Friday, July 28, 2006
New Podcast!
In the July 28 Ministry Today podcast, we chat with David Brog, a conservative Jew, executive director of Christians United for Israel and author of Standing With Israel about evangelical support for the state of Israel and whether you have to be dispensational to support the Jews.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Apocalypse Now?
I must confess: I grew up hearing the imagery of Armageddon--imagery of the variety that I was forbidden from watching on television or in the movies. Horses wading in rivers of blood beneath a mushroom cloud with Larry Norman singing "I wish we'd all been ready" in the background. Scary stuff. But I was comforted by the assurance that I would be watching these events unfold from the safety of Heaven.
Since then, my eschatology has gone through a series of adjustments. I became aware of believers in China wasting away for their faith in Maoist "re-education camps." I heard stories of God-fearing Sudanese families separated and sold into slavery by Islamic extremists. I helped a destitute Sri Lankan pastor distribute tsunami aid to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims in his town--only to hear several months later that he was beaten to within an inch of his life by a mob of angry Buddhists. Needless to say, the prospect of skipping tribulation now seemed a little self-serving at best.
Unfortunately, our Western versions of eschatology have bred some unhealthy extremes. Some of us are nearly giddy about the bloody precursors to the Second Coming. If Jesus warned that there would be "wars and rumors of wars" before His return, why would we want to delay His arrival by seeking peace? Others are convinced that the church will eventually so infiltrate society that Jesus will return to a world already conquered by His people. This group seems unaware that those who overcame the beast did so with their blood, not at the ballot box.
Now, I'm not delusional enough to think that all evangelicals can unite under the banner of one eschatological perspective. However, in the eyes of the secular world (and many evangelicals like myself), the two options of dominionism and escapism leave something to be desired and demonstrate an embarrassing level of disunity on a very relevant topic of discussion.
Even more bizarre are high-profile leaders who attempt to embrace both perspectives simultaneously. The other day, I heard a television preacher discuss the nearness of the rapture and tribulation and, minutes later, argue for the reinstatement of prayer in public school and the erection of the Ten Commandments in courtrooms. Unfortunately, those possessing a nuanced opinion somewhere between these two views rarely find themselves in front of a microphone or TV camera. Go figure.
My purpose for bringing up this subject was not to poke fun at the "eschatologically confused" (Come to think of it, I feel pretty confused myself when it comes to this tricky topic), but to challenge pastors and church leaders to tackle the subject on a local level with a winsome and life-giving approach. The Second Coming is not something to be feared and loathed--or gleefully anticipated for the destruction of our enemies. It's not an evangelistic bludgeon or a tool for the opportunistic to promote their political agenda. It is the V-Day to the cross's D-Day, the fulfillment of God's promise to dwell with His people, wipe every tear from their eyes and finish making all things new.
Sure, in modern parlance, John was freaked out when he saw what was to come, but not too freaked out to say, "Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!"
Matt Green, editor
Ministry Today
Agree? Disagree? Weigh in with your comments below.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
The Lone Danger
Nuts & BoltsHow to make community sermon prep more than a utopian dream.
While studying in community sounds good, the reality is that it’s a lot harder to begin and maintain that it may seem here. Because of this, it’s vital that some key elements are in place when developing such a group.
Developing Roots: It is impossible to develop a teaching pool by just studying together. Placing random people together in a group to study communally will hardly ever last. The disagreement and frustration that can happen in the dialogue require stronger ties. Instead, the group needs to be rooted in something deeper. The teaching pool described here spends time retreating together, praying for each other and even time simply relaxing with their families. These bonds hold things together when disagreements develop.
Freedom of Expression: It is vital to the group that each member feel valued and appreciated. Therefore, each person is free to express his or her viewpoint on the topic without feeling ignored or crowded out. This has to be stated from the outset and it’s even important to return to this every now and then to remind everyone that there is freedom to speak your ideas.
Truth in Love: Many times, the debate over theology or scriptural interpretation can turn into biting sarcasm and passionate responses. The problem is that our modes of communication can become focused only on speaking truth without worry of how we are saying it. It’s essential to remember to deliver your point of view in a way that maintains an atmosphere of love and acceptance. Ultimately, any disagreements need to be left in the room that they started in. Leaving and being upset is never an answer and will only split the group.
Down With Religion?
In a recent interview on CNN, a proponent of the "laughing revival" suggested that religion is "like a drug." "It wants to beat you down and make you dependent upon it," he explained. "If I can make you feel guilty, you'll come back next week." Ironically, he didn't seem to notice the similarity in the throngs of people who travel thousands of miles and attend weekly for a sip of the self-described "Holy Ghost Bartender's" addictive brew.
For me, it's just the opposite. Religion is what reminds me that being a follower of Christ is not merely about showing up on Sunday for a Holy Ghost fix. Religion is what I do Monday through Saturday. Like marriage is to my relationship with my wife, religion is to my relationship with my God.
Since we're on the marriage parallel, imagine a husband telling his wife, "It's not about marriage, Baby. It's about the relationship."
Uh ... good luck with that, buddy.
No, marriage (like religion) is the sum total of the commitments, words, thoughts and actions that reveal that there is in fact a relationship. Religion isn't a dirty word; it's the way we live out our relationship with God--the sum total of prayer, study, fellowship, worship, evangelism and social action that give dynamic shape to an otherwise ethereal concept. This is probably what James [a man so religious, his knees were purported to be calloused like that of a camel from the time he spent in prayer] was thinking of when he described "pure religion" as both personal piety and social engagement.
Whether the solemn reflection of the eucharist or the ecstatic exuberance of holy laughter, both are religious experiences that may--or may not--reflect an authentic relationship. Sure, the word religion may have fallen upon hard times, but that doesn't mean it's time to discard it. Let's redefine it, teach it, model it and reclaim its true significance in a world where the "pure religion" James talks about has all but lost its meaning.
Matt Green, editor
Ministry Today
Agree? Disagree? Weigh in with your comments below.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Weekend Reads: Right Wing, Wrong Bird, by Joel C. Hunter
"We are called to be involved in government but not to depend on it for solutions," Joel C. Hunter writes in his new book Right Wing, Wrong Bird: Why the Tactics of the Religious Right Won't Fly With Most Conservative Christians. The senior pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed, in Longwood, Florida, Hunter describes himself as a political conservative. However, he believes that he is not alone as an evangelical Christian who feels increasingly misrepresented by the religious right. Hunter argues that, in their quest for political dominance, right-wing Christians have misinterpreted the biblical relationship of church and government: "The Christian right seeks support in government. It could be irony, judgment or God's great sense of humor that finds the conservatives now doing what they accused the liberals of doing for years--looking to government for solutions," he writes. "We may get an answer, but never a solution. It is the nature of government to make matters more complicated. Government finds, as science does, that every answer raises more questions." Instead, Hunter advocates a partnership of sorts, in which the church contributes to government rather than imposing its demands on government.Wednesday, July 12, 2006
How We See Ourselves
COMING SOON: In the September/October issue of Ministry Today, David Kinnaman will explore the marks of discipleship--and how to know whether you're actually accomplishing it in your church.
Emerging Judaism
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Good News for North Korea
Warren admits that this is a possibility ("I know they're going to use me. So, I'm going to use them.") But he defends his decision in his blog: "Regardless of politics, I will go anywhere I am invited to preach the Gospel. My hope is that these visits will promote religious freedom in a country where the practice of individual faith has been tightly controlled and virtually prohibited since 1945."
This is not the first time an unusual door of opportunity has opened for a high profile leader to penetrate a "closed country" with the gospel. In 1984 Billy Graham was vilified for visiting the Soviet Union, because he was only allowed to preach in the state-sanctioned Russian Orthodox church--a "compromise" some felt should have precluded his visit. Now, 20 years later, as we observe how ineffective the Soviet Union was at snuffing out authentic Christianity, the criticisms against Graham seem irrelevant.
Is it suspicious that a notorious madman like Kim Jong il is considering allowing an evangelical pastor into his country for a crusade? Absolutely. But I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has prayed that North Korea's doors would eventually open to the outside world--if even a crack.
So, should we wait until North Korea is removed from the Axis of Evil before we pursue any opportunities to preach the gospel or bring encouragement to its persecuted citizens? Is our nation's diplomatic approval a prerequisite for the fulfillment of the Great Commission? Of course not. Like its 20th-century predecessors, when the oppressive regime of North Korea finally topples, it won't be because of the machinations of human governments. Whether in ancient Rome, 20th-century Moscow or (dare I say) 21st-century Beijing and Mecca, it is Kingdom yeast and martyr blood that are the ingredients of true revolution.
Matt Green, editor
Ministry Today
Agree? Disagree? Weigh in with your comments below.
Friday, July 07, 2006
If You're Going to Do It Right ...
... do it big--so big that it will minister to the crew members on the International Space Station. A Memphis church spent $260,000 to erect the 72-foot Statue of Liberation, a replica of the Statue of Liberty with the figure holding a cross and tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. "As people pass this intersection and see our statue, let them know that Jesus is the only way," senior pastor Alton Williams said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the monument. Thursday, July 06, 2006
New Podcast!
In the July Ministry Today podcast, we sit down with Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in Bowie, Maryland, to discuss the differing political loyalties of black-led and white-led churches. Also, don't miss an article by Bishop Jackson in the September/October issue of the magazine on this topic.Monday, July 03, 2006
Liberty for All?
... the Western religion of witchcraft. It does not endorse evil, let alone worship Satan, but instead attempts to draw on the spiritual powers in the universe to promote goodness and healing. Wicca recognizes many gods, including the supreme goddess, who is represented by the moon. It teaches that there are many invisible lines of spiritual power crisscrossing the world around us and that it is possible to tap into them for the sake of helping others. Wicca often likes to paint itself as the female alternative to male-dominated established religion. A membership figure of 50,000 is a highly speculative estimate since the practitioners meet in local covens with no unified headquarters.The article notes that, although he opposed the arrival of the witch school, a baptist pastor in the area has "come to accept the school as a permanent fixture and moved on, even though he doesn't approve of Wiccan beliefs." Before we blame this preacher for giving up the fight, let's consider some of the tough questions of religious liberty and pluralism this story brings to the surface.
Should Christians defend religious freedom for religions that compete with--and even oppose--Christianity?
I believe we should. We have nothing to fear from competing faiths, if we are effectively articulating, defending and applying our own. Biblical Christianity has been shown to thrive in any environment--whether open or oppressive.
But what about in the Old Testament, when idolaters and sorcerers were put to the sword?
Good point. But we're not living under a theocracy--or even a monarchy--but a democratic republic, the founding principles of which do not demand that its citizens adhere to Christianity.
Are there certain religions that should be excluded from the benefits of religious freedom, such as fundamentalist Islam and Wicca?
I don't think so. But there are practices common to certain religions and sects that should be outlawed, such as terrorism, polygamy, spousal abuse, animal sacrifice, female mutilation, etc.
If the majority of Americans were Christians, would it be a good idea to make the U.S. an officially "Christian nation" through the legislative process--and outlaw all false religions?
This is a great idea--in theory. However, there is no historical precedent of this working--whether in a representative government or in an authoritarian monarchy. In fact, it seems that whenever Christianity becomes a "majority religion" or a "state religion" of a nation, that nation soon slips into decline--both morally and politically.
Simply put, can we advocate religious freedom in places like Iraq, North Korea and China (for the benefit of Christianity) and not defend religious freedom here at home (for the benefit of Wiccans)? No. Like Paul--who lived and ministered in the pluralistic, idolatrous and oppressive context of the Roman Empire--we must recognize that there will come a time when "every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord." And that includes Wiccans. In the meantime, we depend on the winsomeness of our message and the conviction of the Holy Spirit--not the force of government--to carry out our Great Commission.
Matt Green, editor
Ministry Today
Agree? Disagree? Weigh in with your comments below.
