Culture and Context

Viewpoints and commentary on our contemporary culture

Columnist Nathan Aaseng

Agents of Hell?

by Nathan Aaseng

Sometimes it seems as though the modern translation of John 3:17 is: "God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, because that's something the church can do so much better."

While Jesus came to save the lost, heal the sick, give hope for the poor, and bring new life to all creation, so many Christians act as though the great mission of the church is to identify, root out, shun, and condemn as many people as possible. Joyfully and in Christian love, of course. At the rate and enthusiasm with which pastors and congregations condemn people, it would make an unbiased observer suspect they are agents of hell who get a 10% commission on every soul they can toss in there.

 

Charting the Culture

A review: Banned Questions about Jesus

by Andy Jolivette

Self-proclaimed "God nerd" Christian Piatt and his crew of witty theologians are back with a new edition in the Banned Questions Series (Chalice Press).

Like the previously released Banned Questions about the Bible, Banned Questions about Jesus (2011) is a collection of questions ranging from clever to controversial. The responses come from a diverse cast of scholars, each of whom weaves their unique expertise and personality into the task of tackling difficult questions about God's son.

 

Our Take

Preacher or False Prophet?

by Christian Piatt

My first job in a church was as a music minister.

I loved the senior pastor I served with, as did the congregation we faced every Sunday morning. He taught me a lot about worship, preaching and how to connect with people.

 

Dear Working Preacher

Two Kinds of People

by David Lose

Dear Working Preacher,

I've got a radically simple outline for your sermon this week, and it can summed up in just one sentence: There are two kinds of people in the world....

Okay, quick digression. Every time I start a sentence with, "There are two kinds of people," I think of Mark Twain, who said, "There are two kinds of people in the world, people who classify the world into two kinds of people, and people who don't." (I also think of my son, who was the first to say to me -- after I miscalculated the time it would take to get to camp last summer -- "Dad, there are three kinds of people in the world: people who can do math, and people who can't.") Twain's point obvious: we should be careful about classifying the world into just two kinds of people. But I'm still going to do it. (Okay, okay, so by now you've realized I'm stalling to raise the suspense. Well, the wait is over. :) )