Free Republic

The likely result of recent clashes, says Robert R. Reilly, will "be fewer such religious freedom bills proposed in the future and ... Republican candidates for president will keep their mouths shut about this issue"Scholar, former assistant to President Reagan, and author Robert R. Reilly has written widely on “war of ideas" issues, Islam, foreign policy, and classical music and is the author of several books. His most recent book Making Gay Okay: How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior Is Changing Everything, was published last year by Ignatius Press and was described by Austin Ruse (President, Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute)...

Do you remember this little children’s song? It is such a simple little song. We sang it over and over in Sunday school, daily vacation Bible school, children’s clubs, etc. It seemed so straightforward and uncomplicated. Yet it contains some vital and deep truths and concepts which are not only significant but immensely complicated. Take the first word Jesus. Jesus is without a doubt the most controversial person in history. For the first 5 centuries following his life on earth, Scholars, politicians, followers and enemies – all kinds of people – fiercely debated about him. Was he God? Was he...

If you have been following mass media over the past few days, you will have learned from an economist at the U.S. Department of Labor that defenders of religious freedom are “Nazis.” Take a moment to ponder that assertion. Roll it around in your head for a while. You’ll be hearing a lot more fighting words as we enter the next phase of Christian life in America. Sample the hate that has been spewed at the state of Indiana in the past week, and faithful Christians in recent years, by gay activists and their allies. We are “bigots,” “Neanderthals” and...

This past Sunday, the lives of the Rev. Kaci Clark-Porter and the Rev. Holly Clark-Porter intertwined in perhaps an even more extraordinarily spiritual way, as the couple walked down the aisle at Wilmington, Delaware’s First and Central Presbyterian Church to become ordained Christian ministers. The ordination came just days after the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) announced a change in its constitution that embraced a more inclusive definition of marriage, defining it as being between "two people" instead of between a man and a woman. With this change, PC(USA) becomes the largest Protestant group to offer a nationwide welcome for LGBTQ...

The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) – a coalition of 34,000 black churches from 15 denominations representing almost 16 million black Americans – has cut all ties with the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) after the denomination voted to embrace same-sex “marriage.” The PCUSA voted last June to jettison the traditional definition of marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman. Instead, its Book of Order now defines marriage as a union “between two people,” with no mention of biological sex. At the same time, the PCUSA voted to allow its pastors to officiate at homosexual “weddings” in...

April 3, 2015Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion    Reading 1 Is 52:13—53:12 See, my servant shall prosper,he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.Even as many were amazed at him—so marred was his look beyond human semblanceand his appearance beyond that of the sons of man—so shall he startle many nations,because of him kings shall stand speechless;for those who have not been told shall see,those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard?To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?He grew up like a sapling before him,like a shoot from...

Let me tell you how this prophecy came about. Gwen and I had just returned to our motel in Sacramento, California, after a crusade meeting. I turned on the TV, scanning the dial to find a news program. One of the channels was playing a video musical of a famous — young rock singer. It was so diabolical I could not turn it off — I was too stunned by what I saw. I called Gwen and she, too, was horrified. Demons were caressing the young singer. Skeletons rose from graves. Sadomasochists were beating victims, hideous occult creatures danced with...

INDIANAPOLIS — NCAA President Mark Emmert said Thursday he had considered the option of moving the organization's headquarters and said the association would look more closely at potentially discriminatory laws before awarding bids for future championship sites.

This weekend, tens of thousands of basketball fans — frankly, most of them screaming for Kentucky, those lunatics — will flock to Indianapolis to watch the NCAA Tournament Final Four. And they will accompanied by hundreds, maybe thousands of protestors. Despite terrific, iconic final four teams in Duke, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and undefeated Kentucky, the lead story on non-sports outlets is going to be about the protestors. The blowback to Indiana's passing (and Gov. Mike Pence's signing) of a religious-freedom law has surpassed what anyone involved had anticipated. Pence himself looked shocked, bewildered, and a little lost while trying to...

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Death With Dignity National Center kept an office in Washington, D.C. For years, Republican lawmakers tried to pass legislation nullifying Oregon’s 1997 Death With Dignity Act, which allowed terminally ill patients to obtain life-ending medication. The legislation never made it out of the Senate, but it eventually passed in the Republican-controlled House, and the aid-in-dying organization felt compelled to keep pressure on Congress to stop the bill. Then came Terri Schiavo. Ten years ago, Schiavo—a severely brain-damaged Florida woman—became a national symbol for how not to die in America. At its heart,...

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Despite more than nine out of 10 Americans agreeing Jesus was a historical figure, what they believe about Him diverges widely, according to a newly released survey from the Barna Research Group, a nonprofit organization that has been analyzing cultural trends related to religious belief since 1984. The survey of more than 4,000 U.S. adults online and by phone suggests Americans are conflicted about the central figure of...

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. I am sad at the news of fellow Iowan Dr. Robert Schuller and pray for the comfort of the Lord on his family. However, I am very concerned for his soul. Dr. Robert Schuller was a prolific false teacher whose errant teachings destroyed thousands, if not millions (especially old ladies who could not drive to church who clung to...

The Race—The Christian Life. (HEB 12:1-3, 1CO 9:24-27). Three years before the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus the Roman, an unknown author wrote a letter of warning and encouragement to the Hebrew believers in that city. In a time of impending national crisis, this author reminded these believers that their only safety was in individual orientation to and pursuit of the plan of God. In Hebrews 12, he compares the Christian life to a race and Christians to athletes who, if they want to experience the ecstasy of victory, will have to endure the agony of training for and running...

ORANGE COUNTY, CA (ANS - April 1, 2015) -- Dr. Robert H. Schuller, famed televangelist and founder of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries, is in critical condition in a Los Angeles-area nursing home and is not expected to make it through the week, family members said Tuesday (March 31, 2015). This has been revealed in a story by Deepa Bharath, staff writer for the Orange County Register Bharath said that according to his daughter-in-law, Donna Schuller, the reverend's condition has been deteriorating since he had an exploratory procedure in January examining his digestive tract. Donna Schuller, a regular contributor to the...

The apostle Paul wasn’t even present at the crucifixion of Christ, yet he declared that this act was an act of cosmic and supernatural proportions. This was a real drama of theological redemption. Here the curse of God’s law was visited on a man who bore the sins of His people. For Paul, the crucifixion was the pivotal point of all history. Paul was not satisfied to give an account of the event. While affirming the historicity of the crucifixion, Paul added the apostolic interpretation of the meaning of the event. He set forth propositions about the death of Christ....

The Bible on screen

The New Testament was written in the language used in the Greek-speaking world from about 300 B.C. to A.D. 500. It was known as Koine or "common" Greek because it was street language—the language of the people—as opposed to the classical Greek of literature. Koine Greek was devised within the ranks of Alexander the Great army for one reason: to conquer the world. When Alexander first began pulling together an army from the Greek city-states over which he had won ascendancy, he found he had a serious problem. When his drill sergeants bellowed, "Left face, forward march," every soldier moved...

April 2, 2015Holy Thursday - Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper    Reading 1 Ex 12:1-8, 11-14 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall stand at the head of your calendar; you shall reckon it the first month of the year.Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every one of your familiesmust procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household.If a family is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join the nearest household in procuring one and shall share in the lamb...

April 2, 2015Holy Thursday - Chrism Mass    Reading 1 Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,because the LORD has anointed me;He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly,to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captivesand release to the prisoners,To announce a year of favor from the LORDand a day of vindication by our God,to comfort all who mourn;To place on those who mourn in Ziona diadem instead of ashes,To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning,a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit. You yourselves shall...

God of our fathers, enthroned in light, how rich, how musical is the tongue of England! Yet when we attempt to speak forth Thy wonders, our words how poor they seem and our speech how unmelodious. When we consider the fearful mystery of Thy Triune Godhead we lay our hand upon our mouth. Before that burning bush we ask not to understand, but only that we may fitly adore Thee, One God in Persons Three. Amen. To meditate on the three Persons of the Godhead is to walk in thought through the garden eastward in Eden and to tread on...