A "Mashup" of Christian Principles with Political Principles

What is a Mashup discussion.  A mashup is a "mixture or fusion of disparate elements"-- often used in music.  What can more disparate than Christianity and politics.  No.  This is not going to be  a political discussion, but instead it will  apply a talk I attended attended at political discussion to the church and Christianity. 

Last Monday, April 16, i attended a "Patriot Breakfast" and talk held at 7:15 AM in the morning at the Prestonwood country club in Plano.  There was a "book report" on CIA activities in the Middle East with formal special forces making extensive comments.  There was also a talk by the Chairman of the Collin County Republican Party.  What follows is the mashup which, I submit is pertinent, and accurate.

1. The Gospel is Local
Though it is true that the gospel needs to be taken to the far reaches of the world, that is not now the only place that real effort needs to be exerted.  It is not  only, the world, the United States, or Texas, or even Collin County, but our own neighborhood that needs attention.    You see at one time our neighborhood and county adhered to Christian principles and values, but no longer.  If we dont discuss these things with our friends and neighbors, there is no hope of retaining them.  So for those of us who cant effect the international or national culture, it is incumbent on us to take the gospel and values to where we live.
2.  The Grassroots Determine the Values/Culture of the Church
This may  be a controversial observation as it is conventional wisdom that the elders and located pulpit minister should determine the values/culture/direction of the congregation.  To some extent this may be true.  But, how long will any organization survive if it goes against the values of its members--not long.  So, here are some reasons the Grassroots---everyday members who actually participate set the values/culture/direction of the church:
a) Leaders are to be servant leaders and not "Lord it over the membership".  
b) Members are given gifts by Christ  and leaders are to "equip the members for work of service" using the gifts and passion member have in a service area (Eph 4). 

If you put these two principles together, it is really at the membership level that the values and culture of the church is set.  It is rare that any value can be imposed from the "top down" and be successful.  Programs imposed from the top are neither desirable nor productive.  Rather real leadership provides channels for the gifts and passion for members to utilize these gifts.  Yes, this may require training, mentoring, and even discovery of gifts. It is then the actual use of gifts that set the values and culture of the church.

The Danger of Personal Agendas- Even Christian Ones

Recently we attended the movie "God's Not Dead:
A Light in Darkness." (  God is Not Dead-- A Light in Darkness  ).  I would suggest the real problem and lesson from this movie may not be so obvious. 

In this movie a church is situated on a public university--there before the university was established.  There is controversy over a religious institution being allowed on this public university.  The board of the school decides to basically evict the church. 

To complicate the matter an unbelieving student throws a brick through the church window in the basement.  It hits a gas value.  A visiting pastor investigates, turns on a light, and the resulting explosion kills this pastor.

Of course this gives the university even more excuse to evict the church as it is now a damaged facility and clearly a source of violence on campus..Since the church owns the land the university must give the church fair market value (part of the historic agreement between the university and the school).  The university wishes to use the land for a new student center, but the real reason is to put to rest the controversy.    

The pastor, whose father also was the pastor before him, decides the church on the campus is necessary to serve students.  There is a student campus minister whose work and facility is at the church.  So..... the pastor decides to file suit to save his church.  Much happens as a result.  The student who did the deed is overcome with guilt and identifies himself anonymously.  The pastor has a public altercation (physically) with him.  The student is sent to jail.  The pastor mounts a public relations campaign on TV to "save the church".  As a result the university president receives death threats.  He has a physical altercation with the pastor.  The pastor engaged his non-believing lawyer brother to handle the suit.  The two brothers get in a verbal altercation centered around their opposite beliefs and the family relationships.  The student who did the deed has a girl friend who is wavering in her faith and all she sees is hurt and controversy.   Things are not looking good.

So...... what is the heart of this problem and what can we learn from this story.   All of the "bad" events stem from the pastors decision that saving/preserving the church on its present location was necessary. His personal agenda to do this led to the altercation between himself and the president.  It is also polarized the community and the student body.  His attitude towards the student who did the deed was certainly not forgiving.  But after all, the student destroyed his church and killed one of his friends.  

How are things resolved?  The pastor realizes his actions have not been Christ-like.  He apologies to the president and to the public at large.  He forgives, in person, the student.  Because of his change in attitude, the president (previously a friend) and he work out an arrangement for the campus minister to have a place in the new student center.  He realizes God is not housed in one particular facility and has no trouble getting help building a new church off campus.

What is the real lesson?  When one pursues personal agendas, danger is there---however worthwhile or the "right way" to do a thing they may seem.  For.... in personal agendas one can forget that we must "love others as we love ourselves.".  In addition, it is the gospel that must be the focus, not a particular project like "saving this church facility" or any other personal or particular  "church"  related goal.

Teenagers, Decision Making and Advocacy

Recently the mass shootings at Parkland school in Florida (1), has resulted in not only protests, but advocacy for action to prevent future mass shootings.  The specific action they demand is more gun control including banning AR-15 rifles. (2).  Whether one thinks this is good policy to prevent mass shooting or not, there is a much larger set of issues.   The first is the maturity of judgement of the teenagers involved.  The second is use of teenagers by those with a political agenda to advance that agenda.  

Do teenagers have the maturity of judgement to weigh in on such a complex and controversial as gun control?  Having very intelligent teens as grandkids,  I approach this subject with some trepidation.  There is no question that certain teens have made a major impact on society at large.  One example is Barbara Johns whose protest led eventually to Brown vs Board of Education. This action ended legal segregation in schools in the U. S.  Isolated cases of major impact is not really the issue.  The question is whether, in general, teens have the reasoning and maturity to judge complex issues having major impact on society.  

There are two sources one can investigate to answer this first question:  1) Research on teen development and 2) Biblical sources.  There is an abundance of research on the development of the teen brain. This research points to two conclusions.  Teens operate more on emotion than on reasoning though no fault of their own.  Rather their reasoning ability does not mature until early adulthood.  Here is a quotation of an article that summarizes these facts (4).

"Many parents do not understand why their teenagers occasionally behave in an impulsive, irrational, or dangerous way. At times, it seems like teens don't think things through or fully consider the consequences of their actions. Adolescents differ from adults in the way they behave, solve problems, and make decisions. There is a biological explanation for this difference. Studies have shown that brains continue to mature and develop throughout childhood and adolescence and well into early adulthood.

Scientists have identified a specific region of the brain called the amygdala that is responsible for immediate reactions including fear and aggressive behavior. This region develops early. However, the frontal cortex, the area of the brain that controls reasoning and helps us think before we act, develops later. This part of the brain is still changing and maturing well into adulthood.

Other changes in the brain during adolescence include a rapid increase in the connections between the brain cells and making the brain pathways more effective. Nerve cells develop myelin, an insulating layer that helps cells communicate. All these changes are essential for the development of coordinated thought, action, and behavior."

The following research references further enforce these conclusions (5), (6).

The second question to ask is whether there is any biblical guidance on this issue.  The bible doesn't address all issues directly so there their may or may not be.  There are however scriptures that indicate that youths may not have  the judgement that mature adults do.

Eph 4:14 "So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. "

I Cor. 13:11 "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. "

Proverbs 23:22 "Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. "

These and other scriptures indicate those who are young may not have the reasoning power of mature adults ( I know most teens would object to being called children). We also have the scriptural admonition for the older men and women are to teach the younger men and women.  The import is youth does not always have the knowledge, maturity or reasoning power of mature adults. 

The second major issue is how political activists use teens as political pawns.  Teens may deny this, but young people are used as "pawns" all of the time in high stakes situations.  For example, in divorce proceedings they are frequently one of the chief chess pieces. (7). Whole books have been written on children as pawns in education. (8). Is it any wonder then that this particular issue is being exploited by political activists for gun control. Unfortunately the emotional passion of youth and their enthusiasm are easily commandeered.  This problem says nothing about their sincerity or their passion.  What it should do is generate a large element of caution when the real emotion about mass shootings becomes attached to a particular political position.

What does all of the above have to say to my grandkids.  There are several lessons.  The first is to temper your emotional or "gut" response to any event.  Think slowly and carefully about any reaction.  If it is something of major import, then "bounce" your reasoning off of your parents or someone you trust.   The second is to be very hesitant to join any advocacy, protest, or other activity that has a political element.  Proper research is necessary.   Who is behind any such movement? What are their real goals? Why is youth being enlisted?  Does what is advocated solve the real problem? Is what is being advocated biblical?   Finally,  the advice given to Timothy is also true: "Let no one dismise thy youth." You may in fact be another Barbara Johns 

(1) https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/14/injuries-reported-after-shooting-florida-high-school/338217002

(2) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-florida-shooting-students/students-plan-protests-washington-march-to-demand-gun-control-after-mass-shooting-idUSKCN1G20S8

(3) http://www.proyouthpages.com/youthhistorymo.html

(4) https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/The-Teen-Brain-Behavior-Problem-Solving-and-Decision-Making-095.aspx

(5) https://brainconnection.brainhq.com/2013/03/20/decision-making-is-still-a-work-in-progress-for-teenagers/

(6)https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=3051

(7)http://www.drmarlo.com/?page_id=125

(8)https://www.amazon.com/Children-Pawns-Politics-Educational-Reform/dp/0674012496

The Vanity of Things

I was watching the commercials on TV this weekend--no not much time for that.  All of them were telling you that your happiness or health depended upon purchasing their product.   So used sex appeal to lure you.  Some appealed to your pride or vanity.  Some assured you you would have financial security if you only bought their product or lessoned to them. 

But, in the end all were just "things".  And, things are not eternal.  No one takes "things" with them to the grave.  As The Teacher said, all these things one can pursue for happiness is just a striving after wind. 

What matters is God, family, and relationships in this life and in the life that is to come.

The Vanity of Human Wisdom

I recently completed a class on Ecclesiastes--one of my favorite books.  Of course most are familiar with the reframe of "Vanity of Vanities" all is vanity.  However, this may not mean what you think at first.  Being in the winter of my life, the thought that all of life is "vanity" is not a comforting thought.   And, if you are young as all of your grandkids are, this thought is not very inspiring.  Why would God ( Yahweh) leave such a negative thought for us to live by?   And, the conventional wisdom is just "just fear God and keep his commands" , but you life is still just vanity.  I don't think this is the essence of the book.

Rather,  Qohelet ( the Preacher) examined or searched for a "wise way of living" using all of the wisdom of the sages and accumulated by men.  That search is "vanity" and a striving after wind. For all men die.

die.  The key to understanding is found in the book of Proverbs--the other principle wisdom book.  

“Proverbs 8: "22The

Lord brought me forth (WISDOM) as the first of his works,before his deeds of old;23 I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....

32 “Now then, my children, listen to me;  blessed are those who keep my ways.33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. 34 Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death"

death." He concludes the Ecclesiastic with this statement: 

13 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty."

So, if you try to live by man's wisdom only you will find life itself is vanity.  If on the other hand, you seek the Wisdom of God (there at the Creation), life is not vanity.

A corollary of the book is the fact the you will never figure out the Ways of God --no matter your search.  

So, what is the advice to those of you who are young? It is:  

Remember your Creator

    in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

    and the years approach when you will say,

    “I find no pleasure in them”—

2 before the sun and the light

    and the moon and the stars grow dark,

    and the clouds return after the rain;

3 when the keepers of the house tremble,

    and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

    and those looking through the windows grow dim;

4 when the doors to the street are closed

    and the sound of grinding fades;

when people rise up at the sound of birds,

    but all their songs grow faint;

5 when people are afraid of heights

    and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms

    and the grasshopper drags itself along

    and desire no longer is stirred.

Then people go to their eternal home

    and mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

of all mankind

This is a test

testing

Lessons About the Usefulness of Christianity

Recently my wife and I were privileged to attend the Dedication Ceremony for the donation ceremony of Dr. Virgil Trout’s 16,000 volume library.  Dr. Trout has lectured in over one-third of our nations major universities on Christianity, ethics, and Science. (See http://devotionalsforeverydayliving.blogspot.com/2012/10/dr.html for a short bio).   His topic at the dedication was:  The Usefulness of the Impossible.  The impossible was defined as “the Word became flesh” and dwelling among men and impossibility of the resurrection.  The impossible was God becoming man and the Christ after crucifixion being raised from the death.  Both are impossible acts in any natural world sense.  Yet, we have ample evidence of Christ’s existence on earth and testimonies and circumstantial evidence of His resurrection.

What then is “useful” about these impossibilities?  Do they have any practical applications?  Virgil gives five areas that are impacted:  1) History 2) Ethics 3) Science 4) Politics and 5) Religion.  For History they give purpose and direction. For Ethics they provide the basis of respect and conduct of man to man. For Science, a human enterprise, they provide a God created universe to explore and protect.  For Politics, they provide the imperative for man to give to the state what the state needs as good citizens. They provide ethics for the state, and for Religion they are the guide to the relationship with God.  These are the categories Dr. Trout delineated.  What follows are my thoughts.

Some, even Christians, would eliminate the interaction of the Christian with some of these categories.  But Christian are part of creating history.  They cannot escape doing so.  Certainly the purpose of Christians is to use their talents to serve others (Eph 4).   Few would argue that these impossibilities have no effect on the development of ethical principles.  Ethics are just the moral principles that guide our lives.  Without the guidance of God, man develops some crazy rules for right conduct.  In Science it is the very God created “laws” that enable to understand how our world works.  Our understanding of God’s world changes as we grow and develop.  It is good that science that tells to let the land “rest”.  Politics is the “sticky” category for most modern day Christians.  In earlier times, the pulpit and political advocacies were joined.  But like history, Christians live in a political world.  Their actions or inaction contribute positively or negatively.  As Dr. Trout said, it is not an accident we enjoy the liberties we have in the U.S.  It is impossible to separate your personal decisions from what happens politically.  Inaction or indifference is both a decision and an action.  So your Christianity should inform your actions not only morally but politically as well.   Religiously we must love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.  There is absolute truth.  Truth is not relative.

The above just serves to introduce how these “impossibilities” inform every aspect of our Christian lives.  Contrary to the enterprise of  “taking religion out of the public square” Christianity is the very fabric that inform especially our public as well as our private lives.

Reflections on the Movie "Heaven is for Real"

Reflections on the Movie

“Heaven is for Real”

This afternoon my wife and I went to the movie “Heaven is for Real.”  In this movie and the book on which it is based, Colton, a four year old, relates his experiences in “heaven.”  These experiences occurred during an appendix operation in which Colton almost died, but in fact did not die.  Some of these experiences included: 1) seeing his father in one room praying (and mad at God) and his mother in another room.  The parents had not talked about this 2) Seeing his “unborn” little sister that was the result of a miscarriage (the parents had not told him of this) 3) Seeing his grandfather and identifying his picture having never seen either 4) Seeing Jesus and identifying a picture painted by another girl (also 4 when she had her experience) as Jesus and 5) Seeing other things in heaven and seeing angels.  This is a sampling.

What the movie does is raise the vital question: “Is heaven real?”   Of course as Christians, one might be quick to say, of course.  But is that really our true belief?   What is the real basis of that belief?  If true, how does that change the way we view life and its troubles?  How does that change how we live?

I would submit that the gospel of John provides both challenges and answers.  A most profound statement is ^“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”  After the crucifixion, we were told “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”  John gives us six miracles that Jesus  performed: 1) Changing of water to wine (Jn. 2:1)  2) Healing of the nobleman’s son (Jn. 4:46)  3) Healing of the impotent man (Jn. 5:1)  4) Feeding of the five thousand ( Jn. 6:1) 5) Walking on water (Jn. 6:16)  6) Healing of the man born blind (Jn. 9:1) and 7) the raising of Lazarus from the dead (11:1).   John further tells us “these are written that you may believe ^x that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (Jn. 20:31).

So….if we believe in this we must believe that the son of God became fully human (Flesh), lived with humans in the first century, was killed, and then was resurrected.  We must believe there is a Creator God (John 1) and he had a Son who became human.  While he was here on earth He did some unearthly things that can’t be explained by any physical processes.  This culminated by his raising a person from the death who was already decaying (he had been there four days and had a bad odor).  Not only was this true but He Himself was resurrected, not as some “ghost” but as a person who could eat a breakfast of fish (John 21).   This is all “out of this world” narration. 

What are the implications for the questions I first posed?  First, the basis of our belief in heaven is belief in Jesus as the resurrected Son of God and the Creator of everything.  Belief in this implies belief in what he said and what he did.  What did he do?  He performed what we call miracles.  John records seven of these as delineated above.  All of these events cannot be explained “rationally.” By this I mean there are no known physical processes that could explain these events.  They are what we call “miracles.” Miracles are “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.”  It follows if we believe in Christ we must believe in miracles.

But do we, really?   Those of our fellowship in the churches of Christ were taught that miracles ceased after the apostles and those they “laid their hands on” died.  We were taught that these “miracles” were only necessary during the initial spreading of the gospel.  But, can one find in the scriptures where this is written explicitly?  Let’s say that the type of miracles done by the apostles can’t be replicated today i.e. we have no apostle or those that they laid hands on.  Does this mean miracles do not exist today?   I would submit, this is an unwarranted conclusion. 

Note that to believe in Christ one MUST believe in miracles.  If we not believe in miracles why do we pray?   What does it mean when we are told the prayer of a righteous man “avails much”?    Aren’t we praying for divine intervention?  Or is our faith only that the human skill and reasoning of a care giver is successful?  In other words, do we rely only on what man can do?  If so, that is not really a prayer of faith.  Those that have no faith in Christ also hope that the skill of the care giver is successful.  Do we do the same or does our belief that “God can do anything (Luke 2) only hold for what happened in the first century?   The real implication of the fundamental basis of our belief is that God can accomplish miracles.  If so, the consequence should be a fundamental change in attitude in how we view life.  God can take care of all troubles.  Does this mean we will not have trouble or that they will not be painful?  I think not.  Calvary was painful for Christ.  But, we can look beyond the pain to the other side.  At the same time, we can petition God for a miracle with the faith that he can, if it is his will, grant that miracle.

We should then be able to live life without fear- as our understanding lets us know “perfect –or mature- love casts out fear.”  We are human so sudden tragedies can cause us to be afraid—momentarily.  We can get angry, sad, troubled, trembling, but ultimately our belief in the very fact of miracles—in the final analysis in the miracle of the Word becoming Flesh, dwelling among us, and being resurrected – gives us hope.

Did Colton see Jesus, his grandfather, and see heaven?  Did two four year olds, one in the U.S. and one in Lithuania, see the same Jesus? Colton identified Jesus from the portrait the girl drew.  We can try to rationalize his story by random firing of neurons or hallucinations.   But, if we believe in Jesus, we must believe in miracles.  If we believe Christ answers prayers, we must believe in supernatural intervention by God in the affairs of men.  And, we must believe heaven is real.

The Three Great Gifts of God

What would you consider the three greatest gifts of God?   Of course Christians would commonly go immedidately to the gift of Christ -- the Word becoming flesh. That is true, but perhaps some reflection would reveal a deeper understanding of just what this means.  I would propose three very specifc gifts.

The first gift is found in Genesis.  God saw fit to create the universe and all that is in it.  The Word participated in that creation:

        "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with          God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been           made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."  John 1:1–4 (NIV) 

What happened during the creation event is truly remarkable.  

      " So God created mankind in his own image, 
         in the image of God he created them; 
         male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27)

The first great gift of God to Man was life itself.  And, this was not just any life, but life that was created in His own image.  What exactly it means to be created in the image of God has been much debated.  Some elements seem obvious. Man can talk to God and have a relationship to him.  Man seems to be God's representative on earth and has dominion over it at God's command.  Man has intellect and can reason. Man has  the capacity to have godly attributes: love, purity, compassion, etc.   

This brings me to what I propose is the second greatest gift bestowed upon man.  Man has the ability to make choices.  Man has free will.   This is  also an attribute that has been endlessly disbuted.  Some in the scientific world would postulated all actions, even those that appear to be freelly  made, are determined by only cause and effect.  Others would ask how can we have free will if God already knows what is going to happen in advance?  There are other endless arguments whether free will exists with varying defintions.  ( examining each would take several books, not a short essay) What seems clear is God gave man the ability to choose one's course of action over another whether one defines this as "free will" or not.  We are not robots. 

Alas, this freedom to choose a particular course of action lets man make unwise choices.  Coupled with this abiltiy to choose is one's responsibility for one's actions.  Since Man through Adam and Eve made a choice forbidden to them, they sinned against God.  In short they wished to be completely like God.  This, then. leads to the third greatest gift of God.  

" for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,  through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.' (Ro 3:23–25).

This  gift truly is the grace of God towards Man.   What a gift?  The gift of justification by grace through Christ and received by faith.  So, we return to the first gift--life itself.  God gave Man life, the ability to chose, and even when their choice would lead to death, and then gift of life again if we choose to believe in Christ to be justified by Him.  What a glorious God!

Reflections on Cooperation and Religious Divisions

Attendance at a recent Missions Resource Network benefit dinner, sparked thoughts of the religious divisions and lack of coorperation that long characterised congregtions of the churches of Christ.  I was born and raised in the 40's, 50's, and 60's--more than 50 years distance from our present culture.  During those times,  many good practices were prevalent, chief among them a study and knowledge of scripture.  Alas, knowledge does not in itself mean understanding and practice.

Congregational autonomy was taken to a fault. Other than area "Sunday singings," little real cooperative efforts were the norm.   Sometimes a local city campaign with a prominent speaker in the church induced a "Billy Graham" effort of cooperation.   The 60's in particular were marked by the "anti" movement.  When my wife and I moved to Phoenix right out of the university, we sought the nearest congregation to our little one bedroom furnished apartment.  It was an "anti" congregation where the entire sermon was condemning other Christians who "cooperated" in any way with Christian based groups--Christian universities, orphan homes, other congregations and Christians who supported them, and those who did not conduct their services in the right way.  It was so bad we did not feel comfortable taking communion there.  Fortunately, we found a loving and accepting congregation nearby.  Though the "anti" movement within the churches of Christ has almost dissipated over the last half century,  in my view it damaged the message of Christ for decades.

The Restoration heritage of "back to the bible" unfortunately evolved in some circles into an insistence on "doctrinal purity" before one congregation could "be in fellowship" with another congregation.  This usually focused on insisting on using some "accepted" form of worship for being "in fellowship."   However, what was "doctrine" for one group was "liberty" for another group.  The emphasis was on  what what perceived to be the accepted "pattern" and not on relationships--whether relationship with God, with one another, or with other Christians.  The admonition in Ephesians 4 to use our God given spiritual gifts for service to others was little heard.  "Home Bible Studies"  consisted primarily of how the church was established in Act 2,  on baptism, and on the organization of the church.  Christ was not at the center of these lessons.  We know,  as my wife and I created a separate chart on the life of Christ.  The charts we were using had little about Christ. This insistence  on "pattern" or particular "forms" of worship lead to multiple  splits or divisions within the church.

Concurrent with the divisions within the church itself was an insistence that a congregation could not cooperate in any overt way with others in the community.   Those who  were providing a service to others--other faith based groups or  community service groups-- could not be associated with.   The thinking was "the church" would not get the credit for the service provided.  Doing so would lend tacit consent to the doctrine of denominations that we did not agree with.  Note here the insistence that the church of Christ was not a "denomination" but was "The Church"--never mind that the churches of Christ fit precisely the normal English language dictionary definition of a denomination.  ( Of course, Christ's church universal is one and not a denomination.  The forms it takes certainaly are different even within the churches of Christ).

The above attitudes contributed to the common perception that the members of the Churches of Christ believed they were the only ones going to heaven.  When pressed most members would deny this, but then insist only those believed or practiced as they did would would be acceptable to God.  The presupposition not stated was the Churches of Christ had completely restored the New Testament church found in the bible.    Never mind the fact there were significant differences in the understanding of the workings of the Holy Spirit,  and continual squabbles on forms of worship and other doctrinal matters.   The "worship wars" that came to other faith based groups came to the churches of Christ also--just later in time.

We are thankful that many of these attitudes are fading in our fellowship.  Para-church groups like MIssion Resource Network, Let's Start Talking, Eastern European Missions, Great Cities Missions, Kairos, Mission Alive, etc. are doing much for the Lord and are supported by both members  and congreagations alike.  Christian universities and colleges are supported as well.   Local congregations support groups such as Habitat for Humanity, Samaritan Inn, Local Food Banks, and Children's Relief Fund.  Members are emphasizing real relationships with God, each other, and developing relationships with their neighbors and the unchurched.   All of this does not mean we have abandoned baptism for the remission of sins, or even a cappella music.  But, it does mean the restoration of doctrine is balanced with the restoration of relationships.  It also recogizes that using the bible as a "rule book", "constitution", or a using "pattern" hermenutic may not be the best way or even a good way of determining  what God wishes us to do as individual Christians or congregations.

The Siren Allure of Political Activism

There are Christians on both sides of the political spectrum who are actively engaged in the political process.  On the modern liberal and progressive side, many espouse political activity as the means to enact “social justice” in our society. (1) “John Dewey, the most thoughtful of the Progressives, wrote that freedom is not "something that individuals have as a ready-made possession.  It is "something to be achieved." In this view, freedom is not a gift of God or nature. It is a product of human making, a gift of the state.”   … "The state has the responsibility for creating institutions under which individuals can effectively realize the potentialities that are theirs." (2) (3)On the conservative side, the means to a just society and economic well being is through exercising the liberties guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and in free market capitalism.  “Free-market capitalism is not perfect. But it remains the single most efficient and powerful system for creating wealth, reducing poverty and developing less wasteful ways of organizing output and consuming resources.” (4). Both of these views have profound ideas about man and his relationship to the state.  What both views have is common is: a) a reliance on the how man is governed to enhance economic well being and liberty and b) active participation by each of us in bringing about a more just and equal society—though the definitions of these two terms might be different.

I submit the siren allure of political activity to further the state of man has inherent dangers for the Christian participant.  It is not that participation in the political process is to be denied or discouraged.  It is not a belief that any participation in civil government is wrong.  Some Christians believe with David Libscomb “that government is not a force for good: It is a force for bad, and Christians should attempt to persuade people to follow the laws of God rather than using force. He argued that Christians should not participate in politics, should not vote, and should not fight in wars.” (5) (6).   I am not of that persuasion.   On the contrary, I am a member of a political party, of political action groups, have served as a delegate to our convention at the state level, and attend various political activities.  So what then is the problem?  The problems are threefold: 1) Confusing the state and its functions with the mission of the church  2) Confusing participation in political activism with personal Christian responsibilities and 3) Letting the allure of political activism become your personal idol.

The United States had as its founding principles the Declaration statement that we are “endowed by God with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”   In addition, the Founders consistently stated its implementation in our Constitution was only suitable for a moral and religious people.    Along with the philosophy of the Enlightenment, these foundations are paramount for those of the conservative persuasion in particular.  It is a small step to believe that the United States is the favored Christian nation and in some sense is like the nation of Israel,-- God’s light to the world.  In short, it is a small step to confuse the mission of the church as the mission of the state.  But, the United States is not the church.  Our true citizenship is in the Kingdom.   This confusion can easily lead one to believe the actions you might take as a citizen activist serves the responsibility you have as a servant of Christ.  In fact, the allure can be so great you pursue and give your entire allegiance to the state not to the Kingdom.

It is true that God favored Israel when it kept its covenant and punished it as well as other nations when they became evil.  But he also blessed nations when they acknowledge Him as Lord.

 Jeremiah 12:14–17 (NIV)

¹⁴ This is what the Lord says: “As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the people of Judah from among them. ¹⁵ But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country. ¹⁶ And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people. ¹⁷ But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it,” declares the Lord.

There is no reason not to believe that nations are indeed blessed by God when they acknowledge him as Lord.  And, from Revelation 6 we know that God punishes nations for the evil that transpires.  As in the Old Testament he punishes those who are evil so that they may repent.  Revelation clearly depicts a difference between those who “dwell on the earth” and those who are sealed with God’s name (Rev. 6;10).  In other words it is the difference between those whose citizenship is in heaven and those whose allegiance and citizenship is on the earth.   In the words of John Mark Hicks in his comments on Revelation:   “They are part of the socio-political, anti-Christian powers (cf. Revelation 6:10; 11:10). They look to the powers rather than to one who sits on the throne in heaven for their guidance and life. This is the essence of idolatry.” (7)

But in no sense is being a citizen of a state the same as being a citizen of heaven.  Neither should one confuse “the church” with “the state”.  This confusion is not a problem for progressives who insist that all aspects of religion should be banished from the public square.   Christian progressives, however, have a different but similar attraction to the state.  In the progressive case transformation of society through the state is a prime objective.  The state is to provide salvation of man from injustice and should bring about equality and economic justice.  But, it is not the mission of the church to transform the forms of government.  If it was, Paul would not have sent the slave Philemon back to his master.  This is a telling case in that slavery is the epitome of injustice to Americans.  But, progressives “look to the powers” of the state for resolution rather than “the one who sits on heaven”.   In fact for them the purpose of the state is to “create individuals”. (3).  Our danger as Christians is we too would look to the state for individual transformation and put all of their energies into this effort...  As John Mark Hicks stated this is the essence of idolatry.

Conservatives believe that all human beings are by their nature “free” with society being a voluntary association of individuals.  They create a social compact and laws for the common good.   It is the duty of the state to protect individuals so that they can “be all they can be” or in the words of the Declaration be protected in their “pursuit of happiness.” The particular political form of society that our Constitution has enshrined is a republic that divides powers in order to ensure the protection of individuals.  The economic structure has also been named “democratic capitalism” –for it is far from a complete “free market” system where anything goes. (8).  One of the most cogent interpreters of our system has stated our democracy has three principles for success (9):

1)    Democracy defines the political part

2)     Capitalism defines the economic part

3)    The Moral Culture that defines the virtues that must be present

The voluntary association of individuals means not only individuals themselves but the free components of a civil society including families, churches, clubs, political groups, social groups, etc.  A free polity must first, as individuals, govern themselves. “A corrupt, lazy, dishonest, and decadent society cannot preserve human liberty. “  

With moral underpinnings required for our system to work, it is very easy to confuse our mission as Christians with our obligations as citizens.  We can rationalize our actions in pursuit of furthering the moral underpinnings of our political system with our personal obligations as citizens to our fellowman.  After all, we all have limited time.

As a citizen of heaven we have the obligation to use our God given gifts for “works of service” to our fellowman—Christian and non-Christian.  The depiction of the judgment in Matt 25 clearly indicates our obligation to the poor and the outcasts of society. It is quite easy for progressives to be seduced into believing their personal Christian duty for service is achieved through their political activism for social justice through the state.   For conservatives, the thought would be “we pay taxes for that.”  After all, the state takes my hard earned money for these social programs to provide for the poor and disadvantaged.

Since our political system requires a moral and religious underpinning  we are thus easily lead to believe that our mission as Christians is to transform that system. That is not our mission as Christians.  Likewise, since the “state” has taken over many Christian obligations for society at large (taking care of the poor, etc) it is easy to say this satisfies my individual responsibility.  Can you picture standing before Christ at judgment and in your defense saying “I gave him a cup of water through my taxes to the state?”  Can a progressive who believes transformation is accomplished through the state defend this  before Christ by saying “ I transformed lives through my actions for the state?”

When then, does the allure of political activism become an idol?  It becomes an idol when you place your allegiance to transformation of lives in the actions of the state. It becomes an idol when you transfer your obligation as a Christian for service to other individuals to service to and allegiance to the state. The siren call of political activism is a alluring seductress. 

Bibliography

1. About the Center for American Progress. Center for American Progress. [Online] [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://www.americanprogress.org/.

2. Schambra, Thomas G. West and William A. The Progressive Movement and the Transfomation of American Politices. First Principles on Political Thought. [Online] July 18, 2007. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/07/the-progressive-movement-and-the-transformation-of-american-politics.

3. Leadership for America: First Principles. The Heritage Foundation. [Online] 2013. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles.

4. Wesbury, Brian S. A Protrait of the Economy. The Wall Street Journal. [Online] Feb 14, 2007. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117142605260108183.html.

5. Stringham, Edward. Foreward to On Civil Government. Foreward. [Online] Vance Publications, May 2006. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.] http://www.vancepublications.com/cr/cr117f.pdf.

6. Libscomb, David. Civil Government: Its Origin, Mission, and Destiny, and the Christian's Relationship to It. Nashville : McQuiddy Printing Co. , 1913.

7. Hicks, John Mark. Revelation 9: Imagine Your Work Nightmare. John Mark Hick's Ministries. [Online] Aug 10, 2013. [Cited: Aug 13, 2013.]

8. Novak, Michael. The Spirit of Free Market Capitalism. Lanham : Madison, 1991. 978--0-8191-7823-7.

9. —. Democratic Capitalism. National Review Online. [Online] Sept 24, 2013. [Cited: Sept 24, 2013.] www.nationalreview.com/node/359306/print.