You may have noticed, but a ridiculous number of my posts in one way or another reference NPR. For those of you who do not know, NPR is, in the words of Wikipedia, ” is an independent, private, non-profit membership organization of public radio stations.” The stations are non-commerical and therefore rely on listener donations to remain on the air, just like PBS where your kids likely watch Sesame Street. I listen to NPR just about everyday. When we’re on road trips and hit a large city, one of the first things I do is scan the dial for the local NPR affiliate.

Yet I am also a political conservative. Not necessarily in the classic “to be Christian is to be Republican” sence (see my series of posts interacting with Rod Dreher’s Crunchy Cons among others) and NPR admittedly leans toward the liberal side of the spectrum. Much has been made about NPR’s liberal tendencies and few outside of NPR itself debate this liberal slant.

This has been a topic I’ve considered many times over the years, particularly during the avalanche of “conservative talk radio” a few years ago. I have been questioned repeatedly by (I hope) well-intentioned friends as to how a professed political and religious conservative can listen to NPR. Over the years, my responses have varied from simply arguing that they cover the news thoroughly to an appreciation for the “human insterest” stories they intersperse throughout their mix of news and views.

Yet, the longer I listen to NPR and the more (I pray) that I come to understand the over-arching emphasis of the Gospel over my life, the more I’ve actually come to appreciate NPR. One of the reasons certainly is the “human interest” stories that they intersperse throughout their daily programming as well as highlight with programs like This American Life. NPR does a great job of “contextualizing” the news of the world.

Television evening news programs have struggled with this for years. For the most part, they consist of a series of disconnected “headlines” from across the world with no context making them relevant other than that we’re supposed to believe that because they’re on the “news,” they’re somehow important. Yet for the most part, these programs fail simply because of the disconnected format.

By incorporating a heavy emphasis of stories about real people in real life and real situations, NPR often applies the concepts of the stories they’re reporting. In other words, they do a good job of often showing how the “news” affects real people. Christian teachers ought to take notice because one of the regrettable truths is that we often fail to show how the Gospel applies to all of life. NPR connects the abstract to the concrete, bringing the news of the day to bear on real people and therefore, they immediately connect with their listeners in a way the “daily news” shows simply cannot do (nor were they meant to).

But not only does NPR “contextualize” the news, they do not shy away from challenging issues and differing viewpoints. Though NPR does admittedly lean to the left, I have heard Al Mohler and others given a platform to present “the other side.” This is something most “conservative” media outlets simply don’t do. Many of the conservative talk shows I’ve listened to either ignore the other side of the argument or, when they do include a different point of view, the guest is often there more as a punching bag than an actual person with a real viewpoint.

NPR challenges me to try and understand why people with other viewpoints hold those positions. None of us come to our conclusions in a vacuum, yet in our increasing “ghetto-ization” of Christianity, we are robbing our people of the ability to actively and accurately engage with the larger world. Listening to NPR forces me to apply the Gospel in scenarios I might never otherwise do while listening to radio that simply wants to remind me how “right” I am in my views.

There is something to be said about encouraging believers to widen their spectrums. This, of course must be done with restraint and caution because some people don’t understand the biblical worldview enough to hear criticisms of it. But, shouldn’t this be our goal, to encourage people to understand and apply the Bible well enough to take it to the rest of the world rather than keeping it to ourselves? In their own way, and without realizing it, I like to believe that NPR encourages me in this process.

• Visit NPR’s official website
• Read Wikipedia’s entry on NPR
• Read Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
• Read Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher
• Read Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey
• Read Bias by Bernard Goldberg

Here you will find a collection of links to things that caught my eye this past week. Things of interest, things of delight. Works of beauty or not, here’s a bunch of links:

Read the Telegraph’s interview with Sufjan Stevens, who says of his alleged “50 Albums for 50 States” project, “I think the remark was flippant initially,” Stevens says ruefully of his “sound of a nation” plan. “I never meant this to be my life’s work. I have so many other things I love to do. I’d love to teach writing in a university setting later in life.”

Browse the list of “songs of the year so far” compiled by NPR’s “All Songs Considered” and featuring “Margaret vs. Pauline” by personal favorite Neko Case.

Read Will’s introduction to buying a digital camera.

Read the Louisville Courier-Journal’s article about the RIAA’s continued use of lawsuits against internet account holders, regardless of who might be illegally downloading music. Included are two grandmothers sued because their grandchildren used their computers.

Read NPR’s list of the 100 best fictional characters (ht: lhb).

Read USA Today’s article profiling personal standby Emusic and while you’re at it,

Sign up for eMusic, expose yourself to a world of new music and help me get free downloads in the process! The article notes that “EMusic believes that copy-protecting files hinders sales” and that “It sells only independent label music.” The article also includes the interesting quote: “”The majors have caused themselves nothing but grief with DRM,” says Sturgeon. “What are they protecting? Any kid can figure out how to get around it. What they are really saying is, ‘I don’t trust my consumer.”

Look into my ears and see what I’ve been listening to at the Last.fm site which uses a plugin called “Audio Scrobbler” to track the music you listen to and then make recommendations on your established listening patterns.

Send a Bible to China through VoM’s “Bibles Unbound” program.

Become a drug dealer and help distribute AIDS medicines to Africa.

Watch this video of guitarist Kaki King on Conan or watch this video of her on Letterman. To see where she learned some of it, watch this video of Preston Reed.

Read Pitchfork’s review of the Pitchfork music festival. The piece includes and interview with the band Man Man that begins with the journalistically insightful question: “Why are you guys so good?”

Browse the new “Baby Loves Jazz” series of books, compact discs and videos featuring Duck Ellington, Miles the Crocodile and Ella Elephant.

Read MSNBC’s article about Alice Cooper planning to build a 20,000 square foot teen center in Phoenix.

Read “Relevant” magazine’s article “When is Art Christian?”

Read the New York Times article about a 5,000 (now 4,000) that lost 1,000 of its members over political (or lack thereof) sermons.

Read CNN’s article noting that authors John Irving and Stephen King have asked J.K. Rowling to spare Harry Potter’s life in the last installment of the series.

See Mark’s “Wrestler of the Week,” Flyin Bryan Pillman.

Read Justin Taylor’s guest-blogger Greg Gilbert’s post regarding the Worship God ‘06 conference, which our worship team will be attending.

Browse Wikipedia’s list of musicians by academic degrees.

Read CNN’s article about Mel Gibson’s recent DUI arrest and accompanying anti-Semitic remarks.

Read this Washington Times article which claims that Rudolf Bultmann “repented” before dying.

Read the article “Jimmy Carter: A Terrorist’s Best Friend”

By now, most are aware of the uproar surrounding the twelve satirical cartoons of Muhammad. Our media is flooded with cries of outrage at the insensitivity being shown to Muslims around the world. The battle between “freedom of speech” and “religious tolerance” has taken a very public turn and pundits wildly pontificate about where the appropriate balance might be.

However, what is not being discussed in the mainstream media is the blatant double standard to which Christians are subjected. As the debate over cartoon Muhammads flourishes, Rolling Stone published the image of rapper Kanye West posing as Christ.

The double standard is deep and exists at many levels. While Islam is being branded as a “religion of peace,” Christianity is nearing a point of being labeled “hate speech.” Yet, remember the riots that broke out when The Last Temptation of Christ hit theaters? No? That’s because there were none. John Piper rightly asks (ht: JT):

Am I missing it, or is there an unusual silence in the blogosphere about the Muslim outrage over the cartoons of Mohammed. To me this cries out for the observation that when artists put the crucifix in a flask of urine, Christians were grieved and angered, but not one threatened to kill anyone. Our longing is to convert the blasphemers with the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection, not kill them.

As Joe Carter points out, the utter irony of the situation has been lost on many:

The protestors appear to be immune not only to sarcasm but also to irony. One of the cartoons, for example, portrayed the founder of Islam wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse, implying that Muhammad, and Muslims in general, are terrorists. And how have many Muslims expressed their displeasure? By fire-bombing embassies and threatening violence against innocent people. In other words, byacting like terrorists

But irony doesn’t pay the bills, and the media has many bills to pay. Particularly in America, perceived shock value carries with it dollars. So what are we to make of a situation like the one we’re facing, when men and media openly mock Christ while protecting Muhammad? Could it be that the “religion of peace” responds with death threats while Christians respond with love? Which becomes the easier target?

What’s more is that Rolling Stone and Kanye West in particular have revealed what true cowards they are. If it’s “shock value” that they’re after, if they truly want to grab attention, why didn’t West appear as Muhammad? But instead they chose Christianity because man’s heart always drives him.

At root here is the fact that Islam proves to be an empty shell of rules and regulations while Christianity alone asserts fundamental truth claims about absolute truth and moral standards. Legalism always breeds hatred because the regulations become the idol. Men hate the fact that Christianity alone rises above the legalists, the haters, the idolaters and, in love, asserts that all have wronged our Creator (Romans 3:23) and stand in His wrath (Ephesians 2:3). Christianity alone claims absolute truth, but it does so in love, and that is exactly what drives so many crazy. It is this exact mix of truth and love, of grace and judgment that is so beyond the comprehension of fallen man.

Men understand Islam because it reacts in hatred and anger but to respond in love is beyond their comprehension. Tim Challies summarizes the point well, saying:

Christianity proves itself to be true simply by its other-worldliness. No human being could conceive of such grace - grace that compels us to forgive rather than avenge. Grace that demands obedience rather than sacrifice. Grace that forgives all of our sin.

While the world rages, we are faced with new opportunities every day to demonstrate the truth of our claims through our lives. Rather than let ourselves be dragged down in the debate, have we turned the microscope inward? Is your life marked by love (1 John 3:10), compassion (Colossians 3:12), humility (Ephesians 4:1-3)? Are you slow to anger (Proverbs 14:29).

There is, without question, a double standard. But as Christians, what we must not allow ourselves to lose sight of us that God has promised us this very fact (John 15:19-21). Rather than bemoan the double standard (though we ought to point it out), we should understand that its very existence proves that men consider Christianity much more dangerous and we ought to perpetuate this danger to their souls by doing what they least understand: loving our enemies.

Read about the iPod and the “Golden Ratio.”

Read Jim Nicholson’ theory regarding Apple disdaining its consumer base.

Browse Christianity Today’s Best New Music Artists of 2005.

Read Tim Challies’ post wondering whether or not movie-going Christians are being hypocritical, supporting Mel Gibson’s Catholic portrayal of the stations of the Cross while refusing to watch an admitted homosexual portray a missionary.

Read Mediaweek’s account of NBC’s Book of Daniel poor ad revenue.

Read Nancy Pearcey’s argument that putting your kids in a “Christian” school won’t solve any problems (in addition, read my post regarding homeschooling: What About Their Social Skills?).

Read Bethlehem Baptist Church’s statement reversing their polity on baptism and membership (read my related post Piper’s Polity and Baptism).

Read Chris’ post questioning the growing trend of comedians posing as political analysts.

Read Mark’s meditation from 1 John, “What To Do If You Do Sin.”

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Thanks to Will at Theologia Viatorum for reminded me of a story I was first made aware of last week by Hannity & Colmes. According to news source WCAX, “a Vermont judge handed out a 60-day jail sentence to a man who raped a little girl many, many times, over a four-year span starting when she was seven.” The article goes on to explain that “The judge said he no longer believe in punishment and is more concerned about rehabilitation.” The article goes on to relate that the judge said “The one message I want to get through is that anger doesn’t solve anything. It just corrodes your soul.” Having said this to the packed court-room of relatives of the young girl, Judge Edward Cashman must have certainly felt he was making a dramatic statement, but was it the statement he really wanted to make? Furthering his view regarding punishment, Judge Cashman remarked that he has “discovered it accomplishes nothing of value; it doesn’t make anything better; it costs us a lot of money; we create a lot of expectation, and we feed on anger.” Sounding more like a self-help advocate than a judge, Cashman raises some serious questions.

We’ve often seen in the American legal system an unhealthy relationship between the ideas of punishment and rehabilitation. We see now in Judge Cashman the final perversion of the balance, drawing into question the very nature of justice itself.

Throughout Scripture, justice is attributed to God. Psalm 9:7 reads: “the Lord sits enthroned forever, He has established his throne for justice.” Psalm 33:5 notes that God “loves righteousness and justice” and Psalm 97:2 asserts that “righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Continuing in Psalm 97, verse 3 warns that “Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries all around.” It does not say that “his psychologist goes out before him rehabilitating his adversaries making sure that no one is angry…”

Judge Cashman has removed any notion of justice from his courtroom. Justice is not a concept which we are able to mold as we see fit, it is rooted in the very nature of God Himself. In fact, if there is no punishment of sin, we have no salvation. God punishes. This is admittedly and understandably not a concept we like to dwell upon but it is an inescapable teaching of Scripture.

Isaiah 10:12 promises that “When the Lord has finished His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes.” In Jeremiah 5:9, God asks, “Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?”

Indeed, the very nature of our salvation requires punishment. All have sinned (Romans 3:23)and all are worthy of the punishment of death (Romans 6:23). Our salvation is found in the very fact that God is just (Genesis 18:25, Psalm 111:7, John 5:30, etc.), God punishes sin (Isaiah 53:10, etc.) and God Himself bears our punishment (Isaiah 53:3-6, Romans 5:10, etc.) . We are saved by God from God.

Without punishment there is no justice. Judge Cashman has understood his role to be not that of wielding the sword (Romans 13) but of wielding the tissue, gently dabbing the tears of the poor misunderstood individual who was driven to his actions by this cold, cruel world we live in. God Himself decrees that those who break the law must be punished, by the government (Romans 13:2). Indeed, Paul goes on to argue, “Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, ⁴for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:3-4).

Punishment cannot be separated from justice and God requires justice of governments. Once we try to separate punishment from justice we no longer have justice but state-sanctioned therapy and at least for one judge, that’s just fine. I pray that Judge Cashman will see the error of his ways before he’s faced with the true and final justice of God, from which there will be no option of “rehabilitation.”

Read Will’s post Child Rape, The Justice of God & Rape.

Read The Wrath of God Against Ungodliness and Unrighteousness (1) by John Piper.

Read The Wrath of God Against Ungodliness and Unrighteousness (1) by John Piper.

Thanks to the Pearcey Report for pointing this out. According to news source WNDU of South Bend Indiana, a “Republican lawmaker has filed a bill to outlaw abortion, but Governor Daniels says he believes it has little chance of winning passage.”

The articles goes on to note that the “bill by Representative Troy Woodruff of Vincennes would change Indiana’s feticide law to make it a Class C felony to perform an abortion.”

All of this takes place under the cloud of the impending Alito confirmation hearings. In fact, Woodruff says that he filed the bill exactly because the make-up of the Supreme Court is changing.

The most disturbing element about this story is “My Man” Mitch Daniels‘ remarks that “he supports the right to life but questions whether any time or money spent on Woodruff’s bill would lead anywhere.” A clear-cut case of politics directing convictions rather than the other way around. Rather than pursue what is right, Daniels has chosen to play politics abandon what he considers to be a losing bid.

While thinking about this, yesterday morning my wife and I were watching Fox News. Apparently in their effort to be “fair and balanced,” in covering the Alito hearings they had two women commentators. One (I apologize, I don’t remember her name) was simply labeled “Feminist.” I’m not sure if that actually qualifies her to appear as a commentator on national news, but apparently it does.

Using the typical “Alito will revoke human rights” argument, the “Feminist” made a shocking statement. She said that “the vast majority of women overwhelmingly support the right to control their bodies.” Two things immediately struck me, one of which I’ll only mention, the second I’ll only touch upon briefly.

First, she (as Abortion-rights advocates always do) used intentionally misleading language. While it may be true that “the vast majority of women overwhelmingly” want to be able to control their bodies, this is not the same thing as being able to argue that the vast majority of women support abortion. The arguments are entirely separate and we must point this out better than we have.

Second; though I have not sought statistics (which I’m sure we could use to prove just about anything we wanted), I truly doubt the veracity of her statement. In fact, I would be willing to argue that the majority of women (and people as a whole) oppose abortion (considering for many, the possible exception of the mother’s life being threatened or a case of rape). The irony here should be unmistakable. Here is a woman arguing against Alito because she fears that her “rights” will be taken away. That not only implies that abortion (murder) is a right but also that people support it.

The truth of the argument should be astounding to any observer. Abortion-rights advocates almost universally support organizations such as the ACLU and vehemently oppose government imposing just about anything upon “free” citizens. Unless of course it’s something they support. Americans did not, have not and I venture to guess, would not vote to legalize abortion. It was thrust upon us by the Supreme Court. There was no public debate, there was no vote. This should outrage the very people who are now the ones trying to keep this law in place!

The irony is sickening. Those who most vehemently claim to support our “rights” are the same ones vehemently supporting activist judges simply because it’s in their favor. Too bad irony carries little weight in public discourse. It must be recognized first.

Read the original WNDU piece.
Read Why Pro Life? Caring For The Unborn and Their Mothers by Randy Alcorn.
Read Ten Reasons Why It Is Wrong to Take the Life of Unborn Children by John Piper.
Visit Abort73.com’s website.

Plundering the treasures of Al Gore’s internet:

Visit the Camp Katrina blog to read accounts of some of the humanitarian work performed the U.S. Military.

Books & Culture lists their top films of 2005.

Books & Culture also lists some Highly Subjective Awards for 2005.

Both the AFA and Baptist Press profile the upcoming NBC “Book of Daniel” disaster.

Browse All About Jazz’ list of Top 100 Historically Significant jazz albums.

Read Kelefah Sanneh’s article questiong the validity of year-end music lists.

The Calvinist Gadfly calls it quits.

Read Bethlehem Baptist Church’s statement reversing their polity on baptism and membership (read my related post Piper’s Polity and Baptism).

Revisit the Best of 2005 post as it has been updated with some new submissions.

Read (here and here) Bob Kauflin’s short series on Blogging To Worship God.

Read Tim Challies review Rob Bell’s book Velvet Elvis.

Read Jollyblogger’s account of the Italian court setting out for a verdict on whether or not Jesus actually existed.

Read Justin Taylor’s odd news that Tony Campolo will be the featured speaker at Reformed Theological Seminary’s Kistemaker Academic Lecture series. I wonder about Dr. Kistemaker’s thoughts on this.

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