Month: February 2015
-
cultural genocide
This video of ISIS soldiers destroying ancient idols in the Mosul Museum is not as heart breaking as their videos of beheading fellow Christians and humans, but it is still difficult to watch. It is its own kind of dumb. Yes, God did tell his people to destroy idols, but I’m pretty sure he meant…
-
what kind of war?
Many Christians find it hard to justify earthly pleasure when so many people around them are going to hell. How can loving people do anything but use all their time and money to save others? C. S. Lewis partially answers this question in his important essay, “Learning in War-Time.” He says that even soldiers listen…
-
why the west cannot defeat Isis
In his Friday New York Times column, David Brooks explained that President Obama mistakenly underestimates the attraction of ISIS. He thinks that people join ISIS because they lack jobs and economic opportunity, when actually they are motivated by religion. They believe they are serving God and ushering in the last days. What is a job…
-
plea for sanity
Like any American with both a head and a heart, I am appalled that Washington State is about to destroy the livelihood and savings of Barronelle Stutzman, the kind grandmother whose florist shop enjoys serving homosexual customers but doesn’t wish to participate in the celebration of their marriage. Stutzman’s response should make every Christian proud.…
-
rejoicing in lament
I remember when I first heard that Todd Billings had incurable cancer. Before I led my class in prayer, I told them that besides being a wonderful man with a young family, Todd was one of the good ones, a blessing to the church that we could not afford to lose. We need him! Todd…
-
going to heaven
Yesterday Kevin DeYoung wisely pushed back against Christians who so emphasize the new earth that they dismiss the benefits of going to heaven when they die. Dying saints may be encouraged by the renewal of all things, but they also want to know what happens the moment they leave this earth. Kevin is right that…
-
support the troops
A week ago I reviewed the new film, Old-Fashioned. I mentioned that while the movie wasn’t perfect, it was provocative, deeply satisfying, and boasted high production values. I don’t see a lot of movies, but this one seemed as good, if not better, than most of what comes out of Hollywood today. So I was…
-
I can’t get no satisfaction
Yesterday I received the new edition of Christian Scholar’s Review, and I immediately read the article by Scott Waalkes, “Rethinking Work as Vocation: From Protestant Advice to Gospel Corrective” (Winter, 2015, p. 135-53). I was interested because not only does Waalkes teach at Malone University, near my hometown, but his article promised to correct the…
-
interview
Here is a written interview for Becoming Worldly Saints that Trevin Wax posted today. This Q/A explains why saints are inherently worldly, or they aren’t even saints.
-
videos and study guide
Becoming Worldly Saints was published last Tuesday, and this Tuesday we are releasing free videos and Bible lessons for an eight week small group study. If you enjoy the book and think the content is worth passing on, these videos and study questions will lead your group into the Scriptures and some provocative conversations. I…
Mike Wittmer 