Dr. Al Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in his blog, references the trend among young Jewish adults who are polarizing between the Orthodox and the Secular. [http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/06/10/the-briefing-from-young-restless-and-jewish-to-peter-singer-and-the-pope/]
It seems, however, that the fastest growth is among the Orthodox. The Secular Orthodox are not reproducing themselves, either physically or spiritually. Dr. Mohler draws some obvious parallels with Contemporary Christianity, at least in this country.
He references Collin Hansen's article in Christianity Today to make his point. [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/september/42.32.html]
Apparently younger evangelicals are being drawn away from the fluff and emotion that constitutes much of the Contemporary Christian scene, just as much as they are from their parents' brand of Church.
The trends seem to support the idea that young people, being idealistic at heart, and yearning for a more significant spiritual expression, gravitate to the Contemporary Churches or those which offer a Contemporary Service and lots of opportunities for ministry as well as social activities.
Having spent some time there, a growing number are becoming disenchanted. The assumption is that the more exciting, attractive and active churches are more 'alive' than the old, dull and dead churches.
But wait! A growing number are being attracted to the Reformed traditions. If you aren't aware what that means, it means churches where the Bible is actually taught, much like in a Bible College! It means Bible Doctrine takes Center Stage! It means these young people recognize the need for spiritual 'food' and where to find it!
If The Lord tarries, we may see more and more young adults growing up to see the emptiness of busyness that characterizes much of organized Christianity today. You can do just so many Missions Trips, Youth Activities and Social Events, before you start wondering "where's the beef?"
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
A Brave New World?
Events are Cascading:
The Middle East is heating up.
The Gospel is all but ignored and/or marginalized in the West.
Christianity is becoming more entertainment than spiritual strength / hope.
Societies are becoming more crude and crass.
Life is becoming less valuable, at every level.
Morality is becoming increasingly more subjective.
Sex is dominating our attention and our lives.
Education is evermore critical and fewer are being educated.
Digital communities [Facebook, etc] are robbing us of real connectedness.
Natural disasters are making us more uneasy.
Everything is revolving around computers and numbers.
The cashless society bankers and law enforcement favor, is becoming a reality.
The bad economy is pushing us into a global society.
Is all this simply the natural evolution of societies? Or is it being orchestrated by intelligent forces?
The cumulative effect is to decentralize the individual, desensitize him in the critical areas of life, deconstruct our traditional support systems and push us toward a global dependency, without national identity.
And it just so happens this is exactly what The Bible predicts will be the situation at the End of the Age!
The Middle East is heating up.
The Gospel is all but ignored and/or marginalized in the West.
Christianity is becoming more entertainment than spiritual strength / hope.
Societies are becoming more crude and crass.
Life is becoming less valuable, at every level.
Morality is becoming increasingly more subjective.
Sex is dominating our attention and our lives.
Education is evermore critical and fewer are being educated.
Digital communities [Facebook, etc] are robbing us of real connectedness.
Natural disasters are making us more uneasy.
Everything is revolving around computers and numbers.
The cashless society bankers and law enforcement favor, is becoming a reality.
The bad economy is pushing us into a global society.
Is all this simply the natural evolution of societies? Or is it being orchestrated by intelligent forces?
The cumulative effect is to decentralize the individual, desensitize him in the critical areas of life, deconstruct our traditional support systems and push us toward a global dependency, without national identity.
And it just so happens this is exactly what The Bible predicts will be the situation at the End of the Age!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
What Do Young People Teach Us?
Each year, Beloit College publishes their Mindset List, describing what incoming freshmen have been exposed to since birth. For 2010 this means children born around 1992/1993. The limited context of these young people is always startling for older folks.
For example: This Freshman Class has known only two presidents: Bush and Obama.
But what about the vast array of social, moral, political and economic issues that inform our society? What constitutes their historical context?
Generally, they have a limited understanding of Western Civilization.
They have a limited (and biased) understanding of our Founding Principles.
They have always known a Government that takes care of the poor.
They have have always known sex education in public school.
They have never known a time when people did not have access to credit.
They have never been without a computer, cell phone, or mp3 player.
They get their news from The Colbert Report or the Daily Show.
They view sex as recreational.
They do not comprehend the idea of conservative. For them, everything is disposable.
They have never known a world without AIDs, public homosexuality or porn TV channels.
As a consequence, when older people speak of the breakdown of society, these young people can't relate. When we bemoan the loss of our heritage (Western Civilization), they don't know what we're talking about. And when we speak of morality, they think of the relative morality which makes everything right....for me.
EX: When a senatorial candidate can reference his Vietnam military experience, over a period of several years, when in fact he never served in Vietnam. Then blame the media for not understanding his words, and have a sizable number of people accept that as reasonable, you know we're in trouble.
But, then, it probably depends on the the definition of "is."
Another bit of cultural trivia these young people don't understand.
For example: This Freshman Class has known only two presidents: Bush and Obama.
But what about the vast array of social, moral, political and economic issues that inform our society? What constitutes their historical context?
Generally, they have a limited understanding of Western Civilization.
They have a limited (and biased) understanding of our Founding Principles.
They have always known a Government that takes care of the poor.
They have have always known sex education in public school.
They have never known a time when people did not have access to credit.
They have never been without a computer, cell phone, or mp3 player.
They get their news from The Colbert Report or the Daily Show.
They view sex as recreational.
They do not comprehend the idea of conservative. For them, everything is disposable.
They have never known a world without AIDs, public homosexuality or porn TV channels.
As a consequence, when older people speak of the breakdown of society, these young people can't relate. When we bemoan the loss of our heritage (Western Civilization), they don't know what we're talking about. And when we speak of morality, they think of the relative morality which makes everything right....for me.
EX: When a senatorial candidate can reference his Vietnam military experience, over a period of several years, when in fact he never served in Vietnam. Then blame the media for not understanding his words, and have a sizable number of people accept that as reasonable, you know we're in trouble.
But, then, it probably depends on the the definition of "is."
Another bit of cultural trivia these young people don't understand.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
What Is The Gospel?
The simple answer to this questions is found in I Cor. 15, where Paul declares that he preached the Gospel: ...which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [15:3,4]
But, what does all that mean? It means our sinful nature and ways stand between us and a Holy God! It means there's nothing we can do to fix that! It means that God had to send His Son to die in our place. All of that, "according to the scriptures," which means it was not an after-thought.
It means Jesus was God's promised Messiah [Christ], and that his death on the cross was real! He was buried.
It means He did not stay dead and buried, but was given New Life after three days! A resurrected life. Becoming the "first-fruit" of many to come. Those who would also die....to sin.
This is called, in Scripture, The Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ. It is not to be confused with any other gospel. It is The Gospel of Life, not good health or financial independence. It is The Gospel of forgiveness, not inclusiveness. Sinners are not given a false hope, because they're 'in church' or because they've prayed 'the sinner's prayer,' or because they're doing good works.
The race is sin-sick, desperately wicked and hell-bent. Easy-believism, Inclusivism, Mysticism, Egalitarianism and Phariseeism are no substitute for Repentance of sin and commitment to God, in Christ!
"Church" has become a Party or a Seance in America! The Gospel has been dumped on the scrap heap and a wide-range of new 'gospels' have taken it's place in the minds and hearts of people.
It's a New Reality! And, as with all new realities, we need to be prepared to live by the new standards and expectations it produces. One thing it does NOT produce is New Creatures, in Christ!
But, what does all that mean? It means our sinful nature and ways stand between us and a Holy God! It means there's nothing we can do to fix that! It means that God had to send His Son to die in our place. All of that, "according to the scriptures," which means it was not an after-thought.
It means Jesus was God's promised Messiah [Christ], and that his death on the cross was real! He was buried.
It means He did not stay dead and buried, but was given New Life after three days! A resurrected life. Becoming the "first-fruit" of many to come. Those who would also die....to sin.
This is called, in Scripture, The Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ. It is not to be confused with any other gospel. It is The Gospel of Life, not good health or financial independence. It is The Gospel of forgiveness, not inclusiveness. Sinners are not given a false hope, because they're 'in church' or because they've prayed 'the sinner's prayer,' or because they're doing good works.
The race is sin-sick, desperately wicked and hell-bent. Easy-believism, Inclusivism, Mysticism, Egalitarianism and Phariseeism are no substitute for Repentance of sin and commitment to God, in Christ!
"Church" has become a Party or a Seance in America! The Gospel has been dumped on the scrap heap and a wide-range of new 'gospels' have taken it's place in the minds and hearts of people.
It's a New Reality! And, as with all new realities, we need to be prepared to live by the new standards and expectations it produces. One thing it does NOT produce is New Creatures, in Christ!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The World Is Descending Into Chaos!
It is the nature of man to seek improvement of his world. In this effort he often comes up with "solutions" that create more problems than they solve. He is not aware that they will do such, or he would not choose them. But, man cannot improve upon God's plan.
Take, for example, those guiding our economic plight. We are told that a large part of our problem came about as people ran up large, unsecured, debt. In addition, people borrowed money they could not afford in order to purchase a home. Home ownership is the proverbial "passport" to wealth.
Now, our government is seeking to "solve" the economic crises, created this way, by borrowing and spending our way into stability and prosperity. If all goes as planned, we will run a $1.6 trillion deficit in 2010. By 2020, they hope to borrow $18 Tril, with a National Debt of $8.5 trillion. THEN we'll be solvent?
Then there's the environment. Human beings are selfish, greedy and wasteful. We are destroying the delicate balance of nature and something must be done to stop it.
In the 1970's an effort was made to cowl us into submission with the warning that the world was descending into a global ice age. When that did not appear, we were told that it was global warming and man was responsible through his destructive practice of burning carbon-based fuels.
Now, the earth's average temperatures are moderating and the ice is building up in the antarctic. But we're still going to proceed with carbon credits and the monitoring of energy usage in every home. One can't be too careful with an eco-system.
Then came the eruption of a volcano in Iceland! How much carbon was spewed into the atmosphere, no one will ever know. What we do know is it closed down most of Northern Europe for weeks! It cost airlines hundreds of millions of dollars and has put pressure on both business and governments.
Then there was an explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico! That, right after the president opened the door to off-shore drilling! How ironic.
The safe-guards were not in place. The well-head did not close as it is designed to do, and efforts to cap it or diminish it have failed. BP estimates 2 to 3 months, to drill new wells in order to reduce the pressure and stem the flow of oil. Livelihoods along the Gulf Coast are in jeopardy, as well as the eco-system in the area and even up the Atlantic Coast.
This week a man tried to set off a car bomb in Times Square. He bought a ticket to Dubai and boarded a plane at JFK. The door to the plane was shut and the pilots were preparing to taxi out when the call came to wait. Law Enforcement personnel boarded the plane and escorted Faisal Shahzad off! It seems someone didn't check the most recent "Do Not Fly" list.
Human governments just can't catch a break! There's just too much going on. But increased monitoring of financial transactions as well as energy usage will go a long way toward bringing this world under control. We need more and greater computerization, as well as camera and other forms of surveillance. Every move, of every person, must be monitored and controlled. Your privacy is not as important as your security!
But, then, that's what The Bible predicted, 2000 years ago! "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." [1Thess 5:3] Not to mention the infamous Mark of the Beast, 666. A system for tracking and approving all financial transactions, numerically.
Take, for example, those guiding our economic plight. We are told that a large part of our problem came about as people ran up large, unsecured, debt. In addition, people borrowed money they could not afford in order to purchase a home. Home ownership is the proverbial "passport" to wealth.
Now, our government is seeking to "solve" the economic crises, created this way, by borrowing and spending our way into stability and prosperity. If all goes as planned, we will run a $1.6 trillion deficit in 2010. By 2020, they hope to borrow $18 Tril, with a National Debt of $8.5 trillion. THEN we'll be solvent?
Then there's the environment. Human beings are selfish, greedy and wasteful. We are destroying the delicate balance of nature and something must be done to stop it.
In the 1970's an effort was made to cowl us into submission with the warning that the world was descending into a global ice age. When that did not appear, we were told that it was global warming and man was responsible through his destructive practice of burning carbon-based fuels.
Now, the earth's average temperatures are moderating and the ice is building up in the antarctic. But we're still going to proceed with carbon credits and the monitoring of energy usage in every home. One can't be too careful with an eco-system.
Then came the eruption of a volcano in Iceland! How much carbon was spewed into the atmosphere, no one will ever know. What we do know is it closed down most of Northern Europe for weeks! It cost airlines hundreds of millions of dollars and has put pressure on both business and governments.
Then there was an explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico! That, right after the president opened the door to off-shore drilling! How ironic.
The safe-guards were not in place. The well-head did not close as it is designed to do, and efforts to cap it or diminish it have failed. BP estimates 2 to 3 months, to drill new wells in order to reduce the pressure and stem the flow of oil. Livelihoods along the Gulf Coast are in jeopardy, as well as the eco-system in the area and even up the Atlantic Coast.
This week a man tried to set off a car bomb in Times Square. He bought a ticket to Dubai and boarded a plane at JFK. The door to the plane was shut and the pilots were preparing to taxi out when the call came to wait. Law Enforcement personnel boarded the plane and escorted Faisal Shahzad off! It seems someone didn't check the most recent "Do Not Fly" list.
Human governments just can't catch a break! There's just too much going on. But increased monitoring of financial transactions as well as energy usage will go a long way toward bringing this world under control. We need more and greater computerization, as well as camera and other forms of surveillance. Every move, of every person, must be monitored and controlled. Your privacy is not as important as your security!
But, then, that's what The Bible predicted, 2000 years ago! "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." [1Thess 5:3] Not to mention the infamous Mark of the Beast, 666. A system for tracking and approving all financial transactions, numerically.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
She-Males & Social Policy
One of President Obama's recess-appointees, Chai Feldblum, was key counsel on the drafting and negotiations over ENDA: The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009.
This is legislation that would require all Federal, State and Local agencies, as well as businesses with more that 15 employees, to stop discriminating against those who are either confused about their gender or simply choose to dress like, or undergo surgery to become like, their opposite gender.
Sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, with 199 co-sponsors, June 24, 2009, The House Education & Labor Committee hopes to vote on this Bill as early as tomorrow [April 21, 2010]. It prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. According to the Library of Congress summary, it does not apply to religious organizations.
Currently, 38 States have no legislation protecting gender identity. If passed, this Bill will become law in those States, protecting "gender identity" as a minority. This means all State & Local government agencies, as well as businesses employing more than 15 people, will be subject to the law.
Ms. Feldblum is a lesbian activist who advocates for the destruction of the traditional family. She states, "I, for one, am not sure whether marriage is a normatively good institution." [Feldblum, “Rectifying The Tilt"] She is on record as advocating for "polyamorous" relationships. (modern commune?) She wants the government to promote every type of relationship as equal to traditional marriage. Her reasoning is purely subjective: (I believe)
The fact that the American Psychiatric Association currently considers gender identity confusion to be abnormal doesn't seem to factor into this debate. The APA calls it Gender Identity Disorder, meaning it's not normal. But that could change.
Homosexuality used to be considered abnormal, but with upwards of 4% of the population claiming to be homosexual that changed in the 1970's. The APA's new Diagnostic Manual is being released sometime in 2013, so we'll have to wait and see.
The fact that this legislation would allow teachers, undergoing sex changes or just cross-dressing, to continue in the classroom, is appalling to most parents. But for Ms. Feldblum, Rep. Barney Frank and 199 of his peers, this possibility is accepted because people have rights.
Question: Which Government Agency will monitor and enforce this new legislation?
Answer: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Question: To which Government Agency was Ms. Feldblum appointed?
Answer: You already guessed it!
So, when Johnny's teacher shows up with a dark beard, make-up and wearing a dress, while he is taking female hormones in preparation for surgery, don't be surprised if Johnny gets confused.
This is legislation that would require all Federal, State and Local agencies, as well as businesses with more that 15 employees, to stop discriminating against those who are either confused about their gender or simply choose to dress like, or undergo surgery to become like, their opposite gender.
Sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, with 199 co-sponsors, June 24, 2009, The House Education & Labor Committee hopes to vote on this Bill as early as tomorrow [April 21, 2010]. It prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. According to the Library of Congress summary, it does not apply to religious organizations.
Currently, 38 States have no legislation protecting gender identity. If passed, this Bill will become law in those States, protecting "gender identity" as a minority. This means all State & Local government agencies, as well as businesses employing more than 15 people, will be subject to the law.
Ms. Feldblum is a lesbian activist who advocates for the destruction of the traditional family. She states, "I, for one, am not sure whether marriage is a normatively good institution." [Feldblum, “Rectifying The Tilt"] She is on record as advocating for "polyamorous" relationships. (modern commune?) She wants the government to promote every type of relationship as equal to traditional marriage. Her reasoning is purely subjective: (I believe)
The fact that the American Psychiatric Association currently considers gender identity confusion to be abnormal doesn't seem to factor into this debate. The APA calls it Gender Identity Disorder, meaning it's not normal. But that could change.
Homosexuality used to be considered abnormal, but with upwards of 4% of the population claiming to be homosexual that changed in the 1970's. The APA's new Diagnostic Manual is being released sometime in 2013, so we'll have to wait and see.
The fact that this legislation would allow teachers, undergoing sex changes or just cross-dressing, to continue in the classroom, is appalling to most parents. But for Ms. Feldblum, Rep. Barney Frank and 199 of his peers, this possibility is accepted because people have rights.
Question: Which Government Agency will monitor and enforce this new legislation?
Answer: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Question: To which Government Agency was Ms. Feldblum appointed?
Answer: You already guessed it!
So, when Johnny's teacher shows up with a dark beard, make-up and wearing a dress, while he is taking female hormones in preparation for surgery, don't be surprised if Johnny gets confused.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Selective Outrage?
Humanists don't want to be counted among atheists. Atheists don't want to be counted among secular progressives. But they all share one thing in common: subjective morality. Case in point:
A doctor in Sarasota, Florida, has lost his license to practice medicine for performing an abortion....on the “wrong baby!”
Dr. Matthew Kachinas was asked to perform a “selective reduction” by a mother carrying twins. One baby had genetic markers consistent with Down syndrome and the other did not.
Dr. Kachinas was to abort the undesirable baby. He made a mistake, which he credited to faulty ultra sound equipment, and aborted the healthy child instead.
Did we think this could not happen?
Between 80-90% of all babies with genetic markers for Down syndrome are aborted in America. According to Dr. Al Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, children have become a consumer product. We pick and choose which child we want and which we do not want.
In China, this practice is focused on female babies, since law limits parents to only one child. Today, boys out-number girls, to such a significant degree, that sociologists and others are worried about a number of possibilities: a larger expansion of the international kidnapping of girls that is now a Chinese cottage industry, sex-trafficking, war or an increase in homosexuality.
One can only wonder where circumstances and human nature will take a society that abandons objective morality in favor of what appears to “work.”
Our shock at the doctor who aborted the wrong baby? Selective outrage!
A doctor in Sarasota, Florida, has lost his license to practice medicine for performing an abortion....on the “wrong baby!”
Dr. Matthew Kachinas was asked to perform a “selective reduction” by a mother carrying twins. One baby had genetic markers consistent with Down syndrome and the other did not.
Dr. Kachinas was to abort the undesirable baby. He made a mistake, which he credited to faulty ultra sound equipment, and aborted the healthy child instead.
Did we think this could not happen?
Between 80-90% of all babies with genetic markers for Down syndrome are aborted in America. According to Dr. Al Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, children have become a consumer product. We pick and choose which child we want and which we do not want.
In China, this practice is focused on female babies, since law limits parents to only one child. Today, boys out-number girls, to such a significant degree, that sociologists and others are worried about a number of possibilities: a larger expansion of the international kidnapping of girls that is now a Chinese cottage industry, sex-trafficking, war or an increase in homosexuality.
One can only wonder where circumstances and human nature will take a society that abandons objective morality in favor of what appears to “work.”
Our shock at the doctor who aborted the wrong baby? Selective outrage!
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