Various Current Events

Video showing pics from Nashville with commentary (Youtube)
Donate to Nashville relief, reconstruction (CFMT.org)
Nashville flooding ignored by country (Section 303)
Iran acquits two female converts of apostasy (Christian Post)
Next bailout: $165 billion for union pensions (Fox Business)
Cops furious at don’t-kill bill (NY Post)
USSC to rule on AZ tax credit law (AZR)
Mayor Gordon’s security and death threats (AZR)
“Lost” and religion (Christianity Today)
Evangelical leaders sign Immigration Policy (Liberty Counsel)
Obama commits troops to the border (NYT)
Texas School Board changes standards (New American)
DADT compromise reached, vote expected (C Post)
Stimulus led to throwing out good goods (StL Post-Dispatch)
NJ Gov vetoes millionaire tax (Philly Inquirer)
Constitutions flying off the shelves (The Hill)
Jesse James wanted to get caught (Fox News)
Limbaugh’s biography chafes some (The Hill)
Food warning labels for choking hazards urged (NYT)
Parking meter money for the homeless (Seattle Times)
NY recognizes lesbian co-parent’s rights, part 1, part 2 (Findlaw)
No gain from brain training (Nature)
Response on brain training (SharpBrains.com)
80-year-old breaks IL law, protects family with gun (Fox News)
Animal-rights terrorism suspected in attempted murder (ABC)
Minn to offer counseling to avert divorces (Wash Times)
Mystique of the Handmade (Wall Street Journal)

Wacky Wednesday--Doctrine Doesn’t Matter

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.

~How much doctrine did Jesus teach? Why do you think that is?
~Do you have to have good doctrine in order to be born again? Do you have to acquire good doctrine in order to retain your salvation?
~If it takes a theology degree to really have good doctrine, how necessary can it really be?
~The Westminster Confession is 22 pages long!
~Most people throughout Christian history didn’t have access to Bible or theology resources. How did this harm them?
~Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” And “If you love me, keep my commandments.” And “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, by your love one for another.” As far as I can tell, ~He never said, “All of My sheep have flawless theology, or else they aren’t my sheep.”
~What would you rather have, someone who knows the intricacies of the doctrine of predestination or the Trinity, but doesn’t love Jesus or someone who loves Jesus but is fuzzy or even unsure about the Trinity or election? Which would Jesus prefer?
~I have met a lot of people who would fight tooth and nail in defense of Sola Scriptura, but they don’t show very much love one for another.
~Is bad doctrine a sin which needs forgiveness?
~What percentage of God do you think you really understand?
~Did it matter what the average Hebrew in Egypt believed when the angel of death came to their door, or did it just matter that they had the blood of the slain lamb on their doorpost?
~When Paul lists off all the sins that keep people out of heaven, he never includes “bad doctrine” in the list.
~Paul claimed to know Christ and Him crucified and nothing else.
~Doesn’t 1 Corinthians 13 warn about the danger of being too obsessed with doctrine?
~Be honest, most of the people you know who are really emphatic about correct doctrine, do they seem like the kind of people non-Christians really want to hang around with and learn the Lord from?
~How many people have been beaten over the head by lovers of doctrine? How many by genuine lovers of Christ?
~Wasn’t Jesus murdered by people who loved doctrine more than they loved God?
~Jesus says to judge a tree by its fruit, not by its doctrine.
~If you’re honest, how many people who say you’re saved by faith alone actually mean that you’re saved by having just the right doctrine of salvation by faith alone?
~For how many Evangelicals is correct doctrine the secret intellectual work by which we enter or forfeit heaven?

Wacky Wednesday--Youth Groups Are A Mistake

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.

~Did you know the concept of an “adolescent” as a unique age range only dates back to 1905, and that the term “teenager” only arrived in the 1940s? Would it also surprise you to know that youth groups never existed in history until the middle 20th Century? Now ask yourself when, approximately, did American culture implode, and what sort of church education did the people who imploded it receive?
~They separate teens from the thing they need most: invested community with adults who have a vibrant faith.
~When a youth group exists, there is a natural assumption that the person(s) leading that group will meet all the needs of the teenagers. This leads to all the rest of the congregation essentially ignoring the needs of teens because they feel they don’t need to actively think about their needs.
~Show me youth groups in the Bible. And if you can’t, then I wonder how serious you are about the idea that Scripture is sufficient for us as our guide to faith and practice.
~In what way is the message of the Bible when properly presented not adequate to minister to people of all ages and concerns?
~Aren’t parents the ones responsible for the spiritual formation of children, according to Deuteronomy 6 and many other passages?
~What does it say about parents that a stranger needs to be delegated the tremendous responsibility of teaching, guiding, and mentoring teenagers in their most difficult formative years?
~What are mothers and fathers doing instead of training their teens when they send them to the youth group, and how likely is it that this is a more important activity?
~Doesn’t youth ministry violate the 5th Commandment about honoring parents? How many times do youth pastors contradict parents? If youth pastors are wise and effective, don’t they wind up usurping the love and respect properly due to parents?
~It takes a village, not a youth group.
~How much of our popular American culture is already defined by and centered upon the teen subculture? How’s that working for us?
~What happens as students age into their twenties or get married and then must consider whether they still “qualify” to attend “youth group?”
~Ask yourself why it is that all the youth pastor portrayals on television are so universally ridiculous.
~Who should be shaping teenagers, other teenagers or adults, especially their parents?

Links:
A case against youth ministry (Blog)

Theological Tuesday

~Bible Stories: The Prodigal Sons (Luke 15)
~What’s more vital to Christian culture: doctrine or stories?
~What is the purpose of evangelism?
~How much time a day is right to pray and read the Bible?

Ethics: Beauty Pageants

The winner of the 2010 Miss USA pageant is Lebanese immigrant and Muslim from Michigan, Rima Fakih. Although she is thrilled to have been in the contest and to have won it, many in the Muslim community are criticizing her for the immodesty inherent in the contest. She narrowly beat Miss Colorado, who may well have lost the competition because she signaled her support of the now nationally scorned immigration law here in Arizona. Reminding us all of Carrie Prejean’s answer to the gay marriage question last year, it made me ask whether a politically conservative woman can even win these contests. But that raised the second question, “Would a conservative woman be in the contest in the first place?” So I thought it would be interesting to discuss the ethical value of having, participating in, or watching beauty pageants.

Where have you been, where do you want to go?

I’m recently back from Israel, so international travel is surely on my mind. Although I wouldn’t call myself a world traveler, based on the conversations I’ve had with other Americans, I have traveled more than most. And, like most people who have been other places, it seems there are always more places we want to go. So today I though it would be fun to talk about the places you’d love to visit sometime, given the opportunity, as well as tell others about some of the excellent places you’ve already had a chance to visit.

Various Current Events

Prominent critics admit not having read immig law (CNS News)
Pakistan bans Facebook, YouTube (CNS News)
Mojave Cross stolen, replaced (CNS News)
BP again admits estimates too low (CNS News)
Cuba denounces AZ law (CNS News)
Immigration and liberty (Walter Williams)
Scientist rejected for online social views (Wash Times)
SF to let non-citizen parents vote for school board (SF Chron)
StL student complains “Sicko” part of grade (Post-Dispatch)
AZ official dares LA to boycott (Wash Times)
Smallpox defeat set stage for HIV spread (LA Times)
AG Holder hasn’t read AZ law (Politico)
Jewish group denounces Nazi AZ comparisons (LA Times)
Nuremberg Laws (Wikipedia)
Adverse effects of child-care small but persistent (Wash Post)
Q&A on the study (Wash Post)
McCain/Kyl 10 point border plan (Wash Independent)
Principal apologizes (?) for May 5 flag expulsions (LA Times)
Congress, up in arms (NYT)
“Meatless Monday” gains steam (Wash Post)
Oil spills and our standard of living (Findlaw)
American Idolization of culture (LA Times)
Brit street preacher case dropped (Christian Post)
Miss USA won pole dancing contest (No pictures) (ABC News)
Arizona’s border crisis (Christianity Today)
I-Pad porn free (Life Site)

Israel Trip Debrief

So, a Christian, a Jew, and a Muslim walk into a hummus shop in Jerusalem…. But seriously, after spending a week in Israel, I’m eager to share with you what I’ve learned about the Bible, Jesus’s ministry, the history of this highly fought-over land, and even the legitimacy of the modern state of Israel. So today, I’ll tell you all about my trip and answer any questions you might have about Israel or the things we saw.

Various Current Events

Bible marathon at Capitol (Christian Post)
Schwarz. vetoes public smoking ban (San Diego Union Trib)
Toddler TV harmful to development (CBS)
Brit. Christian counselor loses appeal (Christian Post)
FL grandma arrested for slapping teen (WTSP)
Get ready for a nuclear Iran (WSJ)
What is reasonable suspicion? (Findlaw)
Student told no US flag on Cinquo de Mayo (NBC)
UK street evangelist arrested over anti-gay remarks (Daily Mail)
Christians denounce preacher’s arrest (Christian Post)
32 Congressional candidates are black Republicans (NYT)
Los Suns jersey controversy (AZR)
Amnesty for those who sneak into Suns games? (Wash Times)
F. Graham: Americans losing religious freedom (CNS News)
No free speech for NJ jurist (Wash Times)
Gov. Brewer explains the law (ESPN)
AZ to end speed cameras in July (AZR)
New AZ laws (AZR)
Muslims burn Christian Center in Indonesia (Christian Post)
Video games and free speech (NYT)
Suburban dad to terrorist (NYT)
CBS considers paying ESPN to take NCAA tourney (NYT)
The hard work on financial reform (NYT)
Principles before profits in MD (Bloomberg)

Wacky Wednesday--Christians Shouldn’t Watch Star Wars Films

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.

~It is nothing but repackaged Eastern mysticism, Buddhism, and New Age religion.
~The Force is a pagan and Manichean substitute for God.
~With mind powers like telekinesis, telepathy, and vivid dreaming, isn’t Jedi is just another name for witch?
~There are scores of theoretical flaws with all of the movies. For example, how does the Death Star propel itself across the universe, and why are lasers (blasters) inaccurate?
~Anakin is born of a virgin?
~Star Wars 3 is a thinly veiled assault on George W. Bush as being a Sith.
~There are all sorts of immoral behavior by “good” guys such as lying, cheating at gambling, and being reckless.
~The violence alone is problematic because it is glorified and stylized. The real name of this series of movies should be, “Stories about people who get their arms cut off for no good reason.”

Links:
Star Wars and Christian Truth by AlbertMohler.com
The Faith vs. The Force by AlbertMohler.com
Spirituality: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 by Christianity Today
Moral and spiritual issues by DecentFilms.com
Funny Star Wars pictures
Videos, some you have to watch to the end: 1, 2, 3, 4 (Youtube)

.

Some awesome photos:

Wacky Wednesday--We Shouldn’t Secure The Southern Border

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.

~Why aren’t you worried about the unsecured borders with California, Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico?
~What if you were told that you would no longer be allowed to leave the state of your birth?
~Isn’t your real motive just geographical discrimination and a desire to keep “the wrong” people out?
~We already have an unsecured border, and how bad is it really?
~What a profound declaration of hostility toward Central America.
~The seaports are at least as dangerous a security threat
~If you don’t secure the Northern one as well, what is that saying about race?
~For almost all of human history, borders have never been secure between countries.
~Do you actually realize what sort of resource commitment it would take to truly accomplish this?
~Isn’t there something just fundamentally contradictory about having a massive wall around a society you dare to call “open?”

Links
US-Mexico Border (Wikipedia)

Theological Tuesday

~What does the Bible have to tell us about immigration policy?

~Bible Stories: The Prodigal Sons (Luke 15)

~Does the Bible teach us to “sow seed gifts in faith to reap a harvest?”

~Why aren’t we more generous?

~What’s a Christian solution to mean people?

~How much time a day is right to pray and read the Bible?

Immigration

Bible References: Exodus 12:48-49, Exodus 22:21, Exodus 23:9, Exodus 23:12, Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 19:33-34, Leviticus 24:22, Leviticus 25:35, Deut 4:5-8, Deut 10:17-19, Deut 16:10-14, Deut 26:12, Psalm 94, Psalm 146, Jeremiah 22, Ezekiel 22:29, Zechariah 7, Matthew 5:38-48, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 10:25-37, Romans 12:9-13, 1 Timothy 5:9-10, Hebrews 13:1-3

Links:
Bible has lots to say about immigration (Seattle P-I)
What does Bible say about immigration (Gospel Coalition)
Immigration matters and the Bible (Denver Seminary)
Scriptures and immigration (Beliefnet)
Bible as immigration handbook (Church World Service)
A Bible study on immigration, part 2 (World Net Daily)

Ethics: A Catholic And An Evangelical Want To Marry

A friend of mine is a former Evangelical and now Catholic, and his girlfriend is Evangelical. Trouble is, she doesn’t want to be Catholic, but they want to get married. She doesn’t experience anything in the Catholic service. Since Catholic doctrine requires her to at least agree to raise the children in Catholicism, they are a bit flummoxed about how to proceed. What do you think?

Reverse News, Catastrophes That Weren’t

We used to do a feature on the show every day where I would report on some uninteresting piece of non-news that is usually true every single day, such as, “Today in reverse news, 120 million children went to school and returned home safely.” The point of this, of course, is to show how the news fails (refuses?) to give context to the negative things it reports. Having us aware of the bad things that do happen (without context) and afraid of the next bad thing that might happen has a fairly negative effect on our psychological condition. So, tonight I thought we’d do a little reminiscing about crises and catastrophes that didn’t materialize.

Links:
Great non-catastrophes of the late 20th century
Thwarted terrorist attacks since 9/11 (2007) (Heritage)
The next person who reads this will smell like cheese (book)