"We have a responsibility to communicate the gospel to our generation. . .No one can become a Christian unless he understands what Christianity is saying. Many pastors, missionaries and Christian teachers seem to be helpless as they try to speak to the educated people and the mass of people about them. They do not seem to face the fact that it is our task to speak to our generation; the past has gone, the future is not yet here. So the positive side of apologetics is teh communication of the gospel to the present generation in terms that they can understand." *
Tired old discussions of religion still dominate many of our churches today. Sometimes this is seen in the lack of preparation that many of our church leaders provide for themselves. Knowing full well that not everyone has the opportunity to study and learn the finer points of theology, philosophy and reason, my argument here is against the poor attempt to understand and to think about our faith. In support of my thesis is the overwhelming people who are still being had by the health and wealth heresies (the Hinnster, Hot Rod Parsley, Bobby $Tilt$ton, etc. . .) as well as the "upper class" churchgoers who attend Sunday morning musicals with no mention of sin and sacrifice.
It is no wonder that the church is having such a difficult time in our culture. Yet in many places across the globe the radical message of the Gospel is being lived out in revolutionary ways - much to the explosive growth despite massive persecution for faith. And in these parts of the world it is still considered a privledge, responsibility and even honor to grow in God's Word.
And knowledge is not the end, but the means. Perhaps this realization will hinder the pile of arguments for Christian Theism that debate points nobody even cares about in today's society. Our apologetics seem to be on pace with our Sunday morning services - outdated and impotent. Let us remember to challenge ourselves with a tenacity for the truth of the Gospel, that we might rightly divide the Word of Truth, expose counterfeits for what they really are, and effectively engage our world. After all, it was Jesus who spoke of knowing the truth - for it will set us free.
So if our lives proclaim the Gospel, let's make sure the amplifier is cranked.
*Francis A. Schaeffer, The God Who Is There, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove: IVP, 1982), 172-173.
emphasis in original
Tuesday, May 31
Saturday, May 28
stronger than gravity
I'm always a bit taken back by the amount of people who want to find external blame for their own actions/inactions. Indeed, our own culture is still making great strides at removing any possible reason why we should ever be actually responsible for anything. As a species we have become quite good at shifting blame (of course, we could easily erect a hall of fame for such ethical achievements in this arena) and are always on the lookout for other possible escape hatches for our own lack of morality.
Several years ago I wrote a small piece describing what I refer to as the "My-Bad Syndrome." A seemingly harmless yet serious condition which emerged and flourished in the mid to late 1990s, this affliction may still be observed in varying areas in the world. The key tenet of the "My-Bad Syndrome" is that individuals may be released from any moral responsibility for any action simply by acknowledging the fact that it was not a desireable outcome. Notice that there is no need to admit that any wrongdoing ever occurred, since that would mean there were moral absolutes and actual rights and wrongs to begin with. Rather, simply stating "my bad" as a way of recognizing the "situation" released any need for apology or repentance.
This syndrome was largely harmless among humans as it frequently occurred among people groups that accepted such behavior as appropriate and found no problem in exchanging such verbal statements. The big problem is that this attitude began to influence our own interaction with truth and its Author. In actuality, the "My-Bad Syndrome" was just another phase of what has been happening from the beginning - a way of removing ourselves from the seat of moral responsibility. Jesus simply would have none of this and affirmed God's absolute standard time and again.
All of the lame excuses ranging from "the devil made me do it" to "but I was born that way" do not cut it. It is the human condition to fall. We are constantly fighting an internal pull downward which is part of our own human nature. Ours is a bent toward sinning and a natural tendency to pull ourselves down.
But we are faced with a tremendous opportunity to experience the love of God, which is the only antidote to this syndrome. The acceptance of his grace remains the only hope of our downward spiral, for his love is stronger than our own gravity.
Several years ago I wrote a small piece describing what I refer to as the "My-Bad Syndrome." A seemingly harmless yet serious condition which emerged and flourished in the mid to late 1990s, this affliction may still be observed in varying areas in the world. The key tenet of the "My-Bad Syndrome" is that individuals may be released from any moral responsibility for any action simply by acknowledging the fact that it was not a desireable outcome. Notice that there is no need to admit that any wrongdoing ever occurred, since that would mean there were moral absolutes and actual rights and wrongs to begin with. Rather, simply stating "my bad" as a way of recognizing the "situation" released any need for apology or repentance.
This syndrome was largely harmless among humans as it frequently occurred among people groups that accepted such behavior as appropriate and found no problem in exchanging such verbal statements. The big problem is that this attitude began to influence our own interaction with truth and its Author. In actuality, the "My-Bad Syndrome" was just another phase of what has been happening from the beginning - a way of removing ourselves from the seat of moral responsibility. Jesus simply would have none of this and affirmed God's absolute standard time and again.
All of the lame excuses ranging from "the devil made me do it" to "but I was born that way" do not cut it. It is the human condition to fall. We are constantly fighting an internal pull downward which is part of our own human nature. Ours is a bent toward sinning and a natural tendency to pull ourselves down.
But we are faced with a tremendous opportunity to experience the love of God, which is the only antidote to this syndrome. The acceptance of his grace remains the only hope of our downward spiral, for his love is stronger than our own gravity.
Saturday, May 21
renewing strength
I feel like I'm rejoining the world. . .AND I've just plugged in the new internet connection! There is so much that has happened over the last four weeks. It's one of those things where you realize that you haven't been able to blog but didn't realize that you hadn't realized THAT because you haven't had much time to realize any reality (easy for me to say). For the time being this particular site is being published out of the cornfields of Indiana - really! I suppose you never know where you will find the work of the kingdom waiting for you - I think Jesus said something of that sort.
Five months to the day of being fired from my position of "Assistant to the Minister" in Newnan, Georgia, and falling prey to some pretty nasty church politics, I gave my first sermon as Pastor in Twelve Mile, Indiana. Even re-reading my own blog doesn't get me out from the feeling of it being much longer than actuality. I came to realize that so many in my previous surroundings were so concerned with becoming the most, greatest, or best that they lost sight of the true nature of the Gospel. Truth of the matter is, I began to lose sight of it as well. Over the last few months I have been able to regain my perspective of the kingdom. It began with getting to know some great people at the restaurant at which I began working. There was a level of 'realism' that I had lost in the ecclesiastical communities in which I was running. And now the healing process can complete with folks who just want to be about their Father's business.
Healing can finish, although I will still bear the scars of FUMC. But it is like a scar on the back of my hand, which I earned one summer afternoon just a few miles east of here while cutting grass during college summer break. I will never forget the time, the experience, or the location. . .but the pain is forgotten.
Isaiah 40 speaks of those who hope in the Lord renewing their strength, because even youth grow tired and young people stumble. It occured to me that this all implies that believers will lose strength, but have hope in the knowledge of it being renewed. So I'm rejoining the world, at last. . .oh yeah, I also have internet again.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. . .
2 Peter 3:9
(the first Scripture my ears heard on my first Sunday in my new church home)
Five months to the day of being fired from my position of "Assistant to the Minister" in Newnan, Georgia, and falling prey to some pretty nasty church politics, I gave my first sermon as Pastor in Twelve Mile, Indiana. Even re-reading my own blog doesn't get me out from the feeling of it being much longer than actuality. I came to realize that so many in my previous surroundings were so concerned with becoming the most, greatest, or best that they lost sight of the true nature of the Gospel. Truth of the matter is, I began to lose sight of it as well. Over the last few months I have been able to regain my perspective of the kingdom. It began with getting to know some great people at the restaurant at which I began working. There was a level of 'realism' that I had lost in the ecclesiastical communities in which I was running. And now the healing process can complete with folks who just want to be about their Father's business.
Healing can finish, although I will still bear the scars of FUMC. But it is like a scar on the back of my hand, which I earned one summer afternoon just a few miles east of here while cutting grass during college summer break. I will never forget the time, the experience, or the location. . .but the pain is forgotten.
Isaiah 40 speaks of those who hope in the Lord renewing their strength, because even youth grow tired and young people stumble. It occured to me that this all implies that believers will lose strength, but have hope in the knowledge of it being renewed. So I'm rejoining the world, at last. . .oh yeah, I also have internet again.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. . .
2 Peter 3:9
(the first Scripture my ears heard on my first Sunday in my new church home)
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