Church Life

Quotation Marks

Recent comments about the belief in hell and naming yourself God

“Punishment from hell is vivid and clear-cut and apparently has more effect on behavior than the idea of heaven.”

Robert Barro, Harvard University economist, who found that countries where belief in hell is strong have a gross domestic product growth 0.5 percent higher than average.

“We’ll be standing on the promises of God.”

Bill Twaddell, pastor of Fairway Christian Church in Lady Lake, Florida, where congregants covered their new sanctuary floor with Bible verses before laying carpet.

“My first name, of course, would be I Am.”

Charles Haffey, who legally changed his name to “I Am Who I Am” after a judge rejected his efforts to change his name to God.

“It is quite inappropriate to refer to me, a mere man, as God. It is also disrespectful and dishonoring to God.”

Gary Ablett, former Australian football star and evangelical, nicknamed “God,” known for his troubled history with drugs and religious conversion. His football-playing relatives are called “son of God” and “nephew of God.”

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

Articles referenced above include:

Probing religion’s role in economic successThe Christian Science Monitor (Oct. 21, 2002)

God becomes Who I Am—BBC (Oct. 10, 2002)

See Christianity Today‘s Quotation Marks from January,February,March,April,May,June,July,August,September, October, and November.

Also in this issue

A. Teach English. Q. How do you take the good news to even the most unlikely places?

Cover Story

The Ultimate Language Lesson

When Pastors Plagiarize

Christianity Today Editorial

'Confessing' Christians Stick It Out

Robert P. Mills

Word Made Flesh

Richard A. Kauffman

Evangelicals Grow as Political Force

George Guilherme

Swindle Taints Nigerian Church

Obed Minchakpu

The 419 Fraud

Chuck Fager

Just War in Iraq

A Wry Debut Novel

Cindy Crosby

New Christian Allegory

Cindy Crosby

Shockingly Beautiful Prose

Cindy Crosby

Homespun Stories

Cindy Crosby

A Wounded Shepherd

Jeremy Lott

How to Survive Grief

Wendy Murray Zoba

The Real Gospel

Alister E. McGrath

Heightened Hostilities in Egypt

Jeff M. Sellers

Blinded by Pop Praise

News

Go Figure

Muslim Phobic No More

Christianity Today editorial

Good Samaritan tangled in red tape.

Elaine Ruth Fletcher

“India: Despised Dalits quit Hinduism, find new dignity in Christ.”

Manpreet Singh

Homosexuality: Reformed church in Toronto welcomes active gay leaders.

Stan Guthrie Carol Lowes

Fraud: Financial Warfare scam targets black churches.

Chuck Fager

"Human Rights: Activists celebrate as President signs Sudan Peace Act,"

Tim Callahan

New Sect: Weigh Down guru Gwen Shamblin's Remnant Fellowship grows.

John W. Kennedy

"Ears to Hear, Eyes to See"

John G. Stackhouse Jr

Three Temptations of Spiritual Formation

Evan Howard

"Violent Night, Holy Night"

Tim Stafford

Review

Celtic Music in a Christian Key

Amanda Bird

Wire Story

Prochoice activists take aim at Christian FDA candidate.

Religion News Service

View issue

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Kidnappings in Nigeria, Rep. Greene Resigns, Mamdani Meets Trump

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll

Persecution in Nigeria, Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns, Mamdani and Trump have a friendly meeting, and listeners give thanks.

Excerpt

You Know Them As Fantasy Writers. They Were Soldiers Too. 

Joseph Loconte

An excerpt from ‘The War for Middle-Earth: J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Confront the Gathering Storm, 1933–1945.’

Our Prayers Don’t Disappear into Thin Air

Bohye Kim

Why Scripture talks of our entreaties to God as rising like incense.

From Outer Space to Rome

In 1962, CT engaged friends and enemies in the Cold War and the Second Vatican Council.

May Cause a Spontaneous Outburst of Festive Joy

8 new Christmas albums for holiday parties, praise, and playlists.

Excerpt

Meet CT’s New President

The Bulletin with Nicole Martin and Walter Kim

Nicole Martin seeks to mend evangelical divides and uphold biblical truth.

The Christmas Cloud

Dave Harvey

Christmas feels decidedly unmerry when our emotions don’t align with truth.

Night Skies and Dark Paths

Scott James

God is our unwavering guide through incomprehensible darkness.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube