The Christian Manifesto
Gracious Praise. Straight-Forward Critique.


 
 

 
chastity-belt

Would You Only Marry A Virgin?: Selling Us a Bill of Goods (Part 1)

Call me naïve or foolish or liberal, but I am truly convicted that the Church is preaching a message about purity that is both impractical and unforgiving. (Part 1 of 2)
by Calvin Moore
25

 
 
chastity-belt

Would You Only Marry A Virgin?: Living ‘Ubuntu’ (Part 2)

The Cross is about more than staying virgins until marriage. I’d even venture that the Cross of Christ isn’t even about your virginity.
by Calvin Moore
20

 

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Amish

The Curious Case of Amish Fiction

Don’t get me wrong, I honestly love Amish fiction.
by Rachel Brand
14

 

 
sex-with-feet

Let’s Talk About Sex: When Is Sex Ever Tidy?

Our lives, our thoughts, need to be in constant balance between the world we live in and the morals instilled in us through our beliefs. (Part 4 of 4)
by Adrienne Johnston
8

 
 
Romantic-bed-for-a-memorable-night

Let’s Talk About Sex: Beginning the Conversation Anew

The topic of sex is in the minds and on the lips of nearly every person you meet. Except for in our churches. (Part 1 of 4)
by Adrienne Johnston
7

 

 
romneyryan01_780x557

Why The Romney/Ryan Ticket is what the Left wanted

The problem for the Romney/Ryan ticket is if the dissatisfaction over the economy doesn’t drown out the other issues, than the ticket is behind the times when it comes to social issues.
by Kyle Kiekintveld
7

 

 
President_Official_Portrait_HiRes-copy

Would Jesus Repeal Obamacare?

We should provide access to individuals who get really sick and risk being denied coverage. I would think most reasonable thinking Christians would believe the same thing but the debate seems to center around how to pay for...
by Brian A. Moore
6

 
 
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Let’s Talk About Sex: An Open Letter To Men

I would like to take this moment to apologize as a member of both the church and the female sex as a whole. We have done a horrible job educating you about sex. (Part 2 of 4)
by Adrienne Johnston
5

 

 
hiroshi-sugimoto-theatre-theater-ua-playhouse

Movies to See Before the World Ends

You and I have only 336 days left to live (at the time of this writing, Jan 20, 2011 A.D.). And then the fiery deluge, long foretold by those nerdy, number-crunching Mayans. What to do between now and the impending doom? What t...
by Trevor Sides
3

 
 
joe_paterno_death_dead_is_joepa

Penn State and the End of Sex

Postmodernism and evolution make a nasty little duo when it comes to wreaking havoc on moral absolutism.
by Trevor Sides
2

 

 
broken

Christians, Sex, and Broken Things: A Response (Part 1)

As a member of the body, you need to be aware both of how common sexual sin is, and how much hurt can spring from how you and the church as a whole address it. (Part 1 of 2)
by Claire Hellar
2

 
 
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On leaving the “institutional” church (Part 2 of 2)

As much as I sympathize with a lot of the critique that drives these conversations, I remain unimpressed with many of the solutions.
by Jonathan Martin
2

 

 
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Still No Answers

Anybody who has been in a dark crowded theater in the last week has probably pondered, “What if that were me who would have been a victim or someone who was part of my family?”  Last Friday’s tragic incident in C...
by Brian A. Moore
2

 
 
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Of Religion & Relationship: Thoughts on Jefferson Bethke’s “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus”

Poet Jefferson Bethke’s spoken word piece, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” has gone viral. Within a mere two days of posting, over 2 million people have viewed the 4-minute video. I saw it posted on The Resurgence,...
by Calvin Moore
1

 

 
wrestle1

The Inevitable

When you’ve been wrestling all night for a blessing, it may be difficult to say that you would do it all over again when the dawn breaks.
by Jonathan Martin
1

 
 
kony-2012_0

Let’s All Go To Kony Island (Part 2)

There’s a pseudo sense of connection and meaning in digital activism. (Part 2 of 2)
by Trevor Sides
1

 

 
Mega Millions Jackpot Reaches $262 Million

So You Didn’t Win The Lottery.

Money cannot buy you peace, joy, or fulfillment. Putting trust in money is like a House of Cards.
by Brian A. Moore
1

 
 
kids-being-bullied4

Are You Raising a Bully?

Discipline is not embarrassing or bullying your child.
by Brian A. Moore
1

 

 
romney1

On Mitt Romney, Liberty University, and civil religion.

In recent years, evangelicals have moved towards civil religion at a breathtaking pace. We have accepted the categories given us by the world, that we are broken down into two categories: conservatives and liberals.
by Jonathan Martin
1

 
 
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My Monster

Our very own Mary Twomey has recently released her book series, "Saga of the Spheres." We thought we'd give her a little space to shine and talk about her thoughts on the craft of writing.
by Mary Twomey
1

 

 
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Moving Beyond “Liking” Jesus

Do you like Jesus? Are you a fan? Or are you a follower? Fans cheer Jesus on. Followers realize that we are built for things so much greater...
by Brian A. Moore
1

 
 
francis-schaeffer-contemplating

Welcome to The Christian Manifesto.

The Christian Manifesto. We’re here to make Jesus’ name famous, to review Christian (and non-Christian) materials with a critical eye, and to provide interviews with dynamic voices within (and without) the Church. W...
by Calvin Moore
0

 

 
Bullying

Do We Think Jesus is a Wuss?: Bully Body Slams, 50 Cent, and the Judgment of God

was bullied a lot in school. I went to a small Christian school, which makes it all the more disconcerting the more I think about it. No one believed me, of course, because the ones doing the majority of the bullying were pasto...
by Calvin Moore
0

 
 
Jay-Leno-Conan

Conan, Haiti, and Judgment

I recently got into a lively “Tweet Off” with author Jackson Pearce about, of all things, the $45 million payout Conan O’Brien is receiving in order to exit The Tonight Show. The debate didn’t center around the recen...
by Calvin Moore
0

 

 
DJ

The Christian Hip-Hop Margin: A Rant

I’m a big fan of Christian hip-hop. Some people find the notion of the genre to be somewhat of an oxymoron. Christian hip-hop? And I understand. Given that the urban church/urban Christian subculture tends to be 10-15 years...
by Calvin Moore
0

 
 
White-Flag

Surrender

I have been studying through the Book of Acts lately. It is one of my favorite books to study—so rich with history. It shows you the larval stage of Jesus’ Church on earth.  It shows you the boldness of the early Christian...
by Calvin Moore
0

 

 
Jezebel

Jezebel & Narcissus

Have you ever had anyone screw you over? I’m not talking about the high school-level gossip of someone you thought was your friend. I’m talking about someone taking something intensely personal and using it to hurt you. The...
by Calvin Moore
0

 
 
Eucatastrophe

Eucatastrophe

“Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and co...
by Calvin Moore
0

 

 
TCM Screenshot Identity Image

Welcome (Back) to The Christian Manifesto.

Children grow up. This is a terrifying prospect, but no less of a reality. When they are born to us, we care for them, we nurture them, we train them. But, they are bound to grow up. Hopefully, the positive things you have done...
by Calvin Moore
0

 
 
p_writing-letters_1621889c

Let’s Talk About Sex: An Open Letter To Women

We are raised in a world with two types of women: virgins and whores. That's it, ladies. (Part 3 of 4)
by Adrienne Johnston
0

 

 
Iowa Gay Marriage

Gay Marriage, Moral Categorization, and the US Constitution

One day, gay marriage will be legal in all 50 states. Our children will look back and wonder how it could have ever been otherwise. (Part 1 of 2)
by Calvin Moore
0

 
 
church_state

The Integration of State into Church

We’re so far beyond merely separating church from state, that the state has morphed into a “church” all its own.
by Trevor Sides
0

 

 
Unknown-xx-St-Augustine,-St-Jerome-and-St-Benedict

Augustine and Jerome: Authority and the OT Biblical Canon (Intro)

We live in an era of a fractured church, torn between conflicting doctrines and authorities. (Part 1 of 5)
by Allison Quient
0

 
 
dwell2008markdriscoll1

Why Mark Driscoll is wrong about women in ministry (Part 1 of 2)

In truth, it would take a book-length work to document all the reasons why Mark Driscoll is wrong about women in church leadership. These are only a few of them.
by Jonathan Martin
0

 

 
dwell2008markdriscoll1

Why Mark Driscoll is wrong about women in ministry (Part 2 of 2)

As a third generation Pentecostal preacher who has been and continues to be shaped significantly by women in ministry, this time I had enough.
by Jonathan Martin
0

 
 
kony-2012_0

Let’s All Go To Kony Island (Part 1)

Please don’t unfriend/unfollow me for this, but I haven’t shared, retweeted, hash-tagged or liked the “Stop Kony” video. (Part 1 of 2)
by Trevor Sides
0

 

 
broken

Christians, Sex, and Broken Things: A Response (Part 2)

Never underestimate human weakness. And never underestimate God's grace that counterbalances that.
by Claire Hellar
0

 
 
technical-support

Active Inaction

I could, were I to let myself, cover my car in ribbons and bumper stickers supporting at least twenty different causes.
by Adrienne Johnston
0

 

 
Man Up

Man Up Diary #1: Growing Up is Hard To Do

A lot of people envy what I get to do. I’m still not entirely sure what I think of it all.
by Calvin Moore
0

 
 
Man Up

Man Up Diary #2: Men, What Will You Do With This Life?

Pastor John Onwuchekwa's opening salvo could have been all that was said during the conference and I suspect men would have been wholly satisfied.
by Calvin Moore
0

 

 
Man Up

Man Up Diary #3: Trip Lee Performs “Robot” (Live @ Man Up 2012)

Anyone who knows me is not unaware of the fact that have a been a fan of Trip Lee’s for some time now. Here's one of the reason's why.
by Calvin Moore
0

 
 
Man Up

Man Up Diary #4: Man Up Panel Discussion & Commentary

We “get” the response of Jacob’s sons.
by Calvin Moore
0

 

 
Man Up

Man Up Diary #5: On Temptation & Mentors

Sitting in the “Men & Temptation” presentation by Pastor Leonce Crump was both liberating and frustrating. (feat. Pastor Leonce Crump Interview)
by Calvin Moore
0

 
 
Man Up

Man Up Diary #6: Authority and the Irresponsibly Fractured Church

When it comes to authority, if I don’t have it, I generally think the person who does have it is an idiot. (feat. DA Horton & Adam Thomason Interview)
by Calvin Moore
0

 

 
Man Up

Man Up Diary #7: Visa, Mastercard, and Your Soul (aka The Currency of Envy)

I want what other dudes have. Plain and simple. (feat. Trip Lee & KB Interview)
by Calvin Moore
0

 
 
film-slate

The Cross & The Film Slate: Deconstructing “Christian Films” (Part 1)

To be clear, a "Christian film" and a film with Christian "values" are two different things.
by Nicholas Ahern
0

 

 
kids-being-bullied4

Are You Raising a Bully?: Paralyzed at Home (Part 2)

Healthy marriages produce healthy families which produce healthy school systems which ultimately produce a healthy society.
by Brian A. Moore
0

 
 
Money fan

Is it really the economy stupid?: What will define you this year and beyond.

Timothy Keller once stated that happiness with many is often a result of one's external circumstance but once those circumstances change for the worse then the spirit is crushed.
by Brian A. Moore
0

 

 
Lecrae

Church Clothes, Critique, & CHH

Let’s stop stoning Lecrae and focus on saving those who are listening to his music. Watch your hearts, don’t idolize any man or woman, and let’s pray for his future.
by J.F. Arnold
0

 
 
Drawing-Gay_flag

The debate on same sex marriage. Does some rhetoric actually draw some further from Christianity?

One of the things that is problematic is the vocal opposition with some in the white and black Christian community as if homosexuality is the single sin that God hates the most.
by Brian A. Moore
0