It’s all too easy to point fingers at the bad actors in American churchian life, and when we avoid self-righteousness, having removed the log from our own eye so as to see clearly to remove the specks in others’ eyes, it is actually a good thing to do. Attempts to free people from deception so … Read more
We all know how critical many have been of Lifeway “Christian” Stores lately and for good reason. Lifeway, as an extension of the Southern Baptist Convention, and representing the larger section of conservative Evangelical Christianity, seems to have a knack for peddling heresy for profit. First, there was the uprising against well-known heresy such as … Read more
Many are aware of the ongoing debate over “racial reconciliation” going on in the Southern Baptist Convention, but few are aware of what it really entails. In fact, the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission will be hosting The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation Summit in March of 2015. Most of the Southern Baptist’s proponents of … Read more
Well, the world has now heard about Alex Malarkey’s brave journey and the opposition he has faced by Christian book retailers. For Alex, his journey to reveal his truth began over two years ago. For the Pulpit & Pen, our journey regarding this specific incident began on December 23 when Director of Lifeway Research, Ed … Read more
Earlier today, the news broke that the publishing arm of the SBC, LifeWay, and Tyndale House, a major Christian publisher, would stop selling the book “The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven.” In a statement issued by Mark King, Director of Communications at Lifeway, he confirmed that the stores are pulling the book, stating: LifeWay was … Read more
UPDATE 1 ! According to sources, Lifeway intends to pull this book from it’s bookstore! Warren Throckmorton has the story, but the gist is that in response to Throckmorton’s questions, “Martin King, Director of Communications at Lifeway issued a statement saying the stores are pulling the book: “LifeWay was informed this week that Alex Malarkey has retracted … Read more
Several days ago, at the beginning of #the15 movement, we posted this article which we asked “Is this the WORST book Lifeway sells?” We were of course referring to The Mystic Way of Evangelism: A Contemplative Vision for Christian Outreach, by Elaine A. Heath. This book, among other things, told us how we ought to learn … Read more
Where do we go from here? If you’re new to #the15, these two posts explain both the origins of #the15 and who, specifically, #the15 are (here and here). In the mean time, here are a few facts. 1) We NEED to be more than what one well-meaning fellow called “reactionary tweeters.” Don’t get me wrong. … Read more
**Update: In light of Ed Stetzers recent tweet (seen below) we thought it might be worth reposting this. Who are #the15? People want to know. We want to tell them. Mohandas Ghandi is often attributed with a quotation actually spoken by American union worker, Nicholas Klein in 1918. Both men knew a thing or two … Read more
We at the Pulpit and Pen have been involved in a few skirmishes as of late with Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer. Much of it stems from our sustained efforts to call attention to some of the theologically atrocious books that can be found in the Lifeway bookstores, particularily offerings from modalist TD Jakes, books … Read more
“Imagine for a moment that God might manifest His presence in your life in a powerful, unusual – even Supernatural – way. Suppose He were to stand at your side, waiting to infuse your spirit with a fullness beyond your most cherished dreams or imagination. It would be a moment when God seems more real … Read more
“’…and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Jesus As is obvious to anyone who keeps up with … Read more
Thom Rainer, president of SBC-owned Lifeway Christian Resources, is full of advice. In recent weeks, Rainer has posted advice on ten things pastor’s shouldn’t say, why churches should ditch stand-and-greet time, nine ways to pray for church leaders, and top reasons first time guests don’t return to church. Rainer is really, really good at giving … Read more
There are more than a few evangelicals who are uneasy with Russell Moore’s fixation on “racial reconciliation” in recent weeks. To be fair, that number includes many of us who are disenchanted with what we have surmised to be – by all discernible standards – social progressivism. Whether calling Jesus an “illegal immigrant” in his … Read more
FBC Jax Watchdog beat us to the punch on this one. But considering that Jax Watchdog is just another angry blogger who should rightly be ignored (totally unlike the Pulpit & Pen), we’ll harp on this, too. When it comes to hateful bloggers typing vitriol with their Cheetos dust-covered fingers from the safety of their … Read more
