Separation of Church from State – But Not State from Church

by | Oct 10, 2006 | Culture, Ecclesiology

As Exemptions Grow, Religion Outweighs Regulation – New York Times Did you catch the NY Times article castigating churches for their tax exempt status? It may be a more popular idea to jump up and down on the church today, suggesting that we should be treated like any and every other business and secular non-profit group in the country. Just a comment or two: 1. The NY Times presents a hopeless double standard, along with others in the national media and other secular groups. I think it a bit disingenuous to suggest that the church and state should remain seperate, except when it comes to the church’s paying taxes like a business and further being accountable to the government for the way the church’s affairs are conducted. Where was the scream for the much hallowed Jeffersonian ecclesiastical separation from governmental affairs in this article? I’m not asking for mandatory prayer put back in the public schools; just that the government shouldn’t have it both ways: one hand stiff arming us from public involvement and another in our pocket pilfering our offerings. Why would the NY Times care that the church was escaping the clenches of the state, when they argue so often for such separation? 2. Redefinition of Ministry by the churches. Why are churches building “day care centers to funeral homes, from ice cream parlors to fitness clubs, from bookstores?” I know, evangelism, right? I’m not convinced. Is the Time so interested in seeing the church taxed like a business or secular non-profit group because the church has been actiing more like a business secular non-profit group? What’s...

Tongues A-Waning

by | Oct 9, 2006 | Charismatics

Poll Says Many Pentecostals Don’t Speak in Tongues – Christianity Today Magazine As Evangelicals grow older, Pentecostals seem to be growing quieter – at least in their use of the supposed gift of tongues. That is, the old style Pentecostals who jumped pews, while leaping to the altar, in a desperate attempt to exercise their so-called private, and well-rehearsed signature move: speaking in tongues, are not jumping or jargoning as much any longer. According to a recent poll, Pentecostals and charismatics are less likely to shout their “shanda-la-ha’s” as they are to lay hands on a headache or free someone from the demon of halatosis. Why? Why are tongues ‘a-waning today? I know, I have some good friends whose blood is boiling already. C’mon, you’ve said worse about my lack of tongin’ than I have about your private, yet not-so private prayer shouting. So, since I’ve already crossed the line, let me offer a few sterotypical, off-the-cuff suggestions as to why I think grumbling in gibberish is not quite as popular today as when it began just over a century ago. Reason # 1: Very little long-term life change or spiritually substantive depth has been produced by talking-n-tongues. For all of the appeals to 1 Corinthians 14 and Paul doing it more than the Corinthians, and the supposed “edification” it brings to the speaker (while the listener remains with his head in the “cow-new-gate” position), little real, long-lasting life-change is wrought because one speaks in tongues. One does not learn more of God’s Word while speaking in an unknown tongue; obviously – it’s unknown. Sin is not overcome by...