John Mark Reynolds

Thank you, Catholic bishops

All Christians, including those of us who are not Catholic, must be thankful for the present stand of the bishops against this abuse. They favor health care for all, but they do not favor death for any.

By John Mark Reynolds | November 20, 2009; 04:54 PM ET | Comments (0)

Muslim fighters

Muslim citizens have been and are loyal members of this nation. They have served capably in the past and will do so in the future. Sadly, just as was the case with secularists during the Cold War, they will have to endure increased scrutiny since a substantial minority of their fellows has turned against American values.

By John Mark Reynolds | November 13, 2009; 03:12 PM ET | Comments (37)

An act of bad faith

Islamic people and nations contributed to the formation of the West, to the creation of modern science, and have produced works of enduring beauty and importance. The violent forms of Islam have produced nothing but misery and ugliness. It is time to end the confusion between the two and protect our nation, including its Muslims, from the wicked.

By John Mark Reynolds | November 6, 2009; 06:32 PM ET | Comments (19)

Palin Care

Sarah Palin was right to worry about "death panels," because good intentions often go bad when government is involved.

By John Mark Reynolds | November 6, 2009; 03:13 PM ET | Comments (4)

Is there good without God?

Some of the most ethical people I know are atheists and agnostics. One can certainly be moral without believing in God, but this is because men can surely breath without being aware of the existence of oxygen. God is the cause of moral goodness, but nobody has to recognize the cause in order to get the benefit.

By John Mark Reynolds | October 30, 2009; 03:03 PM ET | Comments (78)

Why I Believe

God exists, but what God? I mean the God that is all-powerful, all knowing, the God who is the Creator of the cosmos. By definition if such a God exists, there is only one God, because only one being could logically be omnipotent.

By John Mark Reynolds | October 24, 2009; 11:17 PM ET | Comments (0)

The Nuclear Sword Is Not In Vain

Millions are now alive because of the United States nuclear weaponry and millions more are free. The United States has not borne the nuclear sword in vain.

By John Mark Reynolds | October 1, 2009; 01:24 PM ET | Comments (11)

Seven Suggestions for Christians in the Public Square

Political talk has had an ugly side, but things are getting worse. Hateful talk is no longer underground, but practiced openly and shamelessly. Mainstream politicians are more willing to tolerate association with fringe rhetoric. So what should Christians do?

By John Mark Reynolds | September 18, 2009; 02:56 PM ET | Comments (8)

Defend the Innocent

Church is not generally the right place to celebrate our civil rights, though we may thank God for them, but it might be the right place to urge citizens to exercise them to protect the innocent.

By John Mark Reynolds | September 10, 2009; 01:55 PM ET | Comments (43)

A Letter from a Senior Devil on Texas

Given our long-term strategy of making education as ineffectual as possible, placing the Bible in schools may do to religious comprehension what we have done to mathematical literacy.

By John Mark Reynolds | September 3, 2009; 04:13 PM ET | Comments (9)

Health Care Too Great a Good for Caesar

Every Christian longs to see medical care for all of God's children, but not at the cost of loss of liberty, crushing reasonable minority opinions, and giving too much power to the state.

By John Mark Reynolds | August 21, 2009; 12:11 PM ET | Comments (13)

Romance Requires Showing Up and Staying Apart

It would be foolish to reject new social media tools to speak to those who are distant, but it would be equally foolish to abandon person-to-person ministry.

By John Mark Reynolds | August 13, 2009; 01:06 PM ET | Comments (4)

Rediscovering Athens and Jerusalem

Religion without the stability provided by reason is toxic, but so is reason without the information that only God can provide.

By John Mark Reynolds | July 28, 2009; 04:48 PM ET | Comments (5)

Sometimes Government Must Act

The courts should exercise great caution in undermining a family's rights or disallowing any lifestyle.

By John Mark Reynolds | May 29, 2009; 01:42 PM ET | Comments (1)

Obama Courageously Misses the Point

The President spoke as if the controversy centered on his appearance at Notre Dame and speech when in reality it centered on his being honored despite his views.

By John Mark Reynolds | May 18, 2009; 12:04 PM ET | Comments (354)

Saving the Priesthood from Post Haste

Roman Catholic views of the priesthood may or may not be correct, but Western people lack the prudence and moderation to decide.

By John Mark Reynolds | May 14, 2009; 12:37 PM ET | Comments (14)

Caesar Tortures, Not Jesus

Torture is incompatible with a great nation and with the beliefs of the Christian majority of that nation. We must act as the Prince of Peace would act and not as Caesar did.

By John Mark Reynolds | May 11, 2009; 02:19 PM ET | Comments (23)

Obama: The Christian as President

Christians like President Obama govern as Christians without forcing others to be Christians. We know a good bit about President Obama's values, for good and bad, by knowing the form of Christianity he embraces

By John Mark Reynolds | April 16, 2009; 12:12 PM ET | Comments (26)

On America, Land of Cults

An American cult is what happens when radical individualism meets religion and philosophy.

By John Mark Reynolds | April 1, 2009; 05:11 PM ET | Comments (63)

Finding the Devil in the Post

Satan's existence is suggested by human experience and the Bible and is confirmed by reading the Washington Post.

By John Mark Reynolds | March 26, 2009; 12:19 PM ET | Comments (47)

Always Losing, Never Lost: Christianity in America

If American history is any guide to the American present, we are on the edge of a great revival of traditional Christianity.

By John Mark Reynolds | March 23, 2009; 02:20 PM ET | Comments (6)

Risking a Fearful Judgment

President Obama, through presidential fiat, decided experimenting on potential human beings will expand. Without study and by proclamation, the President has created a monstrous policy that has no precedent in American history.

By John Mark Reynolds | March 17, 2009; 12:01 PM ET | Comments (2)

Obama's Arrogance and God's Judgment

Without study and by proclamation, the President has created a monstrous policy that has no precedent in American history.

By John Mark Reynolds | March 10, 2009; 04:17 AM ET | Comments (3)

Love Your Neighbor and Don't Tax Him

Forced charity is bad for us because in removing our liberty to choose between goods it makes us perpetual dependents. By cutting everyone a check or putting everyone in "one size fits all" programs it is radically inefficient and often harms the giver and the recipient.

By John Mark Reynolds | March 9, 2009; 07:13 AM ET | Comments (5)

On the Abuse of Good Institutions

We cannot create a powerful and beautiful institution without creating vulnerable spots that the wicked will exploit. Sadly, the very ideals of marriage have caused many to forget those necessary checks and balances to married love that exist in a healthy society.

By John Mark Reynolds | February 27, 2009; 05:53 AM ET | Comments (63)

Consider the Vintage and the Source

Since the Bible is a collection of very old books, they are best understood when they are read in a community of active learners. It is good to read and study them alone, but with the caution that they were written to a people (Israel) or to a group (the Church) and not just to you.

By John Mark Reynolds | February 23, 2009; 06:55 AM ET | Comments (2)

Support All Charities or None

If government must be in the business of charity, it would be wise to fund diverse approaches with competing moral assumptions.

By John Mark Reynolds | February 11, 2009; 07:40 PM ET | Comments (2)

On Pitying the Fool: Dealing with Holocaust Deniers

By talking to the fool and offering to restore communion to him, the Pope appeared to make light of the wickedness and folly. The Vatican had to quickly acknowledge this danger and clarify that no bishop could be in full communion who wickedly denied the reality and horror of the Holocaust.

By John Mark Reynolds | February 6, 2009; 03:47 AM ET | Comments (2)

Conversation and Conversion

President Obama was right to reach out to the Islamic world at his inauguration. Given his background, Obama has a unique chance to promote what is good about the United States while distinguishing those virtues from our problems and failures.

By John Mark Reynolds | February 5, 2009; 12:24 AM ET | Comments (13)

Without a Better Vision This Administration Will Perish

Obama is a great speaker cursed with bad speeches that are the product of an inadequate view of God. The God of the Liberal Christian can produce a great episode of Barney, but the platitudes of the purple dinosaur are not enough to move nations to greatness.

By John Mark Reynolds | January 26, 2009; 06:51 AM ET | Comments (236)

In God We Trust

Mr. Obama soon will be my president. As head of government, I will pray for him daily and honor him. When he acts as head of his party, I will act as the loyal opposition. Like all Americans, I am delighted that Mr. Obama is acknowledging the religious traditions and roots of our nation.

By John Mark Reynolds | January 19, 2009; 04:42 AM ET | Comments (7)

Rick Warren: A Public Educator Worthy of Honor

Rick Warren is a sensible man who represents the center of American Christianity. Christian ideas and culture are part of the genetic makeup of our nation and appealing to them is vital to tapping into the American story. President-elect Obama was smart to pick Warren, and Pastor Warren was right to accept.

By John Mark Reynolds | December 27, 2008; 05:47 PM ET | Comments (26)

Anglicans and Their Unwelcome House Guests

Over the last half-century, the American Church has become an embarrassment to the global Church. They ceased to be Anglican in any meaningful sense, or in some cases even Christian, and the rest of the Anglican world finally decided to clean house. Certain people hijacked the American Anglican "family name," but had no real ideological connection to the historic faith.

By John Mark Reynolds | December 22, 2008; 12:37 AM ET | Comments (9)

Making Men A Bit Less Devilish

President Elect Obama is smart enough to recognize that the problem with terrorists' beliefs is not that they are religious, but that they are false and wicked. Terrorists must be opposed intellectually and morally, but Obama must pick the right arguments.

By John Mark Reynolds | December 5, 2008; 06:27 AM ET | Comments (22)

Proper Pride Takes Real Humility

God does not need a presidential proclamation of thanksgiving, but the nation does. Thanksgiving reminds us that our success is not all in our hands. Our leaders, even the ones who mean well, do not control all events. Best reason and best experience shows that cosmic history is complicated.

By John Mark Reynolds | November 23, 2008; 05:50 PM ET | Comments (34)

Compassion Does Not Demonize 'Fundamentalism'

Opposing a call to compassion feels like kicking a puppy with a broken paw, but it isn't. A call to compassion is not actually compassion.

By John Mark Reynolds | November 14, 2008; 07:32 AM ET | Comments (29)

Glorious Morning in America

It is glorious that an African-American has been elected President of the United States. Slavery was the original sin of the Republic and racism remains the bitter experience of too many Americans. The election of Barack Obama will not end racism in the United States, but it is a positive, symbolic step forward.

By John Mark Reynolds | November 5, 2008; 08:29 AM ET | Comments (6)

Waiting for King Jesus

Christians can disagree about this prudential call, but the Republic seems safer at this time with a divided government.

By John Mark Reynolds | October 31, 2008; 02:57 PM ET | Comments (17)

Healing Before Empowering

Christianity is good for both men and women, even when it does not empower us. Americans often carry the illusion that empowering a person is always a good thing, but a moment of reflection clears up that optimistic fantasy. Bad people should not be empowered and good people already are.

By John Mark Reynolds | October 27, 2008; 04:57 AM ET | Comments (6)

Don't Panic, But Do Mind Your Own Business!

Many of us are taught to worry globally, and behave parochially, so we can avoid meaningful change locally. By worrying about the global economy, I can ignore my own wasteful use of personal resources. I rage against Wall Street, when in reality I should go cut up my credit cards.

By John Mark Reynolds | October 20, 2008; 01:29 AM ET | Comments (13)

Belief Not the Problem; Bigotry Not the Solution

It is not bigotry to reject a candidate because one is concerned about the political implications of their ideas, even their religious ideas, if those ideas are fairly examined.

By John Mark Reynolds | October 2, 2008; 01:47 PM ET | Comments (13)

Advance Liberty, Overturn Roe

Roe should be overturned because by judicial fiat it hallows killing the innocent as part of our Constitution. In a just society there can be no right to do evil. Not every evil should be illegal, but no evil action should be hallowed as a constitutional right.

By John Mark Reynolds | September 25, 2008; 11:32 AM ET | Comments (22)

Pity for a Devastated Wall Street

Liberty requires good men and women, so friends of liberty would do well to pray for a genuine religious revival on Wall Street and in government.

By John Mark Reynolds | September 19, 2008; 11:39 AM ET | Comments (23)

Understanding the Palin Prayers

Palin was expressing her convictions about the pipeline, that it was the right thing to do, and asking for prayerful support. In the context of the religious dialect of her church, it is a gross misunderstanding to think she meant more than that.

By John Mark Reynolds | September 11, 2008; 12:35 PM ET | Comments (37)

God Save Sarah Palin!

When traditional Christians vote for Palin, as I will, they are not being inconsistent. They are, in fact, being true to the best part of their heritage. This heritage helped liberate women without denying distinctions between the sexes.

By John Mark Reynolds | September 4, 2008; 06:02 AM ET | Comments (63)

Palin's Profound Experience

Mitt Romney, the man I backed for president, was no more qualified by government experience to be president than Sarah Palin . . . if we only count their time in politics.

By John Mark Reynolds | September 2, 2008; 08:27 AM ET | Comments (101)

The Merciful Are Happy

I don't know if John Edwards is sorry for his sins, but I do know that only a fool or a saint can afford to be unmerciful or delight in his fall.

By John Mark Reynolds | August 26, 2008; 08:30 AM ET | Comments (3)

No Theocracy Here: Saddleback Does What American Christians Have Always Done

The good news is that all of us can relax. Both Obama and McCain are mainstream American politicians.

By John Mark Reynolds | August 20, 2008; 06:54 AM ET | Comments (56)

What Evangelicals Want

John Mark Reynolds | Tax policy can be debated, but not the right to life. Evangelicals want a candidate to defend innocent human life at every phase.

» Rodriguez: What Hispanic Evangelicals Want

By John Mark Reynolds | August 14, 2008; 02:37 PM ET | Comments (349)

Trust the Lord, not Things

The rich, as Jesus pointed out, may trust their riches to bring happiness. Even if wealth has not done so yet, a certain kind of fool believes it will do so soon if only there was a bit more. My grandmother knew better.

By John Mark Reynolds | August 5, 2008; 10:21 AM ET | Comments (3)

Solzhenitsyn the Prophet

Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a great man, but not a man of our age. Like Jeremiah, he spoke hard truths and uncomfortable words that made him sad. Solzhenitsyn, who died Sunday at age 89, always told the truth even when his...

By John Mark Reynolds | August 4, 2008; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (76)

Our Very Religious and Somewhat Racist Nation

Racism is a horrifying sin against the command to love our neighbor as self. God creates people in His image, so racism is also blasphemy. It is also stupid since it prevents us from benefiting from the great goods that God would bring through other people.

By John Mark Reynolds | August 2, 2008; 11:37 AM ET | Comments (8)

ACLU: Theocrats in Reverse

Too much “official religion” is dangerous, but the ACLU are ideological extremists in seeing danger in old and workable public accommodations to the overwhelmingly religious desires of Americans. They are theocrats in reverse.

By John Mark Reynolds | July 24, 2008; 11:48 AM ET | Comments (77)

Room for Humility in All Believers

What this study should do is produce the (traditional Christian) virtue of modesty about being "right" intellectually. Having the right idea is good, but not enough.

By John Mark Reynolds | July 8, 2008; 08:13 AM ET | Comments (21)

Reflections on Russia

If atheism and Communism were the gods who failed Russia, the new gods are becoming the softer secularism of greed.

By John Mark Reynolds | July 2, 2008; 09:18 PM ET | Comments (3)

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

Whatever my views on human relationships as a book lover I am definitely polygamous. I was asked for one book, but I love too many books to list just one.

By John Mark Reynolds | June 30, 2008; 07:47 AM ET | Comments (3)

Silly Stereotypes are not Sharp Satire

Studies show such stereotyping does negatively impact public perception of groups (such as Evangelicals and Hindus) who are subject to frequent, unbalanced social ridicule and stereotyping, so it is not as if there is "no harm done" in all the mockery.

By John Mark Reynolds | June 19, 2008; 03:07 PM ET | Comments (8)

Christianity Produces a Sound Soul and Sound Body

There is more to understanding God’s creation and how we should relate to it than the nutrition label on the back of your “food product” can tell you.

By John Mark Reynolds | June 11, 2008; 02:30 PM ET | Comments (19)

No Place Like a Spiritual Home

It is difficult to understand how Senator Obama could attend a church for twenty years, defend it in one of the most eloquent speeches I have heard, and then suddenly have an epiphany about the nature of the place where he trusted his own and his children’s spiritual well being.

By John Mark Reynolds | June 8, 2008; 11:51 PM ET | Comments (22)

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