Category Archives: Freedom

Of What Purpose Is Interreligious Dialogue? (1)

One of the great insights of Vatican II was the Catholic Church’s expressed desire for dialogue with non-Christian religions. This insight is generally misunderstood by most evangelicals and rarely appreciated by many Catholics. As an active ecumenist, working from within … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, Freedom, Religion, Roman Catholicism | 8 Comments

Being Accountable?

Today’s blog is written by guest writer Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. Stephen is the president of a ministry called “Sword of the Kingdom.” You can see his various blogs and learn about him at Sword of the Kingdom. I post … Continue reading

Posted in Discipleship, Freedom, Leadership, Personal, The Christian Minister/Ministry, The Church | 17 Comments

How Exile Came About: Theological and Cultural Developments in the Nineteenth Century (1)

My recent blogs have been devoted to developing a perspective I refer to as missional-ecumenism. I want to show where I believe we are in America today–particularly in terms of the church, culture and our mission. I am a passionate … Continue reading

Posted in America and Americanism, American Evangelicalism, Church History, Culture, Current Affairs, Feminism & Women, Freedom, Missional Church, Missional-Ecumenism, The Church | 1 Comment

Why Politics Matters and How We Got the Wrong End of the Stick (4)

Readers of James Davison Hunter’s magnificent critique of how Christians have sought to transform culture in America will know that he critiques Stanley Hauerwas and Jim Wallis unfavorably, just as he does conservative icons Charles Colson and Richard John Neuhaus. … Continue reading

Posted in America and Americanism, American Evangelicalism, Books, Culture, Current Affairs, Freedom, Ideology, Kingdom of God, Lordship of Christ, Missional Church, Politics, The Church, The Future | 1 Comment

Why Politics Matters and How We Got the Wrong End of the Stick (1)

Two weeks ago I sought to show how the church in America has become subject to a condition of moral, cultural and spiritual exile. Like Israel of old, we are now living away from our true home, separated from our … Continue reading

Posted in America and Americanism, American Evangelicalism, Culture, Current Affairs, Emergent Church, Freedom, Ideology, Missional Church, Politics, Religion, Separation of Church & State, The Church, The Future | 5 Comments

Evaluating the Spiritual State of the Nation (2)

Yesterday I blogged on the post-election discussion about where America is spiritually in 2012. Where do we seem to be going as a nation? For people on the political right this is a time of outright despair. For people on … Continue reading

Posted in America and Americanism, Culture, Current Affairs, Freedom, Missional Church, Separation of Church & State, The Church, The Future | 2 Comments

Further Reflections on the Decision of the German Bishops

On October 4 I posted a blog that came from a letter written to me by a dear friend who grew up Catholic and then left the Catholic Church to become an evangelical Protestant. The friend I refer to is named … Continue reading

Posted in Freedom, Roman Catholicism, The Church | Leave a comment

Agape Love and Religious Liberty

St. Augustine’s reasoning, on force and human freedom, demonstrates how essential it is for Christians to balance their desire that all persons know God’s truth as revealed in Jesus Christ with their recognition that the only coercion they should apply is … Continue reading

Posted in Church History, Free Speech, Freedom, The Church | Leave a comment

An Evangelical Response to Dignitatis Humanae

After presenting an overview of Vatican II’s discussion and passage of Dignitatis Humanae at Lewis University (last week) I then proceeded to set forth an evangelical view of religious freedom, or at least one that I believe accords well with … Continue reading

Posted in Free Speech, Freedom, The Church | Leave a comment

A Dialogue on Vatican II and The Declaration on Religious Liberty

Last Tuesday (10/18) I was invited to participate, as a Protestant evangelical, in a special symposium called “Living Vatican II in the Twenty-First Century.” This event was an interdisciplinary, ecumenical and interfaith conversation based on a celebration of the Council’s … Continue reading

Posted in Freedom, Roman Catholicism, Unity of the Church | 5 Comments