Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 80

Some Thoughts about Celebrities Who Become Christians and Then…

Some Thoughts about Celebrities Who Become Christians and Then… Recently, here in the United States, two very well-known musical celebrities have come out publicly as Christians. And by “Christians” I mean “born again Christians.” I mean they testify that turning to God through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has changed their lives […]

Is It Ever Wrong for a Christian to Forgive?

Is It Ever Wrong for a Christian to Forgive? Here is my question spelled out more fully: If we do not believe that forgiveness requires forgetfulness or that it sets aside consequences for the person who needs forgiveness, is it ever wrong for a Christian to forgive someone? Out of context, most Christians would say […]

Review of Lovin’ On Jesus and Thoughts about CCM

Review of Lovin’ On Jesus: A Concise History of Contemporary Worship Plus Thoughts about “Contemporary Christian Music” Background: Recently here I argued that real Christian worship cannot happen with a “concert atmosphere.” I examined a church’s web site because someone asked me to. There I saw a comment, under “About Us,” that said the church […]

Surprises in the History of Christian Ethics

Surprises in the History of Christian Ethics Lately I have been reading a great deal of primary and secondary literature about Christian ethics—beginning with the ancient church fathers. (In my opinion, Richard Hayes’s The Moral Vision of the New Testament more than adequately covers New Testament ethics, so my book will begin with the second […]

Should Christian Worship Happen with a “Concert Atmosphere?”

Should Christian Worship Happen with a “Concert Atmosphere?” Recently someone seeking a church to attend asked me to examine a church’s web site and give them advice about the church, from its web site, before they visit it. I have examined numerous church web sites in that city and visited many churches there. So, that […]

Our God Reigns (But How?)

Our God Reigns (But How?) *This is a sermon I preached recently. I think I posted it here once before, so if it sounds familiar, that’s why. However I have a good reason to post it here again.* One of our favorite truths is that “our God reigns.” The Bible clearly tells us and our […]

A Scholar Who Denied Sex/Gender Difference Recants

A Scholar Who Denied Sex/Gender Difference Recants How well I remember first being told that there is no difference between males and females, men and women, boys and girls—except anatomy and socially assigned roles. That was sometime in the 1980s. Over the years since then, I have witnessed how popular this denial has become especially […]

Trump and the Rhetoric of Tyranny

Trump and the Rhetoric of Tyranny I used to see a bumper sticker on cars that said “If You’re Not Outraged, You’re Not Paying Attention.” That is my message to all of my fellow Americans today. In recent days America’s head of state and head of government and commander-in-chief of the armed forces has been […]

An Ethical Dilemma Posed in a Stephen King Novel

An Ethical Dilemma Posed in a Stephen King Novel What if…the world, humanity, could only be saved from total obliteration by torturing children to death? Spoiler alert! If you intend to read King’s latest novel The Institute you may not want to read this as it contains some details about the plot. I will not, […]

Is Christianity Culturally Relative? A Question for Christians to Consider

Is Christianity Culturally Relative? A Question for Christians to Consider Many Christian academics, especially in the social sciences and religious studies (including theology and missiology) claim that every culture in the world has the right to develop its own form of Christianity without any interference from other cultures—especially European and American cultures. I have had […]