I'm famous ... to a very select and few number of people!

I subscribe to RELEVANT magazine, and recently was asked to give my opinions for an upcoming article on seven social issues: war, consumerism, culture, faith, homosexuality, injustice and politics. I was e-mailed a list of questions and asked to reply with my answers, and I did so ... after telling them that I was having a hard time answering because the way they posed the questions seemed to have some underlying bias:

ex: "How should Christians respond to the sin of homosexuality?"

ex: "Republicans support war. Democrats support abortion. Who should a Christian vote for?"

Despite my criticism of them and their article, they still published two of my comments in the online bonus section: albeit, not on homosexuality or politics ...

Faith: What Is the Biggest Problem Facing the Church Today?

I think one of the biggest problems facing the Church today is a hesitation to talk openly about one's faith, especially outside the church community. It has nearly become taboo to be religious, and many people keep their faith hidden outside of their church peer group due to embarrassment or fear of offending others. Christians need to adopt a non-judgmental attitude about others' beliefs, but also not be afraid to admit their own.

Consumerism: How Do We Escape the Excesses of Culture?

Money itself is not "the root of all evil"; love of money is. It is not a sin to have possessions, but it is how you use your resources which matters most. Society today is extremely materialistic. This can not only can lead people to spend on themselves rather than give to the Church or direct some resources to those in need, but also cause us to consume at a greater rate, which negatively effects our stewardship of the environment. We are called to be stewards, not consumers. Money, work and possessions can easily become false idols if they become our primary focus.

To read the rest of the online commentary, click here.