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Dismantling the Culture of Death |
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Written by Paul Dean
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Wednesday, 06 August 2008 |
“The New York Times article ‘Abortion Proposal Sets Condition on Aid’ incited
great controversy and ambiguity regarding rights of health care workers to
exercise ‘objections of conscience’ when asked to perform abortions or prescribe
medicines that destroy pre-nascent human life,” writes Jennifer Kimball, the
Executive Director of the Culture of Life Foundation located in Washington D.C.
The pro-abortion lobby claims that enforcing such rights limits women’s access
to contraceptive services. Kimball responds quite plainly, “What is at stake,
however, is not a woman¹s access to contraceptive services or abortion, but the
progressive allowance of coercive practices in the health care industry that
force medical practitioners to perform non-medical acts and prescribe
non-therapeutic medicines, such as abortifacients, against their right to
conscientiously object to what they know to be the killing of human life.” She
is concerned that our most basic freedoms are being eroded. We agree.
On today’s edition of “Calling for Truth,” we’ll speak with Jennifer Kimball
about this issue. We’ll then wrap-up the broadcast with worldview implications
and a biblical response.
The Culture of Life Foundation is a social policy research institute that exists
to reveal and present the truths about the human person at all stages of life
and in all conditions.
We aim to affect public policy by promoting and making available to the public
scientific and other factual information relevant to debates about human life
and dignity. To this end The Culture of Life Foundation seeks as educator to
deepen public understanding of bioethics, marriage and family, human dignity and
human solidarity.
What we do:
• Inform people in government, media and citizens of the scientific facts
and resources pertaining to life and related social issues.
• Shape public policy to reflect the essential truth and dignity of the
human person.
• Publish and promote scholarly work intended to inform the broadest
possible audience.
• Organize conferences and events domestically and internationally to
further public debate.
• Work collegially with like-minded organizations.
Vision:
The Culture of Life Foundation believes that true freedom flourishes within a
responsible and cohesive society respectful of the dignity of the human person
central to its subsistence. We aim to foster a culture that will transmit to
each new generation a commitment to the profound inherent and equal dignity of
every member of the human family.
www.culture-of-life.org
Editor’s Note:
Dr. Dean has written a lengthy and provocative piece in connection with the
“morning after pill” with social and Christian worldview implications. The
in-depth analysis is informative and helpful in terms of worldview dialogue in
the market place. If you would like a copy of the article, simply request by
e-mail:
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
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Avoiding Being Trampled Underfoot by the World |
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Written by Paul Dean
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Monday, 04 August 2008 |
It is not news that we live in a culture hostile to Christianity. That begs the
question: why do people treat Christianity and Christians this way? The primary
answer is that Christ is real and evokes only two responses in the end. He is
either received or rejected and if rejected, He is rejected because He is hated.
There is a spiritual dynamic there that is not present when someone rejects
Buddha for example. He is not hated because he is no threat to anyone or their
worldview. Christ on the other hand is a threat to those who do not embrace Him.
There is a strange dynamic at work in our culture. On the one hand, because
Christ is a threat to all other worldviews, He is intentionally marginalized.
The church is being trampled under foot as it were (Matt. 5:13). At the same
time, because the church is being trampled underfoot, it is in retreat. Even
when it is on offense it is often fighting the battle along the wrong lines with
the wrong weapons. On the other hand, the strange dynamic is that while the
church is being marginalized because Christ is a threat, no one is really
worried that the church in America is turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
We have not filled this city with our doctrine (Acts 5:28). The spiritual
reality is astounding: that Christians alone should be pushed out of the public
square. And yet, the practical reality is missing: that the church is being
pushed to the sidelines not because she is turning the world upside down, but
because she has lost her influence. Christ and His church would still be hated
if they had real spiritual influence. People would be afraid. But others would
be saved and our culture would be different.
On today’s edition of “Calling for Truth,” we’ll talk about these dynamics under
the heading of “avoiding being trampled underfoot by the world.” May it be said
of us, “Those who have turned the world upside down have come here too (Acts
17:6).”
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Developing Relationships for a Purpose |
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Written by Paul Dean
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Monday, 04 August 2008 |
Developing relationships seems to be a natural dynamic. Of course, relationships
that develop naturally drift in a number of directions depending upon a myriad
of circumstances. Christians develop relationships in this way and should seek
to influence others for Christ in that context. Yet, often believers are not
intentional in the midst of those relationships and never get around to pointing
others to Christ, at least with a direct verbal witness. In fact, statistics
indicate the longer a person goes in a relationship without sharing Christ, the
less likely it is that Christ will be shared. No one wants to offend a friend.
Again, the answer is intentionality. Christians must pray for and seek
opportunities to bring Christ to bear upon the lives of others in an intentional
way.
Beyond the issue of intentionality in naturally developing relationships is the
issue of intentionally developing relationships for the purpose of sharing
Christ both in terms of evangelism and discipleship. It may be as simple as
asking someone to meet for coffee once a week to talk about the things of God.
It may get more complicated than that. In either case, the issue is seeking a
relationship with another person for a purpose: to point him/her to Christ.
On today’s edition of “Calling for Truth,” we’ll talk with a missionary who
asked us to keep her name out of print, but who has a wonderful ministry from
the Lord. Her ministry is built on this very dynamic: intentional relationship
building. The program will center around her experience on the mission field
with practical application for everyday believers in any context. We talk about
developing relationships with purpose. We’ll also touch on the need for
theology, a biblical worldview, and a general overview of how the Scriptures
have the answers to problems people have as a bridge to evangelism and
discipleship.Write Comment (0 Comments) |
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Christian Worldview Weekend and Why it Matters |
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Written by Paul Dean
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Thursday, 31 July 2008 |
Everyone has a worldview whether he knows it or not. We all look at life through
a set of assumptions that we do not question. Those assumptions help us to
interpret things around us. For example, the atheist sees design in the universe
and says, “Aliens did it.” Christians see design in the universe and say, “God
did it.” Each makes a faith claim for neither can know from mere observation
which is right. Yet, philosophically, the atheist has no justification for his
assertion on his worldview as he must investigate the entire universe to support
his assertion and he cannot do that. The Christian, on the other hand, has
perfect philosophical justification for making his assertion in that he does not
have to investigate the universe to defend God on his worldview: God has
revealed Himself to him. The atheist rejects revelation but the Christian does
not.
Christians need to understand that we have the philosophical high ground. Our
young people especially need to understand such a dynamic in light of the fact
that they are confronted with false worldviews on an intense level. They are
ridiculed and or influenced by their peers and professors alike. College, for
example, is a place where most Christians will have their faith scrutinized and
castigated in a multitude of ways. The believer who has no concept of worldview
will invariably be plagued with questions and doubts in the spiritual battle in
which he now finds himself. On the other hand, one who understands that biblical
Christianity makes sense both philosophically and experientially, will not be
plagued in the same way. He will know that those who do not know Christ are
simply speaking out of hearts and minds that are foolish and darkened.
On today’s edition of “Calling for Truth,” we will talk about the upcoming
Christian Worldview Weekend at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. Dr. Paul Dean will be
addressing critical subjects in the form of questions. Who am I? Who is God?
Where do I come from? Why am I here? How shall I live? What happens when I die?
How can I know the answer to these things? We’ll touch briefly on the elements
of every worldview on the broadcast today in an effort to spur our thinking and
to stir one another to love and good works. We’ll be broadcasting live from “The
Twisted Bean” Coffee Shop in Powdersville, SC.
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The Truth About Anything |
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Written by Paul Dean
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Monday, 28 July 2008 |
When people make truth claims or assertions in the realm of religion,
psychology, or even the social sciences, how do we know whether those claims or
assertions are right? Most of us would no doubt answer, “We must test those
claims in light of Scripture.” Certainly, those who would respond in that way
would be right. Yet, all too often, Christians hear a multitude of declarations
and simply take them at face value. The problem lies in the fact that we then
formulate a worldview that is at odds with the Scriptures without even realizing
it. We in turn make assertions that may or may not be true. At best, they are
true with no real authoritative support; at worst they are false. Either way, we
are rendered answerless if we are trying to lead someone to Christ. We may even
be made into errorists.
How do we know the truth about anything? The Bible does declare that all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ (Co. 2:3). What does that
mean practically? On today’s edition of “Calling for Truth,” we’ll answer the
foregoing question through a bit of critical analysis of a common means of
teaching in the church.Write Comment (0 Comments) |
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State of the Church |
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Written by Paul Dean
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Friday, 25 July 2008 |
Today we have a special program regarding the state of the church. My guest is John Crotts, author of Craftsmen, Mighty Men, co-author with Martha Peace of Tying the Knot Tighter and the soon to be released, Your Family in God’s Family. John has needed insight to offer in this area. Among other things we will be discussing the relationship between the church and the family .Write Comment (0 Comments) |
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Mobile Theological Training for World Witness |
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Written by Paul Dean
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Wednesday, 23 July 2008 |
Dr. David Galletta is a member of the Mobile Theological Training Team (MT3) for World Witness – the foreign missions arm of the ARP.
The vision and mandate for MT3
To help equip biblical Christian leaders to be effective pastors, teachers, evangelists, missionaries and lay leaders.
To educate and train future Christian leaders in their own culture and nation through institutions in their region.
To offer a cost-effective way to strategically equip indigenous leadership for ministry.
To offer Biblical teaching committed to the inerrant Scriptures and historic Evangelical and Reformed theology.
How does MT3 work?
An institution (e.g. a college or seminary) or church body overseas contacts MT3 about helping to provide theological education and training. Discussions occur to determine whether we can provide the appropriate
specialized instruction to suit the institution or church body. If we find we can, then a modular teaching unit is prepared and an MT3 team member is sent to undertake the instruction. Ordinarily, this will include administering examinations and grading assignments. On occasion the training may be in the form of continuing education for a church body where a desire has been expressed for ongoing theological education. MT3 is a specialized ministry of World Witness, the foreign mission board of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Today’s Guest
Dr. Galletta served for five years in Moscow, Russia, as a theological educator before joining MT3. He was ordained in1992 and has been a pastor in Edmonton and Maryland, the latter with a very multi-cultural urban congregation. He
currently resides in Greenville, SC, and has taught in Mexico, Africa and Eastern Europe, as well as South Africa.
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God's Grace in the Midst of Suffering |
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Written by Paul Dean
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Monday, 21 July 2008 |
Guest hosts Johnny Touchet and Dale McCoy will point those who suffer to Christ,
our only anchor in all circumstances, including the most difficult. A
theological perspective will be given by these two pastors. At the same time,
Dale will speak out of his personal experience in the face of difficult times.Write Comment (0 Comments) |
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Audio 
