Within the next couple days this page should be redirecting to my new web address.

Now to go and put it all together.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Sounds simple enough, right?

It isn’t.

I’ve probably read that passage a hundred times and never had a second thought. Yet, over the past few years I’ve also said and written many things about both Church and church (BIG C and little c); some private and some public. However, over the past few months I’ve really been tested when it comes to the method in which the gospel is presented. I still have my likes and dislikes when it comes to church, but methodology is not as important as I once made it to be. It doesn’t matter if you have an eighty voice choir or a five piece rock band if your theology is incorrect. 

Does this mean I will be any less opinionated?

No.

But instead of speaking my mind every time I see a method or system I disagree with, I am going to be working very hard to keep my mouth shut.

Of course, if you are directly involved with that system and ask for my opinion, I’ll share. But to bash a person or group with someone who is not directly involved is nothing more than divisive, and that is something I don’t want to be.

Now, when it comes to theology, I WILL NOT hold back.

If I hear a pastor or church leader say something completely erroneous, I will not be ashamed to voice my dissent.

Thoughts?

- Bono

Originally found at The Resurgence

Originally found at FlowerDust.net

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”  Romans 13:1

At this point, it is safe to say that Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States.  That which has transpired, was orchestrated by God.  Last time I checked, God orchestrates everything for the Ultimate Purpose of that which is Good.

I’m not saying that the next 4 years will be Good.  I’m not saying they will be bad.  I have no such ability to predict the future.  I’m saying that what happens over the next 4 years will play a part in God’s Ultimate Plan of Reconciling all things to Him through Jesus Christ whether good or bad.

I would argue that now is the time to “Be The Church” more than ever.  (that was not a Obama is the Antichrist plug)  Both Candidates in this election campaigned on a platform of change.  Change happens.  One way or another.  Change is constant.

I can’t tell you enough how unconcerned my heart has become over the course of this election with the change that will come out of Washington DC vs  The Change that can only come out of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Pray for our Leaders.  Whether you Love or Hate them.  They face incredibly difficult challenges, and need Godly Wisdom and Guidance.

Stay true to the mission of proclaiming the Gospel, however you do so.  It’s the only change that matters.

C’mon. I know some of you wish you were still a kid just so you could dress up.

Yet, it’s also the time of year I get slammed the most by other Christians. 

“Halloween is All Hallows Eve”

“It’s a Pagan holiday”

And so on. 

You know what?

I agree.

So I won’t use this space to try to justify my celebration (even if that only amounts to watching a movie on TV), nor will I use it to judge those who overindulge in celebration.

However, I do want to ask a couple questions of those who disapprove of celebrating Halloween.

Why is the celebration of our Savior’s death and resurrection called Easter?

Why do we celebrate our Savior’s birth in December when most theologians agree that Jesus was probably born in September or October?

Are there any Christmas or Easter traditions that Christians have that are not of Christian origin? 

By the way, don’t comment unless you include answers to at least one of those questions. They’re pretty easy to find.

After reading the first comment I realized I did not properly word my question at the end; so I’ve edited the post to reflect that.

Growing up in church I’ve seen and heard it all. The good, bad and ugly. In light of my previous post, I have a couple questions to ask. But first, a Bible verse.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10, ESV

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

When was the last time you heard a preacher equate greed with homosexuality?

Or adultery with homosexuality?

So, if all sin sends you to Hell, why do we Christians treat homosexuality as being worse than other sexual sins?

Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.

Proposition 8 is a highly debated bill that would add a constitutional amendment to the California State Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. For those who don’t watch the news or spend all their internet time on MySpace, this has been a big issue in Cali for several years now. In May the California State Supreme Court struck down an earlier proposition (Prop 22) that had defined marriage as between one man and one woman; Prop 22 had only been a statute, making it more vulnerable to judicial nullification. Reference

Some of you are probably thinking, “This is in California, why should I care?”

It’ll be in your state soon enough. Which brings me to the predicament I’m in.

As a Christian I believe the Bible is very clear on the issue of homosexuality; it is sin. This isn’t an open hand issue, where God is silent or it was a “cultural thing”. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin and as a Christian, I believe you should vote your beliefs.

But I also believe the Bible calls the church (local and universal) to love. Last time I checked, Jesus said in Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31 to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

He didn’t say love your Christian neighbor, or love the neighbor who believes the same as you. It was an all-inclusive command. Love your friends, love your enemies, love Republicans, love Democrats, love the guy in history class that you avoid because he’s gay, love the alcoholic sitting in the cubicle next to you, love the pastor who sins through pride, etc.

I’m not suggesting Christians should support gay marriage; but I keep asking myself, “Where have I heard all this before?”, and then I remember going to pro-life rallies and marches as a kid. Yeah, voting pro-life really got us somewhere, didn’t it?

In case you’ve been living in a cave for the last eight years, having a “pro-life president” didn’t really make things better. Abortion rates are higher now than they were eight years ago.

Don’t misunderstand me – I’m not blaming W.

But as Ed Stetzer said at Catalyst 2008, “The church is going to be God’s instrument to bring about change, not a political candidate.”

What this means is that while you should vote however you feel God leading you to, don’t stop there.

BE THE CHURCH.

Reach out. Instead of picketting an abortion clinic, offer help to those who are considering abortions. And by help I don’t mean calling them a murderer and shoving a Bible in their face. That isn’t love.

There is a ministry here in Monroe called Life Choices. They offer counseling services, financial assistance, and help to pregnant women in need.

Why aren’t there more ministries like this? Every city in America has a Planned Parenthood within driving distance; there should be places like Life Choices as well.

Back to Proposition 8; I have friends who are gay and the marriage issue for them isn’t a religious one. It’s about rights. Ever go to the emergency room at a hospital and visit someone who isn’t immediate family? It’s nearly impossible to get in. Know someone who didn’t have life insurance (or at the least, inadequate coverage) and died leaving behind a spouse? I do. A friend of mine’s husband died a few years back, leaving her and their daughter behind. Luckily, the family wasn’t in debt, but he didn’t have any form of life insurance and he had been the primary provider of their family. So she had to go out and find whatever work she could to support herself and her daughter.

Now think about those situations the way a gay person would.

I had a gay friend ask me once, “If I died and left my partner behind with nothing, would Christians help him? Or would they look at it as “justice”?”

As Christians, we have no problem judging and condemning people. I’m guilty of it myself. We have no problem pointing out to others where they’ve sinned. We have no problem shoving the Bible down someone’s throat, all in an effort to prove “I’m right and you’re wrong.”

But when it comes to the second of only two commandments Jesus gave us, we don’t do so well do we?

Sure, we preach love. Go to any church Sunday and you’ll see some sort of welcome, whether it be in a bulletin or on a screen or on a marquee, that says something along the lines of “You are loved” or “You are welcome” or “Come as you are”. But we don’t live it. We don’t practice it.

I’ve included a link to the blog that really got me thinking about this and Alex sums it up perfectly by saying “if we are going to impose this prop, the church better get busy meeting the needs of people like this.”

What are your thoughts?

Alex McLean – BetterThanBlank

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As Christians, we talk a lot about sharing our faith, yet, when the opportunity to do so arises, how do we respond?

The link below goes to a video made by Fellowship Church; it’s about 25 minutes, but it’s worth sitting down and watching.

Delicious – Coffee and Conversation from Fellowship Church on Vimeo.