Compromise

"instead of frantically trying to justify our reliance on Scripture using an outdated epistemological scheme, let's stop using the foundationalism of the modern period and get on to looking at Scripture and the world through postmodern eyes-the kind of eyes our students have been born with" (Postmodern Youth Ministry, Tony Jones) Are today's youth really being "born" with "postmodern" eyes? See, interestingly enough, scientists have yet to find a "postmodern" gene. I know this is mind-boggling but humor me for a bit. Maybe postmodernism is not some uncontrollable wave of philosophical change inherent in every child being born today. Maybe it is a trend that our culture has created and incubated to the extent that youth today know no other mode of thinking. Tony Jones' statement that students are born postmodern couldn't be further from the truth. It is this world and the believers in it willing to compromise truth that has led to the explosion of postmodernism among today's youth. So, should we pastors then adapt our ministries to this sweeping relativism? Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Paul seems to believe that it is not that we should adapt the Word of God to the shifting cultures of the world, but that we should combat the cultural influences with the static, unchanging Word of God. Psalm 119:160 "The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting." The Psalmist does not say the word is truth only until some new philosophical hermeneutic arises. He says the word is true and everlasting. While it may be true that some good ideas can be taken from those in the postmodern camp, the compromise suggested by statements like the one above need to confronted and called for what they are. They are an affront on the Word of God as everlasting, inerrant, infallible and TRUE!

Sovereignty

Isn't it interesting how we as believers can "write off" such issues as world peace, famine, war, etc. Under the overarching idea of the sovereignty of God. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this, and in fact, it is a good perspective to have. However, we must also be careful not to simply use this cliche to shirk our own responsibilities as believers to prayer and service. Isn't it also interesting how so often the sovereignty of God in our own lives is much harder to have faith in when life is a little chaotic. Sure when it is a major event effecting the lives of some one else we have no problem encouraging them with the Christian "cure-all": "Don't worry, God's will will be done." Yet, no matter how small a trial we endure, we often feel as though we have to stress, or worry, or be anxious because the world is obviously coming off its axis. Believe me, I myself am as guilty as any on this count. But, this is not what Scripture tells us about our response in the face of adversity. Philippians 4:6-"Be Anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." As I think about this verse, it strikes me what a radical idea Paul is encouraging. Human nature begs the mind to succumb to anxiety and fear when we encounter any trial great or small; however, Paul is telling us to be anxious for nothing! Not only this, he urges us to pray concerning these trials with THANKSGIVING!!! How often do we pray thanking God for a trial that He has allowed us to go through? I know I can't remember the last time this was my response to adversity. What an amazingly radical idea. So you think, "Paul was an apostle, he was inspired...He obviously had it easy." WRONG! II Corinthians 11:23-28 details the immense sufferings and trials that Paul endured over the course of his ministry. Shipwrecks, beatings, stoning, imprisonment, traveling dangers, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, exposure to the elements, and the everyday concerns for those he ministered to. These are but some of the things Paul suffered during his apostleship. All that to say, he is certainly qualified to tell his readers "Be anxious for nothing..." I know I am constantly convicted by this verse. It seems anxiety is one of Satan's favorite sources of distraction in a Christian's life. I urge us, myself more than all, to remember the words of Paul when we encounter our next trial. Can we thank God for the suffering that shapes and molds our lives? Can we rejoice that even in the midst of trials He is doing a marvelous work in our lives? I hope so because otherwise we are merely focusing on our selves and losing sight of the sovereignty of God we are so quick to preach to others.

Emergent

The Emergent Church is becoming an increasingly prevalent institution among Christian circles today. Many of those involved in this movement have become severely embittered towards the Evangelical denominations of today. They view the church as dead and carelessly stagnant. Worst of al, they see the church as content in this state. The sad truth of the matter is that many Evangelical churches do in fact fit this mold. M.C. Wright is a pastor involved in the Emergent Church. He compares the current state of churches to the opium dens of the past. He says, "An opiate dulls the senses, induces a relaxed state, and is sedative in nature. In reality, you can walk into a vast number of churches today, scan the crowd, and pronounce a very similar definition! So many people who fill pew after pew and chair after chair has a numb, expressionless, passionless and purposeless gaze in their eyes. This is the gaze of religion. Pew." Think about it...is it not true that many times Christians can sit through entire services without even thinking about what is being said? The diagnosis of the Emergent church is frighteningly accurate; however, their prescription seems to miss the point altogether. M.C. Wright calls his readers to abandon "religion" as seen in the typical service of three hymns, three point sermons, and should or should not lists. His response is understandably anti-legalistic; however, I do not think the answer lies in abandoning the format of the service. The Emergent Church takes issue with the passionless complacency of the modern church, but changing the format of church does not cure the state of people's hearts. See, that is what really is "turning off" many about the Evangelical church today. The congregation is full of those whose hearts have lost the passion for their God. As believers we have a responsibility to address this problem. Perhaps the Emergent Church taken this to an extreme, but at least they are taking action. We cannot cease to pursue passion in our lives and in our churches.

Title

The title of this blog comes from Luke 19:40. In the context, the Pharisees had just demanded that Jesus rebuke His disciples who were shouting His praises amidst His triumphal entry. Jesus responds to them saying, "I tell you, if these become silent, the rocks will cry out!" As I look around at the current state of the world, and of the church, I cannot help but wonder how long it will be before the ramifications of this verse become all too real. Are we as Christians still awe-struck at the glory and majesty of our God? In the midst of our "busy" lives do we remember to pause and praise Him? What is our prayer-life like? I know that at times, it is hard for me to take but a few minutes out of my day to spend in prayer. And even then, my prayers are all too often only filled with selfish requests. How often do we praise God in our prayers? Are we praising God in the way we live our lives, or are the rocks crying out?