Patrick Denker (CC)

I’m not speaking simply from observation, but from personal experience. According to the COEXIST Foundation, they are a non-profit organization creating understanding across divides. Does “understanding” mean forced acceptance? According to most who say they believe in the COEXIST movement this seems to be the case.

For me coexist means that you are allowed to worship your god and I am allowed to worship my God. Neither has to hide in a closet or behind closed doors. It means that you may not understand my beliefs but you allow me to believe them and practice them as my faith requires me to.

COEXISTers will picket and protest and ask that certain religious groups (Christians) refrain from calling abortion murder. Why? It’s what the Bible teaches us. Shouldn’t we be allowed to speak what God teaches? Wouldn’t that be COEXISTing?

COEXISTers will picket and protest and ask that certain religious groups (Christians) refrain from calling the gay or lesbian lifestyle sin even though that’s what the Bible teaches us.

COEXISTers will picket and protest and ask that certain religious groups (Christians) refrain from teaching our kids to abstain from sex before marriage even though it’s what the Bible teaches us.

So, basically, the COEXISTers want us to COEXIST with them but without our “Owner’s Manual”.

As Christians, the Bible is our “Owner’s Manual” with instructions on how we are to live our lives.

The COEXIST Foundation website asks…

“What is it that makes Coexist distinctive among others working to promote better understanding between faiths?”

The problem with this question is that it sounds good, but it doesn’t reflect what’s happening. There were major “rifts” between the COEXIST people and the mainstream Christian and Mormon churches over California’s Prop 8. However, if the goal is to understand then why would they not simply accept that these two groups understood the Bible to say that the sacrament of marriage is between a man and a woman as stated by God?

When the COEXIST people verbally ridicule others for what they believe doesn’t that go against their basic tenants? Are they really trying to understand, I think NOT!

The website goes on to state, “while we recognize and celebrate the many connections between the Abrahamic faiths, we also acknowledge their differences and distinctiveness. We believe we learn more about ourselves and our own traditions by looking respectfully at others’. So Coexist is not just about good relations: it is also about exploring our own convictions and beliefs.”

WOW! Another great statement. But it doesn’t match. Their actions show they are not willing to allow us to live out what we believe. Many who ascribe to the COEXIST philosophy have written nasty things about those of us who live by and adhere to our Biblical principles. If I speak out (not in hate, always in love) about things against God’s word that they may not agree with, they will call me a hater.

Take gay marriage for example. The mainstream Episcopalian church believes in same sex marriage. Mainstream Christian churches believe that God has called us to marry, have children, and repopulate the earth. It’s hard to do this from a same sex position. Yet instead of tolerating that viewpoint, they call us ignorant haters. This does not sound like a group that wants to coexist.

My biggest issue with many on the COEXIST side is that they are quick to let those of us who want to hold strong to our Christian beliefs just how wrong we are. They actively seek us out to picket and write opinion pieces about how they are for equality for all.

But that isn’t really the truth either. Have they ever fought for the Christian kids to have a right to include the name of Jesus in a campus speech? Have they ever fought for the Christian kids to be able to promote their faith on campus through clubs and activities? Do they fight for the any kids to support the rights of the unborn on campus? The answer is “no” to all of the above. But wouldn’t that be “equality for all”?

From what I’ve observed, COEXIST is exclusively for them, but it’s NO-EXIST for us.

If you want equality it goes both ways and applies to everyone.

This puts believers at an immediate disadvantage because Christ did not spend much of his ministry discussing consumer goods. He mentions the odd cloak, fragrant ointment, sword and widow’s mite, but one would not confuse Him with Ralph Nader or other marketplace stalwarts.

Besides, since Miller picks and chooses what she believes in regard to her own faith, she has no problem distorting the Gospel in an effort to draft Jesus into Code Pink.

She begins by completely misunderstanding the significance of Jesus on the cross. Miller writes, “The Christian Lord allowed himself to be crucified rather than fight the injustice of the death sentence imposed on him.” To co–opt Mark Twain; this is an inability to distinguish between lightning and the lightning bug.

On the contrary, it was not a miscarriage of justice. The sentence was the fulfillment of divine justice. Christ willingly substituted Himself on the cross in place of a sinful mankind. God did not alter the terms of the first Covenant with Abraham. There was a price to be paid for man’s rebellion and he decided to pay it Himself. (This refusal to “evolve” on the part of the creator, should give pause to modern “Christian” leader’s attempts to revise and soften the New Testament, but it doesn’t.)

Consequently, Christ was not the earliest recruit for the left’s anti–capitol punishment movement. Christ died for our sins. He willingly paid the price we could not pay and ushered in the New Covenant.

There would be no Christians without Christ’s death on the cross. Even if the Jerusalem chapter of the Innocence Project had tried to get Him off the hook, He would have refused the offer, because to do so would have rendered His work pointless.

After that inauspicious beginning, Miller moves on to the point of her column, “How do such Christians reconcile their stalwart commitment to the Second Amendment with their belief in a gospel that preaches nonviolence?” And then she quotes Matthew 5:39 – “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

This leads me to believe Miller was also not a fan of the excellent “Machine Gun Preacher”

Then it left me wondering if I had missed a recent development on the violence front, so I did an online search on “strike AND cheek AND gunfight” to see if there had been a rash of concealed carry permit holders (CCW) lighting up people who slapped them.

That search string was a bust, so I tried “strike AND cheek AND shoot” with the same result. Evidently there is no problem with Christian gun owners initiating violence. Miller’s goal appears to involve persuading Christians to join the ranks of the defenseless. This decision, however, would not be made in a vacuum. Should a Christian head of household decide to disarm because he believes guns are inherently evil, like cigarettes or 16 oz. sodas, his decision would not affect him alone. His wife, his children and mom in the basement would all instantly become draftees in the War for Pacifism.

And the family would be misguided draftees at that. As Adam Clarke points out in his commentary on the passage, these “exhortations belong to those principally who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Say for example, an orthodox Christian that leftists like Miller slap up the side of the head for refusing to support homosexual marriage. Following Matthew, the Christian would turn the other cheek as he said he does not approve of the homosexual lifestyle either.

The verse is most certainly not directed toward ancient or modern Christians with a desire to defend their persons or their family.

Then Miller snidely intimates that “conservative Christian leaders are not falling over themselves to proclaim in public their pro–gun theologies.” But then Miller proceeds to list various Christians who are doing just that.

She takes issue with Richard Land, a former Southern Baptist Convention official, who said during a December interview on National People’s Radio (NPR) that he supports arming teachers. And Miller concludes with David French, senior counsel for the American Center of Law and Justice, who told her “Turn the other cheek does not mean turn your wife’s cheek or turn your children’s cheek.”

Miller — who works for an organization sporting guards who check commoners before they are allowed to enter — replies, “Provocative, but unconvincing. Jesus identified with the weak, not the strong; with the victims, not the shooters (or the people with the guns).”

Wrong again. Jesus praised a Roman centurion who controlled his own sword and 90 others — for his faith, saying, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” What’s more, Jesus reached out to the weak and the victims, but unlike leftist community organizers, He considered Himself a shepherd and the shepherd doesn’t hand the wolf a napkin as he approaches the herd.

There is another verse that’s very germane to this discussion, although Miller manages to overlook it. Luke 6:42 advises, “Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

Miller would do more to protect the innocent life of children if she would worry less about the imaginary threat of “assault weapons” in the hands of Christians and more about the real threat of “assault doctors*” who are responsible for the deaths of over 1 million innocents each year during abortions.

*Thanks to my wife, Janet, for this inspired term that aptly describes a depraved occupation.

The church has played a key role in our cultural and spiritual development almost from the time our ancestors were first dragged here in chains. At times, God and His church were all Black Americans had to cling to in the darkest oppressions. Even as we have moved from segregation to freedom we have always held fast to the tenants of God’s Word, and as a result we are largely socially conservative as a group. However, when it comes to our votes we don’t seem to carry that same adherence to our faith to the polls.

The official platform of the Democrat party embraces gay marriage, while the Black community sees this as antithetical to God’s Word.

Despite being only 12% of the population and representing over 35% of abortions, the majority of Black Americans still believe life is God-given; and yet the Democrat platform endorses abortion.

Record unemployment in Black communities and America in general, 47 million Americans receiving food stamps, skyrocketing energy prices and a debt that threatens to topple the country seem to have very little effect on Black Christians – by all indications they are still solidly in Obama’s camp.

Some say it is because they are uncomfortable with Romney’s Mormon faith, some genuinely believe that he (and his party) is racist and would roll back civil rights.

Some say that things really will get better if we just hang on a little longer and don’t change horses mid-race. My father-in-law, Victor Davis (a conservative Black pastor who served his community of Gary, IN for over 40 years) told me this: “I had coined the phrase “Chocolate Covered Pretzels”  to describe many of the “African-American church folk” after Obama made his endorsement of Homosexual Marriage. That represented to me the theological twisting and bending that they would go through to find a way to support their “black president-brother-man” and sadly that is what I hear and see more and more of.

Some are not able to differentiate between what a man “says he believes” and what a man legislates or enforces in the way of policies and laws. Even the unbeliever (Cyrus Ezra 6:4) can lead a nation in righteous decrees and provide an atmosphere in which the Gospel has freedom to be proclaimed and practiced (1 Tim 2:1-4) without restraint. However to contrast that, is when the “so-called believer” legislates Antichrist/laws, along with upholding the killing of God conceived babies and then work to restrict the “faith practices” of clear scriptural teaching, then that ” believer” is in direct conflict with the Kingdom purpose of God (that His will would be done on earth as it is in Heaven)”

I want to ask this question specifically to my Black Christian brothers and sisters: Do your political loyalties represent your faith? When you go vote on Tuesday, will you be voting as a “Chocolate-covered pretzel” or a participant in the Kingdom of God?

I know what’ I’ll be doing.

crossposted at kiradavis.net

Kennedy addressed the question reminding Americans “I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant, nor Jewish…” “…where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials–and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.”

Today some look at Mitt Romney’s Mormon religion and ask if his beliefs will negatively impact the country. When asked about his faith in a recent CNN  interview Romney replied:  I am often asked about my faith and my beliefs about Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. Every religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These should not be bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.

Is Romney a Better Choice for Christians?

It is expected that this will be a close election. Because of the impact on religion including the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare); the value issues, including sanctity of life, marriage and religious freedom; and concern a the rise in secularization of society groups who might otherwise stay out of the fray are speaking up.

They have looked at the issue and the candidates.  Many specific religions are not recommending one candidate but are instead reminding people to look at what the candidate stands for.

Do you know someone of faith still on the fence? Perhaps they would feel better knowing that many faithful have found the best choice.

This week Reverend Billy Graham published an advertisement aimed at his Christian followers. You can read about it here. He wants voters to at the state of the country and vote their Biblical principles.  Son, Rev. Franklin Graham, offered an opinion on whether Christians could vote for a Mormon.

We are at a profound crossroads. Our secularized society has shaken its fist in God’s face and rejected His very name. Like Joseph and Daniel, we must not compromise when government clashes with the worship of God. We must not silence our voices to God’s law. We must use our influence to elect those who will govern with respect for the sanctity of marriage as between one man and one woman; the sanctity of life; and yes, the protection of God’s beloved nation Israel. We must not cast votes for officials—whether candidates of the Democratic, Republican, or Tea Party, or of a religious persuasion—that are against these principles of God. We have, in the past, elected Christians who have defied some of these very principles.

We need something like what Jerry Falwell did in the 1980s. We need a “moral majority”—made up of Christians, Jews, Mormons, Catholics and many others of faith—to come together to take a stand for our religious freedoms and rights.

In recent days, President Clinton said that President Obama “has a plan to rebuild America from the ground up.” But God-fearing Americans have no desire to see America rebuilt—but rather restored. To “rebuild it” would be to create a new nation without God or perhaps under many gods. This was never the intent of those who shed their blood for the freedom to worship as “one nation under God.”

I pray that all Christians and God-fearing Americans will put aside labels and vote for principles—God’s principles—that for many years have resulted in His blessing upon our nation.

So, can a Christian vote for a Mormon? The answer is yes.

Catholics, while not endorsing one candidate are asking their members to vote their values as seen in this powerful video.

Dr. Alveda King, Dr. Martin Luther King’s niece, wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Times promoting black Christian voters vote for moral values and the candidate who work to improve the black community.

This time, in 2012, I beg my brothers and sisters in the black community to look past color and vote for God’s values, not those of a particular political party.

I was in an African-American church in Virginia earlier this month, and afterward many people came up to me with tears in their eyes. Regarding the 2008 election, they said, “I just didn’t know what to do; I just didn’t know. But now you say there are other people on the ballot, like state and local levels. There are referendums and constitutional issues. If I can’t vote for any candidate in the presidential slot, at least I can write someone in.”

Don’t ever say I’m going to vote for the lesser of two evils. No, we can’t think that way. We are not voting for evil. We are voting for the best candidates possible.

Early on in Mr. Obama’s campaign, people came to find out that I opposed his agenda, and I took criticism from friends and family and even other pastors. They thought the black community would be influential in the Obama administration. Besides, we all would be praying for him. While I don’t doubt the power of prayer, Mr. Obama has done very little, if anything, to help the black community. In fact, he has turned his back on the very values that are the moral backbone of the black community.

A diverse group of Christian leaders penned an open letter last month praising the social policies found within the Republican Platform of Mitt Romney.

 The letter also focuses on the moral principles in the Republican platform, which are “squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition” and are “at stake in today’s society.”

Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, are thanked for running on a platform which is a “political compass” in the “confusing moral thickets of our day.”

The signers encourage support for Romney even though there may be “differences in a candidate’s theological doctrine.” This is despite the fact that “some have tempered their enthusiasm” for the Mormon candidate. Government policy is the issue, the letter says, not theology.

A well-known Evangelical pastor Bishop Harry Jackson created two videos; in the first, he lists four reasons he will support Mitt Romney and in the second, four reasons he will not support Barack Obama.

These are challenging times and for many a challenging decision. My own favorite pastor put it succinctly:

I think this [issue] is one of the reasons why many Christians struggle with this year’s election.  Fortunately, we’re not electing a pastor but a president.  I’m really praying for a change and I hope one more week is enough time to reach enough people to capture a victory.

Vote November 6.

Today is Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. Mike Huckabee started the campaign, explaining in part:

I have been incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick Fil-A company because the CEO, Dan Cathy, made comments recently in which he affirmed his view that the Biblical view of marriage should be upheld. The Cathy family, led by Chick Fil-A founder Truett Cathy, are a wonderful Christian family who are committed to operating the company with Biblical principles and whose story is the true American success story. Starting at age 46 Truett Cathy built Chick Fil-A into a $4 billion a year enterprise with over 1600 stores. At 91, he is still active in the company, but his son Dan runs it day to day as CEO.It’s a great American story that is being smeared by vicious hate speech and intolerant bigotry from the left.

The Chick Fil-A company refuses to open on Sundays so that their employees can go to church if they wish. Despite the pressure from malls, airports, and the business world to open on Sundays, they still don’t. They treat customers and employees with respect and dignity.

I ask you to join me in speaking out on Wednesday, August 1 “Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day.” No one is being asked to make signs, speeches, or openly demonstrate. The goal is simple: Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1.

Janell Edwards, Owner
Chick-fil-A # 1090

We met a group of men who have Bible Study at a Harley Davidson shop every Wednesday morning, and part of their group was there, supporting Chick-fil-A’s stand. One man in the group, Tim, has never eaten at Chick-fil-A. He told us he doesn’t even like chicken, but is supporting them because of the stand they have taken. Allan, another gentleman in the group, brought tears to my eyes as he prayed over their lunch! His voice was strong and mighty, proclaiming God’s Word, and praying against the evil forces coming against Chick-fil-A and our nation.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall forever be on my lips.”

Psalm 34:1

As he walked through the last exit door, all you could hear was a resounding, “AMEN!”

When we left, people were lined up outside almost to the Drive-Through line on one side, and just about that long on the other side. There were cars backed up almost to the access road of the freeway on one side, and around 2 other restaurants, waiting to get into Chick-fil-A’s driveway. We saw people walking from all four corners, having parked in other parking lots, but walking to Chick-fil-A.

Lunch was absolutely amazing! I cannot wait to see what happens at dinner!

Chick-fil-A, ALL DAY!

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 17, 2012 /Christian Newswire/

The ministry president calls for Osteen to step down since he won’t renounce Mormonism. James 4:4 says, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” See the video here.

Osteen said, “I see [Mormons] as brothers and sisters in Christ,” “It would be appropriate [for Mitt Romney to speak at Liberty University]” and “I just believe in all my heart [Obama] is a Christian.”

Jesus teaches that according to their fruit you will know wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Obama’s fruit is covering the name and cross of Jesus at Georgetown, wanting to leave living babies to die who survive abortions, mocking God with homosexual sin, tempting Americans to covet other people’s money, following Saul Alinsky books dedicated to Lucifer and other sins.

Romney’s fruit is an elder in the Mormon cult. Mormons believe that Jesus is a created being, the spirit brother of Lucifer. Romney thinks “magic” underwear gives power and that he will become a god. This is considered evil by Christians because Jesus is the second Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit gives power, and Satan tried to be god and is condemned to hell.

Pastor Steven Andrew hoped to talk privately with Joel Osteen, but Osteen refused. Pastor Steven says, “I care for Christians and encourage them to find Biblical pastors to know Jesus. Osteen is sharing in Obama’s and Romney’s sins, and misleading Americans.”

Christians are also concerned that Jerry Falwell Jr. insisted Mormon elder Romney speak at Liberty University. Some question if Osteen and Falwell Jr. are Christians. Galatians 1:9 teaches Mormons are “accursed.”

“Franklin Graham, Richard Land and Pat Robertson are also called to step down for leading Americans astray to vote for Mormon Romney,” he adds.

“Ron Paul is the only Christian running for President and could win as a write in, or Christians renouncing Romney.”

“If Romney has a Christian VP, it is still forbidden by Scripture to vote for Romney or Obama.”

Pastor Steven Andrew started a daily teaching video to encourage Christians to grow in God. He is raising funds to lead a 1000 pastors to pastor the USA, and to buy TV time. To help support these ministries, click here.

In the comments of this article, TH30PH1LUS left this comment:

Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:12pm

“When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.

Your hands are full of blood!” ~ GOD (Isaiah 1:15)

The magnitude of this Scripture is astounding! Just at face value alone, the words virtually leap off the screen, a resounding rebuke to an Administration who’s arrogance knows no boundary. When you dig deeper, looking at every facet of this Scripture, it is a true testament that the Word of God is applicable today.

This Administration- this country, in reality, has so much innocent blood on her hands. However, there is also the Scripture regarding God’s wrath on those who go against Him- Romans 1:28 sums it up, but again, the entire chapter of Romans 1 describes current times exactly.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

In reading the originally article, another passage of Scripture came to mind. You can read the entire passage here in 1 Kings 18. For this article, we will focus on four verses, 1 Kings 18:36-39.

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!”

If the God-fearing people of this nation will fall on their faces before God Almighty, there is no doubt we will see miracles happen all over this country! Obama’s Administration is planning a prayer vigil on the steps of the Supreme Court House….. where will the God-fearing people of this nation be? Elijah was a true servant of God, and called on Him to show Himself to the false prophets of the day, letting it be known to all that He alone is God.

It would be quite fitting for the servants of God in this day- God-fearing men and women of America, to have our own prayer vigil in front of the Supreme Court at the exact same time as this Administration is performing a sacrilegious ceremonial display of arrogance they call prayer. There is power in prayer!

Matthew 18:20:

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

For an outfit that never misses a beat when comes to denigrating Conservative Christian values, the mainstream media was certainly holier than thou recently over a perceived attack by Rick Santorum on Obama’s Christianity. And while Santorum, his staff, and conservative commentators were quick to point out that the snippet of video that had so many of the left outraged, was actually taken completely out of context, and quite deliberately so. No one asked the most basic, most pertinent question: How is Obama a Christian?

While this omission is understandable from Santorum and his camp, who are clearly smarter than to fall into the Christian fanatic narrative the left is already desperately trying to spin. It is unforgivable from the Conservative Commentariat, who passed up on a golden opportunity to force the media into a corner of their own creating.

The umbrage was all the main stream media’s over the perceived (read: manufactured) question to their messiah’s Christianity. That being the case, the following simple questions would not have been out of place in a rebuttal:

1. Obama is on the record for opposing a ban on partial birth abortion. In the Illinois Senate he opposed a bill which would have prevented the killing of infants who survived the abortion procedure. And he has stated openly of his daughter’s “if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.” Explain to me how these are the actions of a Christian?

2. The Obama Administration has recently tried to strong-arm the Catholic Church into providing medical services through its clinical satellites to which it is manifestly spiritually opposed. How is this Christian?

3. Obama has denounced the Defense of Marriage Act as Unconstitutional. His refusal to defend a law which was brought into being with overwhelming support from both sides of politics, undeniably paints the leader of this nation as weak on the issue of the exclusive sacredness of the marital union between one man and one woman. How is this Christian?

4. Obama’s guiding philosophy of collectivism, in which men and women become subordinate to a state which centrally controls their lives from cradle to grave, stands in manifest opposition to the self-evident liberty and individual responsibility we have been endowed with by a Creator. What is Christian about this?

5. Obama has embraced black liberation theology. This doctrine condones the use of force to abrogate any individual rights which stand in the way of perceived racial justice. For the indoctrination of many that in the name of inherited injustices, they are entitled to use force against those who have broken no law themselves, how can this theology be called Christian?

6. Racial vilification has been used to bludgeon the President’s critics. What is Christian about ascribing the vilest of motivations to those who have gathered peaceably to protest the ever increasing growth of Government in their lives?

There are many more questions besides these six. For the simple reason that Obama is about as far from a Christian as it is possible to get. This is in no way revelatory. And it is long past time for those who have not already been pigeon holed by the tag of Christian to challenge the left media when they raise the topic of the President’s Christian credentials. After all, they have been the ones to produce the rope. So why don’t we allow them to hang themselves with it?

Vaughan Starr is a freelance writer. Professional inquiries may be directed to mrvstarr@gmail.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Yb8TJbG_c

While the comparison in the video is definitely “old tone”, it does give preview to something we should expect, if Santorum gets the nomination.  The Left Wing and the mainstream media, both, will find every opportunity to paint the former Senator as Christian zealot, whether it’s fair or not.  President Obama’s defenders would much rather talk about Rick Santorum’s religious beliefs than they would the economy, and you don’t have to be a “lunatic” to believe that.

Culture is all about engagement. To be engaged, of course, means that you cannot be an isolationist. Culture is about expressing ideas, lifestyle and beliefs in various manners. The church, at times, can be so culturally isolated, that it could risk becoming an outreach mechanism to becoming an elitist oasis for the religious folks.

The church has the ability to embrace cultural diversity and should engage in differences. I strongly believe that we constantly learn and grow from individuals who are different from us. While we may or may not agree with the various socio-cultural views of people, we can at least learn in the aspect of approach and having a dialogue with them.

The importance of the church being culturally relevant is to welcome diversity. Regardless of the church’s religious platform, the most important way to grow the church and to make it a significant contribution to society is to make people feel welcome. People are not interested in embracing the church’s concept if they feel intimidated or judged by their lifestyle or acts.

Even Christ, in his infinite wisdom and sovereignty, embraced the cultural differences that surrounded him. He ate with tax collectors. He solaced a troubled harlot when the “religious” ones wanted to excommunicate her from society. He embraced Paul, an ardent murderer of Christians (talk about a cultural difference!) and turned him into an apostle. Christ didn’t attempt to circumvent the cultural and spiritual struggles and differences of his era. Instead, he produced a message of love and hope for those in despair.

There are so many times that the church’s attempt to reach out becomes strained and contentious. We live in a culture that is more engaged in progression. One way to unravel the church’s attempt to engage culturally is by means of aggression. If the messenger’s attempt to convert society to the church is in an aggressive, judgmental and abrasive way, then the message of love, hope and spiritual connection becomes diluted, ignored and irrelevant.

The fact of the matter is this: The church’s staunch opposition against a carnal and secular cultural nation does not mean that it doesn’t exist. Homosexuality exists and is rapidly increasing and becoming more socially acceptable. Pre-marital sex still occurs and is undeniably common in today’s culture. Alcohol will still be consumed among today’s teens and young adults and bars and nightclubs are still going to be a common scene among many cities. The church is more than welcome to stand opposed to these issues and doesn’t have to compromise on principle. However, a stern message of hell, fire and brimstone to those who are engaged in such lifestyle will not exactly persuade one to change his or hers course of action.

Conviction is a divine, supernatural God-sent message to alter one’s ways, not a man-made or human attempt to change one’s self. I strongly believe that God changes people’s hearts and minds. If there is something that needs to be changed in our lives, he will give us discernment and convict us of whatever the wrong may be. That’s not man’s job. It will never be. Man cannot presumably condemn people to eternity in hell….or transport them to paradise in heaven, for that matter.

Love and transparency can relate to many people. Welcoming people with open arms and offering hope for them in their darkest situations will always be more helpful than immediate criticism and cynical views on one’s lifestyle. Cultural relevancy is essential to just mere understanding of why people live the lives that they do and the views they perceive. It’s not so much conversion, which may occur at a later given time, but it’s more being able to leave the comfort of the church walls, and being engaged and active in a community that is looking for someone to be a difference, minus the judgmental and religious condescending rhetoric.

If the church is cultural relevant, it’ll be spiritually relevant. Church growth and expansion correlates with the ability to love the individual and allow God to put the remaining pieces together. If the church adopts this method, it will be a thriving and live-changing force in today’s cultural landscape.

Today is the second day of Kwanzaa and marks Part 3 in my ongoing Kwanzaa series.  You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.  As I have already established, I believe Kwanzaa is antithetical to traditional American values.  Moreover I believe Kwanzaa’s creator, Dr. Ron Karenga meant it to be that way as he sees American values as destructive to “Africans in America”.  You can refer back to Part 1 to read about the roots of Kwanzaa and why it is based in Marxist theory, but today we are here to explore the second of the seven principles of Kwanzaa – Kujichagulia.

As a teenager celebrating Kwanzaa, I hated this day the most because we could never pronounce it! Kujichagulia is Swahili for Self-Determination and the purpose of this principle under the Kwanzaa model is to “define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves”.  At first blush, this seems like a an honorable and admirable principle.  Don’t we tell our children often not to let others define them and to stick up for themselves?  However, you must remember that we are looking at this through the eyes of a man who still carries much disdain for the America in which he has enriched himself and for white people in general.  Karenga is also a purveyor of Marxist theory, and that is reflected in every principle of the celebration.  On this day families are meant to light the red candle (although the order and number of colors can be flexible based on personal choice).  According to kwanzaaguide.com: The red candle is symbolic of the effort a person, family, school or community makes. The lesson is that we light the red candle to reinforce the value of work and effort.  Frederick Douglass reminds us that “If there is no struggle there is no progress.”

Again, on the surface this idea is not controversial, but as a Christian American who understands the history and intent of Kwanzaa I do find it antithetical to the American spirit and culture.  The point of Kujichagulia is not just promote self-esteem, it is to separate oneself from the larger American culture.  I’m all for cultural pride, but once again Karenga has determined that cultural pride can only be achieved by separatism, removing ourselves from our American communities.   Indeed, any time in this country where we have seen communities engage in separatism it has become a disaster.  Indian reservations across America are rife with poverty, drugs, alcoholism and abuse.  Jim Crow laws led to a very sick society that eventually erupted in protests and violence. Even some cults who choose to wall themselves off from general American society have suffered great tragedies (Jim Jones, etc.).  We are not meant to live separately from each other as cultures.  Oh yes, culture is important and influential – that’s God’s flavoring!  But cultures need not separate in order to thrive.  As a matter of fact, American culture is so unique precisely because of all the other cultures it incorporates.  It is a melting pot that takes the flavors of so many people who come here to find freedom and combines them to make one unique, diverse dish called America.  Kujichagulia would have us breaking off from that American heritage, denouncing it, and declaring our African heritage (which is sometimes questionable this far into the history of America, as I mentioned in Part 1) as the only culture/heritage worth our pride our recognition.

I also take issue with the secular idea of defining ourselves, naming ourselves.  God is removed from this equation under Kwanzaa.  Dr. Karenga has been very clear that he does not wish for Kwanzaa to be religious in any way and that individuals can incorporate their own beliefs if they wish.  Fine and dandy until you realize that Marxist/socialist theory calls for God to be removed from community life, and our Founding Fathers understood that belief in God was integral to a free society.  We are defined by so much more than how we see ourselves.  As a Christian, I believe I am defined by the Creator; a God Who has a purpose and a plan for my life and my community.  I am a sinner.  If I am left to define myself in totality, I am left with sin and a broken plan, for I do not see the larger picture.  It is extremely valuable to understand that where you are and who you are with are all part of a bigger picture.  Removing yourself and your community from that picture does not create prosperity, but division and hardship.  We are meant to live intertwining lives.  Our journey in America as Black people may have began in tragedy, but it has developed into a rich and influential history. We have become vital to the health and development of this nation.  The curse of slavery has turned into a rich blessing.  I would never want to separate myself or my family from that reality, or the blessings of the present because of the anger from the past.  I believe Kujichagulia seeks to do that, whether or not Kwanzaa’s founder and celebrants would admit.  This idea of separating ourselves is not American, and it is killing the Black community.

Part 4 tomorrow.

He was born to Morrow and William Franklin Graham I, on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina. Though he was raised in the Presbyterian Church by his parents, at the age of 16 he converted and became  an evangelical Southern Baptist.

America’s Preacher, as he is now known, was not always looked so fondly upon. In his teenage years, he was not allowed to become a member of the local youth group because he was “too worldly.” He later went to college, but found himself facing expulsion. He was warned by administration staff not to throw his life away, and was told: “At best, all you could amount to would be a poor country Baptist preacher somewhere out in the sticks…. You have a voice that pulls. God can use that voice of yours. He can use it mightily.”

Indeed, God has used Billy Graham’s voice. He has preached the Gospel of Christ to more people than any other person in history, with more than 3.2 million accepting invitations to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior at Billy Graham Crusades. As of 2008, his lifetime audience was more than 2.2 billion people. His evangelism career spans more than half a century- six decades, in fact- actively preaching the gospel.

He has been a trusted spiritual adviser to most of the last 12 Presidents, and has met personally with every President, starting with Harry S. Truman, up to our current President Barack Obama.

Today is his birthday. Happy Birthday, Billy Graham! You have truly changed the world! May God bless you sir!

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Source:

Wikipedia 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – When it launched BIGBibleTown.com last year, Third Day Games knew it would be facing some heavy competition. But after several months and thousands of kids playing, the response is confirming that the game is a competitive Christian alternative to secular juggernauts from the industry’s top brands.

There is no doubt that kids love video games. According to a recent study released by NPD*, over 91% of kids in the US play them. As kids’ interest in games has grown, so has the popularity of online games from top brands including Disney (Club Penguin) and Legos.com, with millions of kids playing these games for several hours each week.

BIGBibleTown.com is designed as a Christian alternative. This online game immerses elementary age children in scripture-based Bible adventures and includes all the features that make secular games so appealing to kids — a customizable virtual character, their own house that they can decorate, a virtual economy, and mini-games that kids play to earn virtual money. The compelling distinction with BIG Bible Town is that its 32 mini-games are interactive recreations of 32 Bible stories. So as kids have fun playing, they are learning these Bible stories and practicing Christian values.

According to Bobby Wells, CEO of Third Day Games, “Our goal is to capture a portion of video game playtime and repurpose it toward building Bible knowledge and Christian character in kids while they are young. To accomplish this, we knew the game had to be so much fun that it could go up against today’s popular games and compete for kids’ attention.