From Law to Grace » Archive
Romney & Driscoll at Liberty U: Blurry Vision
What a week for Liberty University, “the largest private non-profit university in the nation, the largest university in Virginia, and the largest Christian university in the world . . . with a vision to train Champions for Christ as a world class university.” (About LU) With the April 19th announcement that Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican Presidential nominee, will speak at this year’s commencement ceremony and, the giddy welcome of Mark Driscoll to the Lynchburg, VA campus on April 20th, this has been a “stellar” week for the school that Jerry Falwell built. But, with both those announcements, LU continues to blur the lines between a sound (fundamental, if you prefer) Biblical theology and a watered-down (downgraded, if you will) cultural Christianity far too enamored with the world of politics and society. First, Governor Romney. I should be … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christianity, Government, Mark Driscoll, Politics, Religion
’80s Child Stars Launch Unfunny Attack on Free Speech
In what appears to be a desperate bid for another 15 minutes of fame, several child “stars” from such notable forgettable 1980s sitcoms like Mr. Belvedere and Charles in Charge have made a “Funny or Die” video (those easily offended should probably not watch it) about fellow ’80s child star Kirk Cameron of Growing Pains. The video, which is supposed to be humorous, takes aim at Cameron’s controversial views on homosexuality. Cameron reportedly was not offended by the video, even finding it funny. Did Cameron really find the mock video funny or was he exhibiting grace toward those who were intentionally ridiculing him? As a born-again Christian, Cameron may have been applying Biblical principles to the situation: “To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christianity, Hollywood, Homosexual Agenda, Religion
Driscoll, the LU Kerfuffle & Failure to Communicate
“What we’ve got here is (a) failure to communicate.” These words, first spoken by American character actor Strother Martin in the 1967 Paul Newman film, Cool Hand Luke, might best describe the two (or more) sides in the curious case of Ergun Caner. (Ergun Caner Defenders: Failure to Communicate) Less than two years after I first wrote that post, Liberty University once again finds itself as a leading actor in another drama. Like the earlier story, the current show also has a star who always receives top billing: Mark Driscoll, the controversial pastor of Seattle’s Mars Hill Church. Funnily enough, this drama also involves a “failure to communicate.” It’s amazing how otherwise intelligent people seem to lack basic reading comprehension skills, thus causing them to misfire in their written communications. Usually these “misfires” are unintentional. However, sometimes after reading the communications … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blogging, Christianity, Mark Driscoll, Religion
My Sunday Night Dates With The Good Wife
I like The Good Wife. There, I said it. I know. I just gave up “man points” for admitting that I enjoy watching the CBS Sunday night drama starring Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick, the wife of a Chicago politician who was involved in a sexual scandal reminiscent of the all-too-familiar real-life political scandals of recent years. With only two episodes left this season, I can take solace in knowing that I have 16 episodes of Season 2 still to watch. I’ve already breezed through the first season’s episodes on the DVD’s that I bought last month (that was another deduction of “man points” when I let that slip at the office). I don’t know why it took me so long to start watching The Good Wife. Well, that’s not entirely true. I do know why I avoided this … Read entire article »
Filed under: Baptist Convention of New Mexico, Hollywood, Television
Mark Driscoll’s Mesmerizing Hold on LU & Evangelicalism
I don’t get it. More to the point, I don’t get him. Mark Driscoll, that is. I simply do not understand the Seattle pastor’s mesmerizing hold over large swaths of conservative Evangelicals, including many Southern Baptists, both young and old. In the last few years, Driscoll’s influence has continued to expand, both through the church he pastors, Mars Hill, and through the Reformed church planting network he founded, Acts 29. Driscoll also served as President of Acts 29 until he unexpectedly announced his resignation just nine days after a former Mars Hill elder, Paul Petry, and his wife, Jonna, went public with explosive and credible allegations of spiritual abuse at Mars Hill. Some might chalk that up to one big coincidence, but as one who believes in the sovereignty of God over all things, I don’t really … Read entire article »
Filed under: Calvinism, Christianity, Mark Driscoll, Religion, Southern Baptist Convention, Theology