Sarcastic Faith Bashing

     I received a sarcastic brochure in the mail entitled, "The Republican Party Stands for Traditional Faith & Values" with the picture to the left of a Bible and a cross.  The sender was anonymous - which I really do not appreciate and is generally cowardly in this context.  They actually wrote a "personal" note and signed it "Your friend, guess who!".  Well, I don't want to guess!
     The brochure went on to reference a number of Old Testament passages that gave ancient laws and rules regarding how to deal with slaves, giving daughters as wives (where the young woman apparently had no choice in the matter), selling a daughter as a sex slave, stoning a woman to death that was possibly raped, killing of men, male children, and non-virgin women, etc.  You get the picture.  The examples were out of historical context, they ignored rules of interpretation (which I reference below) and clearly are a grievous affront to our sense of right and a blight against anything most people would call positive moral values.
     The sarcasm in the brochure states that these "values" are "derived from God's Word - The Bible - and must be vigorously defended against liberals who seek to deny their fundamental importance and 100% relevance to the governing of our great nation Under God."  The setup was clear as you started to read the inside which began with the statement, "Let's continue to reaffirm these God-given values".
     The entire thing is ridiculous. How this person dealt with (and actually many, many people deal with)  the ancient history recorded in the Old Testament is terribly wrong.  Ignoring scholarship any real study of the Ancient Near East, the ideas expressed in such rhetoric continue to divide people and create conflict between people. Religious bigots and people who practice radical blind faith should be ignored by the average person and unfortunately  has to be carefully managed by the law, but such brochures and similar rhetoric are the secular equivalent of religious bigotry and actually continue to do harm.
     I am not a Republican, but I strongly believe in and strive to practice values derived from God's Word, the Bible.  For example, my values and morals support marriage between one man and one woman for life, as well as loving your family and caring for your children.  And even if I differ with your family structure such as two "married" women raising a child - I still support the physical an nurturing care that should be given to a child regardless who gives it. Sure I would differ with such a couple on the fundamental definition of marriage , how children normally should be conceived, and how we subsequently practice marriage (regardless of what is allowed or not allowed by the law), but we are still human beings and can still show care and concern for each other and for each others family.  Jesus would differ but still show love and I want to do likewise.
     My values derived from biblical principles affirm love, joy, peace and patience.  Such values strongly promote both justice and mercy, law and grace in our civil society.  Slavery, the sexual abuse of woman, human trafficking, and other such atrocities are not affirmed by an appropriate application of biblical principles. Such brochures attack reason and ignore major principles in biblical exegesis (interpreting contextual fact/what it says) and hermeneutics (interpreting principled theory/application).  Following sound guidelines around how to read, interpret and apply the scriptures are essential in not adding to a world that is all too engaged in needless bloodshed, violence, and strife.

Maturity Simply Says "No Thank You"

Yesterday I invited a college student to hear Frank Turek speak on the general topic of theism verses atheism.  Turek co-authored a book entitled, "I don't have Enough Faith to be an Atheist".  The young man responded in very dry, cold terms - as opposed to politely saying no thank you he said emphatically No and added, "those who do not belief in the judeo-christian god do not choose to try to force their beliefs on others, and I would appreciate the same respect".  Obviously he has some strong opinions about faith related issues.

Our culture is becoming more and more agnostic and atheistic.  Some are militant - and I worry the most about them.  For theist with the wrong foundation (I happen to be convinced that Christianity is true and by definition, other faith systems are existentially wrong but right now, I don't have time to unpack this idea) there is incredible danger - if God says kill people, who are you to argue!  Thus, such belief is a very dangerous faith position to hold.  However, atheist - a honest atheist - has no moral foundation at all and killing others is simply not wrong or right, nor is it good or evil for such ideas require an absolute standard by which to judge.  This approach to life is also dangerous.  The amazing thing is that the young man referenced above is going into Criminal Justice!

My hope for this world is that those to seek righteousness, goodness and truth will be able to survive and stay faithful as the world turns more and more agnostic and atheistic.  The pain caused by faith systems with a false foundation or premise is a terrible element in history and my gut tells me that this is the excuse for most who go that way.  Personal pain in relationships, broken marriages, broken promises, do nothing but add to the exodus from faith.  Historical atrocities and the acceptance of evolution by natural selection without any theistic influence give the agnostic and the atheist a framework for justifying the rejection of God, but the reasons are typically deeply personal and emotionally driven.  I do hope that those in the more healthy faith community will be able to withstand the onslaught of a more naturalistic world view.  And as for the young man referenced above, I hope and pray that he doesn't grow into a cold, uncaring person - mutual altruism (the only basis for caring for others without God) is very limited and I'll bet this young man, and many like him, aren't even consciously aware of such an idea.

Help Sustain Powerful Christian Institution

Are you very rich and have access to about $10 million to help a well established Christian College?  The Washington Bible College, Capital Bible Seminary is having MAJOR financial problems and feel the need to SELL the campus.  If you are very well off and have the means to not only save the campus, but help them thrive in a society that really needs this institution, please give.

You can go here to contact the college:  http://bible.infusioncorp.com/2012_WBC_CBS/Donate/GiveAGift

Please give - we need as WBC/CBS to continue to train and educate people who are willing to take a principled stand for what is right.  The senseless killing (e.g. Aurora Colorado Batman movie killing) and evil in our world scream out that we need more institutions like  WBC/CBS , not less.

Thanks,
   Fuller

The "Why" of Church

If you know me, then you know that I am actively involved in a faith community; a local church.  Currently, we are looking for a full-time minister who will do the majority of the preaching as well as join us on our leadership team.  One of the questions that came to me during this search process is this:  Why do people get involved and stay involved in a local church?

This is NOT a new question by any means and there are multiple corollary's and related questions such as "why do people leave churches?", "why do people church hop", or "why do some people only attend church on Christmas or Easter?"

In reading a book entitled, "Breakout Churches", Thom Rainer took on the unenviable task of researching why some churches grow and other die base on people coming and getting involved or leaving for various reasons.  One of the key factors he found was simply the preacher.  The man behind the pulpit has a great deal of influence and has a great impact on the "Why" of church.  Rainer didn't like uncovering this fact because full-time preachers already have a great deal of pressure on them.

Anyway, I was thinking about this because the church I am with is (was?) primarily a white church but the preacher we will be hiring is black.  (The decision has actually been made and it was a significant majority - although I don't have the numbers - based on the ballots, to hire this guy!)  I wonder how many new "Why's" of our church will be impacted by the new preacher.  I look forward to getting to know him and working with him in ministry.  I'm confident that the "Why" of Church will continue to include many factors.  I have faith and I am praying that with the church I am with, race will not be a significant factor at all and we will continue to be a diverse congregation of people learning to love each other and celebrate the creativity of God in making all sorts of people!