Category Archives: Ethics

Basic Christian Decency 101

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. (Acts 10:34-35) Just sayin’. Share this: Digg this … Continue reading →

Posted in +Fellowship, Ethics, New Testament | Tagged | 2 Comments

Prepare to Be Discouraged

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

If you don’t want anything to upset your Christmas spirit (or your faith in humanity), please click away. A church’s decision to ban a couple from its congregation, simply because their skin color is different, has cut through the heart … Continue reading →

Posted in +Fellowship, Ethics, Ministry | 2 Comments

Is the Sermon on the Mount Gospel?

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

I think I already knew this, but I’m glad Scot McKnight expressed it so well: Here Jesus rises to the mountain — surely an echo of Moses giving the Torah from Mt Sinai — to reveal God’s will for God’s … Continue reading →

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Every Church Has Its Thing

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Why isn’t the thing love? If I study my Bible every day and have private devotions, but have not love, I am nothing. If I tithe to the church, and support good charities, but have not love, I gain nothing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, New Testament | Tagged | 1 Comment

Random Thought

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Jesus’ enemies denounced him as a friend of sinners. He never denied the charge. In fact he augmented it: “I’ve come for people who are sick, not those who are healthy.” It seems to me we do a disservice to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Life as Prayer, Ministry, Theology | 2 Comments

Columbus Day Reading: The People and the Black Book

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Whatever else you do this Columbus Day, please read this column by Mark Buchanan. Please. “It must be hard for you,” I said to the First Nations people, “to believe that salvation has come to my house when I refuse … Continue reading →

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A Christian Pastor in Iran Is Facing a Death Sentence

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Now that Amanda Knox is on her way to Seattle (and I wish her well), can the media share a little love with Youcef Nadarkhani? From Associated Baptist Press: FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) – An international Baptist leader called on … Continue reading →

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Thought for the Day (if not the Millennium)

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

I want a church that includes fussy kids, old liturgy, bad sound, weird congregants  and—brace yourself—painfully amateur “special music” now and then. Why? Well, for one thing, when the Gospel story is accompanied by a fog machine and light show, … Continue reading →

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Religion’s Most Urgent Problem

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

This column by Shai Held ties in nicely with my Sunday school class’s ongoing discussion with Dr. Kirby Godsey of his book, Is God a Christian? What Held writes of Judaism can and should be said of any world religion: … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Ethics | 2 Comments

Just in Case You Don’t Have Enough Controversy in your Life

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Ben Witherington has posted a response by Robert Gagnon to Jennifer Knust on the Bible and Homosexuality: The Bible’s Surprisingly Consistent Message on a Male-Female Requirement for Marriage Be sure to read Knust’s original article, “The Bible’s surprisingly mixed message … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Ethics, Theology | 3 Comments