Wow. Paranoid much? America is so NOT the "last remaining conservative bastion in the Western world"! The only country more 'liberal' than America on both the North and South American continent is Canada. Everywhere else from Mexico to the tip of South America is much more conservative than we are. Been there, seen it first hand. Been out of the country lately? They are executing gay peopl...more

Wow. Paranoid much? America is so NOT the "last remaining conservative bastion in the Western world"! The only country more 'liberal' than America on both the North and South American continent is Canada. Everywhere else from Mexico to the tip of South America is much more conservative than we are.

Been there, seen it first hand. Been out of the country lately?

They are executing gay people in Africa and Iran under the encouragement of Christian leaders as well as the Muslim ones. The Christian conservative mindset in Africa and the Middle East makes us look like anything but.less

Jesuscomequick - I have but one thing to say to your post: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26

Our school system in America is in such a bad state that even the non-Christians are starting to homeschool. This is not a Christian issue, it is a parenting issue. Though it is obvious that the lower court was using Christianity as the excuse to force public schooling, it sets a precedence that endangers all homeschoolers - Christian and non-Christian alike. The government DOES NOT get to decide ...more

Our school system in America is in such a bad state that even the non-Christians are starting to homeschool. This is not a Christian issue, it is a parenting issue. Though it is obvious that the lower court was using Christianity as the excuse to force public schooling, it sets a precedence that endangers all homeschoolers - Christian and non-Christian alike. The government DOES NOT get to decide which spiritual, moral or social mind-set parents wish to instill in their children.

I know Wiccans, Deists, Atheists and Muslims who homeschool their kids in America.

All homeschoolers, be they Pagan, Atheist, Muslim, Jewish or Christian MUST stand and fight for a parents right to decide how and what is taught to their kids.less

Sex is not just the merging of bodies, it is also the merging of souls. This is why sex with someone you love is so much more profound then sex with a stranger. Even the Bible speaks of this truth.

If this is true, why are the only states with huge teen-pregancy rates the ones who push abstinance-only sex education? In EVER SINGLE high school where the sex ed either does not exist or only teaches abstinence, teen-pregnancy is well above high schools who teach about contraception. In my opinion it is no different than the classes about drinking and driving and drugs. They teach you not to...more

If this is true, why are the only states with huge teen-pregancy rates the ones who push abstinance-only sex education? In EVER SINGLE high school where the sex ed either does not exist or only teaches abstinence, teen-pregnancy is well above high schools who teach about contraception.

In my opinion it is no different than the classes about drinking and driving and drugs. They teach you not to drink and drive and show you all kinds of footage about the tragic results even though no one in the class can legally drink for several years. To say one should not be teaching them about condoms because they should not be having sex before marriage is akin to saying all drinking-and-driving courses should be terminated because they should not be drinking.

Reality is many of them will drink. Many of them will then drive. Our hope is that, by accepting this reality, teaching them what can happen if they drink too much and/or drive will make them more cautious in the situation. Save their lives.

It is the same idea with teaching contraception. For the sake of our teenagers and the unborn, the teen moms and teen abortions, we have got accept the reality that many teens WILL have sex. Many WILL get pregnant. The idea is that by accepting this reality, and acting accordingly, we can reduce the number of teen moms and abortions.

Be honest in this issue. The teenagers who end up having sex are not encouraged to do so by a sex ed class. I can almost guarantee that every teen of high-school age who walks into that class already knows what a condom is. Sex permeates our culture and they have already heard the word and either looked it up or asked.

What this class does is teach how they are properly used and - like drunk driving courses - can be used to scare the hell out of them with horrible pictures and stories of herpes, crabs, warts and A.I.D.S.

They already know what a condom is and if they are going to be tempted into pre-marital sex they need to know the proper way to use one.

Done properly, these classes should focus on the negative aspects of sexual encounters, describe cold and clinically the proper use of contraception and reiterate repeatedly that abstinence is the ONLY way to completely protect yourself from the hidden horrors behind casual sex.less

Yes they should change the name. It is offensive not only because it calls Christian women b*tches but that it even uses the word b*tch in the title at all. That is over the top. They could be touting a show called "Snow B*tches" about sled dogs and I would still be offended. I would have to see it for myself before I could make the call as to whether or not it is offensive in content. Human b...more

Yes they should change the name. It is offensive not only because it calls Christian women b*tches but that it even uses the word b*tch in the title at all. That is over the top. They could be touting a show called "Snow B*tches" about sled dogs and I would still be offended.

I would have to see it for myself before I could make the call as to whether or not it is offensive in content. Human beings are sinful, gossipy and gluttonous creatures - even the Christian ones. As long as the show makes it clear that these people are not 'practicing what they preach' or in some way make it clear they are not acting in accordance to the will of Christ, then I have no problem.

I think promoting the idea that there are many Christians who do not behave Christ-like is a good idea. It helps protect the true being of Christ from being judged by the actions of His followers. The more the idea permeates that the Christian next door may not be a true representative of Christ, the more it will make those unfamiliar with the Bible and its message curious for the truth. If it makes a non-Christian pick up a Bible and/or research the subject of Christ in a search for truth in any fashion - be it spiritual or social - then it is a good thing.

There have been a number of converts who became believers after an attempt to disprove Christ. Who began reading the Bible in search of the lies and contradictions a darkened world assured them were there. They are now saved.

Also, keep in mind how the Apostles and Disciples in the New Testament reacted to persecution - both verbal and physical . By rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer for Christ. To endure such suffering is to gain favor from God. They never marched into the courtrooms or synagogues to refute claims made against them. They answered when confronted but were not confrontational.

Participating in a boycott of something that at most is nothing more than slander, in my opinion, nullifies the grace we earn from God because instead of suffering the abuse, we fight back against it. Biblically, the word 'suffer' means not only to endure physical pain or social persecution, it also means to tolerate or allow something unsavory or abnormal. Example "Lord, please suffer your servant to speak" or "suffer the little children".less

This has got to be the most ridiculous case of antigay reaching I have ever read. "Born this way" can just as easily be talking about people with a range of birth defects. The line about being "beautiful in my own way" is very obviously a reference to physical appearance and not sexual preference. Knowing Gaga, she is likely referring to both. It is a simple message of loving yourself as you are. ...more

This has got to be the most ridiculous case of antigay reaching I have ever read. "Born this way" can just as easily be talking about people with a range of birth defects. The line about being "beautiful in my own way" is very obviously a reference to physical appearance and not sexual preference. Knowing Gaga, she is likely referring to both. It is a simple message of loving yourself as you are.

As a Christian, being a Christian is very much who I am and I believe it was what I was born to be. If you are a Christian who has gay feelings and does not believe it is okay as a Christian to be gay, then joining the ranks of the ex-gay/celibate is what you have to do to remain true to yourself. The idea is to be happy with who you are. Spiritual conflict and self-hatred is a very unhappy place to be.less

If a simple apology and acknowledgement that it was the wrong thing to do helps to soften the hearts and open the ears of those who judge the validity and existence of Christ on the actions of His people then the lack of personal responsibility should be a moot point. Maybe some of them just need to hear we would not do that again. In a way many of us will also essentially be apologizing for t...more

If a simple apology and acknowledgement that it was the wrong thing to do helps to soften the hearts and open the ears of those who judge the validity and existence of Christ on the actions of His people then the lack of personal responsibility should be a moot point.

Maybe some of them just need to hear we would not do that again. In a way many of us will also essentially be apologizing for the behavior of our parents and grandparents. The days of Martin Luther King were not all that long ago. Many people forget that this was not a black and white issue. It was an African, Latin, Asian, Native American, verses European issue. White verses anything other than white.

I do not think white people did anything because of a racial difference. We are all human and have equally oppressive and abusive sins in our cultural and/or racial past.

I will be honest and say that I believe that the idea that I should be judged by the actions of my forefathers is racist. I wish to be judged for my own actions. I want my religion to be judged by it current actions, under the realization that we Christians do not profess to be perfect, just forgiven. I want others to know that Christ is something beyond what a human could ever represent and that even the Pope is just a fallible man.

But the reality is that racism, reverse-racism and over-sensitive non-racism plagues American life and clouds the eyes of some to Christ. Christ took on the sins of the entire world past, present and future in the eyes of God. He was then asked to suffer and die for them. We have been asked to take on the sins of our ancestors in the eyes of man and apologize.

Though I do not feel personally responsible, I am willing to take on and represent, reparations for that sin. I am very sorry for what my ancestors and their religious leaders did to the Native American people. It was wrong and I will personally never condone or participate in such an action again.less

Amen for this article. Not many present-day Christians are aware that much of the "land-grab/Colonization" era was fueled by the assertion of the Roman Catholic Church that God gave the Earth to Christians and that Christians were essentially morally obligated to seize heathen lands, convert heathen people and destroy 'all evil' wherever they found it. Leading to some of the worst examples of geno...more

Amen for this article. Not many present-day Christians are aware that much of the "land-grab/Colonization" era was fueled by the assertion of the Roman Catholic Church that God gave the Earth to Christians and that Christians were essentially morally obligated to seize heathen lands, convert heathen people and destroy 'all evil' wherever they found it. Leading to some of the worst examples of genocide in history.

From the Aztecs to the Mayans to the Native Americans, the justification behind the destruction of their culture and forced assimilation of their people was because - as Bryan Fischer of AFA said above - " [they] were “morally disqualified from sovereign control of American soil” because of “superstition, savagery and sexual immorality.” "

The naked truth is that both the North and South American continents were conquered because all the attacking nations were under the theocratic control of the RCC.

The AFA is a leading anti-gay organization. Anti-gay initiatives/causes is their primary, almost excessively so, purpose for existence. One of the leading examples given as to why the Native American people needed to be assimilated or contained was the fact that they celebrated different sexual identities. Gay people were often considered more spiritually aware and were a Shaman of some sort. The leader of the AFA thinks Christians did the right thing back then. Do you?

Just imagine the horror, tribes of half-naked savages led spiritually by gay people.

The idea likely gives most Christians today cause to twitch. I would like to think we have finally reached a point that we recognize forced Borg-like assimilation coupled with equal maltreatment of convert and non-convert alike, really isn't the best way to represent Christ.

Christ commanded we carry a sword to protect ourselves, not to strike first, if at all.

"I send you out as sheep among wolves."

"Blessed are the peace-makers."less

When God first give us the Ten Commandments, He refers to those who already do His will. He refers to those who are blessed, that love Him and keep His commandments, in the present tense when God had yet to make His will known to anyone but Moses. "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." Ex 20:6 This suggests that God is already showing mercy to those...more

When God first give us the Ten Commandments, He refers to those who already do His will. He refers to those who are blessed, that love Him and keep His commandments, in the present tense when God had yet to make His will known to anyone but Moses.

"And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." Ex 20:6 This suggests that God is already showing mercy to those keeping His commandments by the nature of their heart and ability to know good from evil even if they do not know of God.

In Matthew 21: 28-31 Jesus tells a parable about two sons being asked by their father to do some work in the vineyards. One says no, then does it anyway. One says yes, them does nothing. Jesus makes it clear the first one, who said no, was the one doing the will of the Father.

Jesus also talks of those who proclaim Him with their mouths yet betray Him with their actions, that they will be judged by their actions more than their words. The opposite is also true. Every man is judged by what he does more than what he says.

Universalism is the idea that 'all paths lead to God' in the sense that something like Hinduism is an equally valid religion as Christianity. I disagree. Though I wholeheartedly believe that God will save all good people no matter what religion they follow, they are only saved if they live just lives as much as humanly possible. Being already saved through their actions, they are corrected about the truth of Jesus upon death.

The Bible does not say it is Jesus that protects one from the judgement of God. The BIble states clearly that mercy and love are what God wants from us. The Bible says that no one gets into heaven except through Christ, who will judge the world. This clearly means He judges each man according to the condition of his heart. This does not mean only those who proclaim Jesus's name AND have good hearts get in.

All agree that simply proclaiming His name is not the ticket into heaven. Most say that one must proclaim His name and also do good works to be saved. I see within scripture a difference between being saved and being judged. The Bible speaks of different levels of judgement and also speaks of punishment until the 'debt is paid in full', which insinuates that there will be an end to some types of punishment. I personally believe that those who profess Christ in both action and words will be forgiven of their sins completely. I personally believe that those who profess Christ in deed but not words will be held accountable for certain things and will be required to do penance for them before allowed into heaven. Those whose hearts are cruel and unjust will never be allowed in heaven, no matter what or who they profess.less

Okay, let's clear up some misconceptions. Global warming - and global cooling - are scientific terms to describe a natural cycle the Earth has gone through over the centuries. Look up "the little ice age", this was a global cooling that happened well before the industrial age. Climate change is one of the side effects of global warming/cooling. Neither of these areas effect earthquakes or volca...more

Okay, let's clear up some misconceptions. Global warming - and global cooling - are scientific terms to describe a natural cycle the Earth has gone through over the centuries. Look up "the little ice age", this was a global cooling that happened well before the industrial age.

Climate change is one of the side effects of global warming/cooling. Neither of these areas effect earthquakes or volcanoes. At least as far as we know.

Where people make a serious mistake is in denying the reality that our world is in a warming trend. Our polar ice caps are melting and sea levels are rising. The only argument going on in the scientific community is whether or not man has caused, or contributed to, the current global warming trend.

Either way, global warming is a reality. It is only the cause that remains under debate.

Another clarification, global warming creates climate change that can have either warmer or colder results depending on the area. Global warming may mean an overall warmer planet but will result in some places having record snow-storms. Rain and flooding in the desert. It can turn lush grasslands into desert or desert into rainforest. We have seen evidence this has happened several times on our planet. We have historical evidence even in the Bible of a different climate than what we now see. The entire Middle East used to be lush grasslands and forests. The 'renown trees of Lebanon' are spoken of in the Bible. Lebanon is now nothing but desert.

Honestly, I wonder how much of this is part of the end times. Israel has been cursed for generations and the entire region has been an inhumanly hot desert region for the better part of 2000 years. The Jews return to Israel and for the first time in nearly 2000 years it has become once more a Jewish state. Now Pakistan is flooding and the entire area is becoming wetter and greener. If climate change continues in the way predicted, the Middle East should once more become a green and beautiful place.

Most Christians agree that the 'New Jerusalem' will replace the 'Old Jerusalem' in the exact same place. That when Christ returns to rule the Earth, He will do so from the Temple of God in Jerusalem. This drastic climate change we now see happening may be a necessary precursor to the return of Christ, the lifting of the curse in the area.

Pure speculation on my part. Still, no matter the 'why' it is happening, there is no denying the reality that it IS happening.less

Hey Daniel, what if that is exactly what JB is saying? Would you agree with that statement? If so, are you saying that even if homosexuality is an incurable medical disfunction that it still sends you to hell?

That was a beautiful story. I do take issue with the title, however. It makes Christians sound ready to drop their faith the moment an un-timely and/or tragic death occurs. Makes it sound as if this church has done some abnormal thing by continuing to believe in Jesus after the pastor's death. I think it should have been named something like "Texas Church Points to Jesus for Answers in Fac...more

That was a beautiful story.

I do take issue with the title, however. It makes Christians sound ready to drop their faith the moment an un-timely and/or tragic death occurs. Makes it sound as if this church has done some abnormal thing by continuing to believe in Jesus after the pastor's death.

I think it should have been named something like "Texas Church Points to Jesus for Answers in Face of Pastor's Death" or even better "Texas Church Teaches Forgiveness and Humility in Christ After....."

This is a wonderfully written article and really did well in capturing the true heart of what the Christian walk struggles within us to be. I have seen similar instances where the result is a sermon about how God always 'gets his man' and to take solace in the fact that this evil-doer is going to burn in hell forever.

Not that I can say that I have enough of a Christ-like heart to do this myself if this was someone I was close to that was killed, but I personally believe a truly Christian response would now translate into several members of that church or even members of this man's family going to the jail/prison and witnessing to the man responsible.

"I forgive you, I love you, I want to help you if you will let me." Is the message Christ brought to us that we are charged with bringing the world.

May God bless this Church and watch over them as they journey this difficult road.less

Meant to say 'I have NEVER understood' Sorry bout the typo.

I agree with askduane. Most sports, especially football, are all about violent physical competition and defeating someone else. Much like cage-fighting and kick-boxing and boxing. I have ever understood how someone could bend down on one knee before such an event and ask God to help them beat the pulp out of someone else for 'His glory'. It is one thing to ask God to watch over and guide you i...more

I agree with askduane. Most sports, especially football, are all about violent physical competition and defeating someone else. Much like cage-fighting and kick-boxing and boxing. I have ever understood how someone could bend down on one knee before such an event and ask God to help them beat the pulp out of someone else for 'His glory'.

It is one thing to ask God to watch over and guide you in a violent situation such as war, domestic violence, etc... but in sports?

And America's #1 favorite sport, football, leaves an alarmingly high number of players with permanent head injuries/brain damage.

Sports that do not include physical violence against another human being that could result in their injury or death such as golf, tennis, soccer and baseball are the kinds of sports Christians should support.

Yet even then the competition aspect perpetuates feelings of 'us vs them' and has been know to start fights, riots and even death. (Soccer in England has been known to get deadly with crowd riots and stampedes.)

Then again, this nation also sees riots and stampedes that kill people during Christmas sales.

For myself, I always go back to this verse when in doubt:

Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

How exactly does boxing, football, cage-fighting, etc fall under this command?less

Yes, it is the 'johns' we need to go after. There would not be a sex trade if there were not a demand for it, paying customers ready to exploit those women/children as much as the pimps that sell them. What I would like to see is some kind of 'Christian John' movement where real men go out in droves looking for these women and children - posing as customers - and then taking these women/childr...more

Yes, it is the 'johns' we need to go after. There would not be a sex trade if there were not a demand for it, paying customers ready to exploit those women/children as much as the pimps that sell them.

What I would like to see is some kind of 'Christian John' movement where real men go out in droves looking for these women and children - posing as customers - and then taking these women/children to shelters or homes or contacting police when they run across a bordello.

As it stands now, the police either pose as women/children to arrest the johns or they pose as johns and arrest/prosecute the women - who more often then not are victims themselves and become victimized even more by the legal system.less

Well this chain has made the statement that they will not (in truth stated as 'no longer') support anti-gay initiatives/groups. We have the right to boycott just as much as the next group. There is a prominent Christian group that has boycotted Disney, Ford, eye for their pro-gay stances. It's all about making sure the money you spend does not go to a cause you disagree with. And for the record...more

Well this chain has made the statement that they will not (in truth stated as 'no longer') support anti-gay initiatives/groups. We have the right to boycott just as much as the next group. There is a prominent Christian group that has boycotted Disney, Ford, eye for their pro-gay stances. It's all about making sure the money you spend does not go to a cause you disagree with.

And for the record, the statement in the above article "“They fear an open debate on their agenda and discussion of the importance of natural marriage, they invariably seek to silence dissenting voices," Jacobs said." is a flat out lie. One of the reasons we push so hard to get our cause heard in court is to 'openly discuss' the gay perspective.

We are not the ones trying to silence anyone. We want open debate and open conversations at all levels. The cry from the anti-gay crowd is always "why can't you just keep it to yourself ' or 'why must you push to talk about it in schools" where kids are killing themselves left and right because of being gay.

If anyone is interested in silencing anyone it is the anti-gay agenda who wishes to silence the gays.less

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Rhi Bran - I must disagree with your statement that the Romans became Christians. Though that is what they would have us believe, the truth is quite the opposite. The Romans did not become Christians. The Christians became Romans.

They ran with the assumption because of his behavior. The article is stating that this is very Christ-like behavior. ONE person quoted makes the leap from his name to his possible religious affiliation. Are we so eager in our obsessed search to point and accuse "Your not a REAL Christian!" that we must leave snarky comments on beautiful articles about Christ-like behavior in popular American cu...more

They ran with the assumption because of his behavior. The article is stating that this is very Christ-like behavior. ONE person quoted makes the leap from his name to his possible religious affiliation.

Are we so eager in our obsessed search to point and accuse "Your not a REAL Christian!" that we must leave snarky comments on beautiful articles about Christ-like behavior in popular American culture?less