Saturday, October 31, 2009
Christian Conferences?
I have been to more Christian conferences than I could ever count. This has certainly blessed me in ways but at times I wonder if I should just stay home and get the MP3's. The upside is that usually it's a great time to get away, reflect, and connect with people I love, but the downside is that it often is quite costly financially and I leave my wife at home to care for four small kids by herself.
Doug Wilson has some wise words as well on this topic:
Doug Wilson has some wise words as well on this topic:
“The widespread availability of media-savvy Christianity, conference Christianity, talent-cluster Christianity, and so on, is that it has precisely the same effect on the attendees that going to the Husbandly Perfection conference had on that poor, murmuring wife earlier. When people visit a place that is rich in resources, teaching talent, and so on, like your average mega-conference, there are two possible results. One is that it makes the attendee more equipped to be a loyal and faithful parishioner to a faithful but average pastor back home. If that is the case, then have at it. Go to the conferences. But if all it does is set up invidious comparisons, then that person needs to quit going to conferences.”(HT: DashHouse)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Planned Parenthood Thinks Abortion Coverage Is In the New Health Care Plan
Interesting find here. Obama sort of says it's false, but for some odd reason Planned Parenthood thinks it sure is in there. Which one do you think is telling the truth? They both can't be right.
Click on the newsletter (to enlarge) from Planned Parenthood's CEO below and see for yourself. I would love for someone to sit down with Obama and ask him about this one.
Why did those Christians, before the election, keep telling me that presidents can't do anything about abortion? Seems like Obama could potentially do quite a bit about abortion.
(HT: Jill Stanek)
Click on the newsletter (to enlarge) from Planned Parenthood's CEO below and see for yourself. I would love for someone to sit down with Obama and ask him about this one.
Why did those Christians, before the election, keep telling me that presidents can't do anything about abortion? Seems like Obama could potentially do quite a bit about abortion.
(HT: Jill Stanek)
What Does "Missional" Even Mean?
Bob Thune:
When we first set out to plant a missional church, we had some lively debates over what exactly it meant to live missionally. Does it mean moving into a disadvantaged neighborhood and working for renewal? Does it mean living in the same zip code so we can truly be a missional community? Does it mean deepening already-existing relationships with co-workers? Does it mean deliberately changing my patterns of life to bring me into contact with non-Christians “on their turf” (bars, music shows, nightclubs, etc)? Our conversations about these matters seemed easily to slide toward people moralizing their preferences and looking down on others who didn’t think like them. (Which is one reason why we consistently need to be reminded of the gospel!)
Tim Keller helps to answer this question by observing that the standard pattern of evangelism in the New Testament centered around the oikos (Greek for household). But the word household in NT times was much broader than we tend to think of it. “In the Bible, evangelism does not happen primarily through programs… it happens naturally through one’s oikos, or household… A household was not just your family, but… a fairly tight-knit, close set of colleagues, kin, friends, neighbors. It was understood that when you became a Christian, you had been called to be a steward, evangelistically speaking, of your oikos.”*
In our day, Keller suggests that the biblical term oikos applies to at least five networks: your kinship network (family and relatives), your neighborhood (those who live near you geographically), your colleagues (co-workers or co-students), your affinity network (people with a shared special interest), and your friends (those from the other 4 networks whom you develop a close relationship with). The relative strength or weakness of these five networks varies based on your context.
What it means to live missionally, then, is to have authentic friendship with people in these networks. That’s it. If Jesus is truly important to you, and if you have real friendships with people, then Jesus is going to come up sooner or later in the natural course of sharing life. You shouldn’t have to artificially shoehorn Jesus into every conversation, nor should you feel the need to hide or downplay your affection for him. Those in your oikos will get to know Jesus as they get to know you.
So – is missional living primarily about your neighborhood, your co-workers, your hunting buddies, or your non-Christian family members? The answer is: yes.
[*Quoted from "Evangelism and the Steward Leader," mp3 audio from Redeemer Presbyterian Church.]
Why Focus On Men In Church?
You cannot have a thriving church without a core of men who are true followers of Christ. If men are dead, the church is dead....- David Murrow, Why Men Hate Going To Church, pp. 8, 41, 43 & 59
If we want to change the world, we must focus on men....
When men are absent and anemic the body withers....
The church and the Titanic have something in common: It's 'women and children first'. The great majority of ministry in Protestant churches is focused on children, next on women....
Men don't follow programs; they follow other men. A woman may choose a church because of the programs it offers, but a man is looking for another man he can follow.
(HT: Trinity Church Blog)
Challies' Series on Sexual Detox
Tim Challies has just wrapped up an important series of posts on sexual detox. I would commend them to you. Here is his reason for writing:
I want to speak especially to young men, those who are teenagers or dating or engaged or newly married. However, I do hope that anyone can read and enjoy the series, even if the teen years are far behind you. I want to talk to young men as an older man. I would like to think that I’m in a sweet spot between young and old—where I am young enough to remember the troubles and travails of youth but old enough to bring a measure of maturity.
The Horror of Abortion Displayed on Law and Order
(RSS, click through to my site to view)
From the scene: “I grew up thinking Roe v. Wade was gospel. Now… I don’t know where my freedom ends and the dignity of another being begins.”
(HT: Trevin Wax)
From the scene: “I grew up thinking Roe v. Wade was gospel. Now… I don’t know where my freedom ends and the dignity of another being begins.”
(HT: Trevin Wax)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
New Christmas Record - Daniel Renstrom
I just downloaded this new record from Daniel Renstrom. I am finding it rather enjoyable. I think you might too. Some good new songs for Christmas and some reinventions of old ones. Check it out here.
Ten Reflections on "Collision"
1. Artistically, this film is very well done. The music is quite diverse and impactful. As a musician, when I watch a film, if the music is engaging right from the start, I know that I will probably like the movie. I am weird with first impressions like that, but it seems to always play out that way. This film did a great job with the music. The editing is also very well done and will keep you visually interested.
2. This film is fast paced. For those of us who don't have much training in differing world-views or philosophical reasoning, you might find that you'll need to hit the pause button and reflect on what these guys are kicking back and forth. That was my wife's first response. I wouldn't let that stop you from watching it. You might miss a bit, but you'll catch quite a bit as well. It would be worth watching a couple times, just to review and rethink what is going on.
3. Hitchens is a bit of a rock star today in pop culture for good reason. He has the cool British accent, he is very quick, witty and funny. To me, he just kind of looks like a guy who is an atheist. I know that sounds weird, but the way he holds himself makes me thinks that his face bears out the implications of his worldview. He looks sad, heavy and downcast. If all we are is just random matter in motion, then why be happy?
Hitchens is a great pop-atheist, but a guy like William Lane Craig would eat him for lunch, and I think already has (if anyone has a link to this, please pass is on in the comments section). There is not a ton of content in what he brings, but he sure is engaging. I would like to hang out with him.
4. Wilson keeps pressing, over and over again, for Hitchens to give a ground or foundation for his worldview. For example, Hitchens, repeatedly lambastes believers for not condemning the slaughter of the Amalekites in the Old Testament. How Christians make sense of that is another post for another day, but Wilson keeps pressing Hitchens on WHY he believes that biblical scene is objectively wrong. Why should we listen to Hitchens in his complaint? If he has no objective moral standard to which he appeals, then he is simply reduced to preferences. Why should we listen to Hitchens? Hitchens claims over and over that things like this are WRONG, but he fails to ever explain why we should care. Why is his view of the world better than say, Hitler's, who thought slaughtering a certain sect of people was completely sane and good. Hitler or Hitchens? Based on what standard can we say one is better than the other? Unless you appeal to an objective standard outside of yourself (God) you are simply reduces to preferences. I prefer life, you might prefer death, but who is to say one is better than the other with any sense of authority? Hitchens always has to borrow from the Christian worldview to make his worldview coherent, but he never admits this.
5. There is a pointed scene where they each talk about their upbringing as children. Hitchens was subjected to Christian education, but his family was completely uninvolved in seeing any of this teaching take root in his life. On the other hand, Wilson's family taught and modeled the Gospel intentionally and consistently for him. This was a great point of reminder and conviction for me as a parent.
6. One of the funniest and oddest scenes in the movie is when they are filmed getting out of the helicopter and walking on the tarmac towards what I would assume to be a car to pick them up and take them to their destination. The way it is shot is completely like a hip-hop video, where the rock stars exit the helicopter with the win blowing in their hair while they strut away with all the bling and half-dressed ladies. It's just quite oddly funny that their scene is shot exactly the same way, with the head bobbing hip -hop music in the back ground, but it's chubby Hitchens and Wilson, sporting the kakis and briefcases, walking away from the helicopter. They are the anti-rock stars, but it's shot the same way. Very funny in my view.
7. Hitchens states that if God actually exists and then inflicts so much suffering on us (like 9/11 for example), why should we ever believe in Him? Why run to him? He is just a big fat meanie in the sky. This begs of the question of purpose in suffering. What is extremely important to note is that Christians have a God who suffers with us and for us at the Cross. Hitchens does not get this, but if you do, much of your suffering will be endurable, still painful, yet meaningful. There is a telos to our suffering and there is comfort in the fact that one day ultimate justice will be served. It is interesting to note that Hitchens does admit that in his worldview ultimate justice for say, Hitler, will never be served and this is an unavoidable conclusion.
8. It's great to see these guys model engagement with one another without any screaming and yelling. It's as far from Jerry Springer as one could get. I found it to be a great picture of seeing two guys who vehemently disagree on worldview issues, but can still laugh together over quotes of literature that they both share an appreciation for. Most in our culture would say that we should relegate worldview discussions to the realm of taboo, and simply talk about where we agree. We wouldn't want to get anyone offended. But this film portrays two men who can interact on matters of utmost importance and still seem to maintain a healthy respect for one another. You get the sense that these guys actually like each other. This is important to view in our culture of pervasive political correctness where feelings are more important than Truth.
9. There is a scene where Hitchens describes the immense and crushing beauty of the Universe. It's a quite moving description. I find myself wanting to ask him, does random evolutionary matter in motion perceive beauty? How? Where does a sense of beauty come from? Seems that evolution from primordial slime has nothing to do with nor could ever produce a sense of beauty in a thing. Beauty implies some sense of objectivity and order. Where in the world could this possibility come from?
10. The last scene leaves you with a feeling of mystery that I find to be very post-modern, but I like it. I'll leave it to you to watch it and make your own conclusions. Hitchens gets the last word, but it's a word of hope... sort of.
You can buy this DVD here.
Pay Off The House?
About 5 years ago, Kim and I experienced what I call the "Dave Ramsey Revolution". We paid off about $50,000 in debt over four years. Half of this time I was working as a professional musician in Nashville and not exactly raking in the dough.
One of the things that Dave has taught us is to rethink the typical 30 year home mortgage. We have tried to set ourselves up to pay if off much sooner than that.
In this post, Dave addresses why this is wise:
One of the things that Dave has taught us is to rethink the typical 30 year home mortgage. We have tried to set ourselves up to pay if off much sooner than that.
In this post, Dave addresses why this is wise:
QUESTION: Jason in Texas and his wife are on Baby Step 2. He told his mother-in-law that, by working Dave’s plan, they will pay off the house in 10 years. She told him that would be a stupid move, but she has no reason why she thinks that. How can he talk to her about it being smart to do? Dave gives him a few answers.
ANSWER: She is the stupid one if she thinks you should behave a certain way, yet can’t tell you why. If someone can’t tell you why they have an argument, then they don’t have an argument. Keep that in mind when someone is trying to unsettle your spirit like that.
There are three reasons why you should pay off your home that people rail against. The first is that paying off the house lowers risk, because you won’t be foreclosed on if your house is paid off. It gives you great security. The second reason people say not to pay it off is because they say you can make money by borrowing money at a low interest rate on your house and investing it in the stock market. But by the time you adjust for risk and taxes, you don’t come out ahead. I would never borrow on my home to invest.
The big reason that people say not to pay off your home is that you’ll lose your tax deduction. If you have a $200,000 loan at 5% interest, you’d pay about $10,000 a year in interest, which would give you a $10,000 deduction. If you make $70,000 a year, that deduction is saving you $2,500 in taxes if you’re in a 25% tax bracket. You are sending Countrywide Mortgage $10,000 to keep from sending the government $2,500. That’s stupid. You are better off being debt-free and giving your church $10,000. You’ll save on taxes and do some good with the money.
Christians and The Arts
(Disclaimer: It pains me to even post this picture, but it makes the point well.)Kevin DeYoung:
Sometimes Christians make the mistake of thinking that for art to be valuable it must share the gospel or try to point people to Jesus. Such an approach usually makes for bad evangelism and bad art. Art is valuable because it can be beautiful and full of truth. We should not expect art to communicate in the same way that discourse does.Read the rest of his good article.
The Myth of Monogamy
Denny Burk:
An article on CNN.com suggests that monogamy is on the decline and that serial monogamy and polyamory may be better alternatives. Serial monogamy is “a model in which people move from one committed long-term relationship to another and choose partners for different reasons at different stages of their life.” Polyamory is “the practice of having romantic relationships with multiple people at the same time with the full knowledge and consent of all involved.”This article is really sad for a lot of reasons, but I do think it accurately describes the decline of sexual mores in American society. What’s interesting, however, is that the author does not present any of this as a retrogression. Rather, he rather cooly describes what’s happening in the culture as if serial monogamy and polyamory are viable alternatives in the modern world. In other words, it’s presented as if one may leave behind monogamy just like one might throw out an old sweater for a new one. There’s no moral problem whatsoever with this kind of behavior. That is a commentary within itself.
Christians are going to appear more and more out-of-step with the culture in this kind of atmosphere. Indeed, if we are faithful, we will be a true counter-culture bearing witness in our monogamous marriages to the ultimate marriage (Ephesians 5:31-32). May God give us grace to stand against the culture for the sake of the culture on this point (John 17:15, 21).
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Support Site for Our Church Plant
We just launched a support website for our 2010 church plant in Madison, WI. If you are interested, please check it out at www.thevinemadison.info. Our good buddy, Dan VanOss put in much time to see this happen and we are very thankful to him.
This website seeks to mobilize an army of people who believe in our vision and will come alongside us with prayer, participation and provision. We will have an official website for all people that will launch soon as well, but this site is just for those who want to be on our support team. Would you be willing to give it a look? You also might want to become a fan of our Facebook page.
Another way you can help support our family in this new endeavor would be to continue to buy your Amazon.com products through my blog. All you have to do is click on any Amazon link in the right sidebar under "Sponsors" (or in any of my posts) and then just search for whatever you want and buy it. You don't have to buy what I am advertising. You just have to get to Amazon through my blog. That's it. Many of you already do this and it's a huge blessing. Thanks!
More church plant news to come in the new few months...
Missional and Participating in Halloween
Michael Patton:
Read the rest.I can’t believe I am going to say this but, WWJD? Really, what would Jesus do? Can you see it? Jesus with his lights turned off on Halloween? That would be the Jesus history never knew. That would be the Jesus of western fundamentalism. The one who is not a friend of sinners and tax gatherers. The Jesus that was never accused of being a drunkard. The Jesus who looked from a distance at the wedding of Cana waiting for the sinners to wipe the dust off their feet before he talked to them. The Jesus who saw a child dressed up as a Ghost and said, “I can’t take this anymore. It is not worth it. Give me that stone so that I can turn it into bread.”
Mark Young, my friend and former missions prof at DTS (now the president of Denver Seminary), used to talk about this in his missions 101 class. Oh the shame of all of us students who turned off the light. We left the class crying looking for little witches and ghosts to hug. His thesis: Christians are not Christians on Halloween. Not because they have compromised and participated, but precisely because they don’t participate. The one day of the year where children (”Permit them to come to me…” Mark 10:14) were attempting to come to us and we shut the door and turn off the lights. We left the class in tears and began to plan what we were going to be for Halloween.
Some Preaching From JT
Doug Wolter again:
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I love both these guys and have known both of them for years. We spent much time together in college. I would encourage you to listen to Justin's teaching. He is a gifted thinker and is very articulate.
It was a privilege to have my friend, Justin Taylor, come to preach at my church and speak at our Pastor’s Conference this week. We had a good time hanging out and encouraging one another in the gospel. One of the things I appreciate most about Justin is that he makes you feel bigger in his presence … which is hard to do since he’s a pretty big guy! But Justin genuinely thinks of others as better than himself. It’s evident in the way he lives and the way he blogs, always pointing to others and deflecting attention away from himself even though he’s a gifted writer and thinker himself.Here’s the two messages he preached at our church. Justin did a great job teaching on the familiar parable in Luke 15 comparing and contrasting the two losts sons and bringing out good gospel application. And his message on adoption (spirtual and physical) was very helpful, providing a needed challenge for the church.
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I love both these guys and have known both of them for years. We spent much time together in college. I would encourage you to listen to Justin's teaching. He is a gifted thinker and is very articulate.
The Problem of Community
Jonathan Dodson with a great message (and notes) on the problem of community. His outline:
- The State of American Community
- His church’s approach to Community
- Solution to Community: Gospel or Mission
- A Gospel-Centered Church
What Hitchens Has Learned about Religion... or Religious People
Melinda Penner:
Christopher Hitchens reveals what he's learned from his engagements with religious believers over the last couple of years since the release of his book god Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.
I haven't yet run into an argument that has made me want to change my mind. After all, a believing religious person, however brilliant or however good in debate, is compelled to stick fairly closely to a "script" that is known in advance, and known to me, too. However, I have discovered that the so-called Christian right is much less monolithic, and very much more polite and hospitable, than I would once have thought, or than most liberals believe. I haven't been asked to Bob Jones University yet, but I have been invited to Jerry Falwell's old Liberty University campus in Virginia, even though we haven't yet agreed on the terms.
Wilson isn't one of those evasive Christians who mumble apologetically about how some of the Bible stories are really just "metaphors." He is willing to maintain very staunchly that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and that his sacrifice redeems our state of sin, which in turn is the outcome of our rebellion against God. He doesn't waffle when asked why God allows so much evil and suffering—of course he "allows" it since it is the inescapable state of rebellious sinners. I much prefer this sincerity to the vague and Python-esque witterings of the interfaith and ecumenical groups who barely respect their own traditions and who look upon faith as just another word for community organizing....It sounds like he really has learned some things about Christians that gives him new respect (grudgingly?) that he didn't know in advance and has a more favorable view toward the people, if not their convictions.
The comment about the predictability of the "script" surprises me a bit. That may be so, but after reading and hearing Hitchens on numerous occasions, he's very predictable, too. His book really didn't have anything new or fresh other than attitude, sticking to the familiar atheist "script." In the debate this past spring at Biola University with William Lane Craig, Hitchens was completely predictable and even conceded some of his time back because he said he would only repeat himself. He seems to imply that predictability is a weakness, no fresh intellectual or rational meat, but I think it's at least as true for his own arguments.
I'm a bit confused by his comments about Calvinists being reluctant to tell him he's going to Hell. First, that's not only a Calvinist doctrine. Second, he leaps to the conclusion that the reluctance is a lack of conviction with the doctrines. That is a possibility. Christians are too unfamiliar with their own theology and reasons for it these days. But that doesn't mean they don't believe it. It could be they're uncomfortable being that direct face to face as to tell him he's damned. Some Christians might be unable to explain the doctrines they believe or are too unfamiliar with them to debate them. And he could be right in some cases. But Hitchens is too quick to presume Christians really don't believe what they say.
In any case, this is a good reminder that Christians need to be taught Christianity. It is a religion, not only a relationship. And the way we learn Who we're in a relationship with is through theology - the knowledge of God.
Finally, Hitchens celebrates the acquired confidence secularists/atheists are gaining. They may be gaining a new attitude, but polls don't show they are gaining in numbers. (Skip the headline of this poll and read the details: "The percentage of atheist Nones — who say there's no such thing as God — hasn't budged in years.")
Hitchens seems to think that the new atheist challenges have generated a new "need to give an account of themselves." That has always been the case for Christians for 2000 years. It may be a new thing for other religions, I don't know. I think it is new for atheists to give an account for their beliefs. Plenty of Christians have been interested in engagement, but found no one to engage them. Hitchens is right - the new dialog taking place is a good thing.
And so is our pluralistic society that values and tolerates differences of opinion.
This is a wholly good development, and it is part of the pluralism and polycentrism that distinguish the sort of society that we have to defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
I'm a little confused, though, because Hitchens' case in his book is for "how religion poisons everything" and is literally bad for society. He seems to make a case in his book for ridding religion from society so that human beings can be truly enlightened. That would create a monolith rather than pluralism. Perhaps he values the current pluralism that allows for the debate that will eventually rid the human race of religion and naturally lead to the univocal view of atheism.
At any rate, it sounds like Hitchens is enjoying the engagement and learning something new about religious people, particularly Christians. Perhaps he'll learn much more before he's done.
Keys To Personal Prayer
Winfield Bevins:
- Pray In Jesus' Name. Real prayer is Christological. There are numerous New Testament references that talk about the importance of praying in the name of Jesus. Jesus even said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you" (John 16:23). When we pray in the name of Jesus, God the Father hears us. He responds to the prayer that is offered in the name of his Son Jesus.
- Pray According to God's Will. God is not a Santa Claus in the sky; he does not give us just anything we ask for. But in 1 John 5:14 it says, "If we ask anything according to his will he hears us." This means that when we pray in accordance with his will we can expect an answer.
- Scriptural Prayer. One the best ways to pray is to pray according to Scripture. John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me, and my word abides in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." If God's word is in us then his desires become our desires, and we can have the assurance that he will answer our prayers. Make sure that your prayers are in line with Scripture.
- Keep Commandments. "And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him" (1 John 3:22). God honors those who honor his commandments. If you keep his commandments and do what is pleasing, then you can be assured that he will hear your prayers.
- You Must Believe. "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith" (Matthew 21:22). The Lord wants us to have faith that he will hear our prayers. Hebrews says, "without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). The Lord promises to respond to our prayer of faith.
- Pray in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of prayer. Paul tells us to pray at all times in the Spirit. Romans 8:26 reads, "Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." We don't always know how to pray or feel like praying, so we need the Spirit's power to help us.
- Be Persistent. Don't give up if you haven't received an answer to your prayers. Throughout the Bible there are stories of men and women who persevered in prayer. In Luke 18:1-8, there was a little old widow who did not lose heart. James tells us that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
- Humble Yourself. One of my favorite parables about prayer is in Luke 18:9-14, where the Pharisee and tax collector come before God. The Pharisee was proud and boastful, while the tax collector was humble and asked for God's mercy. We are told that God hears the prayer of the humble. If we humble ourselves in the sight of God, he will lift us up.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Mya Turns One Today
Mya, I love you. You are a gift to our family, you help remind me of the Gospel, and your smile melts my heart. Happy Birthday.
Where the family and the church are concerned, to which error are you more prone?
Chris Brauns with a very helpful post here:
Both the Church (consisting of local churches) and the family are central aspects of God’s created order.
The Church (again I’ll say meeting in local churches) is God’s plan for this age. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood (Peter 2:11-12). Indeed, the local church is as much God’s plan for this age, as the Ark was for Noah’s (Ephesians 3:10). Recall that Jesus taught that a commitment to Him takes precedence over even immediate family (Luke 14:26).
At the same time, the family is part of God’s created order and continues to be singularly important. Ephesians 5:22-6:4!
It is, perhaps, because the Church and the family are both central to God’s purposes, that we easily confuse one with the other. Indeed, all of us are probably prone to one of the two below mistakes. In which direction do you lean?
A Crucial Point For Understanding The Bible
John Piper:
Sometimes readers of the Bible see the conditions that God lays down for his blessing and they conclude from these conditions that our action is first and decisive, then God responds to bless us.
That is not right.
There are indeed real conditions that God often commands. We must meet them for the promised blessing to come. But that does not mean that we are left to ourselves to meet the conditions or that our action is first and decisive.
Planting Update: 8 months out
My church planting partner, Scott Sterner, recently wrote a short piece answering the question, "What do you guys do for your church plant when you are 8 months out from actually starting?" I thought his response was well worded:
I recently had someone ask, “What do church planters do when they are 8 months out from relocation?” Well, I can’t speak for other church planters, but can say from our perspective that these early days are quite logistical. Initial momentum comes from raising up participants who are interested in praying, funding, advising, offering services, sharing contacts, etc. There are issues like becoming incorporated within the state, opening bank accounts, and planning budgets.
It is very easy to see this huge task before us and become discouraged. It is in those moments that we are reminded how the missional call to advance God’s kingdom is something that only He can do. The immense challenge of following Christ in mission accentuates our need for God’s work and drives us to our knees in prayer.
Please remember us in prayer as we face the days ahead. We haven’t forgotten that each of us are faithfully serving in our home churches at this time as well. It is our desire to serve these churches faithfully and wholeheartedly until our time of transition. This is a balancing act for sure, but one worth doing.
Thanks for your prayers and your partnership in the days to come! More updates will be forthcoming!
Collision - Released Today
The highly anticipated documentary, Collision, featuring debate and dialogue between renowned atheist Christopher Hitchens and Doug Wilson releases today. For those of you who might not have seen a preview, you can do so below. Personally, I love the way in which it is presented. Not exactly your typical, sometimes boring, debate format. I'm sure you will enjoy this DVD and is probably a great means of dialogue with those around you who are not Christians.
You can check it out here.
Hitchens (partly) on Doug Wilson:
You can check it out here.
COLLISION - 13 min VIMEO Exclusive Sneak Peek from Collision Movie on Vimeo.
Hitchens (partly) on Doug Wilson:
“Wilson isn’t one of those evasive Christians who mumble apologetically about how some of the Bible stories are really just ‘metaphors.’ He is willing to maintain very staunchly that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and that his sacrifice redeems our state of sin, which in turn is the outcome of our rebellion against God. He doesn’t waffle when asked why God allows so much evil and suffering—of course he ‘allows’ it since it is the inescapable state of rebellious sinners. I much prefer this sincerity to the vague and Python-esque witterings of the interfaith and ecumenical groups who barely respect their own traditions and who look upon faith as just another word for community organizing.”
(HT: ADIAPHORA)
Knowing People Is Different Than Going To Movies
Mark Lauterbach:
...knowing people is different than going to movies. I think the whole discussion of being culturally aware dodges the real work of knowing lost people deeply. I am called to love and serve them for Christ. I am called to help them when they have marital problems, children problems, and are living with effects of their sin. I am called to relate to them in what we have in common. And we have a lot in common. They are made in Godʼs image. They know love and hate, sadness and joy, and the beauty of music and creation. I do not need to focus on the unique culture of our times, so much as on the real people around me.Read the rest.
This means I am to know individuals. I have never met statistical averages. I only know my friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates. I need to get to know their questions, histories, backgrounds, objections to the Gospel. I am to treat them with deepest respect.
I have often puzzled over why sinners flocked to Jesus. He was sinless. They were sinners. They were despised by many – but they wanted to be with him. I think one answer is that, clear as he was about salvation and sin, he treated them with such dignity and respect that they were drawn to him.
Houston Boot Camp Audio
I was at this Boot Camp. I can recommend all these talks.
Acts29 Blog:
Acts29 Blog:
Houston Boot Camp, centered on the them of "Endurance," was just wrapping up a month ago. We have all the audio available now, and want to share it with you!
Houston Boot Camp 09
Tuesday, September 15: Main Sessions:
Session One: The Enduring Gospel - Matt Chandler | The Village Church (TX)
"God is teaching constantly throughout the Old Testament into the New Testament, in the Pauline Epistles, right up to this day 'I am going to reconcile all things to myself - this is my plan, this is what I'm going to do' - this Book is about that plan. It's not just the 'roadmap to life' - if it's a roadmap for my life it's a horrible map. It tells me nothing of the details of the decisions I need to make, ie 'Should I marry Lauren?'."
Session Two: The Enduring Community - Jonathan Dodson | Austin City Life (TX)
" 'In the wake of mission, community happens,' that's the logic of the missional church... is that true? Is missional church the silver bullet? ...What happens when people come into your church for mission, and they build a community and they gossip? What happens when they cheat on their spouse? The invogue solution to the problem of community in America, what happens? If you don't have some way to work through that, you know what happens. The community gets ripped apart; church splits, people leaving... how do we deal with our own brokenness?"
Session Three: The Enduring Family - Matt Carter
Carter talks about the marriages of John Wesley, George Whitefield & Jonathan Edwards, and their failures or successes. "You do not plant a church unless your wife shares your calling to plant a church... I don't care how far you are down the road you are. I don't care if there's $100K in the bank. If your wife's 90% sure and 10% she's doing it for you, then you shut that sucker down! Because you will wreck your home and you will eventually wreck your church."
Wednesday, September 16: Main Sessions:
Session Four: The Enduring Legacy - Bruce Wesley
Amid the other deep wisdom he shares in this talk, Wesley discusses 'rhythms of grace' that enable endurance as a church planter. One rhythm was that of relationships. "This is how I dealt with the anger in my life... I asked a friend if I could talk to him about it - and he was willing to talk about it for hours, and it was grueling to talk about my junk. I carried this junk into church planting, but church planting boiled it to the surface; it will boil your junk to the surface, too... I just confessed every embarrassing sin in my life to this guy... and he expressed to me grace. You're in a rhythm of grace when you can confess your sin and be completely known. And when you are completely known, you can be unconditionally accepted. This is a well you want to drink from, friend."
Session Five: The Enduring Sufferer - Barry Keldie
"You will be like Jesus. That's the good news. The bad news at the end of the verse is Jesus says, 'if they have called the master of the house 'Beelzebub,' how much more will they malign those of his household.' Jesus says, 'you're going to be like me... but they kill me at the end of the story.' Understand what you're signing up for."
Session Six: The Enduring Hope - Eric Mason
"God's passion is to remove anything in the way of our ability to reflect the glory and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you're hoping for a large church, that's the wrong hope... If you're hoping to be the highest on the iTunes podcast, that's the wrong hope. If you're hoping to just get people there so they can 'amen' you and love being around you or serve your vision, that's the wrong hope. You're enduring for the wrong reasons and your behind will go to sleep and you'll get mad frustrated because the only image that's available in that ministry is yours. But if you allow God to chisel you in his image, then the enduring hope in you is also going to fall on those people and their hope is not on what you're able to do, but what Jesus is able to do."
Monday, October 26, 2009
Adoption Books
Jason Kovacs posts a really good list of adoption books.
From the theological perspective I would add these two:
From the theological perspective I would add these two:
Adopted By God - Dr. Robert Peterson
Adopted into God's Family: Exploring a Pauline Metaphor - Trevor Burke
Buzzard Blog Is Back
After a long absence, Justin Buzzard is back to blogging. He has a good post up now called, 3 Truths That Change Your Life. Check it out.
Fox News Spot with Hitchens and Wilson
(RSS might have to click through to my site to view)
The DVD comes out tomorrow. You can get it here.
The DVD comes out tomorrow. You can get it here.
"Enough" is the Enemy of the Gospel
J.D. Greear:
The word "enough" is the enemy of the Gospel. The word "enough" about killed me spiritually.For many years I have lived with a complex... Have I given enough? Do I love enough? Do I share Christ enough? Do I sacrifice enough? Should I be living in a downtown Durham project? Should I adopt 3 adolescent runaways from Russia? Should I be sharing our house with a homeless man? Should I give away 50% of my income?
Every time I have heard a new preacher with a new "cause" I have left thinking, "Do I have to do that to be a real disciple of Jesus? Am I doing enough?"
That is because many well meaning (though I think misguided Christian preachers) preach a message built on enough. Their message often appears to be, "Do you give enough to the poor to really consider yourself a good Christian? Why don't Christians in America die like Jesus' first followers? After all, good Christians... adopt, live poor, die martyr's deaths, win all their neighbors to Jesus, use only recycled cooking oil, drive hybrids... etc. I am forever thinking, "If I were a real Christian, I'd be doing this... (and, to be fair, it's not always the individual preacher's fault, sometimes it's how I misinterpret them--which has more to do with me... I seem addicted to works-righteousness and can turn anything into a new "standard" to reach.)
Obviously, giving and any form of sacrificial living are all important questions and things that many Christians who have experienced the love of the Gospel will want to do. But never in the context of "enough."
Interview with Tim Keller on "Counterfeit Gods"
Great interview here with Tim Keller concerning his new book, Counterfeit Gods. Here are the questions he addresses:
How should Christians think of money, sex, and power?
What makes these three so enticing and difficult to control?
Do Christians have blind spots when it comes to false gods?
How does someone identify their idols?
How do we get rid of idols?
Is it necessary to suffer disappointment before seeing that idols don't satisfy?
What's your next project?
No Dry-Eyed Stoicism
Psalm 6:1-3
O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O Lord—how long?
D.A. Carson:
It is overwhelmingly important to reflect on the fact that this psalm and dozens of similar ones are included in Scripture. There is no attempt in Scripture to whitewash the anguish of God's people when they undergo suffering. They argue with God, they complain to God, they weep before God. Theirs is not a faith that leads to dry-eyed stoicism, but a faith so robust, it wrestles with God. (p. 67, How Long O Lord?)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Solidarity With The Poor
- Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians"Like nothing else could ever do, the gospel instills in me a heart for the downcast, the poverty-stricken, and those in need of physical mercies, especially when such persons are of the household of faith.
When I see persons who are materially poor, I instantly feel a kinship with them, for they are physically what I was spiritually when my heart was closed to Christ. Perhaps some of them are in their condition because of sin, but so was I. Perhaps they are unkind when I try to help them; but I, too, have been spiteful to God when He has sought to help me. Perhaps they are thankless and even abuse the kindness I show them, but how many times have I been thankless and used what God has given me to serve selfish ends?
Perhaps a poverty-stricken person will be blessed and changed as a result of some kindness I show him. If so, God be praised for His grace through me. But if the person walks away unchanged by my kindness, then I still rejoice over the opportunity to love as God loves. Perhaps the person will repent in time; but for now, my heart is chastened and made wiser by the tangible depiction of what I myself have done to God on numerous occasions.
The gospel reminds me daily of the spiritual poverty into which I was born and also of the staggering generosity of Christ towards me. Such reminders instill in me both a felt connection to the poor and a desire to show them the same generosity that has been lavished on me. When ministering to the poor with these motivations, I not only preach the gospel to them through word and deed, but I reenact the gospel to my own benefit as well."
(HT: Josh Harris)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Assuming The Unborn Are Not Human
Recently Scott Klusendorf had a debate with Nadine Strossen on the topic of abortion. You can read his full recap here. I especially appreciated this summary of his interaction with some of her points about the nature of the unborn.
He writes (keep in mind the quotes are statements from Nadine):
He writes (keep in mind the quotes are statements from Nadine):
1. “Laws against abortion impose religious beliefs on others.” Setting aside for the moment that the claim the fetus has a right to life is no more religious than saying it doesn’t, would Nadine argue this way if we were talking about killing toddlers? Never. Only by assuming unborn are not human does her reply work. But that is precisely the point she must argue for and so far hasn’t.
2. “We must respect freedom of conscience that allows women a right to choose.” Well, maybe. But choose what? But what if the topic were locking teenagers up until age 30? (Some of you are tempted.) Would Nadine argue for freedom of conscience for those parents who wish to unjustly incarcerate their kids? Again, only by assuming the unborn are not human can we argue denying them a right to life based on conscience.
3. “Our individual principles of morality cannot control our judicial decisions. Our obligation is to liberty.” Is that true or just her individual moral view? But again, notice she assumes the unborn are not human. Would she argue for individual liberty if the choice before us was the right to kill toddlers? Again, only by assuming the unborn are not human can she argue this way. But that’s a point she must prove, not merely assume.
4. “The State should not enter the private realm of family life.” Really? What is a family wants the right to rough up a toddler in the privacy of the bedroom. Should we allow this in the name of respecting the private realm of families? Only by assuming the unborn are human can we justify taking the lives of the unborn in the name of privacy.
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Case For Life - Now On The Web
The Case For Life now has a great new website. You can check it out here.
The opening page starts off with this simple quote:
The abortion controversy is not a debate between those who are pro-choice and those who are anti-choice. It's not about privacy or trusting women. To the contrary, the debate turns on one key question.
What is the Unborn?
(HT: Brian Current)
How To Relate To Culture?
I resonate greatly with these thoughts.
Mark Lauterbach:
Mark Lauterbach:
Here’s a newsflash: We live in the world. We live in a secular society where God is ignored, immorality is encouraged, greed is rampant, and the media is corrupt. But we cannot escape. Here is where we work and play, marry and raise children, attend school and learn.
In light of this, there’s a big question many Christians are asking today: How should a Christian relate to their culture?
Should we insulate ourselves in Christian ghettos? Or are we to study the culture–stay in touch with the best of TV and cinema, keep up with the bestsellers, and know some of the new music?
Personally, I am not sure I know exactly how to answer all these questions or where to draw all the lines I know we should ask these questions, carefully and biblically. And I know we will all answer them, in good conscience, in different ways.
But I want to suggest that this question–“How should a Christian relate to culture?”–may be the wrong question. This may be the wrong place for us, as Christians in the middle of culture, to start. Here’s why: I am not sure how I am to relate to the culture, but I am sure I am to relate to people outside of Christ for the sake of their salvation.
Before we ask how we as Christians should relate to our culture we must ask how and why Christ came into culture. Christ and his mission should define the questions we ask about culture.
When we talk about relating to those outside of Christ, here’s where I think we should begin start: Jesus came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost. He came not be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners and called a friend of sinners. He invited the twelve to follow him and he would make them fishers of men.
I may not know every detail of how to relate to culture, but I know this – Jesus sent me into the world on the same mission as his. He has called me to be a fisher of men. He wants me to be a friend of sinners. So this is not about movies and books and music. It is about people. This is daily life.
Which Is Worse, To Be Uninsured or To Be Killed?
CNSNew.com today:
"I can't understand for the life of me how the Catholic Church could be against the biggest social justice issue of our time, where the very dignity of the human person is being respected by the fact that we're caring and giving health care to the human person - that right now we have 50 million people who are uninsured," Kennedy told CNSNews.com when asked about a letter the US Conference of Catholic Bishops had sent to members of Congress stating the bishops' position on abortion funding in the health-care bill.
"You mean to tell me the Catholic Church is going to be denying those people life saving health care? I thought they were pro-life?" said Kennedy. "If the church is pro-life, then they ought to be for health care reform because it's going to provide health care that are going to keep people alive. So this is an absolute red herring and I don't think that it does anything but to fan the flames of dissent and discord and I don't think it's productive at all."
(HT: Jill Stanek)
The New Windows 7 Store
Gee, looks strangely familiar. I think there is another computer company that they might have, sort of, uh, maybe copied a few things from? I don't know. Maybe it's just me...
Lame.
Lame.
Orphan Care is Gospel Reenactment
Dan Cruver:
When we were on the outside without hope and home, Jesus brought us into his family (Ephesians 2:12-13, 19). What Jesus did for us is the Gospel.
Today there are millions of orphans in the world without hope and home. When we give orphans hope, when we bring orphans into our families, we reenact the Gospel.
When a church provides hope and homes to children lost in the foster care system, it reenacts the Gospel.
When churches create partnerships with other churches around the world in order to care for orphans, the Gospel is reenacted many times over before a watching world.
Orphan care is Gospel reenactment.
When Revival Comes
I went to the vault this morning and found an instructive, brief commentary by D.A. Carson titled, “What to Do If Revival Comes” from the January/February 2003 issue of Modern Reformation magazine (many thanks to Andy Naselli for making this available in the exhaustive D.A. Carson bibliography!).
In the article Carson recounted a conversation he and his wife had in 1975 with an elderly woman in a Calvinist Methodist church in southern Wales. The woman spoke excitedly of how she had been converted during the Welsh Revival of 1904 to 1905. Carson used this exchange to draw out a lesson from church history:
It was an inexpressibly glorious half hour, and equally sad. For apart from the fruit of that Revival in the lives of those who were immediately touched by it, almost nothing was preserved. That Revival started so well but soon became more eccentric and forced. Worse, despite small efforts later in Swansea, almost nothing was done to capture or develop theological schools, multiply Bible teaching, or train a new generation of preachers.
My interest in revival has not waned with the passing years. Wider reading, and some humbling personal exposure to what God has done in various corners of the world during the past half century, have conspired to forge an unshakable resolution within me. Should the Lord in his mercy ever pour out large-scale revival on any part of the world where I have influence, I shall devote all my energy to teaching the Word, to training a new generation of godly pastors, to channeling all of this God-given fervor toward doctrinal maturity, multiplication of Christian leaders, evangelistic zeal, maturity in Christ, genuine Christian “fellowship.”
This conviction captures well what we are trying to do at The Gospel Coalition. Lord willing, when Revival comes we will be ready to compliment the efforts of the local church to preserve the outpouring of God’s grace for future generations of gospel ministry.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
5 Octaves Auto-Tuned!!!!
So, I posted this a few days ago. It was beautiful.
But then a couple of my buddies showed me this glorious improvement. Just wait until the end. It's amazing. For those of you who might not understand what is going on here... Somebody got ahold of this video and used a program called "autotune" which does exactly what is sounds like it does. Makes notes that sound out of tune, actually in tune. So this is what Shane would actually sound like if he was able to pull it off.
I haven't laughed this hard in a long time.
But then a couple of my buddies showed me this glorious improvement. Just wait until the end. It's amazing. For those of you who might not understand what is going on here... Somebody got ahold of this video and used a program called "autotune" which does exactly what is sounds like it does. Makes notes that sound out of tune, actually in tune. So this is what Shane would actually sound like if he was able to pull it off.
I haven't laughed this hard in a long time.
Abortion and Christians Engaged in Politics
Joe Carter:
Consider that for more than two decades the number one issue on the agenda of the evangelical wing of the religious right has been abortion.
The bitter irony is that this is perceived as the “number one” political issue for evangelicals when it really isn’t one of our top priorities. If evangelicals–and Christians in general–truly cared about this issue, abortion on demand would not be the law of the land.
Imagine if every Christian in America vowed not to cast a vote for any candidate of any party for any office if they supported or condoned the killing of the unborn. Imagine if every pastor in America had the courage to stand in the pulpit and deliver the Gospel-centric message that God abhors this slaughtering of the innocent and that for the church to tolerate this sin is a fecal-colored stain on the garment of Christ’s bride.
But it will never happen because the evangelical church isn’t committed as the church to rectifying this grave injustice. We never have been.
In a 1971 resolution on abortion, the Southern Baptist Convention resolved that “society has a responsibility to affirm through the laws of the state a high view of the sanctity of human life, including fetal life.” The largest evangelical denomination in America had a peculiar definition of “sanctity of human life”, however, for the very next sentence called upon Southern Baptists to “work for legislation that will allow the possibility of abortion” under such conditions as “fetal deformity” and damage to the “emotional, mental, and physical health of the mother.” Three years later–and two years after Roe codified this position–the SBC reaffirmed the resolution. It wasn’t until 1980 that the SBC finally condemned abortion as a grave evil, a position that has always been maintained by the Catholic Church.
Forty later, we evangelicals still haven’t caught up on issues of the sanctity of life. Come to the annual March for Life held in Washington, D.C. every January and you’ll find fifty Catholics for every evangelical. For Catholics it is a moral, spiritual, and political issue. For evangelicals it nothing more than an emotional issue that we aren’t really dedicated to doing much about. I suspect that there were more evangelicals that participated in the recent Tea Party protests than have every participated in the March for Life. (And speaking of the Tea Party movement, could any evangelical group or groups ever muster that level of support about anything.)
Rather than assuming that evangelicals are a large, powerful, committed political bloc that, for some inexplicable reason, is completely ineffective, the more realistic conclusion is that politically engaged evangelicals are like a herd of unicorns: powerful and abundant in the imagination while not actually existing in the real world.
The Gospel and Parenting
In Gospel-Powered Parenting William Farley writes,
"If you ask parents what is the most important thing they can do to raise children who will follow Christ, some will mention adequate discipline, others enrollment in a Christian school, still others the importance of home-schooling or Bible reading. They rarely mention example. Yet example is the first principle of parenting. This should not surprise us. Parenting is about leadership, and example is the first principle of biblical leadership. When parents practice what they teach, God gives them moral authority in their childrens' eyes. All the teaching in the Bible starts with example."Farley goes on to show that our marriages are the primary realm where our kids need to see the gospel modeled. He writes,
"The message that our marriage preaches either repels or attracts our children. God wants your child to watch your marriage and think, 'I want a marriage like that, and I want the God that produced it.' Or, 'When I think of the beauty of the gospel, I think of my parents' marriage. I want to be a part of a church that is loved by God the way my dad loves my mother. I want to be part of a church that finds its joy in submitting to Christ as my mother joyfully submits to my father.'" (pp. 107 & 111)(HT: Trinity Church Blog)
What Really Is The Gospel?
In light of some of the discussions that have been going on around here lately, I found Jeff Purswell's short post here to be informative: What Precisely Is the Gospel?
Infertility
Mindy Kroesche has a very helpful post on infertility called, "What If I Can't Have Children?" This is a very common issue that many of us have experienced or know people who have. I would also recommend Dr. Russell Moore's book, Adopted For Life, as it has a great chapter that deals with this issue as well.
(HT: Challies)
(HT: Challies)
Kiss Me Again - A Review
Darryl Dash:Kiss Me Again is based on the premise that past sexual relationships and experiences before marriage damage the sexual relationship within marriage. Wilson shares her story and the story of others, and provides practical advice on how to break free from the past and re-establish bonds of intimacy within marriage.
I would actually recommend this book for pastors and leaders who work with Christian women. We are called to deal with many of the issues raised in this book. I found some new insights in this book that I will be using. It’s helped me to get a grip on some of the practical issues that need to be dealt with before the wedding and after. Churches cannot afford to ignore this issue.
I’d also recommend this book to single women. It gives a preview of the issues that will come from getting physical before marriage. It’s not prudish. It’s realistic, though, about how sex outside of marriage affects us.
Finally, I’d recommend this book to women who would like to rekindle intimacy in their marriage. There’s lots of practical help in this book. It deals sensitively with some very tough issues.
I think this book could also be supplemented with other material from CCEF, or from books like Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but I’m glad to see someone dealing with such an important topic that needs to be addressed with sensitivity and Biblical wisdom.
By the way, I’ll be giving away a free copy of this book tomorrow. And I’ll have a much more manly post too. I promise.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
And The Award For The Nastiest Dunk Of The Day Goes To...
Pepperdine's Keion Bell, ladies and gentlemen:
Meet Acts29
As many of you know, I will be planting a church in Madison, WI, in 2010. We are partnering with the church planting network, Acts29. For those of you who don't know much about this network, Tim Challies recently did a great interview with them. You can read it here.
BTW - You can follow our church plant on Twitter here.
BTW - You can follow our church plant on Twitter here.
Homogeneous Community vs. Gospel Community
Timmy Brister has a great post about what Gospel community should look like. I especially appreciated this section:
So when an elderly white woman is praying over a black young professional who is baby-sitting for a Hispanic family with six kids, what does this say to a non-Christian when they first encounter it? When the poor have equal standing with the rich, when the new believer struggling with his new identity in Christ and the sins of the past and is encouraged and established rather than looked down upon and judged, when the home-schooling family shares a meal together with the public-schooling family, when things like this are being done in community, what is on display? The gospel which has transformed their lives, informed their new identity, and formed a new humanity where walls of division have been broken down.
This is so much harder than homogeneous groups. It is so much messier and challenging. But is so much more glorious and gospel-honoring. It is not efficient, so pragmatism will not be it’s best advocate. It does not have as its reference point your personal needs, so the spiritual consumer will not like it. But those driven by the gospel and genuinely want to see it lived out in their lives will love it. Jesus loved, served, and gave. His focus the Father first, others second, and Himself last. And the attitude and actions of Jesus are manifested in a community where His reign and rule brings a new order in a new community when the kingdom has been established in their hearts.
Thoughts on Pop-Culture
I appreciated these thoughts from Fred Sanders:
The big question here is not, “Should Christians strive to stay current with culture?” The big question seems to be, “When is it okay for old Christians to quit keeping up with all the latest schlock?” I’m just a half-plug of Star chewing tobacco bit past twoscore, but I’m already logey and reeling under all the mediocre culture I consumed in the dreadful eighties. It was mostly forgettable, but I didn’t succeed in forgetting it. I can already recite the first eight seasons of the Simpsons (when it was still good); do I need to make room and lower my shock-standards for The Family Guy? I can pontificate on the emceeing styles of three different Family Feud hosts; do I need to make it a priority to see who the stars are dancing with? Don’t get me started on comic books: Having survived the zine revolution, the Secret Wars, and the Crisis on Infinite Earths, what’s a fanboy approaching middle age supposed to read? And where do they even sell comics these days, because I’m sure not going into that spooky store.
I speak not as a Christian, but as an up-and-coming fogey. I rarely meet the young Christian who needs to be exhorted to engage their culture. They seem to consume what everybody consumes, and are in general agreement with the zeitgeist that a steady stream of entertainment is the Fifth Freedom that our forefathers fought for. What I need is a reliable guide to the four good movies that come out every year, so I can see those and ignore the rest.
If there’s some gospel reason why I should scour through this and this and this to find something worth paying attention to, I’m ready to hear and obey. I’m even trying to keep the channel relatively clear so I can get the message when it arrives.
***********************************************************************
At the crusty old age of 33, I can relate to what he is saying here in terms of music. I just don't have much of an appetite for pop music anymore. I used to consume it like a famished grizzly in a trout stream. There are certainly exceptions, but I find that my musical tastes have completely transitions to music like classical and jazz that embodies, in my view, much more transcendence. I can promise you that we won't be listening to The Black Eyed Peas in 50 years, but Miles Davis' landmark recording, Kind of Blue will still be going strong. I think I'll take the later. I know, I know. I am crusty. I have four kids, drive a mini-van and go to bed at 9:30 sometimes. Deal with it.
Sign me up for the nursing home.
A Good Question About Social Justice
Shaun Groves asked a good question in my comment section of this post that I think is worthy of reflection:
Here was my response:
When talk of addressing environmental and physical poverty starts up, why do some people automatically think such activities are taking place to the detriment of addressing spiritual poverty?
It's a great and unfair assumption, a bias of some kind I don't understand. It's about as fair and accurate as someone believing that Billy Graham, because so much of his public life is about conversion, doesn't care about or do anything about the almost 30,000 children under the age of five who die every day from poverty related causes. Unfair.
Where do these assumptions and fears come from?
Here was my response:
Shaun,What do you think?
Thanks for the comment. I think church history, especially of the early 20th century has caused some (probably rightly so), to be defensive when it comes to these talks. Early 20th century liberalism wanted to "expand" the Gospel to mean caring for the poor, etc. Just a few years later all the Gospel meant for those folks was doing works of social justice. The Gospel of substitution and imputation was left far behind. It was too "narrow".
So I think it is wise to keep this church history in mind as a caution, lest we repeat their error, all the while embracing a robust Biblical view that says without apology, "The Gospel has implications! Eph. 2:8,9 has verse 10 following it!"
We are a community of word AND deed and may we never separate the two. I am not comfortable with saying that the Gospel IS helping the poor, but I am very passionate about people living out the implications of the Gospel through ministries like Compassion, adoption, IJM, etc.
Does that make sense?
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