While the SBC does, in fact, represent an important doctrinal purity, my view is that the culture of the Southern Baptist denomination isn't wired for unity. In my personal experience with SBs, they are the most antagonistic, intolerant, pharisaical, finger-pointing bunch in all of Christendom. Wanna start a riot fast? Bring up "women preachers" in a room full of SB's. I would ...more

While the SBC does, in fact, represent an important doctrinal purity, my view is that the culture of the Southern Baptist denomination isn't wired for unity. In my personal experience with SBs, they are the most antagonistic, intolerant, pharisaical, finger-pointing bunch in all of Christendom. Wanna start a riot fast? Bring up "women preachers" in a room full of SB's. I would choose the company of a Catholic any day (btw, I am definitely *not* Catholic). Can't wait to see the reaction to this post ...less

Pastors can get in real trouble if they allow campaigning in their pulpits. I know that's the case in the northeast. If you're not careful up here, they will torpedo your nonprofit status.

Didymus: If the basis of this document was coming together as human beings in the interest of peace, that's one thing. The implication, however, that we can "love God together" assumes we have the same God, and we do not. You are a thinker, frustrated by our notorious Christian parochialism towards an inherently good idea. But this initiative was poorly couched. You may rail as you ...more

Didymus: If the basis of this document was coming together as human beings in the interest of peace, that's one thing. The implication, however, that we can "love God together" assumes we have the same God, and we do not. You are a thinker, frustrated by our notorious Christian parochialism towards an inherently good idea. But this initiative was poorly couched. You may rail as you wish, but Allah *does not* equal God.less

akonda: You are not wrong. However, it is a fact that "the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light." Having the world show us some leadership methods might seem offensive at first blush, but I ask you: Is the Church of Jesus Christ especially well led? Are we, for instance, better led now than we were when we let prayer be taken out of the sc...more

akonda: You are not wrong. However, it is a fact that "the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light." Having the world show us some leadership methods might seem offensive at first blush, but I ask you: Is the Church of Jesus Christ especially well led? Are we, for instance, better led now than we were when we let prayer be taken out of the schools? I think not. A little strategy and know-how never hurt anybody.less

I am tired of Lee Grady and Charisma magazine's hypocrisy. Grady has been a vocal critic of the prosperity teachers for years, yet many of them appear as featured columnists in Charisma. Here is Lee Grady applauding a Senate investigation of Joyce Meyer in his editorial, and there's her column in the same issue, just a couple of pages later. Ridiculous.

MUSLIMS DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD. They believe in Allah. They are not the same. To invite Muslims to love God is absurd.

If you study your Church history, you would see that the single most divisive force in the history of the Church is doctrinal strife. To respectfully disagree with someone's doctrine is a healthy thing. Self-appointed "doctrine cops" like you crush our ability to congregate, act, move, buy, and vote like a homogeneous *Body* because we spend our time attacking each other over doctri...more

If you study your Church history, you would see that the single most divisive force in the history of the Church is doctrinal strife. To respectfully disagree with someone's doctrine is a healthy thing. Self-appointed "doctrine cops" like you crush our ability to congregate, act, move, buy, and vote like a homogeneous *Body* because we spend our time attacking each other over doctrine and airing that laundry publicly. Remember Swaggart/Bakker? Remember Hanegraaf/Hinn? The *secular, atheistic, anti-God* media is going to Christians for fodder to disparage other Christians, and the Doctrine cops are giving them ammunition. That's just great, RBB and the gang. I hope you all feel really good about that. Keep your so-called "purity." You are helping no one.less

These Muslim "scholars" do not speak for the radicals who are currently afflicting the planet. How will making nice with these guys effect anything?

RBB - The point is that God used Joel Osteen in a way that was very meaningful to me and my family, and you will not cede because you have doctrinal differences with this man. Christendom as a Body will accomplish *nothing* so long as people like you continue to sow discord along doctrinal lines rather than major on what unites us. 90 million people worldwide are wrong, and the know-it-alls on thi...more

RBB - The point is that God used Joel Osteen in a way that was very meaningful to me and my family, and you will not cede because you have doctrinal differences with this man. Christendom as a Body will accomplish *nothing* so long as people like you continue to sow discord along doctrinal lines rather than major on what unites us. 90 million people worldwide are wrong, and the know-it-alls on this board are right? Please accept that Joel Osteen is doing *at least* as much good for the Kingdom as you, agree with him or no. To suggest that Joel is no good at all is Pharisaical and disgusting.less

God couldn't possibly have used a guy like Joel, right?

This "crabs in a pot" mentaility among Christians is exactly why we are not relevant to our society. It is disgustng how Christians saved out of their mess by the grace of God can become the most austere and unforgiving critics of all. Keep your so-called "purity." Joel Osteen brought my mother back to Christ. You didn't.

As a former Catholic, I am *most definitely* offended. Many of the Catholic church's abuses have been enabled by this very notion, that the Catholic church is the only path to Heaven. Many of us here in the ethnic Northeast can tell stories of being abused in school or in church, and then getting slapped at home when trying to report it to our devoutly Catholic parents. It is easy to discuss ...more

As a former Catholic, I am *most definitely* offended. Many of the Catholic church's abuses have been enabled by this very notion, that the Catholic church is the only path to Heaven. Many of us here in the ethnic Northeast can tell stories of being abused in school or in church, and then getting slapped at home when trying to report it to our devoutly Catholic parents. It is easy to discuss such issues "without emotion" when you are shielded from their consequences.less

This kind of ambivalence and ignorance towards biblical Christianity is par for the course, it seems, for the mainline denominations in this country. It is also precisely the reason why they are in a free-fall decline. When you claim to be *both* Christian and Muslim, you are precisely neither.