Question: What does Darfur, the Beijing Olympics/Tibet and Islamic objections to homosexuality have in common?
Darfur
The Darfur region of western Sudan has become a Hollywood liberal cause. In the five years that fighting has gone on, approximately 200,000 have been killed and millions are at risk of death from starvation and disease. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and the character John Carter, doctor on ER, just to name a few, have been to Darfur to pump up support for humanitarian efforts. Don’t get me wrong, this is a good thing.
In Sudan, a war was waged by Arab Muslims in the north against the black African animist/Christian south. The war continued for two decades, but intensified when China started pumping money into oil exploitation in the south. The quickest way to get the oil flowing was to eliminate the obstacles. In August 2000 China offered 700,000 troops to help the Sudanese government annihilate the remaining 6 million Christian in the south. Now that the oil is flowing, the killing has slowed down.
A peace deal was brokered in 2003 by the Bush administration with unintended consequences. The cease fire allowed Sudan to turn their focus on Darfur.
What has me wondering is where was the same humanitarian interest when a war was raging in southern Sudan that killed approximately 2 million people. Ten times the number of dead and it was over oil. It makes Iraq protests about ‘Blood for Oil’ seem hypocritical.
Tibet
Protests are disrupting the Olympic torch traveling the world as it heads to this summer’s event in Beijing. Politicians, including Pelosi and Clinton, are calling for boycotts of the opening ceremonies. Why? Because China invaded Tibet in 1950, and has oppressed its citizens and the Buddhist leader, the Dali Lama, every since. This has been a Hollywood liberal cause for years; just ask Richard Gere and the ‘Free Tibet’ crowd. Again, this is a good thing to protest and I am not trying to minimize it.
In China there is an official “Christian” church which does not include Jesus Christ as its Head. The Chinese government is the only thing Chinese people are allowed to pledge their loyalty to. No loyalty allowed to God or that Jesus dude.
This has led to an underground church that accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you are a part of this “evil cult” and are caught, you will be put in jail, you may end up in a "re-education through labor" camp, you may be tortured or you may be put to death. This has been going on since Mao took over China in 1949.
In a lead up to the Olympic Games, China has been cracking down on dissidents. This includes un-official Christians. Thousands have been rounded up over the past year, especially the un-official pastors. There are at least 500,000 people in prisons in China, and a large percentage are there just for being Christians.
Why are politicians and Hollywood not calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics over Christian persecution?
Islam in Britain
In early 2007 Britain decided to extend their indoctrination of pro-homosexual ideas to school children as young as four. This caused an uproar from the Christian community, but the laws went into affect anyway.
Just last week in Britain the Bristol City Council pulled pro-homosexual books and DVDs from two elementary schools after objections from Muslim parents. The schools are 60 to 70 percent Muslim.
The decision was made to enable the schools to "operate safely" after parents voiced their concerns at meetings. “There were also concerns about whether the stories were appropriate for young children”, the “total lack of consultation with parents”, the schools refusal “to deal with the parents” and that the schools “don't do sex education until Year Six and at least there you have got the option of withdrawing the children”. Sounds like similar complaints that Christians have.
These two schools had been using the books to ensure they complied with gay rights laws. By removing the material they are now violating British laws.
When Christians complained in other parts of Britain they were basically told “shut up you homophobes”. I guess they forgot to threaten violence so the schools did not have to worry about operating safely.
Common Theme
So what do all these have in common? The reaction of the world to these events versus the reaction to the same issues when they involve Christians. The world does not care about you or your opinions if you are Christian.
This should not come as a surprise to anyone. In 2 Timothy 3:12 we are told what to expect. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. Of course that means we are blessed. Matthew 5:11 says “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me”.
Are you ready to be blessed through persecution? Just wondering.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The World Series of Poker
With the first round of the baseball playoffs are completed and with no local NHL or NBA games on I found myself searching for something to watch last night on TV. Usually when there isn’t a game on I will turn to the Law and Order franchise to get my fix of TV viewing, however last night I was drawn to watching the first hour of ESPN’s final table of the World Series of Poker. You can ask yourself the question; why I would watch a non Law and Order or a non sports event show especially one that glorifies gambling and all the inherent evil that gambling brings. The answer comes not from the card playing but rather from the way the eventual winner conducted himself. Jerry Yang the winner of the WSOP is a born again believer and follower of Jesus Christ. I found myself appalled and thrilled that the name of Jesus was being invoked last night not in a derogatory fashion but rather is in an uplifting fashion. I was appalled because here was the name of Jesus being associated with gambling but I was thrilled because the person invoking His name was demonstrating the love of Christ in all of his actions. Even Jerry’s parents, who forbade him from playing cards as a youth, were there and they to, along with his wife were glorifying and praising the name of Jesus not only as Jerry won hand after hand but even as the consoled the families and the other men who Jerry defeated.
I am not so sure I want a generation of young men and women taking up poker in the name of Jesus; I am sure however of the fact that as Jesus has called us to go and make disciples of all nations. And just as He would eat and drink with sinners so must we even if that means playing a game or two of poker.
I am not so sure I want a generation of young men and women taking up poker in the name of Jesus; I am sure however of the fact that as Jesus has called us to go and make disciples of all nations. And just as He would eat and drink with sinners so must we even if that means playing a game or two of poker.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Today's Culture
Earlier this week we once again witnessed a disturbing clash of worldviews, the hedonistic, naturalistic worldview where life is de-valued and the Christian worldview where life is precious and valued. A local Detroit radio station’s evening DJ decided that it would be a good idea to offer cash to the person who guessed the day that Brittany Spears would end her life either by a drug overdose or however she would die. This type of activity, if you want to call it an activity is known as a “dead pool”. Local residents and those touched by suicide were outraged at the stunt and the station pulled the web site that it had set up and issued a public apology.
In today’s culture we are constantly being bombarded with this naturalistic, hedonistic worldview whether it is from the abortion industry, the pornography industry or even from the national or local media industry. The live for self pleasure attitude rules the day and unfortunately it has permeated even to the church.
What is the response to this culture of death? Simply it is the promotion of the culture of life. There is no better place to start than in the home and in the church. God instructed His people to share without fail his commandments, decrees, and statutes and the place where that was to begin and continue was in the home. He said to teach them in the morning, at noon, in the evening, to teach them as you were on your way, and when you were coming home. Surround your home with those commandments and not only speak about them live them every day. How do we overcome the culture of death we overcome it at home.
In today’s culture we are constantly being bombarded with this naturalistic, hedonistic worldview whether it is from the abortion industry, the pornography industry or even from the national or local media industry. The live for self pleasure attitude rules the day and unfortunately it has permeated even to the church.
What is the response to this culture of death? Simply it is the promotion of the culture of life. There is no better place to start than in the home and in the church. God instructed His people to share without fail his commandments, decrees, and statutes and the place where that was to begin and continue was in the home. He said to teach them in the morning, at noon, in the evening, to teach them as you were on your way, and when you were coming home. Surround your home with those commandments and not only speak about them live them every day. How do we overcome the culture of death we overcome it at home.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
The Next Generation
James Dobson, Chuck Colson, Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy each on of these men have had a huge influence on my life. I became a Christ follower back in 1980 and one of the first books I read following my conversion was Chuck Colson’s Born Again. One of the first people I watched intently on television was Jerry Falwell and I always enjoyed listening to Dr. Kennedy’s Truth’s that Transform and after becoming a father there was no greater voice than Dr. Dobson.
Over the past six months however we have lost two of the greatest voices for living a life founded on a Biblical worldview with the passing of Jerry Falwell and the just recent passing of Dr. Kennedy. And though I rejoice that these men of God have “run the good race, have competed their mission, and the crown that awaited them is theirs” I am concerned. I am concerned for the generation of men and women who have never been challenged as I was challenged by the likes of these men to examine their lives to see if they are “walking the walk”. I am concerned because I am wondering where the voice for the next generation is, who will be the men and women who will pick up the mantle and carry the Cultural Commission and the Great Commission to this next generation.
Over the coming years more of the voices of this generation will be called home and that is why today I want to encourage the next generation to begin to learn about those who have gone before them. I encourage this next generation to put down that PS III or to unplug that MP 3 just for a moment and to pick up and read the likes of C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaefer, James Sire, Augustine be challenged by the work of Nancy Pearcy, Chuck Colson, Ken Boa and G.K. Chesterson and above all renew your mind daily with the greatest compilation of all time The Bible.
If you of this next generation will do this perhaps you will be the one God has called to be the voice of your generation.
Over the past six months however we have lost two of the greatest voices for living a life founded on a Biblical worldview with the passing of Jerry Falwell and the just recent passing of Dr. Kennedy. And though I rejoice that these men of God have “run the good race, have competed their mission, and the crown that awaited them is theirs” I am concerned. I am concerned for the generation of men and women who have never been challenged as I was challenged by the likes of these men to examine their lives to see if they are “walking the walk”. I am concerned because I am wondering where the voice for the next generation is, who will be the men and women who will pick up the mantle and carry the Cultural Commission and the Great Commission to this next generation.
Over the coming years more of the voices of this generation will be called home and that is why today I want to encourage the next generation to begin to learn about those who have gone before them. I encourage this next generation to put down that PS III or to unplug that MP 3 just for a moment and to pick up and read the likes of C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaefer, James Sire, Augustine be challenged by the work of Nancy Pearcy, Chuck Colson, Ken Boa and G.K. Chesterson and above all renew your mind daily with the greatest compilation of all time The Bible.
If you of this next generation will do this perhaps you will be the one God has called to be the voice of your generation.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Two for one discussion
There are a couple of issues that I have recently read about that I would like us to really get into. The first issue is a local issue (Michigan). According to Focus on the Family’s Citizen’s link a pro-life group in Flint is suing the governor of this fine state because she is collecting petitions on her web site in support of embryonic stem cell research, but she refuses, on this publicly funded site, to give space to those opposed to embryonic stem cell research. In essence she is a giving a government benefit, a government voice favoring those who agree with her on this policy.
As a private citizen, on her own website, the governor can endorse whatever she wishes, but on a publicly funded website she must give equal access to all voices on an issue. Let’s hope the Federal Court sees the need for such equal access.
The next issue that needs to be discussed involves a statement made by Bishop Tiny Muskens of the Netherlands. He contends that Catholic Churches in the Netherlands should begin calling God by the name Allah in order to help ease tensions between Muslins and Catholics. "Someone like me has prayed to Allah yang maha kuasa (Almighty God) for eight years in Indonesia and other priests for 20 or 30 years," Muskens said. "In the heart of the Eucharist, God is called Allah over there, so why can't we start doing that together?" I don’t know about you but I have a real problem with a Christian, Catholic or otherwise, advising the flock he shepherds to act in a politically correct fashion just so as not to offend. I realize that the Lord God is above such “discussion and bickering” as Bishop Muskens says but the one who is “I AM” desires that all men would be come into a relationship with Him and the Muslim god Allah is not the “name given by which all must be saved” but only in the name of Jesus are men saved.
As a private citizen, on her own website, the governor can endorse whatever she wishes, but on a publicly funded website she must give equal access to all voices on an issue. Let’s hope the Federal Court sees the need for such equal access.
The next issue that needs to be discussed involves a statement made by Bishop Tiny Muskens of the Netherlands. He contends that Catholic Churches in the Netherlands should begin calling God by the name Allah in order to help ease tensions between Muslins and Catholics. "Someone like me has prayed to Allah yang maha kuasa (Almighty God) for eight years in Indonesia and other priests for 20 or 30 years," Muskens said. "In the heart of the Eucharist, God is called Allah over there, so why can't we start doing that together?" I don’t know about you but I have a real problem with a Christian, Catholic or otherwise, advising the flock he shepherds to act in a politically correct fashion just so as not to offend. I realize that the Lord God is above such “discussion and bickering” as Bishop Muskens says but the one who is “I AM” desires that all men would be come into a relationship with Him and the Muslim god Allah is not the “name given by which all must be saved” but only in the name of Jesus are men saved.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Lutherans Say Gay is OK
During a weeklong assembly that ended Saturday, August 11, 2007 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) again loosened its standards on homosexuality. While they voted down a measure that would have ended the church's celibacy requirement for homosexual clergy, they voted in favor of refraining from disciplining homosexual clergy who are in committed relationships.
These types of rulings always confuse me because I can never see the logic. By keeping the celibacy requirement they are acknowledging that homosexual sex is a sin. At the same time, by refraining from discipline they are effectivley endorsing the sin.
If I were in a 'committed' adulterous affair, I would not expect my church to say, as long as I am cheating on my wife with only one woman, they will not do anything about it. I expect my church to uphold Biblical truths and call me on the carpet for my sinful actions. If I repent of my sin, I can be restored within the body. If I continue to sin, I expect my church to remove me from any leadership position.
You would not ignore cancer in your body. You would take action to remove it before it spreads and destroys your body. The same implications are true with allowing sin to stay within the church body, specifically the leadership.
That being said, every one of us who walks through a church door is a sinner and fall short of the glory of God. Homosexuality is no worse of a short falling that stealing a pack of gum.
For those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are forgiven sinners. As forgiven sinners we still struggle to stay away from our sinful nature, but as forgiven sinners we acknowledge our sin and turn from it.
The action of the ELCA strikes me as a compromise between those who believe the Bible and those who do not. You can never compromise the Bible. For those Lutherans who are concerned about a split, do not be. Separating yourself from satanic influences is the best thing you could do.
These types of rulings always confuse me because I can never see the logic. By keeping the celibacy requirement they are acknowledging that homosexual sex is a sin. At the same time, by refraining from discipline they are effectivley endorsing the sin.
If I were in a 'committed' adulterous affair, I would not expect my church to say, as long as I am cheating on my wife with only one woman, they will not do anything about it. I expect my church to uphold Biblical truths and call me on the carpet for my sinful actions. If I repent of my sin, I can be restored within the body. If I continue to sin, I expect my church to remove me from any leadership position.
You would not ignore cancer in your body. You would take action to remove it before it spreads and destroys your body. The same implications are true with allowing sin to stay within the church body, specifically the leadership.
That being said, every one of us who walks through a church door is a sinner and fall short of the glory of God. Homosexuality is no worse of a short falling that stealing a pack of gum.
For those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are forgiven sinners. As forgiven sinners we still struggle to stay away from our sinful nature, but as forgiven sinners we acknowledge our sin and turn from it.
The action of the ELCA strikes me as a compromise between those who believe the Bible and those who do not. You can never compromise the Bible. For those Lutherans who are concerned about a split, do not be. Separating yourself from satanic influences is the best thing you could do.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
I am a Defect
I just found out I am in trouble. Pope Benedict XVI approved a document saying non-Catholic Christian communities are either defective or not true churches, and the Roman Catholic Church provides the only true path to salvation. I am pretty sure that in John 14:6 Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” And in Acts 2:21 Peter tells us “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” I see nothing about the Catholic Church, the Pope or any priest being part of my salvation.
The argument that other churches do not have ‘apostolic succession’, making them inferior, also has me scratching my head. Paul went to the gentiles to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. None of those believers would have had any ‘apostolic succession’ since Paul was not one of the twelve. In fact, Jews for Jesus would have a better claim of ‘apostolic succession’ than the Catholic Church, since the apostles mainly taught Jews.
The Pope did get one thing right when the report stated "Christ 'established here on earth' only one church". That Church was called the Way in Acts. That Church consists of anyone who believes that Jesus was God in the flesh, he lived a sinless life, was crucified for everyone’s sin and rose from the dead overcoming death, that Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation, that salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned, and that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.
If you believe what was just stated, I do not care what denomination you are. Anything other than that is manmade and that is when the problems begin. Diverting from scripture is when Satan gets a foothold.
I was glad to see the Pope does not see me as a total loser. In referencing non-Catholic Churches the document stated "In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church." Looks like I dodge a bullet and can go back to reading the Bible instead of going to the confessional.
The argument that other churches do not have ‘apostolic succession’, making them inferior, also has me scratching my head. Paul went to the gentiles to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. None of those believers would have had any ‘apostolic succession’ since Paul was not one of the twelve. In fact, Jews for Jesus would have a better claim of ‘apostolic succession’ than the Catholic Church, since the apostles mainly taught Jews.
The Pope did get one thing right when the report stated "Christ 'established here on earth' only one church". That Church was called the Way in Acts. That Church consists of anyone who believes that Jesus was God in the flesh, he lived a sinless life, was crucified for everyone’s sin and rose from the dead overcoming death, that Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation, that salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned, and that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.
If you believe what was just stated, I do not care what denomination you are. Anything other than that is manmade and that is when the problems begin. Diverting from scripture is when Satan gets a foothold.
I was glad to see the Pope does not see me as a total loser. In referencing non-Catholic Churches the document stated "In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church." Looks like I dodge a bullet and can go back to reading the Bible instead of going to the confessional.
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