Sojourners

The type of “Christianity” that is practiced in many small towns and small churches in America is dying.  This type of Independant-Fundie-Pre-trib-Pre-Mill, America as God’s nation type of faith is dying.  This fact is clear and undeniable.  However, this morning as we are approaching memorial day weekend I went to one of these mentioned churches.  I sat there as America was promoted and the gospel put aside.  A video was shown of how great America’s soilders were and are.  Statistics were given about how many Americans died in the wars, including WWII which all of the Jewish, Russian, Polish, etc casualities were neglected.  Then the “worship” leader led in the song “America the Beautiful.”  (I’m sick at my stomach by this point)  Then he began to preach out of Exodus 14 in a passage that mentions the word memorial.  He then equated this memorial for Israel for her passover feast with that of our memorial day.  What kind of hermeneutic is that?  He is saying that the principal being taught here is that we should remember?    Where is weeping for the children starving in Africa?  Well, this morning the church did not care, because they are free to worship as they wish and remember the sacrifices people have made for that.  Idolatry is what is is.  They have made it safe for us to go to church so I know longer care about anyone else.  I wish it would die.

Have you ever been driving along and see a Christian with one of those clever bumper stickers? It makes me wondered what this does for the furthering or hindering of the Kingdom of God. Over at Relevant, there is an interesting article on this topic.

Vs.

It is indeed an interesting time in which we live. Have ideological motives gone so far as to rewrite history? It certainly seems so as of late. The Boston Herald recently ran an article saying “Iranian president Ahmadinejad has used anti-Israeli rhetoric and cast doubt on the Holocaust to rally anti-Western supporters at home and abroad, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. Several times he has referred to the Holocaust as a “myth” used to impose the state of Israel on the Arab world.” Also, on a recent CNN exclusive titled “After Jesus”, it was clear that much effort was taken to not render the Jews responsible for the death of Christ. Granted that the cause for Christ’ death was as a propitiation for the elect and isaiah 53 says that it was Gods will to crush him; but there is no reason, in my mind, to disregard history and say that the Jews were not responsible (or indirectly say that) (the program will re-air on Saturday as well as Monday). Albert Mohler also devoted his radio program to discussing it as well as a long blog entry found at albertmohler.com. I wonder how far political correctness is willing to go to remain unoffensive, and how far Ahmadinejad is willing to go to be offensive? It is indeed a strange time in which we live. Here you have two opposite sides essentially promoting a similar view- truth has no place in our culture. Very interesting times, very interesting times.

-Josiah

With the Christmas season fast approaching Christmas trees are flying up, presents are being wrapped, and a little mistletoe is hung from above the doorway (at least on the third floor at Boyce). Here we are to celebrate the advent. My question is how exactly do we do that? Sadly, we do it in an idolatrous way. Each year thousands of church’ are pulling out their nativity scenes from the attic, dusting off the wise men (never-mind they were never there,) and placing the cute baby Jesus in the manger for all to see. My question to you guys is- should they do this? And what should we do about it? Is the image of Christ being slenderized and is it ok? Perhaps i am extremely jumpy about this because Im reading Packers book, but he makes a great point, quoting Calvin “a true image of God, wrote Calvin, “is not to be found in all the world; and hence…His glory is defiled, and His truth corrupted by the lie, whenever He is set before our eyes in visible form.” He goes on to say that “the heart of the objection to pictures and images is that they inevitably conceal most, if not all, of the truth about the personal nature and character of the divine Being whom they represent.” So in meditating on the incarnate God, the One who interred into he world as a babe, and was cradled in a cattle trough- the same God who created the cosmos out of nothing, the sustainer of all things, the very breath of life that became flesh and dwelt among us- how dare we dishonor his name by making images to aid in worship JUST as the Israelites did with Aaron. So i urge us all to watch our idolatrous hearts and seek the true image of the God-Man- the image found in the Bible. That is the true image and the one that can represent His glory to the finite understanding we have.

-Josiah

In Carl Henry’s classic work with the same title as this entry he asserts some interesting obversations about fundamentalism’s neglect for the social ramifications of the gospel. We must ever be praying for the wholistic ramifications of the gospel to be present in our churches. Here is a quote from the book.

“But so is the uneasy conscience of the modern Fundamentalist, that no voice is speaking today as Paul word, either at the United Nations sessions, or at labor-management disputes, or in strategic university classrooms whether in Japan or Germany or America” – Carl F.H. Henry

-Brady

So here is the question…. do we, as Christians, follow the crowd? Perhaps a more foundational question is “should we follow the crowd”? Shouldn’t we fight the crowed that influences our friends and family? That god-awful culture that has stolen the generation away form our rhythmic hymns and into a swirl of up-beat, passion driven music? Or should we accept the culture, just not its populace. Their sinners remember? The culture is fine, the participants of the culture, however,they are sinful, thieving , hell-boud, transgressors. We don’t want them in our church bringing all that heresy into our home….right?….

or do we?

This is similar to Brady’s post simply because i think it is very relevant and biblically alarming. the cultures image of the church seems to be that a the famous Simpsons character Ned Flanders; and perhaps their not far off. Perhaps the church we invite our friends to is a church that reflects “Flanderism”, or maybe it could be called “legalism”- isn’t that the correct term?
The real issue i want to bring up is regarded to the first question. Should our churches follow the crowd of culture or not? I believe it should, and i think it is biblically based to do so. How else are we to reach those lost friends with the joy of the Gospel if we make it out to be a strict, hateful, ideology. Now, don’t get me wrong, when i say the joy of the Gospel, i mean the whole Gospel; that includes sin, Gods justified wrath that is being poured out against all mankind, and the reality of Hell, but also the loving kindness he has lavished upon his elect. That marvelous redemption that was brought through a virgin, and entered as a babe and the complete satisfaction and perfect joy that is found in the person of Jesus Christ. So how do we articulate that to a culture that is different than that of the Bible. The answer is, model the culture and preach Christ crucified. The Gospel is as relevent today as it was in the first century, and we must understand that evangelism reflected the culture then, and so it must now.

-Josiah

If you don’t know who Ned Flanders is, you might be him. However, Matt Chandler has written some interesting and wise words on this “character.” Those of us who want to think “missionally” and rethink the Christian sub-culture that has sprung into existence would be wise to take his advice to heart.

You should read the whole article, but here’s an excerpt.

“It’s a strange thing to wake up and find out you are the very thing you hated and rebelled against to begin with. Judging men not by the content of their souls but by how they dress, talk and drink. I was expected when I came to know Jesus to wear a suit on Sunday, part my hair on the side and then hairspray it down, quit drinking completely and learn to speak “Christianese” fluently. If I did those things I was welcomed and loved if not, I was the outcast. I find it heartbreaking that I have tendencies to do the same to others. The expectations have changed, it’s not a suit it’s an un-tucked shirt, it’s not your hair parted down the side it’s messy hair that you spent 15 minutes making look messy. But it’s the same madness, the same judgments, and the same sin that plagued my fathers before me.” -Matt Chandler, Pastor of the Village Church

-Brady