Author Archives: stanwiedeman

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About stanwiedeman

Christian seeking to find a biblical perspective on culture and life

THE CHURCH IS IN TROUBLE

Posted on April 18, 2012 by stanwiedeman

“Christianity itself is in crisis.” This is Andrew Sullivan’s assessment in his Newsweek article, “The Forgotten Jesus” (April 9 2012). The article received cover status with the lead-in declaring, “Forget the Church – Follow Jesus.”
Sullivan accurately identifies the co-opting of Christianity by the culture. He chides the Catholic Church for its failure to deal with the sex scandals with transparency and integrity. He criticizes the politicization of Christianity, as identity in the faith now equals identity with a narrow political platform. He rejects the prosperity gospel preached from the pulpits of megachurches converted from sports arenas. Continue reading →

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IS UNITY POSSIBLE FOR THE THREE MAJOR RELIGIONS?

Posted on April 10, 2012 by stanwiedeman

The call for a unity of Judaism, Christianity and Islam demands that each system deny its distinguishing doctrines. Islam would have to deny that Ishmael was the intended recipient of God’s covenant promises to Abraham. Judaism would have to deny that Isaac was the chosen seed. They would have to agree that descending from Abraham is all that matters. Then they would both have to accept that God also determined that others could become recipients of the promise through the same kind of faith that Abraham possessed, as much of Christianity believes. Continue reading →

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“THE HUNGER GAMES” AS A MIRROR

Posted on March 27, 2012 by stanwiedeman

Okay, so I have neither seen the movie nor read the book – yet. That will not stop me from commenting on the latest box office “blockbuster that doesn’t seem like a blockbuster,” The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins wrote the young-adult trilogy and collaborated with director Gary Ross to adapt it for the screen.

Collins offers the readers/viewers “a terrible kind of mirror,” according to Jennifer Lawrence, who plays the teenage leading role, Katniss. “This is what our society could be like if we become desensitized to trauma and to each other’s pain,” said Lawrence. The book/movie tackles subjects like totalitarian government, invasive media and dehumanization. Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Movies, Violence | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

WHEN LOVE IS ABSENT

Posted on March 22, 2012 by stanwiedeman

In moral terms, bullying must qualify as conduct contrary to love. Conduct contrary to love must be defined as a form of hate. Hate crime laws do not go far enough, because they restrict the definition to a few protected classes. Any action aimed to hurt another person physically or emotionally describes an act of hate.

Justice defines the penalties for violations of the laws formally enacted by legislation. If no law exists, no penalty can be exacted. Anti-bullying legislation moves closer towards the moral principle established by the Old Testament and reiterated by Jesus, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All behavior should be judged by this immutable and comprehensive principle of love. Continue reading →

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BEAUTY FROM ASHES

Posted on March 13, 2012 by stanwiedeman

At 2:46 P.M. on Sunday, March 11, horns sounded across the entire island nation of Japan. People everywhere stopped and bowed their heads in a minute of silence. Special ceremonies throughout the country commemorated the devastating disaster that occurred at … Continue reading →

Posted in God and Nature, Natural Disasters, Sovereignty of God, Suffering | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment