Various Current Events

Obama’s first interview with Al Arabiya TV (CBS News)
Obama policy changes so far (SF Chronicle)
FCC may delay digital switchover (Wash Times)
Texas amends evolution clause (Houston Chronicle)
Prop 8 arguments in place (SF Chronicle)
Girls team wins 100-0, seeks forfeit instead (Houston Chronicle)
Stimulus plan at a glance (Boston Globe)
Rise in infant suffocations and co-sleeping (Wash Post)
Grandparents relocating near kids (CS Monitor)
Half of Americans want to move (USA Today)
Obama’s error with Rush Limbaugh (SF Chronicle)
Odd names lead to criminal behavior (Wash Times)
Lutheran school OK to expel lesbians (LA Times)
Stimulus passes without GOP and 11 Dems (CNS News)
Belmont, CA outlaws smoking in your apartment (CBS News)
Current status of Blagojevich trial (Chicago Tribune)
Stimulus analysis (WSJ)
A 40-year wish list (WSJ)
How the stimulus works (NY Times)
DTV switch will leave many behind (NY Times)
Lilly Ledbetter act passes (NY times)

Wacky Wednesday--We Shouldn’t Build Church Buildings

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~We are the temple of the Holy Spirit now.
~That money could certainly go to more Scriptural uses: widows, orphans, the poor, community outreach, and community service.
~Single-use facilities go unused most days of the week.
~Didn’t Jesus pretty much condemn the temple? And God finished this off by having it destroyed in 70 AD.
~Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am among them.
~Just as most people waste their money on the home they live in, most churches waste their money on a church building, especially including interest payments if there is a mortgage.
~Growth of congregations in any area is historically in an inverse relationship to the emphasis on church buildings in that area.
~Jesus told His disciples to not take any provisions with them on their missionary journeys.

Wacky Wednesday--Timeshares Are A Good Idea

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~You get to own a vacation instead of just renting them from someone else.
~Guarantees you’ll go on a vacation
~If you’re already going to go on one every year, why not save some money?
~Cheaper, better accommodations than a hotel.
~You can trade for other locations.
~Since it’s real estate, it’s a good investment.
~There are 1,604 timeshare resorts in the USA and 7,000 worldwide. Can something so popular be so wrong?
~4.4 million households hold one or more, 6% of the US.

Links:
Timeshare (Wikipedia)
Time and time again: Timeshare info (Federal Trade Commission)
The Timeshare Trap (CNN Money)
TimeShareValues.com
Deceptive timeshare schemes (Crimes-Of-Persuasion.com)
Is the timeshare a good idea? (Bank Rate)
Is it worth it to buy a timeshare? (Yahoo News)

Theological Tuesday

~Why did Jesus pray to resist the Cross?
~Can you be mistaken about your own salvation?
~What is the role of suffering in Christianity?
~What does it look like to “bear one another’s burdens?”
~What, exactly, is a pastor?

Ethics: Should Christians Listen To Secular Music?

Let’s be honest. Music matters to a lot of people. And as something that is part of our lives, we would expect that the Bible and Christianity would have a perspective on what we should listen to. On the one hand, there is a view that music is simply a matter of personal preference or Christian liberty, and people can essentially listen to whatever they enjoy. On the other hand, there is a view that anything made by non-Christians for non-Christians can’t possibly be glorifying to God and, hence, should not be voluntarily consumed by those who try to build their lives around this goal. So which is it? Well, we’ll try to find out today.

What’s Your Favorite Song And Why?

It has been observed that music was always something that carried a certain amount of importance and significance to people. But since the advent of modern technology, music has become a form of identity for many people. We have our favorite bands, our favorite songs, and even our radio station loyalties. So today I thought it would be fun to discuss how important music is to you, what your favorite songs are, and why you love them so.

Various Current Events

Tom Hanks calls Mormons un-American over Prop 8 (Fox News)
Portland gay mayor admits to sex with teen (Fox News)
Portland mayor’s statement (Portland Online)
Guantanamo update (ABC News)
Obama intends to change abortion policies (CNN)
The next war President (William Kristol)
History will remember Bush well (WSJ)
Obama quickly undoes Bush policies (Fox News)
Obama got 35x more coverage than Bush (Reuters)
Inaugural like Woodstock 2 (NY Times)
Nielsen puts Reagan above Obama (Nielsen)
IL moment of silence ruled unconstitutional (Fox News)
Polygamists suing for status in Canada (C News)
Seven reasons to be skeptical of Obama (Politico)
Kindergartner wins suit to keep long hair (Houston Chronicle)
The one-state solution (Muammar Quaddafi)
Oaf of Office (Stephen Pinker)
Obama retakes oath from Roberts (NY Times)
Texas evolution curriculum (NY Times)

Is Abortion Morally Good?

Arguments in favor of abortion (Pro-Abortion stance)

1. The fetus is not a person.
2. A woman is a person and, therefore, has the right to control her body.
3. Abortions prevent the birth of children who would be poor, unloved, handicapped, or otherwise worse off.
4. Abortion prevents the suffering of the parents of such children.
5. Without abortion, overpopulation and starvation would be even worse.
6. Unwanted children are more prone to become criminals.
7. Sex should be possible for pleasure and not merely for the purpose of procreation.
8. Every child should be a wanted child. Unwanted pregnancy carries massive problems including financial burdens, destruction of life plans, loss of time, and diminished reputation.
9. Fetal tissue research is only possible if fetal tissue is available.
10. Abortion is a safety net for other methods of contraception failing.
11. It allows women to be free from the patriarchal domination of the traditional family structure. You can’t say women can be equal without letting them separate from the traditional child-bearing role.
12. Women shouldn’t have to suffer so much for one mistake.
13. If you care about women, you’ll care about protecting women’s rights and women’s issues.
14. Pregnancy is a problem that no one should be forced to endure against her will.
15. An acorn is not a tree. Even people who are reluctant to cut down a live tree are not bothered by walking on a seedling that has dropped to the ground.
16. At best, a fetus is a potential human being prior to viability, presuming that a whole lot of other conditions get met. But then again, so is a sperm.
17. Even Augustine did not believe the soul was given at conception.
18. If you believe in contraception, you’ve already accepted all the main premises that justify abortion.
19. Eugenics: helps select in favor of better specimens, especially with in vitro methods.
20. Allows women to be free from the patriarchal domination of the traditional family structure.
21. Abortion is a simple, safe procedure with many benefits to women.
22. The exceptions are crucial: rape, incest, life of the mother.

Some thoughts on Pro-abortion arguments

1. Viability is a bizarre and unclear standard. Infants are not really viable, many pre-born are more viable than some born. If I am really ill, I am not viable. Am I not a person at that point?
2. It’s highly offensive to imply that it is better to never live at all than to live as a poor, unloved, or handicapped, etc. person.
3. The handicapped especially are a tremendous blessing to their families and our society.
4. Giving birth is not suffering, it’s the greatest thing a person can do in her life.
5. This is not a “women’s issue.” Misogynists love abortion, but not because it is beneficial to women. Reproductive issues are of great concern to every human.
6. Evaluating people in terms of their social value is a huge mistake.
7. Arguments used for abortion are easily used for infanticide, and have been in past and even now.
8. Judgments about who is a person are very dangerous. All the same arguments for abortion were used about blacks, women, Jews, serfs, etc. (Slavery, Nazism, killing female babies)
9. In 1960, 90% of all illegal abortions were performed by doctors. It was no less safe than when it became legal.

Why abortion is wrong

1. The entire issue depends on what the pre-born is. If it’s a person, then every other argument falls apart. And the evidence is overwhelming that it is a person. Medical, cultural, DNA, gender, etc.
2. If a child asked, “Daddy, can I kill this?” your first response would be, “What is it?” because that is the primary issue. Whether it’s an ant, a kitten, or a baby makes all the difference.
3. Common language endorses pre-born. (Eating for 2, my baby, names before born, miscarriage = I lost my baby, baby’s first picture = sonogram, life of the “mother.”)
4. If it’s not a human person, what is it?
5. Pre-born recoil in pain from a scalpel or needle. In fact, the pro-abortion journal “Lancet” advocates anesthetizing the fetus before the abortion is performed. Why anesthetize if not alive?
6. How can it be immoral to drink alcohol during pregnancy because it may cause birth problems but it’s okay to take a pill that entirely destroys the child?
7. We all know it’s far worse to kill a pregnant woman. In fact, it’s almost worse than killing two adults, there’s something so heinous about it. We have double-murder laws, but only for the wanted ones.
8. Conception is the most logical place to say identity and life begin. Birth is far less interesting.
9. Any line drawn other than conception is arbitrary and an interruption of a natural process.
   SLED test. Only differences between a baby and a fetus: Size, Level of development, Environment, and Dependency. None of these is sufficient to make or unmake someone human. These factors are all irrelevant to morality and the status of a person as a person.
10. Even if we are uncertain, we should err on the side of caution. (Hunter and rustling bushes analogy.) Roe v Wade got it backwards in saying to legalize when uncertain.
11. If you stumble upon a body, isn’t the very first thing you want to know is its life status. If it might be alive, you are not allowed to do anything harmful to it.
12. We do surgery on in utero fetuses to save their lives all the time. Why do we do heroic things to save wanted babies born prematurely or still in utero, but older babies still trapped in the womb are abortable even well after they would have legal protection if they could only escape the womb?

Other thoughts on why abortion is wrong.

1. It’s weird and dangerous to make “human” status depend on someone wanting you or not.
   Only the unwanted need protection usually. Are unwanted children not people?
2. The view of children as a burden is historically very new and weird. The most glorious and precious ability that only women have is their capacity to create children.
3. Choice to have sex is a matter of choice itself, therefore the right to choose is not violated here.
4. How do you explain to kids that you would never do this to them, but it’s okay to do it to their siblings.
5. It’s a huge mistake to say that only the wanted or valuable people are deserving of protection.
6. Deprive a being of a human future. Deprive us of their future value.
7. Abortion requires doctors to violate the Hippocratic Oath. “Will not prescribe a pessary for abortion.”
8. We have systematically destroyed the labor force. Baby boomer problem? (30-45 million people)
9. It is most noble to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
10. Historically, abortion has been used to discriminate against undesirables. (Blacks and planned parenthood. Margaret Sanger wanted to eliminate the “human weeds.”)
11. Both Creation and Evolution say it is wrong.
12. Fathers have responsibilities if the mother decides to carry to term, why don't they have rights now?
13. This diminishes personal responsibility.
14. It’s a physically dangerous procedure. (Death, infertility, disability.)
15. Many women suffer tremendous emotional scarring. (Many later become pro-life, even Roe)
16. Without abortion, less people would be promiscuous/adulterous.
17. Can intelligent, good, informed people disagree about abortion? Yes on legality, no on morality.

Biblical perspective.

1. Pre-born have identity (Jesus/John the Baptist), Jeremiah was known before birth, David was wicked from the womb.
2. God loves babies, in fact the first blessing/command was “Be fruitful and multiply.”
3. Massive killing of babies has always been done by those who hated God. (Herod, Pharaoh.)
4. God opens and closes the womb, this is not for man to decide/control.
5. Children are a blessing, not a problem. (Infertility is a curse.)

Also, be sure to check out my newest article: A Reminder to Pro-Life Christians.

Should Abortion Be Legal?

Arguments for abortion being legal despite being immoral (Pro-Choice Stance)

1. The first principle of this country is liberty. Infringements on that liberty must be justified by clear moral mandate. We cannot restrict liberty unless we can definitively show that something is so awful that it must be restricted.
2. Privacy and the right to it must override your peculiar religious notions of what women should do with their bodies.
3. We cannot restrict liberty unless we can definitively show that something is so awful that it must be restricted.
4. Privacy and the right to it must override your peculiar religious notions of what women should do with their bodies.
5. It’s not clear when life begins, which makes it primarily a matter of religious opinion.
   You can’t know when life begins, so it is better to err on the side of protecting the rights of a known human being, the mother.
6. The exceptions are crucial: rape, incest, life of the mother. And you can’t prevent other abortions while allowing these.
7. We shouldn’t impose our morality or religion on other people.
8. You can’t legislate morality anyhow.
9. Laws won’t stop it, and at least if it’s legal it’s more likely to be safe.
10. There’s no practical way to prevent this with the law. It’s unenforceable and the penalties don’t even seem appropriate.
11. Making abortion illegal will only mean that it happens in unsafe conditions, and it won’t happen any less anyhow.
12. We don’t want the government involved in our private, medical, or sexual choices.
13. The human being only acquires rights gradually.
14. It’s not clear when life begins, which makes it primarily a matter of religious opinion.
15. If you allow contraception, you have to allow abortion, since all the arguments are the same.
16. Most people are at least pro-choice about contraception.
17. If you don’t have a ueterus, your opinion doesn’t count.
18. When you’re willing to go through my pain, pay for my delivery, and adopt my child, then you can talk about forcing me to have it.

Some thoughts on the “rights” issue.

1. The premiere value in the world is the sanctity of human life. Don’t let it erode.
   Rights over the body are limited by others’ rights and other concerns. (Prostitution, gambling, drugs.)
2. If every woman has rights over her body, then ½ of all pre-born have same rights because female.
3. It’s not being raped that determines whether the product of rape lives or not, but whether the mother decides to keep the baby. There is nothing about the way a child is produced which diminishes the rights of the child. Are adults who were conceived through rape fully human?
4. Where does such a right come from? All sources fail. Law isn’t enough, and neither natural nor divine rights theories would justify such a right.
5. The real “right” people believe in but won’t say is the “right to be free from all difficulties.”

Some thoughts on the pro-choice arguments

1. Does it make sense to say, "Wanted babies are people, but unwanted babies are not?" No, yet this is at the heart of pro-choice thinking. Wanted babies are people, and unwanted babies are also people.
2. Arguments used for abortion are easily used for infanticide, and have been in past and even now.
3. All the same arguments for abortion were used about blacks, women, Jews, serfs, etc.
   Judgments about who is a person are very dangerous. (Slavery, Nazism, killing female babies)
4. In 1960, 90% of all illegal abortions were performed by doctors. It was no less safe than when it became legal.
5. Wanted pregnancies are people, but unwanted pregnancies are just problems?
6. “You can’t legislate morality?” We do it all the time. Morality precedes legality. Both in terms of what is appropriate and in terms of getting people to behave. All laws come from morality. And law has a stigmatizing and deterrent effect on behavior. You can't make people be good with the law, but of course you can help them to behave as if they are.
7. Alternatives exist: adoption. Lots of people want babies.
8. If you’re pro-choice because of rape, you are actually pro-life, because you indirectly validate the prior choice already made of women who have sex voluntarily.
9. Obviously rape, incest, and life of the mother are extremely rare. Only 1% of all abortions.
10. But if it’s a child it’s a child regardless of how it got here.
11. Nobody has a choice of becoming pregnant. They have a choice of having sex, and they have a choice of what to do after they discover they are pregnant. “Pro-choicers” are frustrated because they don’t have a foolproof way to interrupt the sex decision from the conception event, or in the case of rape, the sex act from the conception event.
12. Obviously there are lots of limits to what you can do with your bodies and with your privacy. Prostitution, slavery, drug use, child abuse.
13. Most of these same arguments were used in defense of slavery.
14. It is truly absurd to say that men have no say in preventing abortion but have total obligation in case the woman decides to carry the child to term.
15. Legal abortion means the main goal of any fetus should be to escape the womb so he can be protected by the law.
16. Why do you think infanticide should be illegal?
17. Safe, legal, and rare is impossible. Anything that is made safe and legal which is already desired will not be rare. Anything which is unsafe and illegal which is desired will be more rare.
18. Since when should we be concerned that criminal (or immoral) activity be safe?

Agreement on the issue between pro-life and pro-choice:

1. Abortion should be rare.
2. Life is important.
3. Privacy is important.
4. Freedom is important.
5. The issue matters.
6. The issue is divisive.
7. We should try to decrease unwanted pregnancy.
8. It’s best if people wait until married to risk making babies.
9. Abortion is generally immoral, rarely if ever excellent.
10. No one ever has to justify why they carry to term.
11. Children have full human rights.
12. If it’s a person, then it should certainly be illegal.

What is the nature of the problem?

1. The real goal should be to reduce the demand for abortion. This will only happen as people either begin to see that abortion is not a morally acceptable solution and as they stop having sex prior to wanting a family. The sex, dating, marriage stuff must precede a discussion of abortion.

Alternative goals

1. Given such widespread agreement, we should be able to find a policy approach that will satisfy 95% of the people, which is the total of pro-choice and pro-life. Pro-abortion is the radical minority. Instead of working for illegalization, what might be done to reduce the number from 1.5 million/year?
2. Waiting period. If we do it for guns, why not for abortion?
3. Informed consent. Dangers of abortion and a sonogram. Every other medical procedure requires this, why not abortion too?
4. Counseling on the options from a non-abortion provider.

Also, be sure to check out my newest article: A Reminder to Pro-Life Christians.

Praying for our leaders

To find out more on how to effectively pray for the leaders of this country, click here or on the picture above.

Theological Tuesday

~Is the Bible easy or difficult to understand?
~What does it look like to “bear one another’s burdens?”
~Can you be mistaken about your own salvation?
~What, exactly, is a pastor?

Links:
Perspicuity of Scripture (Wikipedia)
Perspicuity of Scripture (pdf) (Larry D. Pettegrew)
Lecture notes on the clarity of Scripture (Richard Spencer)
There is no plain meaning of Scripture (David Bennett)
On the perspicuity of Scripture (Michael Marlowe)

Ethics: How Honest Should We Be About Our Marriages?

When I was in Amway, I learned a simple principle: only say good things about the condition of your business and about your spouse. When I became a Christian, I don’t think I ever heard it put quite so succinctly, but it was pretty clearly implied that I should only say positive things about my faith and about my spouse. But as the concept of transparency becomes more and more precious to me, I’m really wondering whether this is basically a mistake. So I want to talk about whether it’s okay to disclose the defect of our marriages with other people, including possibly our criticisms of our spouses.

What Part Of The Bible Offends You The Most?

I think if you are someone who has rejectedChristianity (as opposed to someone who ismerely a non-Christian), then this questionis probably easier to answer because youprobably are in the habit of telling peopleyour reasons. But I suspect that manyChristians will balk at this momentarily, notbecause the Bible doesn't offend them, butbecause the language seems too strong. "What, me offended by the Bible? Not I. I'ma Christian who loves God's Word." I thinkif we're more honest than this, we can alladmit that there are things in the Bible thatannoy us, bother us, disturb us, or downrightoffend us. So, instead of pretending thisisn't the case, let's look at those parts andjust be honest about how they offend us.

Various Current Events

Fascinating video from comedian atheist Penn (You Tube)
Adolf Hitler and sisters taken by DYFS (FoxNews)
50 craziest celebrity child names (Times Online)
Phoenix murder rate drops 24% (Arizona Republic)
Afghan school thrives despite attacks on girls (NY Times)
Geithner faces tax questions (NY Times)
DOJ official hired by politics (NY Times)
110 game win streak for women’s basketball team (NY Times)
Clinton pledges tough diplomacy (NY Times)
8.3% deficit is plenty of stimulus (WSJ)
Dungy leaves football for family, social work (Christian Post)
Hamas hijacks supply trucks, resells aid (Jerusalem Post)
Gay bishop chosen to open inaugural (USA Today)
Woman sells virginity to fund masters degree (Telegraph)
Obama’s climate czar has socialist ties (Wash Times)
Safety council says to ban cell phones in cars (Fox News)
Breast-cancer screening on embryos? (BBC News)
Google’s carbon footprint (CBS News)
24 should reflect Obama’s new world order (SF Chronicle)
$160 million inaugural in this economy? (NY Daily News)
AP slammed Bush’s $40 million inaugural (News Busters)
Salon rips Bush for expense in 2005 (Salon)
Muslim, Rabbi added to inaugural (Christian Post)
Gay men make up 65% of syphilis cases (CNS News)
Madoff scandal hurts Planned Parenthood (Crain’s NY Business)
A&M bases bonuses on student feedback (Houston Chronicle)
Where sweatshops are a dream (Nicholas Kristof)
More questions for Mr. Geithner (NY Times)
Scammers preying on foreclosure fears (NY Times)
Questions for Eric Holder (NY Times)
Not all pirates are pirates (Independent)

Wacky Wednesday--Everyone Goes To Heaven

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~God desires all people to be saved, and God is omnipotent.
~Did Jesus finish the work He was sent to do?
~What an incomplete and inadequate thing it would be for only some humans to be saved by Jesus.
~If all people are eventually saved, then we have a God who not only loves all but is powerful enough to save all He loves.
~If God accomplishes our salvation, why wouldn’t it be accomplished for all men?
~If this were true, wouldn’t it be the most beautiful thing you could possibly imagine compared with the idea that some men will inevitably not be saved?
~He, who created all things, will "reconcile to himself ALL things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:20).
~God has appointed His Son to be the "heir of ALL things" (Hebrews 1:2)
~In God's Son "shall ALL the nations be blessed" (Galatians 3:8).
~God has given His Son "authority over ALL flesh, to give eternal life to ALL whom He has given Him" (John 17:2).
~"The Father has given ALL things into the Son's hands" (John 3:35)
~"ALL flesh shall see the salvation of God" (Luke 3:6).
~God loves even his enemies and "He is kind to the ungrateful and evil" (Luke 6:35).
~"He desires ALL people to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4).
~He "gave himself as a ransom for ALL" (1 Timothy 2:6).
~He "is not wishing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
~He "has consigned ALL to disobedience, that he may have mercy on ALL" (Romans 11:32)
~So God's plan is "to unite ALL things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth" (Ephesians 1:10).
~The Father has "put ALL things under Christ's feet" (Ephesians 1:22)
~The Father has “given ALL things into his hands" (John 13:3).
~Jesus has promised to "draw ALL men" to Himself (John 12:32) because "the Father loves the Son and has given ALL things into his hand" (John 3:35).
~Jesus says that like a good shepherd, He will search for each of His lost sheep "until he finds it" (Luke 15:4).
~"God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:17).
~"The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for ALL people" (Titus 2:11).
~Jesus is the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
~Jesus gave His flesh as bread "for the life of the world" (John 6:51).
~"He gives life to the world" (John 6:33).
~He is "the light of the world" (John 8:12).
~"He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).
~"He is the Savior of ALL people" (1 Timothy 4:10)
~He is "the Savior of the world" (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14).
~"He appeared to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).
~Jesus "abolished death" (2 Timothy 1:10).
~"He has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:26).
~"In Christ shall all be made alive" (I Corinthians 15:22).
~"He restores all things" (Acts 3:21).
~"At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).
~"Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, `To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! "' (Revelation 5:13).
~"Then comes the end, when he [Jesus] delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For `God has put all things in subjection under his feet.' But when it says `all things are put in subjection,' it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

Post-show comments: I have to admit that I find this particular theory extremely appealing. I mean wouldn't it be great if...? But here's the basic problem: if this doctrine is true, then Jesus is a liar many times over since He so emphatically and repeatedly taught the doctrine of hell. And if a doctrine concludes that Jesus was a liar, it cannot be called a Christian doctrine. What you have here is two propositions put together with an inference which leads to the idea that everyone gets saved eventually. But since Jesus specifically and the Bible generally (which is all Jesus, really) teach this conclusion to be false, then the reasoning or the premises must be flawed. Although it's not meant as a refutation of this particular doctrine, I recommend reading this excellent article by Tim Keller: The Importance of Hell.

Wacky Wednesday--It’s Wise To Nag Your Spouse

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~When you really believe in someone’s potential, but they aren’t living up to it, love manifests itself as the unwillingness to let them stay where they are right now.
~People are really forgetful and need constant reminding of what is right.
~God is sort of a nag, if you think about how often He repeats Himself.
~The alternative to nagging is to be silent or to try to coerce someone, and those are obviously not correct.
~Christians are constantly nagging the culture about its shortcomings. Are we wrong for doing so?
~Jesus nagged the disciples
~Parents nag their children.
~Pastors nag their congregations.
~Doesn’t the Bible teach us to nag God in our prayers?
~Jesus even teaches that nagging works with the parables of the widow and the unrighteous judge and the nagging neighbor.

Links:
What does the Bible say about nagging? by Open Bible
Why nagging doesn’t work by About.com
Fourteen tips to avoid nagging by The Happiness Project

Show Archive Links

Well, it was fun while it lasted. At the moment, there is no longer an archive or podcast feature for the show for reasons beyond my control. Hopefully, there will be a new form of the archive with podcasting sometime around early March. I am looking into other options until then. If I find any, I will surely let everyone know on the daily email and here. If you have a solution, email me at atallman (at) salemphx.com. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Take comfort in knowing that it pains me as much as it pains you.

Andrew

Theological Tuesday

Should churches require financial disclosures?
What does it look like to “bear one another’s burdens?”
What does it mean that “God’s Word will not return void?”
Can you be mistaken about your own salvation?
What, exactly, is a pastor?

.

Links:

Bear one another’s burdens by Steve Zeisler
On bearing one another’s burdens by Victor Shepherd
The Gospel and the poor by Tim Keller

Should We Listen To Non-Christian Talk Radio?

Talk radio is full of options. Most Christians would agree that certain programming is best not to listen to because it is lewd or immoral. But what about programming which is angry or offensive in other ways? Moreover, what about radio where the host is simply not a professing Christian? See, all of us who treasure the Bible believe that a pastor must satisfy a variety of requirements before we should be willing to let him lead us. But even your own pastor only presents ideas to you for half an hour or an hour once a week. A talk radio host is presenting ideas to you for as much as 15 hours a week. So the real question is, “Does it make sense to immerse yourself in that mental environment with a person who would not qualify to be your pastor?”

Why are you a Christian?

On this the fourth anniversary broadcast of the show (1/10/2005 was day one), I thought it would be fun to talk a little about how people become Christians and why it’s important to learn how to tell our stories to other people. So, today, call me and tell me why you’re a Christian.

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Read Andrew's Story

International Rescue Committee - Mark Bratman Interview

Links:
International Rescue Committe home page
Human Traffficking Awareness Festival - Phoenix, 1/10/09

Various Current Events

Israel’s race against the clock by Hugh Hewitt
Moral clarity in Gaza by Charles Krauthammer
Obama to be in Spider-Man issue by USA Today
Obama’s speech on the economy by WSJ
Consumer group urges digital TV switch delay by Wash Post
Police to withhold crime details to stop ID theft by AZ Republic
Cappuccino scandal in Chicago by Sun-Times
Mexican gang attacks TV news station by Houston Chronicle
Women banned from shrine over security by BBC News
Lessons of Gaza by Boston Globe
Obama promises entitlement reform by NY Times
Senate likely to seat Burris by NY Times
Jews face a double standard by WSJ
Anti-gays threaten gay bars by Seattle Times
Pro-gays vandalize pro-gay church by SF Chronicle
Obama nominates Schaivo activist for DOJ spot by Wash Times
Leon Panetta to lead CIA? By Politico.com
NYT sells first ever front page ad by Editor and Publisher
The three state option by John Bolton
Home-schooling on the rise by USA Today
G.W. no secret service for life (note photo) by NY Daily News
Newdow hopes to remove God from inaugural by DC Examiner
Press gets virgin pledge study wrong by WSJ
Palestinian versus other victims by Michael Medved
CA's AG brief on Prop 8 (PDF--11 MB)

Wacky Wednesday--Jesus Was A Sinner

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~If He wasn’t a sinner, why did so many people want to kill Him?
~He dared to accept worship
~He dared to forgive sins.
~He claimed equality with God.
~He deliberately confused people by hiding His message in parables so that they wouldn’t know the truth and wouldn’t come back to God.
~Jesus empowered corrupt government by allowing himself to be lynched.
~By not overthrowing the government, Jesus allowed them to do all sorts of evil.
~By not overthrowing the government, Jesus confused His disciples about the merits of pacifism.
~By accepting the Cross, Jesus ended an otherwise extremely useful ministry, thus depriving thousands of people of healing, demon exorcism, and moral guidance.
~“No one is sinless, no not even one.” Ergo, Jesus was not.
~He taught people to deny or forsake their family obligations.
~He violated the Sabbath.
~He condoned adultery.
~He associated with unclean people.

Wacky Wednesday--Parents Should Be Licensed

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~Bad parenting costs society in terms of crime, lower productivity, the welfare cycle, and moral decay.
~Bad parenting causes children to suffer lower health, abuse and violence, stunted emotional development, lower academic performance, and risk for substance abuse.
~Don’t children have a fundamental right to competent parenting?
~Don’t parents have a fundamental right to become competent parents?
~We already license para-parenting activities like adoption, foster parenting, teaching, and day-care.
~We already have many laws that impact upon parenting and coerce parents with regards to child support, truancy/education, grandparental rights, and the simple existence of Child Protective States.
~We license marriage, drivers, real estate agents, lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, and even plumbers and contractors.
~What better way can we possibly express the seriousness and importance of this particular human practice?
~We say we love children, but shouldn’t that mean that we take any steps we can to make sure that children get what they need?
~If we can all recognize that parenting is incredibly difficult, why not?
~Doesn’t the evidence, in fact, teach us that people generally lack this ability?
~Look at the popularity of Dr. Phil and Oprah and Supernanny. People want such help. They’re practically screaming for it.
~Imagine how nice it would be to be able to correct someone by saying, “That’s not what they taught us in parenting class.”
~If current parents take the test, it could serve to politely inform them that they really are inept.
~This would be a way for us to incorporate our senior citizens in a helpful way because they have experience that cannot be replaced.

Links:
Should parents have licenses? by Xamba.com
A license to parent? by WebMd.com
Parents should be licensed by Hugh LaFollette
A commentary on LaFollette by moralhealth.com
Licensing parents (E-Book) by Jack C. Westman
We license plumbers… by Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Theological Tuesday

~What is repentance?
~Is the concept of good guys and bad guys theologically defensible?
~Why is the Gospel offensive?
~What does it mean that “God’s Word does not return void?”
~Does the Sermon on the Mount require us to cut off our hands and poke out our eyes?
~Is prayer only about words?

Links on Repentance:
Bible References: Repent
All of life is repentance by Tim Keller
What is repentance and how do I do it? by New-Life.net
Why you can’t go to heaven without repenting by NZ Christian
Is repentance necessary for salvation? by GotQuestions.org
What is repentance? by United Church of God
Repentance by Acts 17:11.com
Repentance by Theopedia

Ethics: Focus on the Family, Glenn Beck, and the Culture War

Glenn Beck is a nationally syndicated political talk show host and CNN news commentator (reportedly moving to Fox News this year) and the author of the New York Times #1 bestselling book, “The Christmas Sweater.” He is also a Mormon. Focus on the Family recently posted an interview with Glenn about this book conducted by a freelance journalist on their Citizen Link website, but they later removed the article in response to complaints that an Evangelical organization should not be endorsing the work of an LDS member. Were they correct for this decision? But what about the larger issue of when and if to allow alliances between Evangelical Christians and members of religions with which we disagree either partially or wholly? What sort of compromises should we (or shouldn’t we) be willing to make in advancing our cultural agenda in a doctrinally pluralistic society?

Links - Focus on the Family and Glenn Beck:
The story and the interview by MormonTimes.com
Beck and Dobson respond by MormonTimes.com
Meditation on the Third Commandment by CS Lewis
Focus promotes Mormon Glenn Beck by ChristianNewsWire.com
Focus yanks Glenn Beck interview by World Net Daily
Focus pulls Glenn Beck interview by US News and World Report
Focus removes interview by Salt Lake Tribune

Your Most Significant Event Of 2008?

Around this time every year, people (including myself) have various discussions of the biggest events and news stories of the year just past. But in keeping with my own belief that the most important and significant things in life rarely become the subject of a news story, I thought it would be interesting to simply talk about our own personally significant events of the past year. Did you become accept Christ? Did you get married? Did you have a child? Did you embark on a new career? Did you suffer a significant loss? Or anything else that was a major event for you last year.