Do You Think I’m Disinhibited?

by | Apr 27, 2006 | Blogging, Culture

Blogs and the Survival of Civilization Dr. Mohler discusses the fact that the modern blog craze has produced a group of people who have no inhibitions about how they speak about other people and issues.  The blogosphere is the new wild, wild west.  I knew that was why I was attracted to...

World-Wide Wrestling Denomination! ??

by | Apr 25, 2006 | Culture, Evangelism

Rednecks, Turnbuckles, and the Lord Jesus Christ | Resurgence Christians egaging the culture – o.k.  Christians linking Christ to professional wrestling?  Hmmm.  Where will this lead?  I really don’t have any problems with professional wrestling.  What kid didn’t watch it growing up?  Who hasn’t ateempted to send your best friend to purgatory through a pile driver?  I also don’t have a problem with using various popular means of making the gospel known, as long as it is in fact the gospel that is up front and not the means.  I’m simply afraid in our attempts to be relevant to the culture with our preaching the gospel, we’ve emphasized the culture to the minimizing of the gospel. Mark Driscoll’s suggestion, “We may end up with a whole new denomination of preachers in spandex pants with mullets doing a lot of Old Testament exegesis followed by heavy metal worship and Wonder bread for communion. But as long as they love Jesus, it’s all good,” seems to pin the gospel underneath medium.  I suppose this kind of missional thinking would use Acts 17 as a model?  Is this what the apostles did – they took whatever was popular and created a Christian version, tacking a few words about Jesus, sin, heaven and hell on the end?  If that is missional, I think I’ll stick to biblical.  Christians engaging their culture with Christ is one thing.  This looks more like clothing a mimimalist version of Christ with the...

The Hunt Continues

by | Apr 25, 2006 | Culture, Ecclesiology

Ohio Churches’ Political Activities Challenged I’m not one for pushing political activism in and through the church.  I certainly believe we need to bring the Word of God to bear on the issues of our day, and I do have certain personal political convictions, but my church is not the forum for supporting specific political candidates and publicly advocating legislative initiatives.  Though it is my right and responsibility as a U.S. citizen to be involved in the political process, I have yet to read where Christ indicates such political involvement should be my emphasis through His church. Even with my reservations toward political activism, I do find it facinating to hear the frequent jabs conservative Christians take from the left  when they do happen to mention politics from their pulpits.  The cry rings out on the nightly news and from the ever talking cable cronies that such churches should have their IRS tax exempt status revoked.  So says 56 left leaning Ohio clergy regarding two conservative Christian churches – as well as The Washington Post. O.K. – remove their tax exempt status.  But let’s also do it with churches such as The Riverside Church in New York City who bosts of left-wing politicians given politicaly partisan speeches from their elaborate pulpit on a regular basis – a church that seems to exist purely for political purposes.  Or how about when Barak Obama was introduced at the Democratic National Convention by his pastor via satelite from the sanctuary of his church with choir members standing behind him, while also publicly endorsing John Kerry for President.  I don’t remember any outcries...