Come join us at 7pm, May 6th, as we host Larry Taunton and the Fixed Point Foundation!
I have often begun a sermon illustration with the phrase, “My friend Larry Taunton….” Larry and I got to know one another through our doctoral studies. For some unaccountable reason, he liked me. I really liked him, for reasons which I will now account. Larry is an unapologetic apologist. He speaks up for the Christian faith in the public marketplace with boldness and clarity. He is totally fearless. And he’s really smart. He’s logical, clear thinking, reasonable. He gives the lie to the perception of Christians as a bunch of unthinking rubes too dumb to realize that God is dead and the world has passed us by. The rumors of God’s death have been very much exaggerated and Larry is happy to tell so to Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, or anyone else with whom he can engage. Other Christians have effectively argued this way as well, but one of the things about Larry that is unique is that he argues this way without being a jerk. He’s likable; he’s gracious. He speaks the truth in love.
Since I first met Larry, he’s gone big-time. Consider his bio:
Larry Taunton is the founder and executive director of The Fixed Point Foundation. Following the models provided by Jesus and the Apostles, it is the mission of Fixed Point to enter the public arenas of our day—major media, the academy, and popular culture— “to destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) To that end, Larry and his team have taken on some of the most vitriolic opponents of the Christian faith in such venues as BBC, Fox News, and Oxford University. His columns on issues ranging from Christianity and Islam to gay marriage and atheism have appeared in The Atlantic, USA Today, The Blaze and CNN.com. He has publicly debated atheist icons Christopher Hitchens and Michael Shermer and even a Muslim on CNN International. His book The Grace Effect offers a glimpse of what the world would look like without Christian influence. He currently divides his time between the United States and Europe. He and his wife have four children.
It has been a joy to see Fixed Point take on an increasingly visible role, engaging on the front lines of the culture wars for the cause of Christ, our Fixed Point, our Anchor.
Larry is coming to Pittsburgh to speak on WORD FM and asked if we’d be interested in hosting him for an event. My response: “Yes, please!” My only regret is that I don’t have more time to promo this. I’d encourage you to come out and hear what Larry has to say. I promise you won’t be bored and you will be edified.