Christian Piatt's Blog, page 83

Drive-Thru Prayers to Drive-In Church: Is Religion Lost?

Author and theologian Diana Butler Bass shared a video recently about where she saw for the future of the church. She shared an interesting story about a priest who went out onto a busy street corner on Ask Wednesday in full vestments to offer ashes and a quick prayer to passersby. Several people stopped with [...]

“Angry Queers” Take on Driscoll, Mars Hill the Wrong Way

I had a stew of emotions when I read about an activist group in Portland calling itself the “Angry Queers” vandalizing a satellite church of Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill network. Neighbors in the area reported seeing a handful of young people in black masks smashing stained glass windows and damaging other property on the church [...]

Taking “Jesus Christ” Out of the Bible

A new translation of the Bible called “The Voice” (no, Cee-Lo makes no appearances in this one), published by Thomas Nelson, has created quite a buzz. The discussion is not so much around what is in the newest version, but rather what’s left out. According to a recent article on the Huffington Post, the words [...]

The Piatts on the Road

Next Wednesday, May 2nd, Amy, the kids and I will leave behind us the city, the church and the home we’ve enjoyed for the last eight years. It’s felt like getting ready for another birth, making all of the plans for our move to Portland and everything that comes along with it. And in a [...]

25 Christian Blogs You Should Be Reading

I’m reposting this blog entry from my friend and Colleague, Matthew Paul Turner, for two reasons. First, if you don’t know MPT, you should. He’s written about eleventy-seven books, from the practical to the theological and even some memoir-type stuff. He’s prolific, creative, challenging and pretty damn funny too. So, the two reasons I’m re-posting [...]

Cherch Sine Epuc Failz: Badd Spellurs Edishun

The next edition of bad church signs has a theme of its own: bad spelling. A couple of these aren’t even church signs; they’re just too good not to include. Enjoy.

Dead Presidents, Negroes With Guns and the NRA

I’m not a gun guy. I got turned off by guns the one time my dad took be to a gun range and let me try out his Ruger. It was deceptively light, made of some kind of polymer. It felt more like a toy than a weapon with any real power. Then I pulled [...]

What To Do About “Radical Feminist Nuns”

It’s not exactly headline-worthy news that many Catholics actually hold personal beliefs that don’t line up with church doctrine. It does get a little more interesting, however, when an umbrella group for 57,000 American nuns is called to the carpet for straying from Church teaching. Reportedly, the nuns are promoting ideas on issues like abortion [...]

“Open Homosexuality,” Prostitution and Tony Perkins’ Moral Slippery Slope

Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, appeared on Janet Mefferd‘s Christian radio show recently and offered what shocked many, though it probably shouldn’t have. The surprise came when Perkins drew a correlation between the repeal of the Military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law and the recent Secret Service scandal involving agents hiring prostitutes [...]

Death by Faith Healing: a Church/State Separation Dilemma

The sovereignty of religion in the United States is a thorny issue when it comes to state powers. But most Americans can agree that there are lines that even the Church cannot cross. The problem is that sometimes that realization comes too late. Sixteen-year-old Austin Sprout is the most recent victim of such religious transgressions. [...]