Nancy Leigh DeMoss on Carrie Prejean

Nancy Leigh DeMoss, author and host of the Christian radio program Revive Our Hearts, has eloquently described what I believe should be the Christian response to the case of Carrie Prejean, the current Miss California who lost the Miss USA crown due in no small part to her pro-traditional marriage answer to a question posed by gay activist/gossip columnist Perez Hilton. In a recent special commentary, currently in circulation on Christian radio stations which carry her show, Ms. DeMoss succinctly summed up the issues raised by the Prejean case:

Those who hold to the biblical concept of marriage couldn't help but be glad that this young woman courageously stood for the Truth, knowing that to do so could be costly.

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But while I applaud her courage, I also believe some of her choices and public actions, past and present, are representative of many women who consider themselves Christians but who lack clear biblical thinking and conviction on such matters as virtue, womanhood, beauty, modesty, and discretion.

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Carrie is a product of a Christian sub-culture that has lost a sense of what it means to be citizens of the kingdom of God and has embraced the values and thinking of the world.

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So many young women in the Christian world have little understanding or discernment when it comes to modesty and personal purity. And can you blame them when they are following in the footsteps of a generation of so-called believers who tolerate, justify and flaunt immodesty, sensuality, and immorality of every form, along with serial divorce and remarriage?

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Carrie Prejean's story should cause us to be on our faces crying out to God over the extent to which the church today has accommodated to the world.

(A complete transcript of Ms. DeMoss's comments is available here.)

The Carrie Prejean matter is disappointing on a number of fronts. First, it's disappointing that flamboyantly gay Perez Hilton deliberately targeted Carrie Prejean with the gay marriage question, in an attempt to harm her because of her publicly declared Christian faith. Second, it's disappointing that the Miss California pageant directors (one gay activist, one former Playboy centerfold) went out of their way to publicly attack and denigrate her. Third, it's disappointing that certain conservative evangelical activists like Maggie Gallagher (National Organization for Marriage) and Dr. James Dobson (Focus on the Family) have glommed on to Carrie Prejean for their own purposes and to revive their struggling organizations, with little or no regard to her personal conduct or struggles.

Perhaps the most disappointing thing in this whole affair was that virtually nobody, except for Ms. DeMoss, saw any disconnect between Carrie Prejean's conduct (semi-nude and nude photos, breast implants, participation in these pageants) and her professed Christian faith.

Technorati: Carrie Prejean, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Miss California, Perez Hilton, Maggie Gallagher, James Dobson

It's Friday but Sunday's a Comin'

It has become an annual tradition at OEC, as we approach the glorious Easter celebration, to post an excerpt from a message Christian speaker and activist Tony Campolo. Campolo delivered a message a number of years ago (available in mp3 format here), a version of which he delivered in Washington on Inauguration Day 1997.

This is Tony's best-known message, about a sermon delivered by his preacher at the mostly-black church they attended in Philadelphia. The essence of the preacher's message was one line, which he mentioned over and over again - a message particularly appropriate on Easter weekend.

It's Friday, but Sunday's a comin'!

It’s Friday, but Sunday’s a comin’. It was Friday, and my Jesus is dead on a tree. But that’s Friday, and Sunday’s a comin’.

Friday, Mary’s crying her eyes out, the disciples are running in every direction like sheep without a shepherd. But that’s Friday, and Sunday’s a comin’.

Friday, some are looking at the world and saying, “As things have been, so they shall be. You can’t change nothing in this world! You can’t change nothing in this world!” But they didn’t know that it was only Friday, and Sunday’s a comin’.

Friday, them forces that oppress the poor and keep people down, them forces that destroy people, the forces in control now, them forces that are gonna rule, they don’t know it’s only Friday, but Sunday’s a comin’.

Friday, people are saying, “Darkness is gonna rule the world, sadness is gonna be everywhere,” but they don’t know it’s only Friday, but Sunday’s a comin’.

Even though this world is rotten, as it is right now, we know it’s only Friday. But Sunday’s a comin’.

Technorati: Tony Campolo, It's Friday but Sunday's a Comin', Easter

Book Review: The American Patriot's Almanac - William J. Bennett

Noted conservative author and talk show host Bill Bennett has a deep and abiding love for history and patriotism. Bennett, formerly an official in the Reagan and Bush I administrations, and currently host of Bill Bennett's Morning in America, has written many books on history and patriotism, including his two-volume America: The Last Best Hope Volumes I & II Box Set.

Bennett's latest book, The American Patriot's Almanac: Daily Readings on America, presents American history in an easily read, easily digested day-by-day format. Each entry contains a short essay on a historical event, usually tied to that particular day, as well as a section entitled "American History Parade," a list of events that occurred on the day in question. Each month includes at least one long-form essay, on topics as varied as flag etiquette, 50 All-American Movies, and Songs of American Patriotism.

Some of the stories are ones most everyone has heard of before, but among the classics, there are many diamonds in the rough. The entry for today (April 9th) is a great example. On this day in 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee offered his surrender to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox courthouse in Virginia. The most casual student of American history knows that fact. What is unknown to many - to most, in fact - is what happened three days later. Union General Joshua Chamberlain was assigned to accept the formal surrender of Confederate troops from General John B. Gordon. By Chamberlain's own account, Gordon and his men were "downhearted and dejected ... almost beyond description." Putting his sense of honor into action, Chamberlain ordered his troops to attention and had a bugle call sounded. The broken General Gordon returned the salute by dipping his sword and ordering his men to attention. As Bennett describes it so simply yet elegantly, it was "honor saluting honor."

Bennett's political and religious leanings are well-known, and he makes no attempt to hide them here. Yet, most importantly, he does not allow them to taint his writings. He is plain-spoken yet eloquent, simple yet complex, and his love for and appreciation of America - flawed though she may be - is overwhelming. While the book is designed in a day-by-day format akin to a devotional, you'll find yourself reading many days - or weeks - worth of entries in a single sitting. The American Patriot's Almanac is a buffet of history and patriotism, and Bennett is both a master chef and host.

Technorati: American Patriot's Almanac, William Bennett, Thomas Nelson

Cal Thomas: Worry About Straight Marriage, Not Gay

Conservative columnist Cal Thomas is no supporter of gay marriage. In his column of April 7th (Trouble in River City), he sarcastically "credits" the gay rights movement with taking advantage of "a morally exhausted nation that tolerates so many things that used to be intolerable — from abortion, to easy divorce, to pornography." Cal is quite right on two points in that one sentence - that America as a nation has become morally exhausted, and that the (so-called) gay rights movement has taken advantage of this to press its agenda on all fronts.

The most important part of Cal's column, however, comes near the end. He questions the motivation of some leaders in the "traditional marriage" movement but, more importantly, also questions the focus of the "traditional marriage" movement in general:

What poses a greater threat to our remaining moral underpinnings? Is it two homosexuals living together, or is it the number of heterosexuals who are divorcing and the increasing number of children born to unmarried women, now at nearly 40 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?

Most of those who are disturbed about same-sex marriage are not as exercised about preserving heterosexual marriage. That's because it doesn't raise money and won't get them on TV. Some preachers would rather demonize gays than oppose heterosexuals who violate their vows by divorcing, often causing harm to their children. That's because so many in their congregations have been divorced and preaching against divorce might cause some to leave and take their contributions with them.

Right now, conservatives (or traditionalists, have some have called them) are spending untold time and resources arguing against gay marriage when they are ignoring (or nearly so) the rampancy of divorce, adultery, shacking up, single parenthood, and parenting out of wedlock both in society as a whole and in the church in particular.

This does not mean, obviously, that the church should not speak out on moral issues such as abortion, gay marriage, and the like; but rather, that it needs to look at its own house as well as, if not before, looking outside. Civilizations have fallen from internal rot just as often as they have from an external threat. More often, they have fallen from a combination of both, with threats internal leaving a society unable or unwilling to respond to threats external.

Critics of Christianity often point to Matthew 7:1 (Do not judge, or you will be judged) in an attempt to promulgate the idea that Christians cannot and should not make moral judgments. Both Christians and our critics would do well to understand and remember the context of that verse by reading the first five verses of Matthew 7:

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:1-5, NIV)

Perhaps there has been too much focus on the speck of gay civil marriage and too little on the planks of adultery and divorce and sexual misconduct both within society in general and the church in particular.

Technorati: Cal Thomas, gay marriage, Iowa, California, Proposition 8, Proposition 22

Associated Press Threatens to Hold Breath Until They Turn Blue

Peter Kafka, writing at his MediaMemo blog, hands the Associated Press its lunch after AP executives threw a fit over blogs, well, linking to AP content. Peter's headline alone is priceless, and the rest of his post - rather than being an AP-bashfest - does a pretty good job of clarifying the positions of Associated Press and Google.

For bloggers, what it all comes down to is this: If you link to an AP story, give credit (to the AP and/or the outlet you linked to), and don't excerpt a huge chunk of the AP material, you are protected by the fair use doctrine, and the AP (or the media outlet you linked to) can't do anything to you.

Perhaps the AP should spend more time writing unbiased, fact-checked stories and less time harassing innocent bloggers and, yes, even giant search engines. We saw how well the RIAA's take-no-prisoners effort worked for them.

Technorati: Associated Press, Google, Peter Kafka

Bishop of South Bend Will Not Attend Obama Commencement Speech

John M. D'Arcy, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (and where Notre Dame is located), has issued a statement indicating that he will not attend the commencement ceremony where President Obama is scheduled to receive an honorary degree and speak:

President Obama has recently reaffirmed, and has now placed in public policy, his long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred. While claiming to separate politics from science, he has in fact separated science from ethics and has brought the American government, for the first time in history, into supporting direct destruction of innocent human life.

This will be the 25th Notre Dame graduation during my time as bishop. After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation. I wish no disrespect to our president, I pray for him and wish him well. I have always revered the Office of the Presidency. But a bishop must teach the Catholic faith “in season and out of season,” and he teaches not only by his words — but by his actions.

My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life.

It will be interesting to hear how Bishop D'Arcy justifies attending the speeches of people like Kofi Annan, then UN Secretary General, who could in no way be considered pro-life. Or of Senator Richard Lugar or either President Bush - all of whom support capital punishment, which many (including John Paul the II) believed to violate the sanctity of life.

Well, Bishop? We're waiting.

Technorati: President Obama, Notre Dame, Bishop John D'Arcy

Obama & Notre Dame

Hugh Hewitt is aghast that Notre Dame University has invited President Obama to deliver its commencement address in May. He claims that both ND alums and Catholics will be shocked, that the invitation has undone "in a stroke" all that the Roman Catholic church has done in recent months to underscore protecting the unborn, and that the invitation demonstrates "beyond argument that the issue doesn't really matter to Catholics.

Perhaps Hugh should review the Mission Statement of Notre Dame, which includes the following:

The intellectual interchange essential to a university requires, and is enriched by, the presence and voices of diverse scholars and students. ... the University insists upon academic freedom that makes open discussion and inquiry possible."

It doesn't strike me as hypocritical or dangerous or improper in any way for Notre Dame to invite a pro-choice personage to deliver their commencement address. Rather, in light of their commitment to diversity and academic freedom, it would seem hypocritical to impose an ideological litmus test that ensures that only one voice, one opinion, one side of an issue were heard. Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama continues a long tradition of Presidential involvement with Notre Dame; according to Notre Dame's press office, Obama "will be the ninth U.S. president to be awarded an honorary degree by the University and the sixth to be the Commencement speaker".

Hugh can control who gets on the air for his radio show, but (luckily) he has no control over Notre Dame.

Technorati: President Obama, Hugh Hewitt, Notre Dame, academic freedom, abortion

In Case You Think 'Sexting' Is Innocent...

Cincinnati Enquirer: Family wants tougher laws

Jessica Logan's nude cell-phone photo - meant for her boyfriend's eyes only - was sent to hundreds of teenagers last year in at least seven Greater Cincinnati high schools.

The 18-year-old Sycamore High School senior was then bombarded with taunts: slut, porn queen, whore.

On July 3, Jessie hanged herself in her bedroom.

She was Albert and Cynthia Logan's only child.

"My only baby that I will never be able to touch again," Cynthia Logan said through tears. "I will never have grandchildren. I will never be able to hand down my heirlooms. I'm just devastated by these parents that allow their children to do and say anything they want."

Technorati: sexting, Jessica Logan

Wasilla Bible Church Update: Cleanup Underway, Donations Info

Updates on the Wasilla Bible Church's recovery from this weekend's arson attack:

SERVICES. The church will be meeting indefinitely at Wasilla Middle School, 650 Bogard Road. Services at 9:30 and 11:15 AM with child care for both.

CLEANUP. ServiceMaster has begun professional cleanup of the fire, smoke and water damaged areas of the church building. The church facility is closed to all access and no date for reoccupation has been set. The church website will be used to provide updates as necessary.

ASSISTANCE. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the rebuilding effort is asked to specify the donation for the WBC Building Fund. Donations can be mailed to Wasilla Bible Church, Attn: WBC Building Fund, 1651 W. Nicola Avenue, Wasilla, AK 99654. Volunteers may offer their services by calling the church at (907) 376-2176. Phone service is still down, but the church staff do have access to voice mail.

FIRST SERMON. Pastor Larry Kroon gave his first sermon after the fire at Wasilla Middle School. Entitled "After the Fire: Faith, Hope & Love," the sermon is based on 1 Corinthians 13:13. A PDF file of the sermon is available here.

Editor's Note: I suggested yesterday that this was an arson fire motivated by Governor Sarah Palin's recent candidacy for the Vice Presidency, as well as Governor Palin's and the church's position in favor of traditional marriage. There has been some criticism of this idea, and of my comparison of some of the anti-Prop 8 tactics to terrorism. I stand by both these statements. The simplest, and most logical, position based on the available evidence is that this was a deliberate act of terrorism (arson) specifically targeting Wasilla Bible Church. There is NO evidence suggesting (as some on Daily Kos, DD Underground, etc., have posited) that this is an insurance scam, an attempt by church members to scam a new building through donations, drug-related, or just somebody acting the fool. I repeat - all evidence currently available suggests a politically-motivated act of arson involving an occupied structure (also known as attempted murder). Frankly, I'd like to be wrong, but, sadly, I doubt that I am.

Technorati: Proposition 8, Sarah Palin, terrorism, Wasilla Bible Church

Wasilla Bible Church Update: Accelerant Used at Entrances

From the Associated Press via Breitbart - ATF: Accelerant poured around Palin's church

Federal investigators in Alaska say an accelerant was poured around the exterior of Gov. Sarah Palin's home church before it was heavily damaged by a fire.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Monday that the accelerant was poured at several locations around the church, including entrances. (Emphasis mine.)

Presuming that the AP report is correct - that an accelerant was used, and that entrances were targeted - and that the arsonist(s) knew the building was occupied (by several women working on a crafts project, plus two children), this expands from politically-motivated arson (serious enough) to multiple counts of attempted murder.

Think of that: Arson and attempted murder - because someone disagreed with you about gay marriage or some other political stand. Not, of course, that this is new, what with the terror tactics being employed against evangelicals and Mormons in California and elsewhere by the anti-Prop 8 moonbats.

Perhaps Islamic terrorism is not the only threat we need to worry about now...

Technorati: Proposition 8, Sarah Palin, terrorism, Wasilla Bible Church