Roaring Lambs

Roaring Lambs - By Bob Briner - Pg 65

Take, for example, the way in which the pro-abortion movement has entered the mainstream and gained respectability. Pro-abortionists score very well for their cause when they forcefully and all too often correctly, point out that the zeal of pro-lifers seems to wane when confronted with the real needs of children who are allowed to be born. With biting and telling sarcasm they ask where the marchers and demonstraters are when children go to school hungry, live in squalor and disease, are hijacked into the pornography trade and are abused in ever-growing numbers. It is always easier to protest, to carry a placard then it is to do the hard work of providing the cold cup of water in His name. (Besides, the cup of cold water rarely attracts television coverage.) The pro life movement will never succeed to the extent it should until its advocates and all other Christians work just as hard to produce good as we do to denounce evil.

Another Perspective...

The US Presidential election of 2008 has become similar to the US Presidential election of 2000 in that there has been a sharp divide between "conservatives" and "liberals" over the single issue of abortion. This amidst the backdrop of the first ever black Presidential nominee and an American POW and there's no doubt why there is so much intensity.

As a Christian, I don't resonate with "conservatives" or "liberals" in the current political landscape. Both seem too polarized, too divided, too focused on "their" issues, unable to see beyond "their party" to have a desire to make any kind of significant difference in the world.

So before I offer the title of this entry, another perspective, I'd like to state these core beliefs...

• I believe that abortion is Biblically wrong.
• I believe that marriage is Biblically defined by one man and one women.
• Theses two beliefs are woven into my Christian faith.

Now for another perspective.

I think we as Christians get so wrapped up in "our issues" we selectively rank, order and even at times discard other issues. We have put aside specific things Christ talked about throughout His ministry; countless parables, lessons and actions. And I have to believe He did these things, because they were intrinsically important to His Father. He ministered to the poor, healed the sick, forgave the prostitute and picked a ragamuffin group of ministry-inexperienced fishermen to help change the world.

The consistent reaction I receive from Christians when I talk about issues of poverty, AIDS, the death penalty, genocide or countless other social issues in the states and abroad is a reaction of raised eyebrows, rolled eyes and large gasps.

"But what about abortion Danny?", "What about gay marriage?"

And to that I ask, "What about everything else?"

Jesus' ministry and his commands were as wide as they were deep. As a Christian my heart stirs for more than just "one issue". I long for people to experience change, redemption, renewal and growth through the personal work of Jesus.

So as I have explored and researched the candidates this year, watched and read the political fodder, searched my heart and prayed for some clarity, I have found in fact, very little. One thing I am certain of however is this...

I believe my vote should be similar to the breadth and depth of the ministry of Christ.

Some within the Christian community might label this perspective as "emergent" and immediately categorize it as perspectives similar to Rob Bell, Tony Campolo or Shane Claiborne. I would say in response, "You've missed the point...again."

I'm under no illusion that my perspective will change anyone's vote or cause them to "abandon party lines" but that is not my purpose. My purpose is to offer another perspective so that after this election, when the yard signs are taken down, the news stations are covering something else and we resume our lives post-election, we can look at the world around us through the eyes of Christ. And do so, not with a narrow focus, but with eyes that see humanity, eyes that see compassion, love, forgiveness and justice beyond the tiny compartmentalized bubble we call "our life." I hope we can begin to care far beyond our suburbs, $5 latte's, and Saturday soccer games.

This year I will not vote on one or even two issues alone.
I welcome your thoughts and opinions.

Oprah's "A New Earth" - A Christian Perspective...

As I worked out today Oprah was on the televisions in our fitness center. I was able to watch several portions of the show and learned Oprah is currently promoting the book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. Tolle is most well known for his book The Power of Now and could be considered a new-age philosopher.

Tolle and Winfrey have teamed up and are offering free web based classes that coincide with the book.

To begin, before you read the title of this blog and come with any preconceived notions, I don't believe, we as Christians, should "stick are heads in the sand" to anything "non-Christian." It is vital we have a healthy world view and can be culturally relevant to what is happening around us.

That being said, I believe Christians also have a responsibility to soundly, Biblically interpret what we hear, read, or view.

Here are several close paraphrases from the Oprah show I saw today...

Do you think A New Earth conflicts with other people's religious views? - Oprah.
No, I think just like when you add sugar to tea, it's still tea, it's just sweeter. - Guest

I always thought Jesus came to earth to live, die and resurrect, but He really came to this earth to teach us how to do this thing called life.
- Oprah

There is no death of anything except in appearance - Tolle

Having never read this book, I'll admit that I can't begin to tell you how valid or invalid it is. But what I think I can do without reading the book, is interpret what I saw, do some research and form a basic opinion.

The first discussion about tea and making it sweeter implies that somehow my faith, Christianity in general, needs something added to it. I see this a lot even within the Christian community. We'll ride the wave of programs and trends and books and seminars. Some of them are good and draw us closer to God, while others are just "filler". Jesus Christ doesn't need anything added to Him, nor does the Creator. Throughout the Old Testament it was apparent to see that people of all ages and backgrounds tried to add things to God. Yet in the end God's response was the same, you don't need anything or anyone but me.

The second discussion really surprised me because it's so contradictory to the core believe of Christianity yet even Christians in the audience nodded their heads in agreement. If you subscribe to the fact that Jesus came to this earth to "be a good person" and "show us how to live" then the floor drops out from underneath your belief system. Jesus said numerous times before and after His death that He came so we could have a life eternal. Now, did he show us how to live and how to be a good person, yes! But that was a bonus. His #1 goal was to be a sacrifice for the sins we commit everyday. Prophets in the earliest days didn't write about a "good person", they wrote very specifically about a "Savior". The role of Jesus Christ was predicted before His birth and lived out through His life and death on earth.

The final discussion I saw was an interview with Tolle himself in which he, in length, described that there is really no death. This again is contradictory to Christianity. If you believe there is no death, then Jesus came to earth for nothing. His sacrifice was in vein and the whole premise for Christianity is essentially irrelevant.

Books like A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose aren't by any means new. There have always been practices, religions or programs that encourage individuals to rely on themselves and the world around them to live complete and happy lives. It's interesting that many of the key concepts throughout the book have heavy Christian undertones. Selflessness, peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, etc. Yet the book relies on the reader to find these things within themselves and their world. There is no reliance or need for a Savior.

As a Christian I have no problem having open dialog about our culture and the beliefs within our culture. What I would like to encourage Christians to do is to soundly, Biblically interpret what we hear, read, or view. How do those things measure up to what God has said and what He continues to say?

For me, I am well aware that there might be some good principles in Tolle's book. But without Christ, it is my opinion that Tolle's words are empty and ultimately cannot totally satisfy us.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Confirming Ignorance

ig·no·rance (ig-ner-uhns)
n. The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.

In less than a year we will be electing a new US President. Media coverage on the race has been pretty intense as pundits predict it will be one of the closest races on the Democratic side in years.

Everyone seems to have some opinion on who's running, who they would vote for and who they would not consider. But my use of the word ignorance starts here as some of us don't go beyond an ill-informed opinion.

We base these opinions on small packets of half-truths, innuendos and stereotypes. Our extensive research is based on huge generalities, copious amounts of political email forwards, advice from the pulpit and what the latest radio or TV host tosses up as "truth".

Entering into a discussion about politics having done nothing to extensively research a candidate is ignorant and sadly I see it often.

I have slowly learned that while America waves their flags, ties their ribbons, and enjoys everything that comes with being a free nation, we don't fully appreciate the freedom we bathe in on a daily basis. If we did, the act of voting wouldn't be an option...it would be a necessity. Voting wouldn't be just something we did every two or four years. It would be part of something we were engaged in year round. An active, informed, thriving discussion culminating with a regular vote.

So that is my desire, even for myself and my family. That we would engage in the political process. That we would investigate each candidate and form our opinions around extensive, multi-source research. And that we could have open and well informed discussion about the status of our country, the issues at hand and what the future could like for us and our children.