Culture – Page 55 – The Two Cities

Nationalism, Multiculturalism, and a Lunatic: How I Was Reminded to Examine with the Right Lens

May 4, 2012

“Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.” –Albert Einstein Anders Behring Breivik looks almost ghostly. In every picture that I see of him, he appears serious and menacing and totally unrepentant. This repentance he lacks should be for the murder of seventy-seven people last year when he both detonated a bomb in Oslo – killing eight – and arrived at a Labor Party Youth Camp in Utøya shortly after, killing sixty-nine...

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

May 2, 2012

Yesterday Albert Mohler published an article at his website entitled, “Is the Megachurch the New Liberalism?” The article–or at least its title–inspired megachurch pastor Rick Warren to tweet, “@albertmohler A TITLE questioning 1000s of churches’ orthodoxy due to size is unChristlike. U need to apologize to pastors Al.” Despite the knee-jerk reaction it elicited from Warren, Mohler’s article is more a warning to megachurches than an indictment. The warning is in large part inspired by an...

Less Knowledge = More Power

Apr 27, 2012

The Industrial Revolution changed the world. It made possible much of the wealth and prosperity that would have otherwise remained elusive. But now, it also is destroying the environment and dehumanizing laborers. The good of the Industrial Revolution obscured the bad. The consequences, though they could have been predicted (and maybe were by some) remained unforeseen by the majority. About six month ago I lost my iPhone. I dropped it from my third story balcony, watched it...

Amazing Grace: The Prisoner’s Anthem

Apr 22, 2012

When I received news of Chuck Colson’s passing, I was instantly overcome by the grace of God and his relentless desire to save the most wretched people on earth. Chuck Colson was a man transformed by the power of Christ. He entered those prison walls a convicted felon, but he found freedom like nothing on earth, even while being surrounded by iron bars and cement walls. This is amazing grace! This is the same grace...

Bread, Circuses, and The Hunger Games (Guest Post)

Apr 21, 2012

NO SPOILERS AHEAD Twenty-three children must die. This is all I knew about the “Hunger Games” before walking into the dark theater to watch the very popular film with my little sisters. If you know me at all then you might be shocked to hear that I would endorse such a movie being not only a pacifist but also a future social worker (The “Hunger Games” would be a child protective service nightmare). Throughout the...

Disabilities and the Church: From Periphery to Center (Guest Post)

Apr 19, 2012

The day my youngest brother was born was simultaneously incredibly joyful and acutely painful. Being in 5th grade, I was filled with the excitement at the prospect of a new addition to our family, and hopeful for future trips to Disneyland. But all that changed when, upon his birth, the doctors informed us that Daniel was born with Down syndrome. I remember many people visiting my parents in the hospital, bringing meals over, and rejoicing...

Should I Have Babies? A Single Person’s Hopes and Fears

Apr 17, 2012

Last Friday Andrew posted about whether or not he and his wife should have children. As I thought about the issues raised – Is it best to wait? When’s the right time? – I tried to think about the issues from the only perspective I can: singleness. Allow me to be candid for a moment. I always wanted to be a young father. As it stands I may be able to be relatively young when I get...

Should I Have a Baby

Apr 13, 2012

One of the clients that I work with on a regular basis is autistic. This is a curse and a blessing. The curse is that for him, life is difficult. He can’t relate to other people in a typical fashion and this fact makes it hard to develop a relationship with him. The blessing is that he will always, without flinching, tell me his opinion. I know that I always get the truth when he...

Video: Best Bible Movies Ever! (Guest Post)

Apr 10, 2012

Near the top of my New Earth wish list is that God will set up a 3D IMAX theater where we can watch the real-life Bible movie. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see Moses part the actual Red Sea instead of Charlton Heston part a tray of jello? I want to see Adam formed from the dust, the fall of Jericho, Elijah’s whirlwind, the hand writing on the wall—everything! But while in the shadowlands, we...

Winning!(?): Christians and the Lottery

Apr 4, 2012

An old proverb states that in every bet there is a fool and a thief. With the backdrop of the Mega Millions lottery jackpot rising towards a record setting $640 million last week, the subject of gambling became a popular topic among many Christians. John Piper wrote a blog post about why you shouldn’t gamble, Albert Mohler posted an article on his website regarding a Christian understanding of gambling, and numerous other Christians grappled with these issues...