Blog - Page 119 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Should We Condemn the Actions of Pastor Terry Jones?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:43-05:00April 15th, 2011|Categories: Current Affairs, Free Speech, Ideology, Islam|

By now you know the story of Florida pastor Terry Jones. Jones is the pastor of a tiny church called Dove World Outreach Center. (Where do people come up with these names?) By all appearances there is not much “outreach” going on in this church and the idea that a “dove” (as the representative sign of of the the Holy Spirit) is the basis for the mission of this church is ludicrous, at least on the surface.

After Terry Jones finally carried out his threat, first made prior to 9/11 of last year, to judge the Koran and burn it in a church service, violence broke out in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This led to the death of a number of innocent people in both countries. When prayers ended at a mosque some went across a street and began the violent attacks.

There are a number of questions we can and should ask about these events but mine is simple: What should Christians do in the public space, which is now global because of the news […]

Polygamy and Women's Rights

By John Armstrong|2011-04-14T04:00:00-05:00April 14th, 2011|Categories: Feminism & Women, Marriage & Family|

You do not read much about polygamy these days but a recent Wall Street Journal article on religion raised the question in a provocative way. Rose McDermott, a professor of political science at Brown University, noted that polygamy may be a popular punch line in some movies but “plural marriage is as serious an issue as it’s ever been.” And it is on the rise in the modern West.

One example can be seen across the border, in Canada. A 1890 polygamy law is being tested by groups that insist it violates religious freedom. The core of their argument is that consenting adults have the right to form families in any way they please.

Polygamy is, of course, not new. It has been a common practice for most of human history. Many religions promote it. Muslim practice encourages it and in new Muslim immigrant enclaves in Paris, London and New York the law against it is being challenged. A 2006 report says that 180,000 people were living in polygamous households in France. When the government banned it in 1993 it tried to support a wife who wanted to […]

The Baseball Expansion Era

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:44-05:00April 13th, 2011|Categories: Baseball|

Reading an April 8 USA Today feature on the expansion era of baseball got me to thinking about my lifetime and how I’ve enjoyed this great game. When I began to follow the sport closely, in the mid-1950s, there were sixteen teams, eight in each league. It had been that way for more than fifty years. The winner of the regular season played the other league’s winner in the seven-game World Series. The post-season was only the World Series and the team that endured to the end (only 154 games in most of this period of time) won the pennant in each league. Each team played all the other seven teams 22 times during the season. I loved it. You played to the very last day and if you survived you went to the World Series. The only problem was that in some seasons there was no mystery left by mid-September.

Well in 1961, when I was only twelve years old, expansion began. This means 2011 is the fiftieth anniversary of the new era. It seems impossible to conceive, at least to me, but I have lived […]

Medical Fears As Agents of Terrorism

By John Armstrong|2011-04-12T04:00:00-05:00April 12th, 2011|Categories: Current Affairs|

As a people we seem to be fearful of many things. We are the most armed people in the world. We are also terrified of so much that many of us have a problem living normal lives. Perhaps nothings plays on people’s fear more than medical news that links one problem with another.

Last week scientists from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Brown University and the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles developed a new lab technique that helped them observe how herpes simplex virus type-a (HSV1) infections grow inside cells. HSV1 is a common virus that infects mucous membranes and causes cold sores. Most everyone of us has had one or more.

So what’s the big deal about cold sores? Well, the research strongly suggests that the scientists were able to see this virus burst out of the cells of a mucous membrane and enter nerve cells. What does this mean? Well, in theory this virus could travel to the brain and affect dementia plaques. Thus there is a perceived link between cold sores and Alzheimer’s disease. What these scientists were able to see […]

Just War and U.S. Military Action in Libya

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:44-05:00April 11th, 2011|Categories: America and Americanism, Ethics|

It appears that the recent U. S. involvement in Libya ended almost as abruptly as it began. For this I am frankly grateful.

Confusion about our involvement in Libya reigns since it is very hard to know exactly what our strategy really was in this conflict. A March 29 Gallup Poll said 75% of Americans supported some U.S. military involvement in Libya. Frankly, that number surprised me.

What’s a Christian, who believes that there is such a thing as “just war,” to make of this recent engagement? Shouldn’t we at least have a conversation unless we have accepted the premise that our leaders can take us into any war they want and we should never ask hard questions?

One of the traditional requirements for a “just war” is that the war can be legitimately waged only if there is a reasonable hope of success. As an example, a war fought with an overwhelmingly more powerful opponent would have little chance for success and thus would not qualify as a “just […]

Too Much Comfort Can Kill You

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:44-05:00April 10th, 2011|Categories: Discipleship, Leadership|

Well-known author John Ortberg is a skillful and clear writer. He also knows how to help people see the big and important things clearly. Some years ago an editor at Zondervan encouraged John and me to meet in person. We had a wonderful lunch near Willow Creek, where John was on staff at the time. At that time I had no idea that John was moving to California in a matter of two months or so. He now serves at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto.

Anita has been reading Ortberg’s book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. She routinely shares insights with me. This one she wrote out and emailed to me two weeks ago. It is too good not to share. In chapter two, titled “Boat Potatoes,” Ortberg writes:

Too much comfort is dangerous. Literally. Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley did an experiment sometime ago that involved introducing an amoeba into a perfectly stress-free […]

Is Rick Warren a Liar?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:44-05:00April 9th, 2011|Categories: Love, Web/Tech|

A few days ago someone posted on my Facebook page information warning people of my evil for sharing in the sins of Roman Catholics. There was only one thing I could do, besides pray for them. I de-friended them immediately! If there was ever a social-network term that was misused it is the word “friend" given how some use Facebook to address their “friends.”

Check out how many Christians, including some pastors among them, respond to Rick Warren. The comments on this site are enough to warrant an R label for many of these people.

I never cease to be amazed at how Christians treat one another. A nephew, who attends Saddleback Church where Rick Warren is the pastor, recently sought to encourage me with regard to the lies and attacks that are routinely used against me on the Internet. He knows these hurt even though I seek to ignore them as much as possible. Perhaps the darkest and cruelest of all blows is to be called a liar. On the whole I’ve made progress about how to respond to such criticism over the course of time, […]

Rome: Reflections on My Missional-Ecumenical Journey, Part Two

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:44-05:00April 8th, 2011|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism, Personal, Roman Catholicism, Unity of the Church|

Yesterday I shared four personal reflections upon my recent trip to Rome. Today I conclude this extended series on missional-ecumenism with four more reflections, thus my numbering of 5 to 8 below.

5. Unity is variously understood by different ecumenists but all agree we must make every effort for the peace and unity of all of Christ’s church. This is a bottom line concern for those who are committed to such a process. We know we cannot create unity but we believe we are not entering into the fullness of what Christ intended for his people (John 17). Like the ancient church in homes and buildings that were simple and lacked artistic glory we know that what makes Christ’s bride glorious is her living in unity in the fullness of Jesus.

Nate Bacon again summarized a great deal of what we felt about our time in Rome when he wrote the following to our team:

We then held a de-brief together over a bite of lunch [on Monday, March 14]. […]

Rome: Reflections On My Missional-Ecumenical Journey, Part One

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:44-05:00April 7th, 2011|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism, Personal, Roman Catholicism, Unity of the Church|

I’ve been home for several weeks now and had the time to think a great deal about my eight days in Rome. When I returned on March 15 the journey of faith was not over. I sat next to a young businessman from South India who was coming to Chicago to consider a possible career move to the U.S. His wife and three children were at home thinking about him and their future. This man saw me reading the Bible and asked, “Are you a Christian?” When I was done answering he told me that he and his wife had prayed that God would put someone in his life to help him as he came to America to make this life-changing decision. He thought I was that man. God knows but it seemed like more than a coincidence. We had an extremely fruitful conversation for many hours, sandwiched around some time to sleep. (He had been traveling all night before this day portion of his long journey.)

Now that I am home, and back into the routines of my life and ministry, I have been asked, “What […]

Rome: Day Eight — The Paleo-Churches

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:44-05:00April 6th, 2011|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism, Personal, Roman Catholicism, Unity of the Church|

One of the often hidden joys of ancient Rome can be found in the paleo-churches, those places where Christians worshipped before the time of Constantine. In some places the church dates back to the first and second centuries. Most of these paleo-churches are under an existing newer structure. In several cases these more modern buildings are basilicas.

When I found out that the catacombs were closed on Monday, and my attempts to get into the catacombs under St. Peter’s Basilica failed, I decided this was the best I could do to see remains of very early Christianity in Rome. I chose two churches based on the recommendation of the ministers I had lunch with on Monday, my eighth day in Rome. I started off on a long walk back to the area around the Coliseum. Just beyond I found the Basilica of San Clemente. The Basilica of San Clemente is not just another church in Rome, it is genuinely unique! It has magnificent frescoes and its […]