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

'Confessing' Christians Stick It Out

Word Made Flesh

Evangelicals Grow as Political Force

Swindle Taints Nigerian Church

The 419 Fraud

Just War in Iraq

A Wry Debut Novel

New Christian Allegory

Shockingly Beautiful Prose

Homespun Stories

A Wounded Shepherd

How to Survive Grief

The Real Gospel

Heightened Hostilities in Egypt

Blinded by Pop Praise

News

Go Figure

Muslim Phobic No More

Good Samaritan tangled in red tape.

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

Homosexuality: Reformed church in Toronto welcomes active gay leaders.

Fraud: Financial Warfare scam targets black churches.

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

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

"Ears to Hear, Eyes to See"

Three Temptations of Spiritual Formation

"Violent Night, Holy Night"

Review

Celtic Music in a Christian Key

Wire Story

Prochoice activists take aim at Christian FDA candidate.

View issue

Our Latest

News

Space Force Hymn Lifts Prayer to the Heavens

Southern Baptist chaplain says God prompted him to write song for the newest branch of the US military. 

Beijing, Let My Daughter Come Home

Power Without Integrity Destroys Us

Evangelicals helped elect Trump. Can evangelicals also hold him accountable?

The Bulletin

Sultan of Swing

The Bulletin addresses the election of Donald Trump.

What Another Trump Presidency Means To Evangelicals Around the World

Christian leaders from Nepal to Turkey greet the US election results with joy, grief, and indifference.

Our Faith’s Future Depends on Discipleship

The Lausanne Movement’s State of the Great Commission report details where and how Christianity is growing. 

News

Trump’s Promised Mass Deportations Put Immigrant Churches on Edge

Some of the president-elect’s proposals seem unlikely, but he has threatened to remove millions of both undocumented and legal immigrants.

God Is Faithful in Triumph and Despair

I voted for Kamala Harris and mourn her loss. But I want to keep politics in its proper place, subordinate to Jesus.

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