The recent news of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) beheading 21 Coptic Christian men renews the profound discussion of martyrdom and witnessing. The Greek word martus implies a witness. The term first appeared in Christian literature in reference to the apostles as the first “witnesses” to the life, works, death, and resurrection of Jesus Ch
Once again, religious liberty is in the crossfire. The firing of Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran over his personal views on homosexuality has reignited the debate about religious vs. sexual liberty. But who defines freedom and its limitations? Has religious liberty become a relic of the past? Has it become a “myth,” an “impossibility,” or a “trag
In a historic move, the U.S. and Cuba have agreed to bridge the 50-year old divide between the countries and restore full diplomatic relations. The key figure in this deal was the Vatican. According to the NYTimes, [Pope] Francis is being credited for helping bridge the divide by first sending letters to President Obama and President Raúl Castro of
Following their popular novel, Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, today a movie also called Left Behind will appear in the theaters. It's unfortunate to see this popular story with no biblical evidence gaining so much publicity and attention. How Bad Theology Hit the Big Screen is short expose chronic
Here we go again. Just when we thought the Left Behind series had finally been…well…left behind, we are greeted with a remake of the movie version. Did we need a remake? For fans of the novels, probably—the first movies were abysmal. For popular preachers seeking converts, definitely. Rapture theology has become as effective as hell in terms of exc
In recent months, Pope Francis has stepped up his meetings with various Protestant leaders. Yesterday, he met Pentecostal pastor Giovanni Traettino of Southern Italy, and last month he was unofficially meeting a delegation of US Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Charismatic leaders. Ditching the official and mainstream type of meetings, the pope seems
Seventh-day Adventists, above all people, should share a concern for what is happening in the world today. Moreover, we believe we have a general insight into not only what will happen (though certainly not most specific events), but also why many things happen. Below I want to reflect on the significance of the biblical concept of the “cup of in
