Between Two Worlds

• part 1
• part 2
• part 3

The Naudet brothers were in the process of making a documentary on New York firefighters, following Antonios "Tony" Benetatos, a rookie officer or "probie", through his experiences in Fire Department of New York (FDNY) academy training and into a firehouse. On the morning of 9/11, Jules was taping as firefighters examined a reported gas leak when the North Tower was attacked, which Jules captured on tape. They immediately raced to the World Trade Center (WTC).

Pastors have a unique responsibility and opportunity during a national or local crisis. How are pastors to effectively serve and lead those they care for “when the news intrudes”?

Hopefully nothing like 9/11 will ever happen again. But events that capture the attention of the world and broadly affect the world will happen again. So how should a pastor serve and lead the church during these times?

I’m no expert on this topic, but the following is what I learned in leading Covenant Life Church through experiences like 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the Beltway sniper attacks.

• How to Stay Christian in College
• Ask Me Anything: Provocative Answers for College Students
• Ask Me Anything 2: More Provocative Answers for College Students
  

Sarah and Todd Palin's decision to complete her recent pregnancy, despite advance notice that their baby Trig had Down syndrome, is hailed by many in the pro-life movement as walking the walk as well as talking the talk.

But a senior Canadian doctor is now expressing concerns that such a prominent public role model as the governor of Alaska and potential vice president of the United States completing a Down syndrome pregnancy may prompt other women to make the same decision against abortion because of that genetic abnormality. And thereby reduce the number of abortions.

Published reports in Canada say about 9 out of 10 women given a diagnosis of Down syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy through abortion.

Dr. Andre Lalonde, executive vice president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Ottawa, worries that Palin's now renowned decision may cause abortions in Canada to decline as other women there and elsewhere opt to follow suit.

He says not every woman is prepared to deal with the consequences of Down babies, who have developmental delays, some physical difficulties and often a shortened lifespan.

Wider use of blood screening and amniocentesis during pregnancies can now accurately predict the presence of Down syndrome.

Lalonde says his primary concern is that women have the....

...choice of abortion and that greater public awareness of women making choices like Palin to complete a pregnancy and give birth to their genetically-abnormal baby could be detrimental and confusing to the women and their families.

This is as lively and sensible a book on evangelism as I’ve seen, especially valuable for bringing out the wide range of activities that all need to be carried on in effective Christian witness in contemporary society. It encourages congregations to recognise the varied gifts of their members and to enable each one to be involved in evangelism even though not all of them may be called to be evangelists in the narrower sense of the term.

- I Howard Marshall

I warmly recommend this book. I have lerned from reading it, and have no doubt that others will as well. It challenged me, encouraged me, and often inspired me. And at my age, that`s quite an achievement!
- Alister McGrath

Evangelism can be a difficult topic. We all know that the gospel must go out to the nations, but how do we do it? For many believers, the thought of initiating conversations with unconverted friends, loved ones or strangers is frightening. Not every method suggested in books and sermons is helpful or Biblical. Christians can't be truly motivated by guilt, and frequently find bad experiences so frustrating that, though full of guilt-feelings, they cease trying to express their faith.
John Dickson is a Sydney Anglican who has spent his life as an evangelist, and so comes to his topic with real-life experience. His combination of down-to-earth expression and careful Biblical exposition make this book extremely useful for every Christian. I am very grateful to have found it. I have benefited immensely from its sanctified wisdom and Bible-based advice. I pray that the Lord will use it to extend his kingdom.

- James M Renihan

"Horton confronts modern evangelicalism in terms reminiscent of J. Gresham Machen's challenge to liberalism in the 1920s. Both authors spotlight flaws that do more than distort Christian faith; they reject it. Horton's brush is broad--expect loud lamentation from the evangelical camp--but the picture he paints is largely accurate. His argument is convincing: therapeutic moralism has, in fact, found a home among evangelicals."

--Parker T. Williamson, editor emeritus and senior correspondent, The Presbyterian Layman

"Christless Christianity makes an important contribution in defense of the centrality of Christ to vibrant Christian life and witness. Horton has ably helped us see the train wreck that is so much of popular Christianity. While others are legitimately concerned with errors originating in the academy, errors that excite the intellectual but few average pew sitters are even aware of, Horton turns his sharp mind to exposing the mass production of a kinder, happier legalism that robs the average Christian of the liberating joy of knowing the Jesus whose work is finished and never improved. A more important and timely volume could not have been written."

--Thabiti M. Anyabwile, senior pastor, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

"Christless Christianity establishes Michael Horton as the outstanding protagonist for classical Protestant orthodoxy. His wide-ranging and carefully researched examples show how our churches and megachurches have pandered to the culture with Gnostic, Pelagian, moralistic, and self-help heresies bereft of the saving action of Jesus Christ. He leaves us with a profound trust and a sure confidence in our biblical faith. What could be more important?"

--Episcopal Bishop C. FitzSimons Allison