|
"We want the church to look like a mall. We want you to come in here and say, 'Dude, where's the cinema?'"
Lee McFarland, pastor of Radiant Church in Surprise, Arizona, which draws 5,000 to its services weekly.
"This is a woman who understands grace."
Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren, on Atlanta hostage Ashley Smith, who used Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life to help persuade murder suspect Brian Nichols to let her go. Warren says he and Smith "talk every day about verses of the Bible and pray together."
"It's become a testimonial for an evangelical Christian book and an endorsement of the theology embraced in the bookand that leaves me feeling alienated from what should be an inspiring tale of human transcendence."
Jill Porter, columnist with the Philadelphia Daily News, lamenting that Smith's story is "a symbol of the righteousness of evangelical Christianity."
"I do not want to end up with an American style of politics, with us going out there beating our chest about our faith. Politics and religionit is not that they do not have a lot in common, but if [religion] ends up being used in the political process, I think that is a bit unhealthy."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, addressing leaders of religious and community organizations in London.
Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.
Our digital archives are a work in progress. Let us know if corrections need to be made.
Annual & Monthly subscriptions available.
- Print & Digital Issues of CT magazine
- Complete access to every article on ChristianityToday.com
- Unlimited access to 65+ years of CT’s online archives
- Member-only special issues
- Learn more
More from this Issue
Read These Next
- TrendingAmerican Christians Should Stand with Israel under AttackWhile we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
- From the MagazineFractured Are the PeacemakersA Christian reconciliation group in Israel and Palestine warned that war would come. Now the war threatens their relevance.españolالعربيةFrançais
- Editor's PickEco-anxiety Is Crippling Gen Z. How Can We Move Forward?Christians can disciple each other toward action, prayer, and hope.