Obama Calls For Israel to Return to 1967 Borders

Why stop at 1967AD?  I say let Israel go back to their 968BC borders:

Christian Song for Hannukkah

Another Take on The Sermon on the Mount

entered by yours truly onto http://www.wordle.net/

President-Elect's Religious Persuasion

I read through this interview with Barack Obama regarding his beliefs with quite some interest (found via Kuo & Joe).

The bottom line for me is that even though he self-identifies as a Christian, his beliefs IMNSHO do not line up with many core beliefs of either traditional or evangelical Christianity: His definition of "sin" and view of Jesus make that quite clear.

To me he comes across as individualistic moral humanist. His moral underpinnings are based on vaguely-Judeo-Christian pantheistic deism, and he appears to have some favor for emotionalism in religious expression, but fundamentally he looks into himself as the center of belief. Maybe such belief is more in line with post-modern "Christianity", but it is not what I consider to be even minimally Christian (e.g., an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent triune God; active in this world; sin as being contrary to God's will; salvation from sin through death and resurrection of Jesus).

I also find it interesting that such an interview is done after the election, and even more so that he is pretty explicit about why. We are in for a long 4 years (at least).

---

UPDATE (11/14/2008): Following some comments on the original article over at Kuo&Joe I tracked down this article in Christianity Today. In it (page 2) he sounds much closer to a traditional Christian, at least of the social gospel flavor:

I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life. But most importantly, I believe in the example that Jesus set by feeding the hungry and healing the sick and always prioritizing the least of these over the powerful. I didn't 'fall out in church' as they say, but there was a very strong awakening in me of the importance of these issues in my life. I didn't want to walk alone on this journey. Accepting Jesus Christ in my life has been a powerful guide for my conduct and my values and my ideals.

In the end I am left confused as to where he really stands. Reconciling these two interviews is possible, but IMNSHO requires some serious intellectual gymnastics, which may or may not end up at a Christian belief depending upon the tack taken. Is he trying to be obtuse? If so why? Does he really see the apparent dichotomy in these statements? Or is he just saying what he thinks each particular audience wants to hear? Read and form your own opinions. I'm still working on mine, although it's leaning towards the last question.

Hope and Change

Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)" struck a chord this evening on the way home. Here are the lyrics, with my thoughts:

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

Here is true hope. Not that of the political nature, but true, enduring, life-changing hope.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

There will be change, for that is what this world is about. But God is forever certain and He is our anchor in the midst of change.

God Bless

Bentley Flames Out Snuffing Floridia Outpouring

I thought I had posted something about Todd Bentley and the "Florida Outpouring" (also known as the Lakeland Revival) a while back but looking back I could not find it. My DW and I did some serious looking into this and determined that it, like the Toronto Blessing and Brownsville Revival before it, had some very serious issues. I won't go into all the details here but the bottom line is this "revival" was all about rampant emotionalism and being the Todd Bently show with little of God to it.

Sadly, but not totally unexpectedly, I read today of Todd Bently's fall:
Evangelist Bentley stepping down

Todd Bentley will step down as head of Fresh Fire Ministries, after the ministry revealed he had an "unhealthy relationship" with a female staffer. That announcement comes one week after Bentley's ministry announced he and his wife were separating.

The referenced announcements are here and here.

I do pray that Todd really finds God through these difficulties, and learns that when you build your faith upon emotions it's those very same emotions that will bring you down.

Sad Sabbath Experience

While traveling for business I attended a Messianic Congregation in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. I drove 2 hours to get there and found it one of the most enthusiastic yet self-absorbed churchs I have ever been to.

Never, until today, have I visited a church were a pastor or staff member did not make a point of trying to talk to me. And it's not like they did not have time. The senior rabbi walked right past where I was sitting to greet some former members sitting in the row behind me. Most church greeters make it a point to identify visitors, make them feel welcome and bring their presence to the attention of a staff member; not there.

Many people wished me a Shabbat Shalom but only three people actually introduced themselves. Clearly "Shabbat Shalom" had become a greeting as meaningful as the perfunctory "How ya doing" most of us give and get every day.

Every row had one or two visitor cards. I filled one out, but no one actually came to collect it. There was an oneg (pot-luck lunch) after the service, but I did not stay. I did not have any food to contribute and no one asked me stay. In fact, not a single person spoke to me after service.

The praise and worship part of the service was exciting and well done. People really got into the worship and dance. The Torah procession was like a conga line. Yet in some ways it seemed more like performance than worship. Half of the songs were canned music with words projected overhead and no worship leader. The other half were lead by a small praise band. The three ladies who fronted it were very good but did not really lead the congregation in singing. Some people clearly were singing, but nearly as much as I would have expected given the size of the congregation.

There was guest speaker who gave a short teaching from Jeremiah the main point of which was to call on the members of the congregation to share the hope they have in Jesus. It was a good teaching, but I'm not sure it really applied to that congregation. Had I been an unbeliever I would not have any interest in associating with those I saw today or sharing any "hope" they might have.

All that said, I did find a sense of the presence of the Lord: Obviously there were 2 or 3 gathered to really praise Him. I enjoyed the music for what it was and sang my praises to the Lord regardless the lack of leadership. I also found the teaching meaningful to me.

God Bless and Good Sabbath.

Political This and That

Sorry it has been a while since I posted. Work and life have been quite busy. Here are a number of events and things that have caught my eye in the last week or so:

Obama Quits His Church After Months of Criticism

Not surprising: He is a politician. Obama-rama originally joind the church for political reasons so when the downside exceeds the upside of course he's going to drop it like a hot potato.

Bishop says collapse of Christianity is wrecking British society - and Islam is filling the void

Now there is a priest who understands what is going on and knows to speak the truth. Read and heed.

And finally here's this week's home-town helping of zero-tolerance irrationality:

Souvenir rifle shell gets 4th-grader suspended

This story has grown some real legs; Boston news radio, NRA-ILA, MA Gun Owners Action League, just do a quick google and you'll find it all over the in-tar-web. There also continue to be follow-up articles.

This happened in the town I live in and it first broke on a community bulletin board site that I participate in. What disturbs me is that school department is doing spin control big-time (read the GOAL article referenced above) by claiming that there is more to this than just the shell casing. Some have gone so far as to say that the casing had nothing to do with his suspension. He may have received a longer suspension for arguing, but the mother has said she was told that her son was suspended for having the casing and that is what I'm going with.

All this can be traced back to the overturned 1990 Gun-Free School Zones Act and the resulting 1994 version that was signed into law by the philandering husband of a current presidential candidate coupled with the idiocy of MA laws that equate brass casings to ammunition. It's hard to blame the school department completely, these stupid laws drive them to have a policy, but it doesn't have to be "zero tolerance" and to then throw the student under the bus when the heat gets turned up is unforgivable.

Edward M. Kennedy

Kennedy's Illness Slows Agenda, Idles Obama Ally

All I can is "There is a God".

What role He plays in all this I don't really know, except that Mr. Kennedy will someday stand before Him to answer for his deeds.

Fitna Review

Saw this controversial 15 minute video clip via YouTube. Be warned, if you choose to view it that some of the images are very graphic. It has been flagged as such by YouTube so you may have to log in to view it.

In my opinion the movie is not bad at all, nor is it worth the reaction it is receiving. It dramatically highlights with video clips and pictures several verses from the Koran that the violent radical muslim minority uses to justify their murderous acts. I would like our society to be able to live in peace with our Muslim neighbors. Sadly though much of the Islamic over-reaction to this movie proves its very point.

Thoughts on the Good Samaritan

There was a recent thread on a discussion board that I frequent. It started with someone recounting a past event where they stopped to help a motorist in need. One person posted that they would never stop to help a stranger because it was too dangerous. Needless to say the discussion took off from there. This person was roundly, but not universally, criticized. His response was that it is a cold, hard world and he does what he needs to do to survive. He clearly was in the minority, although not a minority of one.

My initial response was one of pity. How could some be so hard and heartless to not help ones fellow man if it was reasonably possible. Such a mode of survival, selfishness to the extreme, sounds very dreary and depressing. Not much of a survival if you ask me.

Furthermore, would one not want someone to stop and help them, or a loved one, if they were in need? If one expects help then it seems only reasonable to be willing to do the same. Yes, there may be some danger in doing so but that is where being prepared comes into play.

As a Christian the story of the Good Samaritan is not just a story; it is an example to be followed to the best of our abilities. I'll be the first to admit that I don't always execute this as well as I could. However, that is very different from rejecting the whole concept as this person has apparently done.

In the end I concluded that there is no way for me to understand this person's perspective. His view of the world is so different from mine that it it makes interaction difficult on anything beyond a superficial level. In the end I decided not to engage directly with the heartless one and posted this to the original poster:

Bravo ...! As the good book says "as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".

It also says "as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me". People make their own choices. If they can live, or not, with the consequences then so be it.

Another Clergy Member in the Wrong Religion

Catholic Bishop Wants Everyone to Call God 'Allah'
Allah is not God; on this I think both Muslims and Christians agree. Tiny Muskins needs to join Ann Redding over with the Unitarian Universalists. His pantheistic beliefs would fit right in.

Another Church Bites The Dust

Another denominations follows The Episcopal Church down the wide way of societally-determined theology: Lutherans to allow pastors in gay relationships. Martin Luther must be spinning in his grave.

Ann Redding is in The Wrong Relgion, Both Ways

"I am both Muslim and Christian"

By her own words in response to questions from readers of the original article she rejects one of the most basic tenets of Christianity:

Q: Do you believe in the divinity of Christ? And if you don't believe in original sin, is there any significance at all to Christ's crucification? Your educational background and career notwithstanding, what beliefs do you hold that qualify you as a Christian?

Sun, Jun 17, 2007 4:04 pm

Matt

Woodinville

A:I believe that Jesus is divine in the same way in which all humans are related to God as children of God. Jesus is different in degree, not kind

Read the rest of her responses. Not only does she reject the divinity of Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, but she believes Allah and God are one and same (" First of all, there is only One God; calling God Allah does not change that reality for me"). This makes her neither Muslim nor Christian. She is an pantheist who would fit in well with the Unitarian Universalists.

Observations of the Week

Wow, it's been a whole week and nothing much to post about. That's the way I find blogging to be: There'll be a day or two where a bunch of things catch my fancy then several days where nothing floats my boat. So what's happened this week worth commenting on:

• The Scooter Libby commutation: In the spirit of Leviticus 16 it was the right thing to do, to spare the scapegoat:

  10 "But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.
  ...
  21 "Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness.
  22 "The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. (from BibleGateway.com)

• I burned out the +40 year old motor on my table saw ripping fresh 2" pine into battens for my son's turkey coop. I ordered a replacement from Grizzley tools. It should show up soon.
• The best caption contest this week at Curmudgeonly & Skeptical
  
• Had an interesting exchange on Christian music with Cheryl D. over at the World Magazine blog. Too many people confuse their preferences (e.g., opinions) with objective reality.

That's all folks.

Thoughts on the Emerging/Emergent Church

This post over at the World Magazine Blog got me thinking (and researching and writing). The premise of the post was that the Christianity Today magazine has moved from an evangelical perspective to a Emerging Church perspective. Personally I've always considered Christianity Today to be pretty liberal to the point that I would not really have called it an evangelical magazine. To see it more further in that direction would not be a surprise. But this is not the real subject of my post here.

I would like to give my take on what I've found out about the Emerging Church movement. (And yes I will call it a "movement" because that is what it is, contrary to their claims.) For this I'll use the outline of the basic characteristics from the Emerging Church entry in Wikipedia. I researched a variety of sources, but this one is as good a list as I found elsewhere. I'll not define their terms in depth, go read the article for that, but I will give my take on each aspect.

• Postmodern worldview: The existence of the Postmodern worldview is a reality, however it is not a valid basis for defining Christian belief. Neither is Modernism or any other previous worldviews. Christianity is it's own worldview. I can see Evangelicalism as an expression of how to relate the Christian worldview to a modern world, but contrary to claims from the Emerging Church, Evangelicalism is not "based on" a Modern worldview.
  
• Narrative theology: Storytelling can be a good technique for conveying the gospel message, but it is not how the gospel is defined. The gospel is defined in God's Word.
  
• Generous orthodoxy: This smack of relativism and the rejection of the truth of God's Word as the definition of the gospel message. There are absolutes in the Christian faith which means it is possible to be outside them and therefore not Christian. I fear that the Emerging Church is throwing out the baby in the bath water in their rush to be relevant.
  
• Postmodern Hermeneutics: Look up the term. In short it is the rejection of knowable, absolute truth. Dangerous, see above.
  
• Authenticity: There is some good in this area, in learning how to apply Christ in all areas of one's life, but again it smacks of emotionalism and legalism. "I feel saved, I act saved, therefore I am saved".
  
• Conversation/dialog: Again, a good technique for relating to people and sharing the gospel: It does not replace the gospel.
  
• Missional living: The way one lives should reflect one's beliefs, not be the determinant of them.
  
• "Fluid" ecclesiology or "deep" ecclesiology: See above, Postmoderm Hermeneutics.
  
• Creative spirituality: See above, Generous Orthodoxy.
  
• "Non-Legalistic" conduct: Sounds good, but is actually contradictory in practice with the definition of Authenticity above.
  
• Use of new technologies: Using new technologies to share the gospel and relate with people is fine, as long as the technology does not become the object of worship.
  
• Postmodern terminology: Using the terminology is fine, as long as Christian terms and more importantly Christian beliefs are not redefined as well.
  
• Justice: Social justice is a good thing, but again it is not the primary purpose of the gospel. The "social gospel" path practiced by many mainline denominations has been shown to ultimately be contradictory to Christ.

The overwhelming sense I got from researching the Emerging Church movement was one of fuzziness and anti-definition. It is not clear exactly what many in the movement do believe, although there is much that they apparently do not.

The bottom line is that I think there are things to be learned from the Emerging Church movement about how to relate and share the gospel message to people with a postmodern worldview. It could become the next Evangelicalism, but the gospel message cannot be redefined in order to relate it to people and still be called "Christian." Evangelicalism did not redefine the gospel message and neither should the Emerging Church.