Ben Coppedge

[Matt Smethurst @MattSmethurst]

Man, this is beautiful. A life adorning the gospel.

Listen to what @StevenBartlett—host of one of the world’s most popular podcasts—says to Christian apologist John Lennox.

[Wes Huff @WesleyLHuff]

So apparently I’m embroiled in some sort of controversy. Let me set a few things strait:

1. I don’t know Sam Allberry personally. We've met in-person a total of once — back in January while I was in Nashville when I did the Shawn Ryan Podcast, where I ran into and took a picture with Sam. When I saw the news initially about his removal from leadership I took that picture down. I had already started to see people commenting that by keeping it up I was implicating myself in his sin. I do not think they were correct. But ironically, said comments were then replaced with ones telling me that by taking it down… I was hiding something and implicating myself in his sin. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

2. I believe the language in the current public statements to be potentially unhelpfully vague. From my (brief though not uninformed) understanding of the details of the situation, what Sam did that disqualified him from leadership was not due to sexual or even a romantic impropriety, but what could best be described as a sinful emotional attachment. This is not to justify it or say that it wasn't disqualifying (I think it probably was). But the lack of clarity has left room for those who desire to gossip, defame, and sinfully speculate online to run wild — which they have.

3. I am genuinely saddened with the internet’s desire to tear down and jump to harsh judgements regarding another Christian’s failing. When someone falls into sin, those who are spiritually mature should work toward their restoration, approaching them with a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1-2). The motivation for restoration carries spiritual weight. Bringing someone back who has wandered from truth saves their soul from death and covers a multitude of sins (James 5:19–20). This isn’t merely about correcting behaviour, it’s about spiritual rescue. The desire to gossip and breed quarrels, which is so obviously warned against in scripture (Proverbs 17:19; 26:17; 2 Timothy 2:14, 23-24; Titus 3:9-11; James 4:1-2) is, to say the least, lamentable and disappointing to see.

4. Sam Allberry is being labelled as “Side B,” this is genuinely confusing to me. To quote Sam in his own words: “Same sex attraction is not a good thing. It is... a consequence of the fall. ...This kind of attraction is not something God designed for us, and it contradicts his design” (Is God Anti Gay, 63). Sam has expressed in multiple places throughout his written work and public talks that he holds to the biblical position of marriage, that homosexual relationships are sinful, and that identifying as a “gay Christian” is incompatible with scripture. To be clear, I don't agree with Sam on all the nuances of how he discusses the issue. But I can only conclude that this attempt to make him into an LBGT advocate comes from either shear ignorance of his public work or some sort of internet-level frothing of the mouth to jump on whoever “we don’t like this week.”

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. - Heb 3:13.

[Kyle Mann @The_Kyle_Mann]

If Jesus's Resurrection Were a Hoax

Prolly my favorite sketch we ever did at @TheBabylonBee

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

REPORTER: You would agree it's never acceptable to assault police officers?

TRUMP: Sure

REPORTER: Among those you pardoned is a guy who used a stun gun on a police officer. Why does he deserve a pardon?

TRUMP: Well, I don't know

[Matt Smethurst @MattSmethurst]

Donald Macleod on Christ’s sinlessness. Read this slowly. 🔥

“Far from meaning a shorter, painless struggle with temptation, it involved him in protracted resistance. Precisely because he did not yield easily and was not, like us, an easy prey, the devil had to deploy all his wiles and use all his resources. The very fact that he was invincible meant that he endured the full force of temptation’s ferocity, until hell slunk away, defeated and exhausted.”

[Mike The Mad Dawg @Mad_Dawg19]

💯🔴⚫️ #GoDawgs

[Lila Rose @LilaGraceRose]

"You can try to kill off everyone with Down syndrome by using abortion, but you won’t be any closer to a perfect society. You will just be closer to a cruel, heartless one."

Charlotte Helene Fien urges the United Nations to protect people with Down syndrome.

[Gavin Ortlund @gavinortlund]

With the language of "reproductive rights" more common in recent weeks, we need regular reminders that this language typically refers to practices that involve the slaughter of the most innocent and vulnerable members of humanity. May we never grow numb to the evil of it.

[Ben Coppedge @bfcoppedge]

@Delta After stranding me in ATLANTA after 14hrs of delays, rebookings, cancellations, etc... Thank you for sending me a hotel voucher for JACKSONVILLE, FL. I'll just grab an Uber for that 6-hour drive, get a little shut eye, and head back to ATL for next round of cancellations.

[Benjamin Watson @BenjaminSWatson]

Happy Father’s Day gentlemen.

What a privilege we have to influence the next generation. Be strong and courageous. Be tender and loving. Be adventurous and trustworthy. Be faithful and true.

You are protectors, providers, priests and prophets in your homes. You are watchmen and pillars in your communities. You are advocates and advisors in your nation. You are servant leaders for all those under your care.

Fatherhood is a responsibility, a calling, and a worthwhile pursuit. We are our son’s first hero and our daughter’s first love. Enjoy this day in the presence of those who love you and hang on your every word. Make right what you’ve done wrong. Commit to presence when you’ve been absent. Open your heart where it has been closed. Embrace the future and forgive the past.

Men, we are not owed tomorrow. Our children, no matter their age, need us now. Our impact on them is immeasurable. May this day be a reminder of that truth, a reward for our dedication, and a revelation of all that is to come.

[Matt Smethurst @MattSmethurst]

“Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.”

— Winston Churchill

D-Day was 80 years ago today.

[Anthony Bradley @drantbradley]

Fully human inside the womb and outside the womb.

[Russell Moore @drmoore]

Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for yesterday we were dead.

[Justin Giboney @JustinEGiboney]

Few things harden our hearts more than making an ideology (conservatism/progressivism) an idol.

It can make you hate people for caring about the lives of immigrants

or

It can make you hate people for caring about the lives of the unborn

[Michael Wear @MichaelRWear]

This is a tragic statement for many reasons. One way it's tragic is it amounts to the first female VP of the US reifying a cultural & economic system which places enormous pressure on young women to feel like bringing an unexpected pregnancy to term is to give up on their future.

[Geoff Duncan @GeoffDuncanGA]

This is an unfortunate but honest and accurate assessment of the @GOP’s current (and pathetic) position. Ironically, it’s written by Democratic strategist (and friend) @davidaxelrod

[Matt Smethurst @MattSmethurst]

We can look at our culture the way Jonah looked at Nineveh or the way Jesus looked at Jerusalem.

— Lori Frank

[David French @DavidAFrench]

Tremendous moral clarity from @JGreenblattADL.

[Geoff Duncan @GeoffDuncanGA]

Hard to watch another painful example of the “culture of chaos” Donald Trump has selfishly launched inside the @GOP and across this country. This is not what winning looks like for those keeping score.

[Chris Hatch 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇰🇪 @LondonHatch]

This is a convo between Bono and Franklin Graham - there’s no doubt in my mind who understands the overall theme of the Bible better