News

Quotation Marks

Recent comments from Oprah Winfrey, Jim Wallis, and others that have stirred the pot.

“We promise to make Wednesday a day of esteem for our Lord.”Peter Bagley, pastor of United Protestant Church in Morgan Park, Minnesota, on moving Sunday morning worship to Wednesday nights during the summer, when attendance is about half that of winter. Source: Duluth News Tribune

“People often ask me what is the secret to the success of this show …. I non-jokingly say, ‘My team and Jesus,’ because nothing but the hand of God has made this possible for me.”Oprah Winfrey, on the last day of her eponymous show’s 25-year run. Source: The Oprah Winfrey Show

“[T]hese debates have not been at the core of our calling … [so] we chose not to become involved in the controversy that such a major ad campaign could entail.”Jim Wallis, explaining why Sojourners rejected an ad from the gay rights group Believe Out Loud. The decision was severely criticized by many on the Left. Source: Sojourners

“To the extent that the alleged statements yet convey any defamatory meaning, it is a pronouncement of the moral judgment of a pastor upon the conduct of a church member.”Judge Jack M. Battaglia of New York, dismissing a defamation lawsuit brought by a woman against her pastor. The pastor had called the woman a “whore” for renting a room to his daughter and a married man with whom she was living. Source: Religion Clause

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Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

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Sarah Pulliam Bailey

My Top 5 Books On Heaven

Paul Enns

Jesus: Democratic King

John Witte Jr.

Joy in the Midst of Terror

Interview by Joe Carter

Back to the Garden

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City Parish: An Australian Builds NYC Networks

Mark Moring

The Power and the Glamour

The Paul We Think We Know

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Youth Movement: Finns Seek Renewal

Ruth Moon

Review

Picturing Paradise: A Review of 'Heaven in the American Imagination'

Bill Walker

Dying Decisions: Should Relatives Intervene?

Dennis Sullivan, Rob Moll, and Robert Orr

A Second-Coming Christian

Harry Potter Is Here to Stay

John Granger

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A Liberating Woman: A Reflection on the Founder of Christians for Biblical Equality

Elaine Storkey

Review

Common Grace and Amazing Grace: A Review of David Brooks's 'The Social Animal'

Books to Note

Trevin Wax

India's Grassroots Revival

Tim Stafford

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Syria's Christians Back Assad

Dale Gavlak in Amman, Jordan, and Beirut, Lebanon, and Timothy C. Morgan

Readers Write

Excerpt

God Behaving Badly

David T. Lamb

Q & A: Bishop Kallistos Ware on the Fullness and the Center

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Go Figure

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Ministerial Murkiness: Biggest Religion Case in 20 Years?

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A Change of Focus

Family Talk, Family Business

Sarah Pulliam Bailey

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Christian President Retains Office, Pastor Kidnapped in Mexico, & Other News

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Passages

YouVersion's Volunteer Army

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Should Marital Infidelity Disqualify a Candidate from Office?

Compiled by Ruth Moon

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Multi-Site Churches Go Interstate

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Harold Camping Is (Sort of) Right

A Christianity Today Editorial

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The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

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Reframing hunger as a justice issue, not charity.

Which Topics Are Off Limits at Your Dinner Table?

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Are the Public Schools Falling Apart?

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Songwriting might be the community-building project your church needs right now.

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Believers are denouncing historical fraternities and sororities that have been beacons of progress.

Public Theology Project

The Church Sexual Abuse Crisis Should Prepare Us for the Epstein Files

The path to justifying predatory behavior often follows the same seven steps. We can respond differently.

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