Redeeming the Culture?

FRONTLINE Volume 34 • Number 1 Many contemporary Christians propose that redeeming the culture is an important part of what Christ calls them to do. The authors of the following articles will examine that proposal. At the outset, a few observations are in order. First, no such thing as “culture” exists in the abstract. You…

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A Book Review of Scott Aniol’s Citizens and Exiles

Previously I had blogged (here and here) that ministry stability and progress require unity in vision, mission, philosophy, and doctrine. I believe that Scott Aniol’s book, Citizens and Exiles, provides clear direction for bringing about such unity. Much of the disunity that can be observed in the church today (whether in conservative evangelical circles or…

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Gambling What’s the Big Deal? [FrontLine preview]

FRONTLINE Volume 33 • Number 5 Five years ago the Supreme Court ruled that Congress could not prevent states from legalizing sports betting. Now thirty-five states and the District of Columbia allow it. Advertisements for sports-betting sites feature some of the most famous athletes and sports celebrities in the country. It is almost impossible to…

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Love Me, Love My Food

As a cross-cultural missionary, I have travelled to a lot of churches. I am usually there to present our burden to take part in what God is doing in a place far less-reached with the Gospel, as well as reporting on past and present ministry there. Churches often ask us to stand in the foyer…

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Navigating the Digital Age: Parenting in a Tech-Driven World

Over the past month, two different parents approached Carrie and I with admiration for our kids not having cell phones. They commended our unconventional approach and praised our parenting prowess. As the praises poured out on our parenting abilities, we eventually had to reveal the truth: our kids did have cell phones, we just have…

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African Christianity and Christian Culture

In Africa, particularly where black nationalist sentiments arise, it is not uncommon to hear the term “African Religion” thrown around in conversation. Similarly, half-formed sentiments are uttered about missionaries who replaced the harmonious earth-religion of the peaceful indigenous people with their foreign religion, so as to steal their land and subjugate them. The saddest irony…

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The Jesus Revolution?

The worldwide release of a new film entitled Jesus Revolution is set for today, February 24, 2023. The film is based on a book by the same title written by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA. The book and the subsequent movie tells the story of Laurie’s conversion during the so-called…

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Is Nothing Weird Anymore?

In 1991 The Addams Family movie was released and advertised with this slogan: “Weird is Relative.” I was leading a youth group at my church at the time, and I recall a teen telling me, “You know, when you think about it, that’s true: Weird IS relative.” I thought, “Well, yes, of course you can…

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Taking a Stand Against Canadian Law and Culture

If you follow the Shepherd’s Conference or John MacArthur’s ministry, you may be aware of an email circulated under the auspices of the Shepherd’s Conference called, “A Call to Pastors to Stand United on Biblical Sexual Morality.” In this letter, over John MacArthur’s signature, is a call to join with pastor James Coates and others…

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Review: Alcohol Explained

Alcohol Explained, by William Porter manufactured by Amazon.ca, Bolton, ON, n.d. William Porter is, by his own description, “a middle-aged lawyer” who gave up drinking after 25 years. On his website (Alcohol Explained) he says he began drinking and smoking at the age of 14, first giving up smoking and later giving up drinking. He…

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