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A subversive approach to a subversive parable [From Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43] On the surface, the story reads quite clearly—maybe a little too clearly. If you’re a regular church attendee…
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We Miss You Richard
By RLC Editor
Yesterday, the world lost a great voice and a beautiful man. Richard’s impact on Christianity and those around him cannot be overstated. Regarding Red Letter Christians, Richard was one of…
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The Passing of Richard Leo Twiss
By RLC Editor
Photo Above: Richard closes out the 2012 RLC Gathering on December 14, 2012. Please pray for the family of Richard Twiss. Richard suffered a massive heart attack on Wednesday and…
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"Don't Tell Anyone" – Jesus' warning against always expressing right belief
Jesus and the twelve had made the 25 mile trek off the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and stopped to rest outside the district of Caesarea. They sat along…
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"Don't Tell Anyone" – Jesus' warning against always expressing right belief
Jesus and the twelve had made the 25 mile trek off the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and stopped to rest outside the district of Caesarea. They sat along…
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Why I Think Jesus Would Bake a Cake for a Same-Sex Marriage
“Jesus appeared to ‘condone’ what his community considered sinful all the time.” Aaron Klein, a Baker in Oregon, may face up to $50, 000 in fines, for refusing to bake…
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When God No Longer Hates Fags
The very mention of the name, ‘Westboro Baptist Church’ induces a fierce anger in the best of us. An acrid taste at the back of the throat. These are the…
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The Wall, Children, and Hamas: My Trip to Gaza
By Tim Costello
World Vision has been working in Gaza the land of Samson, Goliath and the Philistines since 2009. I visited Gaza last week. Our agricultural partners are brilliant and making a…
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John Piper, Women in Combat, and How Gender Roles Fall Short of the Glory of Humankind
Co-Ed Combat and Cultural Cowardice, an article written by John Piper in 2007, has resurfaced in light of the U.S. military’s decision to let women serve in combat. I’m posting…
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A Year of Eating Locally … for the Peace of the City
By RLC Editor
At the end of this past December, my wife, Liz and I made a commitment to spend at least 50% of our grocery money at vendors in our immediate neighborhood. …
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Stop celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.
By Matt Rindge
Last month America engaged in its annual ritual of misremembering Martin Luther King, Jr. Although Rev. Dr. King often indicted what he called the “triple evils of racism, economic exploitation…
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God Isn't on Ray Lewis' side…or anyone's for that matter
Earlier this week, it was reported that one in four Americans believes that God ‘plays a role in determining which team wins’ at sporting events. Additionally, more than half of Americans…
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Civil Disobedience as Prayer
By RLC Editor
Editor’s Note: This piece is part of RLC’s February Theme: Civil Disobedience One way of seeing jail today is to regard it as the monastery. In a society preparing for…
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RLC Podcast: Tony Campolo on Steve Chalke, Women Leadership and more…
By RLC Editor
This week on the RLC Podcast, “Across the Pond, ” Tony Campolo discusses his good friend Steve Chalke’s decision to publicly come out in favor of same-sex relationships. Steve is…
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Changing the Question about Suffering
The chapter on sin from Timothy Keller’s The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism includes a short discussion of sin’s cosmic consequences. Because of sin, there is…
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Following Jesus: The Best Gun Control Ever!
By Kurt Willems
The Central Valley of California is similar to most of rural America. It’s an area with lots of traditional folks, many who love God and desire to serve Christ in…
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From the Block to the Pulpit: Shot Callers in the Hood
A shot caller is “an individual in a gang or neighborhood who has a high status.” This person “calls the shots” but he doesn’t carry it out – he’s already…
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Civil Disobedience and Discipleship to Jesus
By John Dear
In 1993, Philip Berrigan, two friends and I walked on to the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base near Goldsboro, N.C., through thousands of soldiers, to one of the 75 F15e…
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The Fairy Tale of Gun Control
At the risk of giving my readers whiplash, I followed up a romantic short story on my blog with a brief commentary on the Newtown tragedy. Let me begin by…
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Did Jesus Ever Sin?
Most Christians’ first reaction to this question is to answer this with a resounding “Of course not!” After all, he was the Son of God; he had to be blameless…
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On Super Bowl Sunday, 3 in 10 Americans believe God will play a role in determing which team wins
By RLC Editor
Forget the poor and oppressed, is God actually concerned with…sports? A new survey released yesterday by the Public Religion Research Institute found that nearly 3 in 10 Americans (27%) believe…
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From Soldier to Pacifist
By Matt Young
I have been a soldier in the U.S. Army for a little over 2 years. I have been a soldier-at-heart, for the past 7 years. When I was 13, I…
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Cain’s Warning: Sandy Hook, Guns and Being Pro-Life
By Morf Morford
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must…
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Re-discovering Christianity as a Movement — from the streets of Bangkok
By Matt Wilson
Editor’s Note: These are Matt Wilson’s reflections from the first , in Bangkok. When it comes to being a Christian I’ve got my doubts about lots of things, but I’m…
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“That’s the Kingdom. I Want In.”
I was sitting in church, my second year of seminary, when I noticed a woman entering at the back of the sanctuary. She was accompanied by a young man in…
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Christian Utopia and the Body Politic
By Greg Dill
American Christians have for centuries envisioned a Christian utopia in which their society is governed by Christian officials with Christian laws and morality in place. After all, this is what…
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I Hate Loving Mark Driscoll
Rev. Mark Driscoll, founder of Mars Hill church, has a true gift. Just when I think I’m making at least a modicum of progress toward tolerance – if not actual…
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Les Misérables: Valjean or Javert?
If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness. ~Monseigneur Bienvenu,…
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BBC Interviews Steve Chalke and I regarding Steve coming out in favor of committed, same-sex relationships
By Tony Campolo
Last week Steve Chalke, the “Billy Graham of the UK, ” and my close friend, came out in support of committed, faithful, same-sex relationships. I wrote about my reaction to…
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A Dialogue on What it Means to be Pro-Life
SHANE CLAIBORNE: One of the most important issues of our day is the need for a consistent pro-life ethic. Catholics and evangelicals and all sorts of folks have begun to…
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Has Roe Been Good For Women?
By Kristen Day
This week, Roe v. Wade turns 40. The social and political effects of this decision—which struck down state restrictions on abortion—have been profound, but have they helped women? Four decades…
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Praying for a Holistic Food Movement in the Household of God
By Jeremy John
To live, we must daily break the body and shed the blood of creation. The point is, when we do this knowingly, lovingly, skillfully, reverently, is is a sacrament; when…
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And God said, ‘Let there be Guns’
By Morf Morford
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that…
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I’m not that different from Manti Te’o
By RLC Editor
I’m only a few years older than Manti Te’o. When the push notification hit my phone a few days ago I was stunned. How could such a hoax transpire? Major…
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How do we Pray for the Troops?
After visiting another church while away on vacation, one of the youth in the congregation I serve spoke to me about the experience. “The differences were interesting, ” he said.…
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My Fascination with the Amish Mafia
Three nights ago, I awoke to four words that portend nothing good in the family’s future. They came from sweet little Zoe, who stood by the side of my bed,…
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Hollywood Films: The March of the Beast
By Morf Morford
A near constant theme of Hollywood films is the monster, system or mechanism that goes out of control. A parallel theme is that of an individual, almost always a marginalized…
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The Real Francis Schaeffer
I wrote about the real Francis Schaeffer in my memoir Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to…
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You Can Be Pro-Choice Politically and Be A Pro-Life Advocate In Your Community
To say that in the religious community abortion rights is a hot button issue would be an understatement. We have seen opponents and proponents of a woman’s right to choose…
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Do You Hear the People Sing? M.L. King & Les Misérables’ case for a Socialism of Grace
If the latest Billboard album chart is anything to go by, the answer to Victor Hugo’s question “Do you hear the people sing”? is a resounding “Yes!” as the soundtrack…
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Steve Chalke Drops the Bomb in Support of Committed, Faithful, Same-Sex Relationships
By Tony Campolo
If you haven’t already picked up the news via the internet, let me tell you that Steve Chalke, one of the most prominent preachers in the United Kingdom, and an…
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The Ugly Beauty of the Kingdom of God
By Kurt Willems
Much in the world is ugly. Ugliness manifests itself in ways that we hope never to even imagine. Each day it confronts us when we least expect it. Depending on…
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Is Evangelicalism Headed for a Split?
By Tony Campolo
When the Red Letter Christian movement got underway, there was a sense that the Evangelical community, in general, had become overly focused on the theological issues raised in the Pauline…
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3rd Anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake…Remembering with Hope
By Kent Annan
Three years after the earthquake, our hearts break still, For those whose wounds of loss won’t heal, For those who need far more than just recovery. Together: We stand with…
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An Interview with former Christian punk rocker Ric Alba
Ric Alba is a legend to fans of 1980s alternative/punk/hardcore Christian music. He played bass on Undercover’s eponymous debut album, then went on to play with the Altar Boys. He…
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The Evangelical Reaction to Louie Giglio's 'Change of Plans'
Yesterday the internet exploded with Louie Giglio’s ‘change of plans‘ as he respectfully withdrew his acceptance to lead the benediction at the President’s Inauguration on January 21. ThinkProgress and others demanded…
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Daring to Call it Idolatry: Nationalism in Worship
Several years ago a young bright couple began to attend the church I serve. As I got to know them, I learned that she had been sent to Eastern Europe…
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Valjean and Javert: The Two Christianities of Les Miserables
***Spoiler alert: this post presumes that you know the storyline of ‘Les Mis.’*** After watching “Les Miserables” in the theater, I wanted to stand up at the end and shout,…
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People Cutting for Bieber: How Did We Get Here?
The ever-reliable and scrupulous news outlet TMZ recently publicized a photo featuring Justin Bieber with what could or could not be something resembling a hand-rolled cigarette or miniature cigar in…
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The Nationalistic Corruption of Worship in America
I recall years ago on a Sunday when I was on vacation doing what I normally would do at such times: I went to visit another church in the community.…
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God's Rope-A-Dope
By Tony Campolo
I was going over N.T. Wright’s writings on the atonement, and he points out that the penal substitutionary doctrine of the atonement is only one of the many theories that…
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Discovering Rural India
By Graeme Esau
I recently wrote about my experience in starting a non-profit organization dedicated to poverty alleviation. That blog post described the why and a bit of the how of thisvillage, but…
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Celibate Gay Bishops Permitted in Civil Partnerships in the Church of England
By Andrew Marin
In what became public Friday, The Church of England is now allowing for gay clergy in civil partnerships to become Bishops. The only caveat is that they have to remain celibate…
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Nonviolence for White People
Sometime in the mid-60′s, when America’s black-led freedom movement was at the center of daily news, a white man asked Malcolm X why he did not accept and teach the…
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Charging into 2013 with the Saints
As we roll into a new year, not only are there fireworks but there is a finale of saints and holy days that are recognized by Christians around the world…
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Women in the Holy Land — Just Like Me
By Lynne Hybels
Editor’s Note: This piece by Lynne Hybels is part of the conversation on December’s Theme – Bethlehem: Then & Now During the Balkan war of the early 90s I traveled…
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13 Hopes for 2013
Each year I remix some of my hopes and dreams for the New Year, bringing some from last year and adding a few new ones. Here’s the latest remix: Do…
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Why Worship Without Justice Dishonors God
Isaiah 1:10-20 is a sobering prophetic passage in which God reams out the Israelites for thinking that they can honor Him while mistreating the most vulnerable of His people. We…
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Christianity: Philosophy or Religion?
Short answer: Yes. It’s both. Now, if you’d consider a little more detail… Conservative pundit Bill O’Reilly (AKA “Papa Bear” if you’re Stephen Colbert) really stepped in the rhetorical poop…
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Earn and Fully Live the 'Truth' this New Year
By Morf Morford
“Facts are stubborn things.” – John Adams “Or just some human sleep.” – Robert Frost We use words as if we knew what they fully meant. And perhaps we do,…
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The Best of 2012
By RLC Editor
As Red Letter turns the page on 2012 we look back at the best pieces from redletterchristians.org: Most read: Seven Reasons Why Young Adults Quit Church – by: Christian Piatt…
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The Rage of Moloch – An Old Testament god thriving on our children
By Morf Morford
Filth! Ugliness! Ashcans and unobtainable dollars! Children screaming under the stairways! Boys sobbing in armies! Old men weeping in the parks! Moloch the incomprehensible prison! Moloch the crossbone soulless jailhouse…
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Death, Violence and America: Is God the Answer or the Problem?
Whenever there is a tragedy in America you can count on some politically saturated Christian leaders to rush in to make stupid statements. Certainly it has happened again with the…
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The Challenge of the Manger in Bethlehem
From opulent shopping malls in the Unites States to corners of crumbling adobe houses in rural Central America, the nativity scene surrounds us during this time of year. The manger…
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What Would Jesus Say to the NRA?
What does the birth of the baby Jesus 2000 years ago have to offer the violent, troubled world we live in? Or what would Jesus say to the NRA? I…
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Singing Mary's Song
Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55) is an expression of great faith and humble gratitude. It is the outpouring of a soul that has reflected deeply on the significance of the wondrous…
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Republicans "Own" Every Child Killed by a Gun and their Weeping Parents
Add blind support for 30-round ammunition clips, military assault rifles and ownership of semiautomatic weapons, no-background-check gun shows and “right to carry” laws — including the right to carry in…
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Incarnation – Can Anything Good Come from a Crisis Pregnancy?
By Morf Morford
God in the flesh, Christ incarnate; we use these words as if we had the slightest clue what they might mean. But even when I look in a mirror, I…
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Goodbye Santa! Hello St. Nick! Or, how many slaves work for you?
By Marty Troyer
On December 18, 1865 slavery was officially abolished with the passing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to the United States. Hallelujah and Praise God! A decision – though…
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Sandy Hook and the Tearing Asunder of Evangelical Christianity
Is it just me, or is the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting doing more to point out the great rift within evangelicalism than the publication of any Rob Bell book?…
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VIDEO: Shane's Trip to Afghanistan
By RLC Editor
Shane Claiborne recounts his recent trip to Afghanistan to meet the Afghan Peace Volunteers. Thanks to Shane’s friend Dan for producing this powerful slideshow with pics from the trip and…
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Rev. Richard Land: Greatest Commandment Justifies Deadly Force
I know this sounds strange, but my feelings about guns is pretty similar to how I feel about cigarettes. On the one hand, I can’t stand either one, and I’m…
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What Happens When One Person Cares
Last month, spurred by a post written by my brother Jim, I posted an article called “Does Government Assistance Discourage Private Charity, ” which elicited quite a bit of discussion.…
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Stay In or Stay Out! Is America Suspicious of Outsiders?
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my…
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![James Dobson: "I think He [God] has allowed judgment to fall upon us"](https://redletterchristians.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/james-dobson2.jpg)
James Dobson: "I think He [God] has allowed judgment to fall upon us"
By RLC Editor
On Tuesday, Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, took to the airwaves on his radio program, Family Talk, to discuss the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary…
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FBI Report: Hate Crimes Against Gays Outnumber those Against Religion
This week a popular Christian magazine picked up on the recently released annual hate crime statistics report for 2011 from the FBI, noting that for the first time, hate crimes against…
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Five Children’s Questions About the Sandy Hook Tragedy
I’ve seen plenty of articles responding to the shooting in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Some are angry, some pastoral, still others, prophetic in their call for change in various forms. I…
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The Grammar of Gun Control
By Morf Morford
One of the truisms of communicating is that how something is said can be more important that what is said. One of the problems with our national conversation about guns…
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Bullshit National Grieving
By Kent Annan
A resounding gong, a clanging cymbal, bullshit: that is what this all-too-familiar national liturgy of grief is when it’s acted out once again without having taken the available steps to…
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Mass Killing is our Idea of Patriotism
The in a small school against OUR six-year-olds perfectly reflects the nature of our violent retributive society. Mass killing is the new American “normal.” In fact it’s our idea of…
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The God who cries when children die
By Kurt Willems
“The history of our world is the history of our suffering together. Every act of evil extracts a tear from God, every plunge into anguish extracts a sob from God.…
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I Found Peace in Kabul
Afghanistan is one of the most desperate, beat up places in the world. Forbes magazine has called it the most dangerous nation on earth. Over 30 years of war have…
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THIS JUST IN… Shane cuts his hair and heads to Afghanistan
By RLC Editor
For several months, Shane has been preparing for a possible delegation to Kabul, Afghanistan. There is a spectacular peace movement brewing in Afghanistan, and they invited Shane to visit with…
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The Answer to Our Never Ending Commitment Issues: Are You In or Are You Out?
More and more lately I’m coming to realize the value of this question. And the value of the answer. I think for a long time the question scared me, because…
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Christian Rhetoric in Understanding Racism
Christianity is filled with helpful ways of understanding modern racism. The way in which Christians view the world helps us understand our individual roles within a larger system of racial injustice. Yet the Gospel…
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BREAKING: Mormon Church Introduces Site on "Same Sex Attraction"
By RLC Editor
Earlier today the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched a new website aimed at fostering a discussion on same-sex attraction. Mormonsandgays.org encourages members of the Mormon church to…
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Wayne Made Flesh…on Wednesdays
I see Wayne pretty much every Wednesday. I know I see him on Wednesdays because four or five times every Wednesday morning he asks me what day it is, and…
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Big Government/Small Government: Is Size a Real Faith Issue?
Is the size of government a faith issue? It is certainly a perennial political issue and the current discussions about the federal budget deficit and the “fiscal cliff” have pushed…
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Why Women are the Key to the Church’s Future
I’ll preface this piece my saying I know I am making some broad generalizations based on gender, and that there are always exceptions to every trend. But despite that, I…
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Bethlehem: Then and Now
“O little town of Bethlehem” is one of the most famous Christmas Hymns. Bethlehem has become almost a mythological place: Children imagine it with a few “huts, ” a few…
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Are We Better Than Them?
By Kerry Dixon
The train into London has just been cancelled because someone has thrown themselves under a train from a footbridge just outside the station. Annoyed at having his Saturday plans ruined,…
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Why this Republican Voted for Obama But Is Not (Yet) a Democrat
Full disclosure: I am 60, a white, male, evangelical minister working at a city rescue mission after 30 years in the pastorate, and a lifelong Republican moderate who has often…
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The Dangers of Evangelism
I understand the basis of evangelism. There are lots of scriptural bases for doing it: making disciples of all nations, expanding our territory, and so on. Also, there’s a great…
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Can Israel love its enemies in Gaza and keep its people safe?
Many of my fellow Christians see Jesus’ command to “love our enemies” as an impossible moral standard that we are exempted from fulfilling by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.…
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Eat the Turkey, not each other: How to survive Thanksgiving dinner
By Marty Troyer
There’s more to look forward to this Thanksgiving than a second slice of pecan pie when you’re [finally] alone in the kitchen. For starters, every road in Texas is offic…
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This is Pure — A Tax Collector and Sinner who shouldn't be Here
News of the rabbi who taught a radical redemption was spreading well beyond the religious community. The common people followed him in hoards, hoping to hear his healing teaching –…
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Murder in Our Hearts
By Morf Morford
If there is anything Christians should never need a reminder of, it is how much God hates murder – and how close it is to each one of us. We…
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Church of England Decision Day on Women Bishops
By Tony Campolo
UPDATE: Church of England Votes Not to Introduce Female Bishops – My Thoughts Below The vote fo WORK FROM NO HOME r women Bishops in the Church of England has…
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Sexual Orientation: It’s Not a Sin
By Kathy Vestal
North Carolina Baptist State Convention, Nov. 2006: Voted to throw out any church that advocated homosexuality in any way, even knowingly having a gay person in membership. Other denominations have…
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A Theology of Capitalism: Entrepreneurs vs. Money-changers
There are two different stories people tell about capitalism. Those who describe capitalism favorably say that it is the story of how the innovation and creativity of entrepreneurs are unleashed…
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Jesus Times Two: "Jesus Beck" or "Jesus the Christ"
By Kathy Vestal
We are a culture that loves the name of Jesus. Say the name, and it sells products. Post the name, and it’s shared widely on Facebook. “Praise the name of Jesus,…