Author: Nathan Cherry
2 Ways the Church Makes Being a Christian Hard
Posted on April 12, 2018 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
Prior to the 19th century there was no such thing as an altar call. It might surprise many to know the church, even the American church, never used such a method. And yet, the American church experienced tremendous growth. But Finney wanted more. He wanted to see people saved immediately and sought to use the altar call (he called it the “anxious bench”) to create an emotional response from people. The unintended consequence, however, was to change the way Christians think about evangelism.
Toys R Us Partners with Organization That Killed Customers
Posted on April 11, 2018 in Money, Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
Toys R Us supported the Komen foundation. Komen actively partners with Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is actively killing the customer base of Toys R Us. Toys R Us says declining birth rates contributed to declining profits and, ultimately, to the end of their business.
The lesson here is simple, if kids are your customer base, don’t support – directly or indirectly – any organization that works to kill your customer base.
Why Guns Aren’t the Problem: A Response to Gun-Control Activists
Posted on April 5, 2018 in Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
In each of the examples above we place the blame where it belongs, on the person using the object. How is it we don’t do the same when discussing guns? It seems some in our culture want to place blame on anything other than the individual pulling the trigger. Somehow, a person that decides to start shooting other people is absolved of their responsibility for that decision and all responsibility is placed squarely in the hands of…the gun?
But we must take notice of an exception to this strange denial of responsibility. When someone commits an act of terror, we blame the person.
How Casino’s Create Government Dependent Gambling Addicts
Posted on April 3, 2018 in Money, Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
The typical arguments in favor of opening a casino range from improving state sponsored services like schools and hospitals to increasing funding for education. On the surface these sound like honorable goals for bringing a casino to a community that may otherwise be struggling. But, as the gambling watchdog group Stop Predatory Gambling makes clear, these goals are rarely realized:
An Unconventional Easter Story of Beauty
Posted on March 29, 2018 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
I was the rebel, running from God. I spit in God’s face and ran from His grace. I fought for my rights not knowing hell was waiting. And somewhere, on my road to self-discovery and liberation, it wasn’t a fair-skinned moral man that appeared and begged me to accept Him. It was a beaten, bloody, crucified Christ asking God to forgive me because I didn’t know what I was doing.
Americans are Financially Illiterate – and Maybe Insane
Posted on March 27, 2018 in Money by Nathan Cherry
But financial literacy is more than just knowing the tools and resources needed to be financially successful. Financial literacy includes understanding the “why” behind the financial goal. A writer for Bloomberg Finance recently told Financial Advisor IQ “Once you know why to do it there are resources that will show you how.” Maybe the “why” is more important than the “how.”
For example, accumulating funds that will be tax-free in retirement is a great idea. But the average American is not likely to put much priority on this without knowing why it’s important.
Planned Parenthood is Really Mad and Donald Trump…Again!
Posted on March 22, 2018 in Life, Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
Is it any wonder people feel free to walk into a school and start shooting? Are we really surprised that people have no trouble filming their abuse of the elderly for social media? Can we really be shocked that a person would drive a car through a crowded parade? If human life is not valuable simply because it exists, it is easy to rationalize the killing of anyone. If I get to decide what constitutes life, and what life is valuable, it stands to reason that conflicting definitions of life and value will compete with one another.
The Lottery: Government Sanctioned Gambling Preying on the Poor
Posted on March 21, 2018 in Money, Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
The lottery, then, is nothing less than another tax enacted by the government on (sometimes) unsuspecting people. And though the lottery is a voluntary tax, it is often pushed by media hype as the growing jackpot becomes a focal point of the news. And though studies have long-shown the financial damage caused by the lottery to lower-income people, this tax doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. The government is not likely to end such a large revenue stream. So the preying goes on.
Why Haven’t We Made Porn Illegal Yet?
Posted on March 14, 2018 in Marriage, Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
Consider for a moment why we don’t invite people to our house to watch us engage in sexual activity. When is the last time your friend, neighbor, or co-worker said “Hey, how about stopping over tonight to watch me and the wife have sex.”? Such an invitation would be met with shock, disgust, and a genuine concern for the well-being of the other person.
Two Legal Cases Highlight the Right to Discriminate and Human Productivity
Posted on March 13, 2018 in Life, Public Policy, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
A recent article shares the case of Cathy Miller, the owner of a California baker called Tastries Bakery. Miller was asked to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding ceremony but declined based on her religious convictions. A California judge ruled in favor of Miller, saying that “to force such compliance would do violence to the essentials of Free Speech.”