Dr Paul Allen

Few people understand the extent of sin and the doctrine of total depravity. Paul summarizes our sinful condition by combining several Old Testament texts: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Rom. 3:10–18) This is what it looks like to be “dead” in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). All sin is rooted in failing to glorify God as “the true God and our God” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 47). It is bad to be sinners before a holy God, but it is even worse to be unaware of who we are and why we need Christ to save us. However, the Bible not only tea

Lady Gaga: Queen of Pop (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Lady Gaga ( Stefani Germanotta ) speaks for millions in her song “ Born This Way ,” when she declares, I’m beautiful in my way, ‘Cause God makes no mistakes I’m on the right track, baby I was born this way (Streamline/Interscope/ KonLive , 2011) The song is a hodgepodge of pluralistic affirmations, but its dominant message is unmistakably sexual, which Gaga’s music video makes explicitly clear (viewer discretion strongly advised): No matter gay, straight, or bi Lesbian, transgendered life I’m on the right track, baby I was born to survive “Born This Way” is a pop anthem of Western culture , a musical declaration of sexual independence. But it is not revolutionary, like Queen ’s “We Will Rock You” or “ We Are the Champions ” from a generation ago. Gaga (a name inspired by Queen’s “Radio Gaga”) is singing a mainstream manifesto, a dominant cultural belief about self-identity: I am my sexuality (my sexual desires and se