The Manhattan Declaration and Our Culture

I’ve been reading a lot about the Manhattan Declaration over the last few days.  Some people have signed it.  Some people have not.  I agree with its content, although I’m not sure why another declaration of such is needed.  Frankly, it’s a sad statement on the contemporary church that we have to continually define that for which we stand.  Nonetheless, I do have this one thought.  What really changes the hearts of people?  As important as all the positions in the Declaration are, will they change people’s hearts?  Can we really expect a changed culture without changed hearts?  Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can radically change who we are and how we live.

Michael Vick and Our Values

Last week, the Michael Vick saga landed in Philadelphia.  Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.  The signing brought an end to the speculation about who might be willing to take a risk on the former all-pro quarterback.  Apparently, Vick demonstrated the proper amount of remorse and contrition to get reinstated to the NFL, and to get signed by the Eagles.

The whole Michael Vick scenario strikes me as a little peculiar.  In my lifetime as a sports fan, I can remember the National Football League taking second, third, and fourth chances on drunk drivers, drug users, drug dealers, domestic abusers, and even people associated with murder.  I don’t ever remember any of these having to show the proper amount of contrition before being resigned.  Nor do I remember any of these having to meet with the appropriate community agencies to earn their favor.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I’m not a huge fan of Vick, and I think what he did is deplorable and barbaric.  But, keep in mind he did his time.  He has repeatedly said that he was sorry.  My point is that the NFL, and maybe our society in general, seems hypocritical about the whole thing.  Vick should have been punished for what he did (and he was).  Again, the cruelty he demonstrated is indefensible.  No one should ever justify dog fighting, or any other type of cruelty to animals.  But, Michael Vick is not the first felon to play ball.  Nor will he be the last.   It seems like when it comes to pro sports in our culture, it’s not the crime that matters.  It’s the way the crime is perceived.  And somehow, cruelty to animals is now perceived as worse than dealing drugs, beating your pregnant girlfriend, shooting a guy, or even taking a human life.  Maybe this whole thing says something about us too.

Mohler on Polyamory

Dr. Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has an interesting post today about what lies beyond the same-sex marriage debate.  In it, he notes an article in Newsweek magazine that describes one of today’s emerging trends in relationships-polyamory.  Simply defined, polyamory is having more than one “loving, intimate, sexual” relationship at a time (while having the consent of all the parties involved).  As usual, Dr. Mohler sees through the clutter of the debate to the underlying morality of the issue.  You should definitely check out his thoughts here.

Some Interesting Takes on Our Culture

Here are just a couple of interesting perspectives regarding some recent news concerning Christianity and culture.

A few months ago, you may have the news the Christianity in America is dead.  At least that’s what Newsweek magazine and several other news outlets said.  The media jumped on recently released data that showed the number of professing Christians in America declining.  Will Hall, who is the executive director of Baptist Press, has some interesting counter-interpretations of that same data.  You can read his article here.

Dr. Albert Mohler is the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a frequent guest on news programs when they do stories about Christianity and culture.  He has written an interesting post concerning morality and homosexuality.  You can read it here.

Challenges to the Faith

It’s interesting to me that everyone in the culture (and especially the media) wants to raise all sorts of ruckus when Christians step outside their boundaries (which in most cases means allowing their Christian convictions to carry beyond the walls of the church).  But, there is very little said when the State infringes upon the free exercise of religion.  According to FoxNews (read the story here), the city of San Diego has shut down a home Bible study, and demanded that the host family apply for a permit.  The permit apparently costs thousands of dollars.  The city’s justification?  The home Bible study was an “unlawful use of land.”

There may be more to this story than meets the eye.  Time will tell if that is the case.  With that said, however, we live in a time when more and more Christians are facing challenges, and even oppression in practicing their faith.  Although this is tragic, we should not be surprised (or even dismayed) by this.  Jesus told His followers that this would indeed happen.  He said,

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love [you as] its own.  However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.  Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.  But they will do all these things to you on account of My name, because they don’t know the One who sent Me” (John 15:18-21, HCSB).

We should not be surprised that there is a hostility towards the gospel by those that have not accepted it.  We should pray for those that persecute us (Matthew 5:44).  We should pray that the gospel penetrate the society around us.  Paul faced opposition in His ministry and sought the prayers of the Thessalonian Christians to help him deal with it.  He wrote, “Finally, pray for us, brothers, that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not all have faith.  But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3, HCSB).

Life and ministry is not always easy.  Standing strong for Christ can be challenging.  We can be sure that despite the fact that some do not have faith, God is faithful.  He will guide His people through trial and triumph alike.  Let us pray that His will be done (Matthew 6:10) and His word be proclaimed (Acts 4:29). 

 

Tell Me What I Want to Hear

I have really struggled with whether or not to write a post about the Miss USA pageant.  For one, I’m not a big fan of these pageants anyway.  And, by now everyone knows the story.  But, if you want a quick check to see where we are as a culutre, check out the reaction to Miss California, Carrie Prejean. 

If you are unfamilar with the events, let me give you a brief summary.  Prejean represented California in the Miss USA pageant earlier this week.  When asked about her views on gay marriage, Miss Califonia answered the question to a cascade of boos and disbelief.  Why?  Because she said opposed it.

Many, including the judge that asked her the question, say her answer affirming the biblical, traditional view of marriage cost her the crown.  Miss Prejean was named first runner-up.  I have seen interviews with her since the pageant, and she seems to display a remarkable poise.  I’m sure she’ll do well without the crown, or the approval of those involved in the pageant.

What strikes me as interesting is that the young lady could be so harshly treated for honestly answering a question that she was asked.  It’s not as if she offered her comments unsolicited.  She was asked a question, and she answered the question with her convictions.  And subsequently she was punished for it.  So much for free speech.

I remember in recent years when various entertainment figures would offer their opinions on political or social issues, and then claim that their free speech was being violated if anyone didn’t buy a ticket to their concert or to their movie.  The press would be in an uproar about the narrow-minded, speech-censoring public.  Now, the press is mute.  Well, to be fair, they are not mute.  They are leading the charge in the other direction.  Why?  Because of the issue involved and the basis for the young lady’s answer.  Her free speech was based upon a biblical conviction, and that’s a no-no.  Especially when the issue is gay marriage.

The fact of the matter is that today, you can say anything you want to as long as it doesn’t advocate any biblical conviction.  As a matter of fact, the pageant judge in question said that Miss Prejean should have left her “politics and her religion out” of the answer.  How in the world does she do that on the question of gay marriage?!  It’s a political issue, and her stance is rooted in a biblical conviction!  He’s the one that injected the politics into the thing in the first place by asking the question!  Apparently, she could have said anything she wanted as long is it was something else.

The Religion of Politics and The Politics of Religion

Religion and politics have become virtually synonymous today.  As a matter of fact, the “Religious Right” is almost seen as a political party rather than a group of theologically conservative evangelicals.  I like politics as much as the next guy.  I enjoy reading, talking, and even writing about politics.  The fact of the matter is, however, that the political process does not, nor is it able to, change the hearts of people.  Public policy cannot make us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Let me begin by getting a few things out of the way.  I am not a Republican.  I am not a Democrat either.  I have a very conservative political and religious philosophy.  I think we need to protect the sanctity of life.  I think we need to uphold a traditional, biblical definition of marriage.  I think the government is way too big and spends way too much money.  The government does some things well.  In most areas, however, the bureaucracy is too bloated and too filled with special interests to get much done.  Thus, promises are made, but little happens. 

Why?  Because politicians and political parties in general specialize in self-preservation.  When it comes to the issues of the day and people of faith, political parties see the Christian community as little more than a segment of voters that can be tapped with the right set of catch phrases and platitudes.  And tragically, many of us that claim Christ have taken the bait.  We have aligned ourselves blindly with the Democratic donkey or the Republican elephant at the expense of our allegiance to the Lamb (John 1:29).

In regard to the church, we are not perfect either.  If the church took seriously it’s responsibility to truly minister to people in need, I am not sure we would need the welfare state we have created.  If we barked less and loved more, perhaps our voices could be heard clearer.  If we lived lives of holiness and honored God everyday (instead of just an hour every other Sunday), perhaps what we said would have more power.  If we began to focus more on the power of Christ to change lives and less on the power of the State, we might really begin to see some of the changes for which we long.

The thing we need to realize is this.  No amount of political deal-making, bill-passing, or law-signing can change the hearts and minds of men and women.  The problem is that for the last thirty years, too many in religious circles have looked to the political realm to be the cure for what ails us.  It cannot do it.  Is it important that we are aware of and engaged in the political process?  Absolutely.  But it is not our main purpose.  We are to be salt and light with the intention of pointing men and women to God (Matthew 5:13-16).  When hearts are changed, cultures are changed.  It’s fine to be engaged in politics, but may we never forget where the real power to change our world lies.  May we always stay faithful to Him.

What We Can Learn from the News

It seems like every day we see another story that reminds us of just how broken we truly are.  Parents murdering their children, shooting rampages in nursing homes, and unmitigated greed and corruption dominate our news cycles.  It’s all so tragic.  For many of us, we just turn off the television or shut down the computer without thinking too much about what we just witnessed.  But, if we pause for just a moment and ponder what’s happening around us, we might learn a thing or two.

All of these stories remind us of the broken condition of man.  Humanity does a lot of wonderful things.  We are also capable of some horrible things.  The Bible tells us that each one of us are broken and corrupt in our sin (Romans 3:23).  We all are far from perfect.  And, while many of us are shocked by what we encounter in the news, we need to remind ourselves that in our fallen state, we are all capable of the same sort of behavior.  The Apostle Paul says, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature” (Romans 7:18, NLT).

Since we are broken in our sin, we need help.  We cannot fix ourselves.  Only God can really deal with our greatest need.  James quotes the book of Proverbs when he writes, “God opposes the proud, but favors the humble” (James 4:6, NLT; see also Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5).  We need to humble ourselves and allow God to have control of our lives.  In our pride, we become so self-sufficient.  We believe that we can do it all.  We feel like we have no need for God.  In reality, our self-sufficiency is part of the trap created by our sin.  We do indeed need God.  His grace can change us.  He can make us whole.  We just need to let Him.

Today’s headlines also remind us that we need to do a better job getting out the message of hope.  We are surrounded by hurting, broken people.  Some are overwhelmed by the reality of their lives.  Others feel like there is no where to turn for real answers.  Yet others are so caught up vigorously pursuing their own agendas that they are missing what life is really all about.  For those of us who have accepted Christ and follow Him, we need to be busy touching people’s lives with the love of God.  We need to lovingly engage our culture while avoiding the dangers of becoming immersed in it.  We need to let others know that there is a God who loves them and gave His Son to redeem them.  The Bible says, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news” (Romans 10:15, NLT)!

The news can be a daunting thing.  It can really overwhelm us if we let it.  The next time we see something that shocks us, we need to stop and realize something.  It’s grace that keeps us from being in the headlines, and it’s grace that can change them.

Good Science

Once again, we see another assault on the gift of life.  This week, a U.S. District judge order the FDA to approve the “morning after” pill for 17 year olds.  A former FDA official, who resigned over the agency’s past handling of the issue said, “This is telling the FDA to move forward with a focus on good science.”  Good science.  There’s that mantra again.  It echoes the words of the president when he signed the order funding embryonic stem cell research. 

Like many, I think we need good science.  Good science, however, is science that recognizes ethical boundaries.  History affirms what happens when we remove them.  Science cannot operate in a moral vacuum.  Some would suggest that all we have seen is “faith” being removed from the process.  I disagree.  We have not seen the removal of faith.  We have seen the elevation of science to a position of faith.  Many today worship at its altar.  Science is flawed as an object of worship because it is incapable of creating a sense of morality and ethics.  As wonderful as science is, morals, values, and ethics are not its domain.  Thus, we cannot remove the ethical boundaries that guide it.

Is Oscar Relevant?

In case you haven’t heard, the 81st annual Academy Awards were this past Sunday.  If you hadn’t noticed, don’t feel bad.  Most of America didn’t either.  The Oscars are becoming just a blip on the entertainment radar anymore.  Bloated broadcasts, pontificating acceptance speeches, and over the top arrogance and excess seem to finally be weighing down the award industry’s big dog.  We still love the movies.  This past summer was a box-office bonanza for Hollywood.  The Dark Knight, Iron Man, and Indiana Jones headlined a group of films that made a gazillion dollars.  While we still like movies, we seem not to care so much for Hollywood’s celebration of itself.  I’m sure the awards mean something to the winners.  I’m just not so sure that the rest of us really care anymore.