“The church, if it is to be anything, it is to be absolutely distinct from the culture, absolutely distinct from the world, absolutely distinct from unbelievers,” said prominent author and evangelical pastor John MacArthur.

Speaking from the pulpit to thousands of fellow pastors at the Shepherds’ Conference, MacArthur underscored the biblical command not to be yoked with nonbelievers and to be a separated people.

“Paul demands a total break,” he said Wednesday at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., citing the apostle in the New Testament. Read more…

Three historic black denominations on Wednesday unveiled a new national plan aimed at keeping their young males out of prison and in school and church.

The churches are calling it the Male Investment Plan and have pledged to fund it annually with $10 million.

“Together we can do this!” Senior Bishop John R. Bryant of the African Methodist Episcopal Church told some 5,000 people in Columbia, S.C., according to The State newspaper. Read more…

The Vatican was  rocked today by a sex scandal reaching into Pope Benedict’s household after a chorister was sacked for allegedly procuring male prostitutes for a papal gentleman-in-waiting.

Angelo Balducci, a Gentleman of His Holiness, was caught by police on a wiretap allegedly negotiating with Thomas Chinedu Ehiem, a 29-year-old Vatican chorister, over the specific physical details of men he wanted brought to him. Transcripts in the possession of the Guardian suggest that numerous men may have been procured for Balducci, at least one of whom was studying for the priesthood. Read more…

The black church in America may be lukewarm, but it is not “dead” as suggested in an article by Eddie S. Glaude Jr., the William S. Tod Professor of Religion and chair of the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University. While Glaude offers fantastic observations about the how the black church has lost her way, such analysis is troubling because it reduces what it means to be “alive” to socio-political and “prophetic” activities instead of focusing on moral formation. Read more…