faith along with having a personal relationship with God. They were the only group among the dozen Christian segments surveyed by the research group among which at least 90 percent listed as many as six of the 19 future-life possibilities as being "very desirable."

"Evangelicals are intensely driven by their faith: their life is substantially influenced by their beliefs and their lifestyle choices and aspirations reflect the centrality of their spirituality," said George Barna, who directed the study.

Most evangelicals, 84 percent, also said that being personally active in a church was "very desirable" and 75 percent said they desired a life in which they make a difference in the world.

The only thing "very desirable" to at least 90 percent of born-again Christians who are not evangelical in their theological views was a personal relationship with God - listed by 94 percent. Still, 87 percent of born-again Christians said they desire a clear purpose for their life, 86 percent said they desire being deeply committed to the Christian faith, and 68 percent said they want to be personally active in a church.

"Non-evangelical born again adults consider faith to be important but it is not the defining aspect of their existence; it is influential but not the determining factor," said George Barna, who directed the study.

Meanwhile, only 65 percent of notional Christians - who define themselves as Christians but are not born again - said a close personal relationship with God is very desirable. Their biggest desire is to live with a high degree of integrity, listed by 81 percent. Seventy-five percent of notional Christians said they desire one marriage partner for life, 72 percent said they want a clear purpose for life, and 54 percent they desire making a difference in the world.

The only thing they deemed more highly desirable than did the evangelical and born-again segments was owning the latest household technology and equipment, the survey showed.

"Notional Christians treat faith as just one of many dimensions of their life that serves a purpose, but it is not a driving force at all," Barna noted.

Nationally, 59 percent desire being deeply committed to the Christian faith, 56 percent want a life in which they make a difference in the world and 45 percent want to be personally active in a church.

Christians were less likely to desire fame or recognition or a comfortable life compared to the national average. Only 43 percent of evangelicals said they want a comfortable lifestyle compared to a national average of 70 percent.

However, like most in the various Christian segments, Americans overall want a clear purpose for their life, as indicated by the 77 percent national average.

The survey further showed that atheists and agnostics have different goals in life. Among them, 55 percent said they desire to have a clear purpose in life, 58 percent want one marriage partner for life (compared to 80 percent nationally), and 45 percent desire having close relationships and making a difference in the world (compared to 56 percent nationally).

"Skeptics have replaced faith with a passion for healthy longevity and personal pleasure gained through world travel, sexual experiences, and obtaining knowledge," Barna commented. "They are substantially less focused on relationships and legacy than are other groups. They tend to be less concerned about finding or pursuing a purpose in life because a majority of them believe life has no purpose beyond comfort and pleasure."

The survey is based on telephone interviews conducted in May 2008 on a random sample of 1,003 adults age 18 and older.

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Texas Schools to Offer Bible Elective Course

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Lawrence Jones
Christian Post Reporter
Sat, Jul. 19 2008 08:58 AM EDT

The Texas State Board of Education on Friday gave final approval to establishing a Bible elective for high schools but left specific class guidelines up to local school districts.

Board members voted 10-5 to adopt broad standards for the Bible class. In March, they had already approved current TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills) guidelines for the Bible class but Friday's vote follows the opinion handed down last week by Attorney General Greg Abbott that affirmed the constitutionality of the proposed standards.

“We have met the requirements of the legislation. We don’t want to stifle what they (school districts) are doing in classrooms," said board member Cynthia Dunbar, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Texas high schools can start offering the Bible class for the 2008-09 school year now that the rule has been approved by over two-thirds of the board.

“Elective Bible courses now have the final green light from the Texas State Board of Education and Texas has now gained an academic advantage," said Jonathan Saenz, director of legislative affairs for Free Market Foundation, who testified before the board in support of the class on Thursday.

Some critics, however, said that the without specific guidelines, school districts offering the course could run into legal issues later if a neutral viewpoint of religion is not maintained in the class.

But supporters of the rule say that such concerns are already addressed in the TEKS guidelines, which call for "religious neutrality" and the accommodation of diverse religious views in the classroom.

Furthermore, they argue, the Bible class examines the impact of the Bible on history and literature and is not about religion.

The author of the original bill, Rep. Warren Chisum, had previously affirmed that the class would not "preach the Bible" but examine it as a "document that has historical value." State lawmakers passed legislation on the Bible course in May.

"As we stated and the Attorney General has now confirmed, the current [standards] are sufficient and we are ready to move forward on the new Bible course laws," added Kelly Shackelford, president of Free Market Foundation, a group that helped passed legislation for the class.

Texas now joins other states like Georgia that offer Bible electives in high schools.


Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Calling Good Evil and Evil Good

Rapid City activist for homosexuality Curtis Price responds on the Forum page of the Rapid City Journal to a piece by Dr. Richard Wells, Senior Pastor of South Canyon Baptist Church, which was on that same page last Saturday.

Price says he considers Wells to be cold blooded because Wells dared speak against the usurpation of the California Supreme Court of the will of the people of California, a people who had gone the extra step in 2000 of defining in state law what we have understood without question for thousands of years: marriage is between a man and a woman.

Price also trots out the already-tired and ineffective allusions of inequality, insisting that because homosexuals don't have the right to label a relationship which does not meet the requirement for marriage (in a homosexual relationship, either a man or a woman is missing from the equation) as "marriage," homosexuals are being denied "equality.

Homosexuals already enjoy the same right to marry someone of the opposite sex that heterosexuals enjoy; they are not being denied anything that someone else rightfully has.

Inferences are made between the demands of homosexual activists for legitimacy and the struggle for the full civil rights of black Americans. Price ignores the reality that skin color is a fixed physical characteristic, not a behavior, and that, unlike homosexual behavior, there is nothing immoral, Biblical or otherwise, in one skin color or another.

Quite frankly, activists for homosexuality have hijacked the civil rights movement and justification once used to fully extend rights to black people that, under the Bible and the Constitution, should have been theirs all along.

This is not only disingenuous and misleading, but is an insult to the innate dignity of blacks who have historically suffered so much, and belittles the assault once perpetrated on their humanity simply because of their skin color.

Price says the day is coming when homosexuals will be able to call their unions "marriage" and "it is not to be feared; rather, it is something to joyfully celebrate."

"Celebrate" a behavior which God makes clear in both Old and New Testaments violates his design for human sexuality, and that he specifically does not approve of? "Celebrate" an agenda which undermines marriage and family? "Celebrate" a behavior so unhealthy that those who practice it experience greatly increased rates of AIDS, STDs, depression, substance abuse, suicide and domestic violence?

I am reminded of a verse from Isaiah 5:20 which says

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

I wouldn't want to be on the other side of that warning, come Judgment Day.

Confusion About Praying for Confusion

My fellow South Dakota blogger Cory Heidelberger is right when he says he isn't a theologian.

Today he praises the work of a group of people dedicated to continuing the butchery of innocent human life in the womb, innocent human life created in the image of God.

In addition for his appreciation of this effort, he also mocks the prayers of some Christians that God would "send confusion in the camps of the enemy" who seek to further that butchery.

Now just like Jim Dobson, I'm not a theologian. But isn't asking the Lord to put the whammy on people you don't like a little unChristian? Maybe the Vote Yes for Life folks would make more progress if they shed their macho bull rhetoric of warfare and enemies and focused a little more on love and community.

For one thing, love and community aren't usually manifest in the killing of innocent human beings, or in the killing of one's potential future neighbors. It also isn't a loving act to facilitate the damage abortion does to the physical and emotional health of women in the community.

If Cory was perhaps a bit more familiar with the Bible, he might realize that it is completely Biblical to pray for the confusion of the enemies of God's purpose and what God has said is right. And while God doesn't always answer such prayers in the affirmative, it is a task that he has accomplished on more than one occasion.

Cory often implies that if one doesn't have a seminary degree in theology, one cannot understand theological things and is unqualified to speak of them. I wonder why he seems to continually violate his own tenet?

He admits he has no theology degree, yet frequently expounds on theological matters. Since (according to Cory's implication) theological knowledge cannot possibly be obtained just by reading the Bible, or even imparted from another (outside of a seminary) such as the many experts someone like Dr. James Dobson knows, then Cory's wife's seminary degree does him no good whatsoever.

Why does Cory continue to lecture us about the unsound theology of others when he is, by his own standard, unqualified to make this determination?

Because there is at least one theological truth Cory does understand, but fails to acknowledge: his professed standard of Biblical competency is un-Biblical and unsupportable.

One of the most wonderful things about Christianity is that you don't need to have a degree in theology to understand Christianity and become born again. All of us, great and small, can grasp the essentials of God's truth and understand how to live a life pleasing to God. Even an uneducated fisherman like Peter was considered worthy of carrying on the Lord's work.

You don't need a degree of any kind, or even a high school diploma to grasp God's Truth. All you need is an open mind, a teachable spirit, and a willingness to follow God and His truth where it leads.

Ironically, that can be harder to achieve than a PhD in theology. Separating our will and desires from God's truth is harder to accomplish than earning a degree.

Whether one is a theologian or not, if one fails to grasp even the most basic elements of the Bible and Christian theology, perhaps one shouldn't foray into theological assumptions without a lot more Bible study.

Study: 84 Percent of Americans Call Bible 'Holy'

Reprinted by permission of The Christian Post

By Elena Garcia
Christian Post Reporter
Thu, Jul. 10 2008 02:58 PM EDT

A new Barna survey shows that more Americans accept the Bible as "holy" or "sacred" than they would other books.

Respondents of the survey for The Barna Group identified around 12 books they thought fit the bill as "sacred literature" or "holy books." The list included expected titles such as the Bible and the Koran and others such as Quiet Strength by football coach Tony Dungy.

However, the Bible stood out by far from other texts with 84 percent of Americans deeming it a holy book.

Only three books were recognized as holy by at least 1 percent of Americans. The Koran trailed behind the Bible in second place with 4 percent; the Book of Mormon as labeled by 3 percent as sacred/holy; and the Torah was deemed holy by 2 percent of the public.

Most of the other books listed in the survey failed to even garner 1 percent of the public's vote.

While only 7 percent of Christians in the study would categorize a book other than the Bible as holy, around 40 percent of non-Christians would point to the Bible as holy.

"Most Americans consider the Bible to be the word of God – and do not believe any other document fits that description. People associated with other faiths are much more likely to view the Bible as sacred literature than Christians are to view any other document to be holy," observed George Barna, the researcher of faith trends who directed the study.

The study also found that men, conservatives, older Americans, and individuals who had lower income and education levels were more likely than their counterparts to accept the Bible as holy.

Not surprisingly, the study found that adults under 25, residents of the West and liberals were the groups most likely to consider non-Bible books as holy.

Barna said this rings true because these groups "tend to be the most experimental in spirituality.

And among the different types of Christians responding to the survey, evangelical Christians appeared to hold the firmest conviction in the holiness of the Bible. A high 99 percent said the Bible was sacred.

Overall, people's responses in the study demonstrate America’s singular connection to Christianity, concluded Barna.

Barna noted that while Christians in America are "only moderately committed to Christianity and to the church they attend most often, they have no inclination to embrace anything besides the Bible as sacred, especially if it originated from a different faith tradition."

Copyright 2008 The Christian Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.