In an article published in America, January 29, 1994, English professor Brian Abel Ragen, a lay Roman Catholic, observes that a good number of Protestant hymns have made their way into the Mass. He laments not only that the "reforms" since the 1960s have produced a rash of tacky imitation pop music, but that the […]
Stereotypes concerning the Bible abound in this day of near biblical illiteracy. One of the most pernicious is the idea that the Old Testament God is a severe, judgmental old man, while the New Testament presents this God's happier and more mellow son. Violence, judgment, and guilt emanate from the Old Testament; love, tolerance, and […]
Suffering and death have evoked wails and questions of "Why?" in every age since Job. One need only scan the pages of today's newspapers or watch the nightly news to witness crushing pain and turmoil. Whether the distress is a result of human brutality or nature's cruelty, the outrage and sense of tragedy we feel […]
We are living in a society permeated with the concept of self-esteem. The gurus of humanistic psychology have convinced us that feeling good about ourselves is one of our basic felt needs. A positive self-image has become the sine qua non of human growth and success. Many evangelical churches, including many who find their roots […]
Growing up in Evangelicalism there is a healthy suspicion of unbiblical ceremonies. At least in theory. In practice, we often substituted our own "sacraments." Where Rome offered forgiveness if the penitent met the conditions and claimed the inherent powers of the priesthood, we evangelicals were nevertheless often led to ourselves, to wander in the caverns […]
Some years back, when the movie was fairly new to video, I viewed Amadeus in the student lounge of the Assemblies of God college my friend was attending. A Roman Catholic priest visits a lunatic asylum where Salieri, a court musician of mediocre talent is pining away his last days. The priest seems sincere, and […]
I was recently turned on to a rock band by a White Horse Inn listener. After hearing just a few songs by the Vigilantes of Love, I became a fan. With a sound reminiscent of the Waterboys, The Call, U2, Bruce Cockburn, and if I dare say, Bob Dylan, they have nevertheless marked their own […]
