On May 7, 2008 in Washington, D.C., a group of Christian’s published and presented a paper they call “An Evangelical Manifesto”. This sparked a discussion at Out Of Ur blogsite so I am re-posting my comments from that blog here:

It’s been interesting to read this exchange of thoughts and I have a few observations. Prior to Roe vs Wade (abortion on demand compliments of the Supremes - 1973) few Christians were actively involved in politics, but with the legalization of the killing of innocent babies things had to change. Many Christians opened their eyes to the fact that to some degree they had allowed this to happen because they found politics so distasteful - and it is! Thus was born the “Moral Majority”. Why? because a group of judges who were appointed for life found an unwritten ‘right’ in the constitution that none had found before and the American people (not just the church) were caught completely by surprise. These people were not politically savvy and began to look for representatives who would champion this cause and the only ones they found were in the Republican party. One can hardly call these people ‘useful idiots’ with any degree of honesty. While for some, the life issue has become a form of self-righteousness, this does not diminish the necessity of staying the course.
The Democrat party on the other hand, had already become self-righteous by caring about the poor - with other people’s money. I think this is where Shane Calibourne may find himself a ‘political misfit’. He cannot justify the pro-abortion stance of the Democrats but is drawn to the re-distribution of wealth philosophy they hold. The problem is that if I take money from you that you have rightfully earned by your work and give it to my choice of poor people, I am not thereby made righteous in God’s sight. However, if I allow you to give of your own free will, then it is a different story.
Sadly, the Republican party today is not much better than the Democrat party. Christian people gained a tremendous amount of influence there in the ’80’s, but the old guard has fought back and wants to dump the true conservatives.
So, to the Evangelical Manifesto: After having read it and then Richard Land’s explanation as to why he did not sign it, I would definitely side with Richard Land. Why do we need “manifesto’s” anyway? It sounds so Marxist to me.

The new voices of the Religious Left – Rick Warren, Joel Hunter, Tony Campolo, Jim Wallis, et al – are defining down what it means to be an evangelical by making the symptoms of man’s sin (poverty, disease, etc.) a priority rather than addressing the cause of those symptoms (sin) and the cure found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

“The Religious Left is successfully redefining what it means to be a conservative evangelical by misrepresenting what it means to be a conservative evangelical. In a recent conference call hosted by Faith in Public Life, one of the emerging voices of the Religious Left, Dr. Joel Hunter, said: Read the rest of this entry »

A new book is out by George Barna and Frank Viola.  There is a chapter that implies the position in the church of ‘pastor’ (synonym for ’shepherd’) is anti-biblical in it’s present practice.I have not read the book, but it is being thoroughly discussed at www.outofur.com where I have posted this comment: Read the rest of this entry »

This is one of the most difinitive articles I’ve seen on the emergent church

Two very public instances of divorce in the ‘Christian’ community (TBN Charismatic to be specific) have been announced in the last couple of weeks. Pastors Paula and Randy White (Church Without Walls, Tampa , FL) say they are divorcing because their respective ministries have led them in opposite directions and therefore they no longer have enough in common to continue with marriage. Does this sound like a Biblical reason for divorce? What is stunning to me is that TBN and Carman have put their stamp of approval on the whole thing. Aware of the critics, Christian artist Carman said people who don’t have the “wherewithal” to assess the situation should not judge or “open that person up to look,” as he stated it. He told Paula White that she is at the top of her game right now. Carman apparently said this on his show with Paula as his guest. Somehow I can’t imagine being at the top of my game (and “game” seems an appropriate word here) as I’m going through a divorce unless I was thrilled to escape from my spouse. I’m grossly disappointed with Carman because I have supported him since his first tour many years ago, both in prayer and monetarily. When he says we should not “open that person up to look”, what are we then supposed to do? Say ,”Yipee, she’s now hot and available?” I have yet to see anyone bring any scriptural basis for this kind of rationale.

While people in “ministry” need our continued prayers when they face difficult obstacles in life I have two observations about “Ministers”:

1. They are called to a higher standard than laypersons. “Let not many of you beome teachers…knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgement.” James 3:1
2. It seems that anyone can set themselves up to be a “Minister” and immediately be absolved from any accountability for their actions. After all, doesn’t James also say, “judge not that you be not judged”?

So why bother preaching against divorce? Well, apparently no high profile preacher does anymore. Fortunately, the pastors of my Mennonite Brethren Church are. Our church certainly needs it. “…if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20

(Part II to come)

I read the Chronicles of Narnia when I was in 6th grade and loved them.  Though I was already “born-again” I never saw any spiritual allegory in them and never heard anyone proclaim such until the 1980’s. When Tolkien’s books came out in the late ’70’s my Dad (a very Godly man) suggested I might enjoy them.  I just couldn’t get excited about a mole, though. Daddy loved those books but, avid reader though he was, I never heard him mention spiritual allegory there either.

I wouldn’t be posting on this subject except that so many ‘Christian’ voices out there are beating the drum that Potter is a ‘must-read’.  These voices are becoming almost dictatorial for Christian behavior in all areas.  There is a new fundamentalism coming from the “Christian Left” and anyone who deviates from or questions their declared doctrines is the new ‘heretic’.  What the Bible says is far less important than what these new theologians say.  They are aligning themselves to march in lock-step with each other.  This hasn’t happened overnight and it shouldn’t be surprising to those of us who still believe in Biblical Christianity.

Is it absolutely necessary for a Christian to be completely immersed in ‘Pop-Culture’? I find many of my unsaved public high school students extremely weary of that culture and aching for something refreshing to satisfy their souls. Shall I give them Harry Potter? Does he offer water from which they can drink and never thirst again?

Here is a link to the website for Revolution Church (one in Downey and one in Lakewood, CA) where the services for the month of July are totally focused on sex. This seems to be one of the main components of the emerging church. They crave sensuality. This goes way beyond the church having a healty view of sex and into excessive tittilation. I believe that this is the reason many liberal Christian pastors had such affection for Bill Clinton. He was the embodiment of their fantasies. Is this going to bring the unsaved into this church so that the gospel of salvation through repentance can be preached to them?

Excerpts from a book called SADDAM’S SECRETS by Georges Sada:

“I was a General in the Iraqui Air Force, statrting my training in 1958. I first met Saddam Hussein in 1965 when my wife was teaching English at a school I went to pick her up. I gave a lady a ride; it was Saddam’s wife. She introduced Saddam to me. He was walking; he didn’t have a car. He came to power in 1968, as “Number Two”. He took over July 17, 1979. When he took over the power, I was already a general.

Up to 1986, I was a general with Saddam. Read the rest of this entry »

“…the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26. Nowhere in the Bible are believers called ‘Christ Followers’. People followed Jesus by the thousands during his earthly ministry. Why not? He gave them free food. But where the rubber (chariot wheel) met the road the vast majority of them were yelling, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” So I think I’ll just stick to being called a “Christian” even though it’s terribly old-fashioned.

With all the excitement about the movie Amazing Grace some reference to the man who wrote the song seems appropriate. Here is an article I found on the life of John Newton who wrote the song and what the connection is to William Wilburforce.

The Story of John Newton
by Al Rogers

John Newton 1725-1807
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…” So begins one of the most beloved hymns of all times, a staple in the hymnals of many denominations, New Britain or “45 on the top” in Sacred Harp. The author of the words was John Newton, the self-proclaimed wretch who once was lost but then was found, saved by amazing grace.

Newton was born in London July 24, 1725, the son of a commander of a merchant ship which sailed the Mediterranean. When John was eleven, he went to sea with his father and made six voyages with him before the elder Newton retired. In 1744 John was impressed into service on a man-of-war, the H. M. S. Harwich. Finding conditions on board intolerable, he deserted but was soon recaptured and publicly flogged and demoted from midshipman to common seaman.

Finally at his own request he was exchanged into service on a slave ship, which took him to the coast of Sierra Leone. He then became the servant of a slave trader Read the rest of this entry »