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Zero Confederate Tolerance

From First Thoughts

Last night in Charleston, South Carolina on the day the nation celebrates the Rev. Dr. King, Governor Rick Perry used a question about voting rights to say the Federal government was at “war” with the states. This was either ignorant or disgusting. I think it should end the Perry . . . . Continue Reading »

The Many Talents of Mr. Gingrich

From First Thoughts

Let me praise Newt Gingrich.When nobody else could imagine a Republican House majority, New Gingrich saw it and made it so. If you are a backbench legislator doomed to decades in the minority, Gingrich is just the bomb thrower and innovator you need.If a student finds history boring, Professor . . . . Continue Reading »

What Lincoln Taught Me

From First Thoughts

God has opinions about human affairs, but His opinions are not easy for any human to see.Abraham Lincoln faced the Civil War, the greatest test the American Republic has endured, but he was not foolish enough to assume the government was on God’s side. In his Second Inaugural Address Lincoln . . . . Continue Reading »

Proud of the Union Label

From First Thoughts

Christians love unions and conservatives should as well.From Poland to West Virginia, unions, organized workers, have checked the power of tyrants and helped working people.This is obvious. It is equally clear that any group is corrupted when it becomes too powerful. Unions in the United States . . . . Continue Reading »

Do Not Praise With Faint Damns

From First Thoughts

Whatever the merits of the complaints against Hermann Cain conservatives should not make the mistake of minimizing the harm done by sexual harassment. In a few places, I have read good-hearted folk misunderstanding the entire issue.They act as if there is no moral issue to sexual harassment at all. . . . . Continue Reading »

On Biblical Authority

From First Thoughts

As a Biblical Christian, people worry that this will keep me from changing my mind. Since open-mindedness is often a good thing, they worry about me. Will I defy the evidence or facts in order to cling to Scripture?I will not, but perhaps merely saying so will not satisfy their just worries. Let me, . . . . Continue Reading »

Empty the Closets: All of Them

From First Thoughts

Sometimes my friends think I wish to go back to the days when people with a homosexual orientation were in a “closet.”I am glad those days are over. I have no wish to return to them.Closets are for clothes and not for people. Nobody should be forced to hide their nature and no Christian . . . . Continue Reading »

One Dogma of Evangelicalism

From First Thoughts

A common criticism of Evangelicals is that we are dogmatic. Since we do in fact have dogma, this would appear fatal. If you don’t like dogma, you will not like us.It does not help to point out that non-Evangelicals also have dogma. People don’t just dislike dogmatic Evangelicals, they . . . . Continue Reading »