Quotation Marks | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Free E-mail Newsletters:

RSS Feed | More Feeds | RSS Help

Home > 2007 > November

Christianity Today, November, 2007 |

Quotation Marks

Comments on e-church, Mother Teresa, and other subjects.

Compiled by Ted Olsen | posted 10/24/2007 09:09AM

Related articles and links |

1 of 1

"I think God would be pleased with this. I don't think that God would want us to try to evangelize like Jesus did 2,000 years ago."
Grainger Browning Jr., pastor of the 10,000-member Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, Maryland., on increasing technology in worship services.
(Source: The Washington Post)

***

"I think her example … says, if you have doubts, keep quiet, don't use them to question dogma, challenge authority, open yourself up to new ways of thinking. Just keep kissing the rod."
Nation columnist Katha Politt, on Mother Teresa's dark night of the soul.
(Source: The Nation)

***

"Other noble religious traditions promise serenity, detachment from striving and release from the suffering of the world. Christianity, in contrast, teaches that grace is found in the worst of that suffering, and through a figure who despairs of God's presence in his parting words."
Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson, on Mother Teresa's dark night of the soul.
(Source: The Washington Post)

***

"I just am loving it. It's in newspapers around the world and every article starts with 'Emmy winner Kathy Griffin' and then the letters all just blur after that."
Kathy Griffin, whose Emmy Award acceptance speech, which mocked actors who thank Jesus, drew numerous protests.
(Source: Larry King Live)

***

"[More Amish] are realizing that the Great Commission is about going into the world and preaching the gospel and not just having your little community rules and regulations."
Steve Lapp, recently excommunicated by the Old Order Amish church for practicing a healing ministry. Amish leaders have reportedly banned large-group prayer meetings and Bible readings to limit evangelical influence.
(Source: Religion News Service)

Related Elsewhere:

Earlier Quotation Marks columns are available from the October 2007, September 2007, August 2007, July 2007, June 2007, May 2007, April 2007, March 2007, February 2007, January 2007, December 2006, and earlier issues of Christianity Today.

1 of 1

November 2007, Vol. 51, No. 11

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment

Reader Reviews are below

Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required.

Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.

If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.

Click here for international orders

2-for-1 Gifts!

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

John	Posted: October 24, 2007 1:24 PM

So much is wrong with Michael Gerson's remarks. First, he speaks of Jesus's suffering on the cross, which by the way was designed to be in our place, not for us to follow. "Grace" through human suffereing is no grace at all, it is pennance, the very thing Martin Luther rejected. Plus, Jesus came back, so his "parting words" were not of despair but of a challenge to preach to all nations. Third I know of no major religion, not even Buddhism, that promises "serenity" but instead an anchor to keep us grounded in the whirlwind that is life. Finally, while the Bible does not promise every day will be a picinic there are many passages that speak of God's confort and protection. The idea that life is a world of suffering is a Buddhist idea, not a Christian one.

Tami	Posted: October 30, 2007 7:28 PM

I found Michael Gerson's remarks honest... and uplifting. John, why argue with, or try to rationalize away, truth? Christians are to follow in the footsteps of Christ, and that will mean suffering for most Christians, while simultaneously meaning blessing for the sufferers--and those around them. I'm elated to follow the honest Son of God who did not fear speaking--and living--the truth. God's goodness is illuminated in part by the fact that His grace is found everywhere, even in suffering.