Weekend A La Carte (August 12)

Westminster Books has a solid deal on a set of books meant to protect children in local churches. Someone in every church needs to take on this responsibility!

(Yesterday at the blog I wrote about our culture’s shift in the way it pressures people to conform to societal expectations. Western culture has long been obsessed with guilt and innocence, but is now emphasizing shame and honor. Read more in The New/Old Way Our Culture Pressures Us To Conform.)

Answering Questions with Jesus

This is important: “Wherever you find yourself ministering to people in the church, assume questions, allow for questions, and answer questions. Let no one leave the church because an asked question was an ignored question.”

The Bible Is Not a Slideshow For Your Hot Take

Samuel James provides some good thoughts on Christian hot takes. “I’m not saying there’s nothing distinctively Christian to say about Robin Williams or about other public figures, like Chester Bennington, who commit suicide. What I am saying is that cheaply thought, cheaply written responses to these events by definition betray the Christian commitment to the centrality of truth.”

Sundar Pichai Should Resign as Google’s C.E.O.

I quite agree with David Brooks here: “Regardless which weakness applies, this episode suggests he should seek a nonleadership position. We are at a moment when mobs on the left and the right ignore evidence and destroy scapegoats. That’s when we need good leaders most.” (Also, see this.)

Theology Learned in the Flames of Adversity

We can learn from Luther what it means to learn truth in the fire of adversity.

Breaking News: Science Disproves the Bible

Another study has supposedly been shown to disprove the Bible. C. John Collins interacts with it to show how it doesn’t even come close. But even better, he provides a few thoughts on why the media is so quick to claim they’ve disproven the Bible. “Science and scientists serve a valuable role in our culture. But we do a disservice, both to them and to our own intellectual responsibilities, when we attach an authority to them beyond their discipline.”