Up for Debate

Due to the Christmas holiday, Up For Debate will be pre-empted by Christmas music this Saturday. We truly hope you have a wonderful Christmas week filled with meaningful celebrations of Christ's birth! Up For Debate will resume on Saturday, Dec. 29. Details to come.6  For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given,    and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6, NIV 1984)

Are Christians still required to observe a Sabbath Day? This Saturday on Up For Debate, a theologian who believes Sabbath commands are no longer valid debates a theologian who argues they are valid. Who's right and what does this mean for you?  Don't miss Up For Debate, this Saturday at 8 a.m.!

What does biblical womanhood really look like? On the next Up For Debate, Julie Roys discusses the issue with popular authors Matthew Lee Anderson and Rachel Held Evans. For one year, Rachel took all the Bible's instructions for women literally—and then wrote a book about the experience. Matthew questions Rachel's methods and her conclusions. Both discuss their views this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up for Debate!

Is it important to become a member of your church? Some church leaders say yes, but others say no. This Saturday on Up For Debate, Julie Roys discusses both sides of the issue with Jonathan Leeman, author of a book that advocates church membership, and Dan Mayhew, a church leader who believes formal church membership is unhelpful. Don't miss the lively discussion this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!

Should Christians abstain from buying Christmas gifts to avoid the consumerism that dominates the season? This Saturday on Up For Debate, Julie Roys will explore the issue with Aiden Enns of "Buy Nothing Christmas"—an anti-consumerist initiative among Canadian Mennonites. Offering a different perspective will be Gerry Bowler, an historian who supports gift-giving and argues it's distinctly Christian. That's this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up for Debate! 

Marketing your church will make it grow—but is it worth the cost? On the next Up For Debate, host Julie Roys explores this issue with Richard Reising, author of "Church Marketing 101"—and John Hardin, an historian and critic of the church marketing model. Reising says church marketing can be biblical and strategic. But, Hardin argues that it inevitably perverts the gospel message. Consider both sides of this important issue this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!

Was Superstorm Sandy a wake-up call for Christians to fight global warming? Julie Roys discusses this hot topic this Saturday on Up ForDebate. Joining her will be Cal Beisner, a global warming skeptic, and another Christian leader who believes global warming is a real threat. That's this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!

Since Romney is Mormon and President Obama supports gay and abortion rights, can Christians vote for either? This Saturday on Up For Debate, Julie Roys tackles this sticky issue with Dr. Alveda King, a pro-life advocate and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King responds to those who advocate not voting at all. Plus, she gives her suggestions on how to evaluate candidates. Don't miss this important conversation this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!

Should Christians celebrate Halloween? This Saturday on Up For Debate, Host Julie Roys will discuss the issue with Russ Wise, a Christian expert in the occult who opposes Halloween, and Robert G. Lee, a Christian comedian and writer who believes Halloween can be redeemed. Julie will also be taking your calls—this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!

Many churches today are striving to be "missional," but what does the term even mean? Is this ministry model really better than the so-called "attractional" model of ministry? Host Julie Roys will discuss the issue this Saturday on Up For Debate. Joining her will be J. R. Woodward, a church-planter, activist and leader in the missional movement, and Dan Kimball, an early missional leader who expresses concerns about his own movement. Don't miss this intriguing discussion this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!

How should the church respond to those who identify as gay? This Saturday on Up For Debate, host Julie Roys explores this issue with Wendy Gritter of New Direction Ministries and Mario Bergner, founder of Redeemed Lives. Gritter says Christians should avoid calling homosexuality sin and accept gays, without requiring change. Bergner argues that sexual redemption is not optional and that dismissing sin carries serious consequences. Don't miss this important discussion this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate! 

Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a young person will make. But, which is best—a Christian college or secular university? This Saturday on Up For Debate, Host Julie Roys explores this issue with Steve Henderson, a strong advocate of Christian education. Also joining Julie will be longtime campus minister, Ben Burns discussing the benefits of attending a secular school. That's this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!  

Is it okay for Christian couples dealing with infertility to consider in-vitro fertilization? If so, is it okay to freeze so-called "leftover embryos"? This Saturday on Up For Debate, Julie Roys discusses this sensitive issue with Dr. Joe McIlhaney, a board-certified obstetrician who pioneered in-vitro fertilization in Austin, Texas. Also joining Julie will be Samuel Casey, an outspoken critic of in-vitro fertilization and the director of The Law of Life Project. Don't miss this important discussion this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!

Should Christians support Israel? Most evangelicals do—but a growing number do not. This Saturday on Up For Debate, host Julie Roys explores this hot-button issue with Christian leaders on both sides. Joining her will be Steven Sizer, an Anglican priest and opponent of Christian Zionism, and Victor Styrsky, eastern regional coordinator of Christians United for Israel. That's this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!

Stay-at-home dads: they're becoming more common, but does this model violate God's design for men and women? This Saturday on Up For Debate, host Julie Roys discusses the issue with "The Real Matt Daddy"—a Christian stay-at-home dad who argues fathers can serve just as well as mothers as primary caretakers. Also joining Julie will be Owen Strachan, a theology professor at Boyce College, who says the "Dad Mom" is a "man fail."  Don't miss this challenging and lively discussion this Saturday at 8 a.m. on Up For Debate!