The debate is an old one that has come to various generations in different forms. Should we meet only people's spiritual needs, the Gospel, or meet their humanitarian needs, the Social Gospel? Is the latter essential, necessary, a good thing, or can it be a displacement of the former. 

Certainly we're commanded in Scripture to care for other human beings' needs, physical, emotional, social, economic. Feeding the body. So that's not a debate, or should not be.

Clearly, though, we're commanded in Scripture to share the Gospel, to address people's spiritual needs that are foundational to our lives in all other ways. Point is, once reconciliation with God has occurred, a person can grow, be blessed, develop right perspectives, right values and attitudes, honor God, care for others. But it all begins with feeding the soul.

What's missing at times is that people, including Christians, don't seem to believe that their faith can change the world, evidenced in the fact they keep looking for other solutions that sidetrack them or, worse, undermine God's Word and will.

Remember, the Gospel is the most powerful transformative message in the world today. It changes people who can change the world.

Marijuana, once considered a gateway drug, has now gone mainstream, both medically and recreationally. But why, and is this a good and wise choice? Medical marijuana may offer some benefits for those suffering various pains, but research is not at all complete, nor is "the science settled." Plus, there may be safer alternatives. The choice to use medical marijuana should be made carefully. Recreationally, it seems Americans have forgotten why marijuana was outlawed in the first place, that there were indeed good reasons for doin so. Recreation can turn into negative personal and social side-effects very quickly. From a Christian perspective, it's a good topic for Christian liberty discussions, not everything that is permissible may be beneficial. For more Christian commentary, check the website rexmrogers.com. 

It strikes me that most of public discussion--certainly in news and social media--dealing with controversial social and moral issues is based upon words, i.e., vocabulary, that is defined by the Left. So if you disagree with certain social and moral changes, you have already lost half the battle because you've accepted the use of the terms provided by those with whom you disagree. The abortion debate has long experienced this phenomenon but not its a matter of course in virtually every significant culture war debate. Carefully defining our terms and when appropriate using different terms is now an ongoing challenge, and opportunity to witness to truth, for those of us who are Christian or conservative.

If you want to read more Christian commentary, see my website at rexmrogers.com.

Oct 25, 2022 is my 70th birthday, so I thought I'd offer some personal reflections on living in a rapidly changing world. It seems like our country and culture are upside down and that there are more negative changes than positive or good ones. How do we live in this kind of intentionally de-Christianizing culture? The psalmists gave more than a few clues. For more Christian commentary, check my website, rexmrogers.com.

Iran is experiencing an uprising unprecedented in the number of women in the streets. The uprising started with the tragic passing in September 2022 of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after serious beatings. Allegedly she was arrested for "unsuitable attire," meaning some of her hair showed under her hijab. Women are now removing their hijabs and waving them as a flag of resistance. It is a time of destruction, coercive government power, and death. How then should we pray for the people of Iran?

Abusive behavior and violence are on a serious upswing not only worldwide where we've come to expect it at football (soccer) matches, but now also the past few years in the US at sports venues at every level, little kids to the pros.  Not just fans or players but parents are out of control, and referees and umpires, especially for youth sports, are quitting in droves, as are youth players. The nastiness is not just about the score or a controversial call but about uniforms, rivalries, cheerleaders, you name it. A while back, an University of Alabama fan traveled across the state to Auburn University where he poisoned several beautiful and highly valued trees on campus. Why? Well, hey, he's just a fan. Now sports venues are themselves becoming unsafe environments and no slowdown in abusive behavior is predicted anytime soon, if ever. For more Christian commentary, see rexmrogers.com.  

America is fast de-Christianizing. In fact, Gen Z has been called the first post-Christian generation. So what does it mean for us that declining faith in culture is a reality of life, our moment? It means people are living in the midst of anxiety, depression, and despair, they are looking for what's real. So our task, as always, is to discern truth from error, speak the truth in love, and be ready always to give an answer of our hope in gentleness and respect. In other words, we should be real, and this will be our greatest testimony to the fact of Christ and Christian hope. For more Christian commentary, check rexmrogers.com. 

Stand Firm, the Scripture says, but what does this mean in the midst of the descent into madness American culture is experiencing? How do we stand firm? 
Certainly there is much about which to be concerned as American elites and increasingly the general population embrace values fundamentally contrary to the Judeo-Christian values upon which this country and culture were founded and flourished for more than two hundred years. But this being the case, Christians are called upon to stand for truth, which at this time could be our greatest testimony. For more Christian commentary, check rexmrogers.com.  

In the past few years, certainly during the 21st Century, American culture has dramatically shifted in whether truth even exists, and if so, what is considered truth. In the place of truth about God, the definition and meaning of life, the nature of sexuality, the practice of religion, where one lie after another has been promoted, embraced, and now forced upon those who resist. This podcast is a simple list of some of these lies.

Disturbingly, American culture may be at a tipping point, for it is not logical or historically demonstrable to believe a culture can continue to flourish built upon lies. If intellectuals and elites cannot even agree on the definition of man and woman, what can it agree upon and what are the prospects of this culture flourishing? And how should Christians, who know and believe Truth, stand in the face of the father of lies' onslaught?

For more Christian commentary, see my website at rexmrogers.com. 

The world in which we live today is characterized by what might be called "layered crises," one on top of the other. Global pandemic, wars, rampant inflation, natural disasters on an international level, and sudden illness or disease, financial duress, anxiety or depression, broken families, and much more on the personal level. 

Jesus said in his prayer of John 17 we are to live "in the world" while being "not of the world" even as we are commissioned to go "into the world." So we are here until the Lord calls us home. How then should we respond to crises in a manner that glorifies God, expresses grace and truth to those around us, and care for our family?

The Lord is our strength, but trusting him is sometimes easier said than done. For more Christian commentary on contemporary issues see my website at rexmrogers.com.