I attended a "Faith In Action" presentation today hosted at The Union Gospel Mission and led by Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. I appreciated the opportunity to hear her and the others that presented a series of talks geared at motivating people to engage in the political process in November, particularly the Republican political agenda. There were two Faith based speakers, one from Union Gospel Mission and the other from Life Services of Spokane. Then David Barton from an organization called Wallbuilders and the VP from Focus on the Family. The room was predominately fileld with people over 40...probably over 50. By the looks of them, they were a fair representation of the majority in Spokane...white, conservative, Republican, fundamentalist Christians. I was hoping for a good discussion and possible interactive opportunity to engage the issues or hear from my fellow Pastors and leaders about how they are navigating the political rough water. But instead I got a long string of heavy handed assumptions, presumptions and outright controversial statements that didn't get a rebuttal or a push back but most often a hearty Amen. I enjoyed David Bartons well versed, high energy, multimedia presentation on how God has always been at the center of American Politics and that the early American preachers dubbed: "The Black Brigade" by the British were a major force in the shaping of American government. But his conclusions and broad sweeping generalizations left me scratching my head. He endorsed a full blooded American agenda of God Guns and Government. He presented the way of Christ as perfectly at peace with carrying a gun and a bible. He praised the Patriots who shot their enemies and preached from the pulpit. He lifted up those who found faith and Freedom synonymous with revolution, bloodshed and political power. I was amazed that nobody seemed to be wrestling with any of the Red Letters of Jesus in any of this?
Though I appreciated the man from Focus on the Family coming to Spokane sharing with us...I was a bit offended and turned off by his talk. He was approaching a caricature of all that I wrestle with coming from this stream of the church. (In my opinion) He belittled Lesbians and Homosexuals, he lifted up a time in early America when Abortion clinics were torn to the ground when picketing was not successful, it seemed to me that he joked about the looks of those people who didn't share his world view. He told us that if the liberals get their way; our bathrooms will be coed and sexual deviants are going to be getting access to our kids. He warned of the coming inability to preach the whole bible or hire straight staff members if the Homosexual lobbyists get their way. All in all he fear mongered, demeaned and presented a flimsy argument for supporting republicans. I was so grieved.
I hope to God that this version of Christianity gets an extreme makeover. I am seriously wondering if this is anything like the outlived faith of Matthew 5:3-10, 13-20. In my view this is "salt" that has lost its "taste"...it's good for nothing other than being "thrown out and trampled under foot". I am growing more and more convinced that I am on the outside looking in. I looked around the room and seriously doubted that I fit very well in there....that disappoints me. How can we be so far apart and yet call each other brothers and sisters and claim the same Jesus as Lord and proclaim the same gospel. Maybe when it comes to justification by faith...but when it comes to what on Earth that faith looks like...I think I am worlds away.
All I can say is there was...major disconnect.
I snapped the above picture, after some man came up on the stage and moved the American Flag forward. It's hard to see in the picture but the "christian flag' was left in the background...no one touched it. I left feeling that perfectly represented what I felt this meeting represented: America first....Jesus second.
I am not sure I buy into that.
11 comments:
Pastor Eric, I'm glad you went to this function. I'm sorry you were disappointed by what you experienced there. Were you expecting something different? If so, what?
I was going to ask what can be done about this, but I believe many of the answers have already been given in some of your recent posts. By the way, I have "Daniel 2:21 - Heaven Rulz!" on my computer as a reminder.
Was I "expecting something different"...?
Well, I guess that was my problem...I should not have expected something different.
I find that deep down I do hope for something different...but generally, I don't find it.
Which then leads me to the conclusion...I guess I am different.
again, as was said in another thread, you are not going to change the heart through law.. (and/or politics..)
most peoples hearts will never be changed, so we need the law...
obviously these folks have their heart more set on changing legislation than changing the heart..
yes, we do need both....
but, if i had to choose, i'd choose the latter........
Hi again,
I wish you would go to D.L. Kane's blog post from 1/12/08 called "Is History Simply Repeating Itself?" When I was reading your thoughts about the meeting you went to yesterday, I was thinking about this post of hers. In fact, all of D.L.'s January posts are insightful and thought-provoking. I hope you might check them out.
And let me echo D.L.'s sentiments... You are NOT alone. Just like Elijah was not alone. There was a prayer meeting at my work on the 2nd Wednesday of this month, and it was truly a blessing and encouragement. I think if you had been there, you would no longer feel quite as "different" as you're feeling now. There are a lot of people in this community who are on the same page as you. :)
Barton is a staple in a lot of homeschool history courses.
I wish I had known about that event...It's a good reminder of where a lot our brothers and sisters are at. It's the reason I've never been able to be a Republican.
I attended the conference at the UGM yesterday as well and I would have to say I don't agree with your characterization of the day nor the speeches given. In fact, I would say they were in part unfair in their portrayal. I did not hear David Barton endorsing a full blooded American agenda of God Guns and Government. Instead, I heard him speak of the founders of our nation who cared enough about religious freedom that they would stand their ground as well as defend the very ideals you now hold of value. Foundations of faith have been established on battlefields throughout history. Read through the Old Testament to see this reality.
I also feel that you have unfairly painted a portrait of Tom Minnery. I did not hear him once belittle the homosexual community. But to try and deny that acceptance of an immoral lifestyle will have negative impact in our nation is turning a blind eye to God's commands and invites us deeper into the immorality faced by our nation today. Perhaps we should hold firm to our God's standards and no longer feel that we need to adjust our thinking to the worlds. There was no fear mongering. But what was spoken was conservative in that it no longer sought to accept that which goes against God.
Yesterday was not a political rally. Not once did we hear the word Republican and I know that others were there who do not hold to that party line. Not a single candidate was endorsed. Yesterday called us back to our nations roots and our foundations. We cannot forget those who fought, and now continue to fight to secure our rights as a nation.
What needs an "extreme makeover" is that liberal idea that we sit back silently and hope for change; that the voice of God is not to be heard and His Word is not to be upheld as the standard. When that makeover takes place and we are transformed in the renewing of our minds and we offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to HIM, then we are true salt and light. As long as we are concerned that others might dislike our message and feel that we need to be transformed by the thinking of the day, we will be nothing more than white washed tombs.
I know this post is going to get me in hot water but I saw this on a fellow bloggers blog and it hit a nerve I felt being twanged at this meeting:
“Our solemn conviction is that things are much worse in many churches than they seem to be, and are rapidly tending downward. Read those newspapers which represent the Broad School of Dissent, and ask yourself, How much farther could they go? What doctrine remains to be abandoned? What other truth to be the object of contempt? A new religion has been initiated, which is no more Christianity than chalk is cheese; and this religion, being destitute of moral honesty, palms itself off as the old faith with slight improvements, and on this plea usurps pulpits which were erected for gospel preaching. Downgrade III – C.H. Spurgeon
It amazes me how every generation, pulpit or pew seems to see themselves at the center of the end. I find the constant framing of politics as kind of eschatological frothiness...with a big left behind cherry on top. I wish we could ramp down the prognostications and tether ourselves to some historical perspective.
Sinners have been sinning for a long time. I mean read the law for a primer on how God doesn't want you to hump your pooch. I mean if God has to spell out the fact that animal sex is off limits...have we really even begun to see the full tornado of man's sinfulness? I dont say that to undermine the seriousness of sexual sin but the fact that men and women are choosing to have sex is an issue that has been around for a long time...look at Rome.
And if you think that fact alone justifies your anti-homosexual agendas...remember this...even Rome got her Constantine....eventually.
Sex sin is, will be and has been judged. It nailed Jesus to the cross....it's a sin thing not a liberal or conservative thing.
Go and sin no more...is true for all...but I will tell you this...As a pastor I deal with far more Christians and their sex sin than anybody wanting to go into my bathroom or make me their boyfriend.
In Galatians, Paul warns them very strongly about false understandings of the gospel when he asked the offenders: "After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" - Galatians 3:3
When did homosexuality become a greater sin than lying? Which commandment was that?
Legalistic theology denies that Christ is sufficient for salvation.
It teaches that additional works of self effort, merit or faithfulness on our part is necessary.
For example, those who falsely teach that a Christian can lose his or her salvation are denying the sufficiency of Christ, and representing a fear filled, lack of faith gospel.
Is sin greater than Christ's grace?
Christ's righteousness is sufficient for our salvation.
Christ's once for everyone sacrifice put sin away for all time for those He has called.
Salvation through Christ also means that not only does he save at the start, He also preserves us to the end.
Trying to add your covenant faithfulness as part of the price of redemption is an "attempt to attain our goal by human effort" as Paul put it.
We must reject any and all attempts to maintain a judicial standing before God by any act on our part.
Salvation is of the Lord.
I guess your post left me feeling a bit confused about what you would want to be different. Certainly you wouldn't support legislation that made gay marriage legal? Or was it just the spirit in which they spoke about gays that bothered you? So did it distress you that they brought it up in the first place or was it just the way they spoke about it that troubled you?
I just know that I can't vote for a man who supports this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo
That put aside I think I'm slightly grasping what your greif is all about. That maybe Christians should be more engaged in repentance themselves and living out our faith activly to help rescue and love those trapped by sin rather that holding rallies to 'point the finger' at the evil democrats and ignore or minimize the sin and apathy of Gods own people.
Side note: I think that focus on the family has done a wonderful job dealing with the issue of homosexuality. The articals and radio programs I have connected with have hightlighted ministries that help gay people leave that lifestyle. Sometime they have an ex-gay person tell their story. It never seems like they are treating gays like lepers but helping Christian know how to love, and pray for them. Would you agree that focus on the family does a good job with this issue?
Just curious...
I am not a fan of the way the church has dealt with the issues revolving around GLBT community. I think we are fighting fire with fire and the fruit has proved it.
I am wrestling with a lot of this stuff from a missional point of view not a moral one.
I am and have voted in line with my moral convictions about these issues and will continue to do that.
But...I find myself more and more seeing our reflection in the story of the good samaritan and I'm not liking who and what side of the street we seem to be on more and more and more gravitating towards.
In the end...you can be right on all the issues and have not love.
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