July 23, 2014
Caleb Kaltenbach grew up as an agnostic with two homosexual parents. Now the lead pastor with Discovery Church in Simi, California, he challenged North American Christian Convention attendees to “Preach the Truth in Love.” Hear his thoughts about how to balance grace and truth, especially with homosexuals, in this exclusive interview here.
June 26, 2014
By Brett Andrews “I love agitation and investigation and glory in defending unpopular truth against popular error.” “”President James A. Garfield My father-in-law died of cancer a few short weeks after being diagnosed. Until diagnosed, he worked, hunted, and enjoyed his grandchildren to the fullest. Although slowed by lower energy levels, he still worked. Although bothered by nagging back pains, he still felt he had many good years left to enjoy working, hunting, and time with his grandchildren. Then he dared see a doctor. The doctor dared to be honest about what he saw. And my father-in-law didn”t like what
Interview by Jennifer Johnson Meet Our Contributing Editors: The senior pastor of Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, Maryland, shares his passion about Christian witness in a post-Christian culture, especially how we relate to gays and lesbians. From an ongoing series of interviews with CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors. At our recent meeting of CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors, you described the 21st-century American church as an exilic community. What did you mean by that? There was a time when Israel was large and in charge, enjoying prominence in the promised land. But the tide turned significantly. Eventually they were chased out of town and
September 24, 2013
By Mark A. Taylor The September 20 issue of The Wall Street Journal quoted from a 12,000-word interview Pope Francis had given to the Italian Jesuit journal Civiltá Cattolica. “We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage, and the use of contraceptive methods,” he said. While affirming that the teachings of the church are clear about these matters, he added, “It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time. We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards.” While
By Paul Boatman George Ross is in his 13th year as senior pastor of Northside Christian Church in New Albany, Indiana. The church has grown from 1,200 to 5,000 during his ministry. His previous ministries have been directed to children, youth, small groups, music, and preaching. We spoke with him about reaching sinners, watching repentance, and creating a culture of redemption. We would like to hear you reflect on how you minister in the face of cultural challenges. Why me? I”ve watched your ministry. In both Las Vegas and metropolitan Louisville, you have focused on leading non-Christians to be
January 26, 2013
THIS IS THE FOURTH IN A SERIES OF FIVE “STICKY CONVERSATIONS” By Casey Tygrett The kingdom of God has an open invitation. Paul talks about it freely, saying that in Christ the distinctions that set up boundaries between us melt into a mist and simply fade away (see Galatians 3:28). The brilliance of Jesus shines brighter than the different tones of our culture, gender, and reputation. I was thinking about this as I talked with a man who had recently started attending our church and had taken all the preliminary steps to get to know us as a church.
August 28, 2012
By Mark A. Taylor More than once in recent years, Christian Standard has advocated for compassion toward homosexuals. Most recently we published Mark Moore”s plea1Â that those with same-sex attraction need not identify themselves as “gay” and the church should not ostracize them. Last year we reprinted Ben Cachiaras”s advice2Â to his church when the issue of same-sex marriage was before the Maryland state legislature. In a piece filled with calls for sensitivity toward gay couples, he wrote, “We must be extra careful about how we discuss this so we don”t give any reasons for Christians to be misunderstood as uncaring or
August 28, 2012
By Robert A.J. Gagnon While many Christians are firm in their objection to homosexual activity, our culture continues its trend toward normalizing it. While many Christians are certain homosexual activity is wrong, fewer Christians can answer secular claims that the Bible doesn”t really forbid it. Here is a concise (although longer than usual for this magazine) treatment of five key issues raised by defenders of homosexual practice. You will hear, or have heard, some of these claims. Until now you may not have read the straightforward reasons to refute them. Issue: JESUS Claim:Â Jesus had no interest in maintaining a
July 12, 2012
By Mark A. Taylor “Wherever two or three are gathered together . . . someone’s wrong!” That was one of a hundred one-liners Chonda Pierce delivered during her alternately hilarious and heart-touching monologue during the Thursday-night evening session at the North American Christian Convention in Orlando, July 12. Chonda hadn’t attended two special seminars I heard earlier that day. But each of them contained questions and ideas that at least someone in the church would call wrong. This is one more thing good about this year’s North American Christian Convention. It stretched us by challenging us with ideas we may
June 18, 2012
By Paul Boatman Kent Paris, author of Means of Grace: A Primer for the Understanding and Care of Souls Affected by Homosexuality, is a Christian counselor in Champaign, Illinois, specializing in gender confusion issues. Can you summarize how your unique ministry calling developed? I didn”t seek it out. It was not how I envisioned my life or vocation. As a new Christian in the 1970s, I was working with a street ministry. I attended a conference of the newly formed organization Exodus, attended by about 100 people who had come out of the gay life. Having struggled with homosexuality growing
February 24, 2012
By Mark Moore Individuals with same-sex attraction make up as much as 6 percent of the male population and 4.5 percent of females (though some studies estimate half that). Those are not insignificant numbers, especially when same-sex attraction involves you or someone you love. The church traditionally has not been particularly welcoming of such individuals, and a number of Scriptures have been cited to validate responses that are sometimes violent””verbally, emotionally, occasionally even physically. Because I am a follower of Jesus Christ, it is unconscionable for me to reject in the body of Christ some of the most spiritually sensitive
June 1, 2011
By Ben Cachiaras Editor”s note: As the Maryland state legislature considered a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, earlier this year, Ben Cachiaras encouraged his congregation, Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, Maryland, to respond in a way that honors Christ. (The bill ultimately died without being passed.) Below is an excerpt from what Ben wrote in March. Christians need to think carefully about this issue. Here are a few incomplete thoughts and observations, offered humbly into the discussion: “¢ The landscape in America has changed. Recent polls confirm what we already know””that a growing number of Americans are prepared to recognize gay
March 7, 2010
Darrel Rowland profiles Kent Paris, founder of Nehemiah Ministries, and his call for churches to respond to homosexuality with grace, truth, humility, and pastoral care.
March 7, 2010
Darrel Rowland considers how churches can respond before crisis comes, helping leaders face hidden same-sex struggles with honesty, accountability, and Christlike care.
March 7, 2010
Kent Paris offers a historical and pastoral overview of homosexuality, counseling, family dynamics, and ministry care, arguing that church leaders should understand the complexity behind same-gender struggles.
March 7, 2010
James C. Donovan reflects on the pastoral challenge of ministering to gays and lesbians while holding biblical convictions about sexuality, church fellowship, grace, truth, and unity.
March 3, 2010
Mark A. Taylor reflects on homosexuality in the church, urging Christians to confront sin with biblical conviction, grace, accountability, and humility about their own need for repentance.
July 30, 2006
A personal reflection on Titus 2 mentoring and why older and younger women need each other. Recognize shared struggles, listen across generations, and pass along faith-shaped wisdom through real relationships.
June 18, 2006
Jeff Krajewski urges the church to move from a reactive, defensive posture to confident witness under Christ’s lordship—reframing the battleground and demonstrating the greatest commandment through bold, truthful love.
May 21, 2006
Using the image of a cracked mirror, this article explores how early wounds and sinful reactions can shape sexual and relational brokenness—and how God can bring healing that turns weakness into strength.
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