Theology

"It wasn't primarily about sex." With those words, Lutheran theologian Robert Benne explained that the actions recently taken by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to normalize homosexuality were not primarily about sex at all, but about theological identity. "The ELCA has formally left the great tradition for liberal Protestantism," Benne declared.

Taking its stand with the radical theological revisionism of the Protestant Left, the ELCA "left the Great Tradition of moral teaching to identify with United Church of Christ and the Episcopal Church," Benne lamented.

Writing in Christianity Today, Benne argued that his denomination had abandoned the Gospel for a social gospel. "The liberating movements fueled by militant feminism, multiculturalism, anti-racism, anti-heterosexism, anti-imperialism, and now ecologism have been moved to the center while the classic gospel and its missional imperatives have been pushed to the periphery." more >>

Recently announced plans to update the popular NIV Bible were received by evangelical leaders and critics of the highly controversial TNIV translation with cautious optimism.

On Monday, NIV publisher Zondervan, NIV translation overseer CBT (Committee on Bible Translation), and NIV copyright owner Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society) announced their intention to revise the NIV Bible for the first time in 25 years and to discontinue sales of the TNIV translation, which drew fire from conservative camps seven years ago over a number of issues, including its use of gender-neutral language.

“We believe that a flawed translation philosophy resulted in the TNIV presenting English readers with an unjustified rendering of the gender language of the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of the Bible,” commented J. Ligon Duncan III, board chairman for the Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood (CBMW). “It is our sincere hope that this new revision of the NIV will do better.” more >>

This is part of a series of articles about the life and ideas of Dr. Ralph D. Winter, whose memorial service will be held this Sunday, June 28. Winter, the co-founder the U.S. Center for World Mission, passed away on May 20, 2009, after a long battle with cancer. He was 84.

PASADENA, Calif. – In recent years, Intelligent Design has made headlines in media outlets across the country.

The concept, which some have labeled “creationism in disguise,” asserts that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." more >>

Thousands are expected to attend a prophecy conference in Southern California Friday that will examine what the Bible has to say about the End Times and the current economic crisis.

For Pastor Jack Hibbs, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Hills, host of the Southern California Prophecy Conference, the economic crisis recently hit closer to home when two visitors came to his church after their husbands committed suicide because of the financial crisis.

He said the purpose of the Feb. 20-22 conference, titled "Finding Hope in the Global Crisis," is not to frighten people but to offer them some hope. more >>

More than 30,000 English-speaking congregations around the world trace their lineage through John Calvin, the 16th century theologian whose thoughts exerted considerable influence over major religious figures and entire religious movements.

And this year, many will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of his birth. Many more, however, will probably not.

"Many Presbyterians greet the news that 2009 will mark the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth with a yawn, a roll of the eyes or even a derisive snort," writes Joseph D. Small, director of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Office of Theology Worship and Education. more >>