Category Archives: The Gospel

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: LOSING THE BATTLE AND THE WAR

Posted on July 1, 2013 by stanwiedeman

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, but it likely will not end the strife or wrangling that this issue has inflamed. Although public opinion has accelerated in favor of same-sex marriage (50% of Americans favor it, up from 39% in 2008, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life), staunch opponents remain entrenched.

A bigger question emerges from this conflict: When Christians publicly denounce homosexuality and its practitioners, are we faithfully representing Jesus? Would Jesus be compelled to appear on FOX News or Bill O’Reilly’s show to oppose same-sex marriage? Continue reading →

Posted in Homosexuality, Marriage, Politics and Christianity, The Gospel | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

SEEKING SENSE IN THE “SENSELESS”

Posted on December 20, 2012 by stanwiedeman

It is difficult to know what to say about the horrifying event at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday, especially when so much has been said about it already. Unless we have endured the pain of losing a young child, … Continue reading →

Posted in Evil, Faith, Nature of Man, The Gospel, Violence | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

JUDGING THE GOSPEL

Posted on October 23, 2012 by stanwiedeman

When a celebrity’s reputation tanks, what happens to his charity? “Nine times out of 10, the charity suffers when something bad happens to the famous person it’s associated with,” according to Ken Berger, head of Charity Navigator. “But Livestrong has been the exception to the rule.”
Identification has powerful implications, as Ken Berger indicates. When people think about the charity, they think about the celebrity. If the celebrity has acquired a negative reputation, those negative thoughts are transferred to the charity. The charity may have an impeccable reputation, but transferred feelings often have no rational basis. Continue reading →

Posted in Character, The Gospel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

REALISTIC HOPE

Posted on March 6, 2012 by stanwiedeman

Recently my niece was interviewed for a job. The interviewer asked her, “If you could have any three things you wanted, what would they be.” My niece thought for a moment and then answered, “I would want to eliminate world hunger. I would want to eliminate world poverty. And I would want to evangelize the entire world.”

Before you chuckle about her noble idealism, take a more careful look at what members of the Millennial generation (aka Generation Y) are doing. Different writers use different terminals to identify this generation, but Thom and Jess Rainer have determined to study those people born between 1980 and 2000 (inclusively). Continue reading →

Posted in Kingdom of God, Millennials, The Gospel, Transformed Lives, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

TEST THE PREACHERS

Posted on November 9, 2010 by stanwiedeman

You may be squeamish about evaluating preachers, especially popular ones. Yet, you must take care that you do not find your belief system deformed by preaching that deviates from the gospel. The apostle John warned, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) Not everyone who stands in a pulpit, who holds a Bible, who speaks with charisma, who fills his auditoriums, preaches in the Spirit of God. Test the preachers to see if they preach the gospel.
Continue reading →

Posted in Preaching, The Gospel | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment