Can Christians Support a National Travel Ban?
Posted on July 26, 2017 in Public Policy, Theology by Nathan Cherry
Over the 4th of July holiday, my church stood along the parade route of our suburban Baltimore town. Thousands would line the street and watch the parade, many sitting in the front yard of our church. Out church decided to set up a canopy and hand out free hot dogs, chips, and water. We wanted to interact with our community and allow God to use our service as He saw fit.
One woman that sat in our front yard emigrated to the U.S. from a Middle Eastern country. It was a hot day, but she wore a long dress and her head was fully covered. It was clear to all that she is a Muslim. A Muslim sitting in a Baptist Church yard to watch a 4th of July parade. We interacted with her and treated her like the neighbor she is and thanked her for joining us.
The very next day, on July 5th, the following headline came across my news feed:
“Most American voters support limited travel ban: poll”
Less than 24 hours after hearing a Muslim from a Middle-Eastern country speak about how kind Americans are and how thankful she is to be here, I read about how a majority of Americans now support some form of travel ban. The article states:
“The Politico-Morning Consult poll found 37 percent of voters said they ‘strongly supported’ the new U.S. State Department guidelines that would deny visas to citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen who do not have close relatives in the United States. Another 23 percent of voters said they ‘somewhat support’ the guidelines.”
My first thought was, “how can Christians think biblically about this issue?” Continue reading…
How Many “Gospels” Have You Heard?
Posted on July 19, 2017 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
I listened to a podcast recently that referenced the “gospel of acceptance.” Ever since then I’ve been thinking about just how many “gospels” there really are.
We live in a culture where absolutely everyone has religious convictions. And I mean, everyone. There is not a single person alive today that is not adhering to some sort of religious views.
For some it’s the religion of sports and each season brings new highs and lows. But one thing is certain, not a single game will be missed. (Sadly, many well-meaning Christian parents place kids’ sports above anything else.)
For others the religion of science is king. If it can be independently verified with empirical evidence then it can be trusted and believed. Everything else is nonsense.
Many are trapped in the religion of consumerism. Adherents to this doctrine seek to consume as much information, entertainment, and pleasure as possible. It’s not merely about doing what feels good; it’s about doing what feels right. And if that “truth” changes, their “theology” changes too.
In a recent podcast I heard the speaker reference “the gospel of acceptance” and explain that some people are simply seeking a gospel in which they feel accepted. With so much division in our culture it’s easy to see how people could long for acceptance and place acceptance so high on their priority list that it becomes, essentially, a gospel. Continue reading…
New Study Reveals Stark Difference Between Pro-Life and Pro-Abortion Families
Posted on July 18, 2017 in Life by Nathan Cherry
Wait until you read the results of this “shocking” new study concerning the families of pro-life and pro-abortion advocates.
I will never forget the day my wife told me we were having another child. I can remember every detail like it was yesterday and it plays in my mind like a slow-mo highlight reel.
A few days prior we had a discussion about our “plan” for having kids. We determined that it would be best to wait up to 3 years before having another child so our kids would be 3 years apart and spaced out in a way we thought best. After the discussion we decided we would wait another year before trying to have our next child.
The plan was good. It took into account a number of factors, including our income, size of our current house, career considerations. It was logical and made sense to wait. I’m sure many of you can relate as you have probably had similar discussions.
Then one day she came walking down the stairs to my office and laid a wrench on my desk as I was working. I looked up, a little puzzled, and asked if something was leaking ad needed fixed. She smiled and simply said, “there’s a wrench in our plan.” Continue reading…
Will the Supreme Court Force the Baker to Bake a Cake?
Posted on July 13, 2017 in Religious Freedom, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
The Supreme Court has been surprising everyone in recent weeks and shows no signs of slowing down.
In late June the Supreme Court issued a religious freedom ruling that took many by surprise. The case involved Trinity Lutheran School and the state of Missouri. The school applied for a state reimbursement grant for their playground. The state denied the school, citing the establishment clause to the Constitution. The state said that it would not “support religion” by awarding the grant to the school because it is owned and operated by a church. The school responded that the school is not open only to church members and that many of their students are not members of the church. The school also said that the playground is open to the community and not open solely during school hours. The state continued to deny the school the grant.
The school then enlisted the help of Alliance Defending Freedom in bringing a religious discrimination case against the state. The case made its way to the Supreme Court where, in what some call a surprise ruling, the court ruled in favor of the school.
The Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling is important for several reasons. But, it must be noted that while the addition of Justice Neil Gorsuch was welcomed in this case, it appears that the court would have sided with the school without the vote of Gorsuch. Only justices Ruth Bader-Ginsburg and Sonya Sotomayor ruled against the school. This means justices Steven Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Anthony Kennedy sided with the conservative justices in ruling in favor of the school. That’s important.
In the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: Continue reading…
Canada Says Bestiality is Ok! Is that Ok?
Posted on July 11, 2017 in Public Policy, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
What do you get when you have no moral foundation for sexuality? A country that finds sex acts with animals acceptable.
Canada has ruled that sexual acts with animals are legal providing there is no penetration involved. This ruling was handed down by the Canadian Supreme Court after a convicted sexual predator, found guilty of assaulting his stepdaughters, appealed the charge and conviction of bestiality.
I really have no intention of going into the lurid details of this court case. But I do want to discuss the moral, cultural, and biblical implications of this case and how Christians should think about such issues.
From a cultural perspective, a single statement by the director of Animal Justice was very interesting and should be carefully considered. After the Supreme Court ruling, Camille Labchuk made the following comment:
“As of today, Canadian law gives animal abusers license to use animals for their own sexual gratification. This is completely unacceptable, contrary to societal expectations, and cannot be allowed to continue.” Continue reading…
Does Having A Monthly Menstrual Cycle Make You Less of a Man?
Posted on July 6, 2017 in Sexuality, Theology by Nathan Cherry
One transgender person wants everyone to know that a menstrual cycle does not take away from his manliness.
Imagine you are in a schoolroom anywhere in the country. You are teaching biology to inquisitive young mind. You are explaining the difference between men and women. You talk about the physical differences, including muscle mass, the “Adam’s Apple” only men have, and the fact that women store more fat than men (it’s a childbirth thing). You then talk about how only women have a uterus and can give birth. It’s a fairly normal conversation in which you share biological facts.
A hand goes up and one young pupil asks the question, “Can a man have a period?”
What do you do?
Well, most of us would find this to be an easy question to answer. We give the scientifically accurate answer: no.
That’s how the scene would play out if you care about those pesky scientific facts and tell the truth about the difference between men and women. But, as we all know, we live in a culture that is seeking to blur those lines beyond rational possibility. To that end, a young woman in the UK recently shared that despite having her period she is no less a man? Continue reading…
LGBT Group Can’t Handle St. Louis Cardinals Inviting Christian to Speak at Christian Family Day
Posted on July 5, 2017 in Religious Freedom, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
Comments by LGBT activists prove that diversity and inclusion are just words.
It seems LGBT activists are always talking about diversity and inclusion. They want everyone to feel welcomed, accepted, and supported. Whether you are male and identify as female, or you are attracted to both sexes, or you just have questions about your gender and sexuality; everyone is welcome.
Well, everyone except Christians.
The LGBT pride organization Pride St. Louis is crying “foul” over the decision of the St. Louis Cardinals to host former player Lance Berkman for their annual Christian family Day. The group says that Berkman, an outspoken Christian, made comments they don’t like and therefore, should not be allowed to speak.
The issue started when Berkman voiced his opposition to a Houston city ordinance that would allow transgender people to use whatever bathroom they wish, regardless of their biological gender. Berkman shared his concern by stating the position held by a majority of Christians, and even many non-Christians in the U.S. He said: Continue reading…
Are Taxes Immoral? Should Christians Pay Taxes?
Posted on June 28, 2017 in Money, Public Policy, Theology by Nathan Cherry
This is the first post on a subject that I have never given serious thought to. But in light of some recent conversations I wanted to address the issue from, I believe, a Christian perspective.
The question that arose in conversation is whether taxes are appropriate or whether they are theft. Some subsequent conversation is whether Christians should stand against taxes and oppose any form of taxation or dutifully pay our taxes.
There’s one perspective that says: the Bible says theft is sin, taxes are theft, and therefore taxes are sinful.
Though this is a simplification of the position, it is a good summary and starting point for the discussion. This position says that God never ordains taxes and never gives the government authority to impose taxes. Because all authority is derived from God and God never gives explicit authority to impose taxes, taxation is theft. And since theft is a violation of God’s moral law (10 Commandments), any government imposition of taxes is theft and should be opposed.
The questions we have to ask are, “are taxes morally appropriate for the government to levy?” This question is followed closely by “should Christians pay taxes?” Continue reading…
Will Christians Continue to Support Bernie Sanders After His Attack on Faith?
Posted on June 27, 2017 in Public Policy, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
Article VI of the Constitution: “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
Question: what happens when a sitting U.S. Senator appears to give a “religious test” to a candidate for public office?
Surprisingly, even in this strange political climate we live in today, it causes an uproar, and outrage. And what is exactly what happened when Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders attacked the Christian faith of Russell Vought during his hearing to become the deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Let me set the stage for you.
Vought is an evangelical Christian. As such he dares to hold the audacious view that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Though this is the “enlightened” 21st century, Vought is so “narrow-minded” and “intolerant” as to believe what the Bible says about salvation and what 2000 years of Christians have continued to believe: Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. He even made this mind-blowing statement:
“Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned.”
Can you believe this man would dare assert that Muslims refusing to acknowledge that Jesus is divine and a co-equal part of the Trinity are not, in fact, redeemed and currently stand condemned? Who does he think he is? He acts as if his “theology” is the truth and all others are wrong. He acts as if the Bible and the historic, evangelic Christian faith are truth and anyone not adhering to these doctrines are wrong, condemned even! Continue reading…
Should a Christian School Refuse to let a Pregnant Student Take Part in Graduation? Maybe?
Posted on June 21, 2017 in Life by Nathan Cherry
A Christian school is under fire from abortion advocates and pro-life advocates alike for refusing to allow a pregnant teen to walk in the school graduation. Is that fair?
Maddi Runkles is graduating from high school this year. In fact, at the time of this posting she has already graduated. Unlike her classmates, Maddi did not participate in the commencement ceremony at her private Christian school. The school, where her father was previously the president of the board of directors, decided not to allow Maddi to walk and participate in the school’s graduation ceremony.
The reason Maddi has been prevented from taking part in the school’s graduation ceremony is because she is pregnant. The school has a covenant that prohibits students from being sexually active before marriage. The school said that since Maddi broke the covenant, she is not eligible to walk in the ceremony.
Abortion advocates have blasted the school for this decision, saying the school pretends to be pro-life, but then punishes one of their own that chooses not to abort. The school is being accused of hypocrisy. Continue reading…