Emerging Conversation: The Limits of Friendly Dialogue

The following is a post from more than a year ago. I returned to the Jesus Creed site again just to have another look around and found that nothing has changed. My conversations with other emerging types has revealed the same. How about you?

I've been visiting the well known and popular Emerging Blog named Jesus Creed, moderated by Scot McKnight, Professor of Religious Studies at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. Other emerging Leaders are Brian McLaren, Alan Hirsch, Dan Kimball, Mark Driscoll, D. A. Carson, Leonard Sweet, Doug Pagitt, Ed Stetzer, John Burke, Scott A. Bessenecker, and Dennis M. Doyle.

Actually, I've been participating in the conversation for awhile. I've found it interesting, thought provoking, frustrating, enlightening and most of all, revealing. Emerging or The Emerging Church Movement is a major religious movement which has made a major impact in many parts of the world, not the least of which is the United States. The American Evangelical Church, otherwise know as Protestants and other non Roman Catholic churches have been impacted greatly by this movement over the last 10-15 years. In fact the impact has been so great that most have not known exactly how to respond to the Emerging refusal to go along with the traditional religious life of Evangelicals. They have increasingly put pressure on leadership to, not only listen to their complaints and suggestions, but to agree with their complaints and implement their suggestions. Otherwise, they will leave to start their own ministries. And they have. And Evangelicals are suffering because of it.

As I said, Evangelicals don't know how to respond to prevent or counteract their influence. One of the hallmarks of Emerging is Conversation. They will talk about anything, anywhere at anytime. Open and honest dialogue is encouraged among all. No question is considered taboo. Answers are provided in high quantity. If you disagree, that's OK! Simply verbalize your disagreement. You are accepted in spite of any disagreement you or anyone else may have. But conversing about that disagreement is guaranteed which means your participation in the conversation is also guaranteed. This is one area where Emerging frustrates Evangelicals. Emerging provides a forum as well as acceptance for the religiously downtrodden, marginalized and rejected. In other words, those not traditionally accepted by Evangelicals for various reasons, legitimate and not so legitimate.

But I found out today that their friendly dialogue has its limits. Yes, their are certain things they will not talk about.

I wonder if others have encountered this outer limit of Emerging Dialogue. If you have, tell me about it.

Would you care to hazard a guess as to what the subject matter could possibly be to so suddenly send Emerging types into a blatantly silent refusal to acknowledge reality?

God Says Barack Obama Is Qualified

A few days ago I wrote an article/blog in which I wondered what all the fuss was about when it came to Barack Obama supposedly mocking Christians and the Bible.

Now is revealed a lawsuit filed in a United States District Court in Pennsylvania accusing Barack Obama of not meeting the legal qualifications to be President of the United States. If what is stated is true, then his Presidential bid just went up in flames. Buuuut............I think there's something being overlooked in this situation.

First is the condition of the Legal System in this country. Since Barack Obama is a Lawyer, that puts him in the middle of the system. No, let me modify that. Since Obama is a Lawyer, a Senator and a U.S. Presidential Candidate, he is at the top of the system. Why? Because someone higher up wants him there. So a lawsuit can be filed and even become very public, but that doesn't mean that the completely legitimate merits of the case will result in the proper steps being taken by all involved, including but not limited to, Judges. Unless Obama has upset a higher up somewhere, don't expect this case to go anywhere. In fact, the likely impact could very easily create the image of Obama being persecuted by political hit men, all the while being protected by the Legal system.

Second, since Romans 13 reveals that God is the one who ordains men to be in positions of Official power, what if The Almighty wants him to be President? Do you contend that he's not qualified, not fit to be President of the United States? But what if God says he is qualified?

In fact, if those who have jumped on the political case of Barack Obama, especially when it comes to his Mockery of Christians, God and the Bible, would just rely on their own Scripture more often, they would realize that what they are accusing Obama of actually qualifies him for office. You say Huh!!!!???????????

If you will return to the book of Genesis, you will find that Cain was the first Public Official Ordained by God. And what was his one ratifying act of entering public office? He rejected YHWH by sacrificing YHWH's Prophet, his own righteous brother Abel. This rejection was Cain's acceptance of YHWH's offer to rule over evildoers. He then proceeded to build the city of Enoch, which archeology reveals to be the beginning of his extensive personal political kingdom among men.

Do we so soon forget the eight years of the God ordained Clinton administration? I believe religious types had a hard time with that one, too.

The fact is that God will put in office who He knows this country and World needs. All the whining or lawsuits in the World will not change that.

If God's People are going to attempt to speak for God, let it be the right message coupled with the right actions.

And please, don't tell God who he has to ordain.

Politics, Religion & The Culture War

For a number of years, you have heard the phrase, "Culture War" thrown around in the contexts of different conversations about politics and religion. The idea is that we, as Christians, are in a war to win or win back our culture. The further idea is that the American culture is a Christian or Biblical Culture. On that basis are we to proceed to engage the enemy and win back the preeminence of Christian values in American culture.

First of all, any culture for God's People is designed by God Himself, not any man or group of men. That includes the Founding Fathers of the United States, any group of elders, deacons, bishops and yes, even the Pope. And just because a man or group of men refer to themselves as "Christian" does not create that reality nor does it somehow elevate them to a status equal to or above God or His Word.

Second, God's Culture for His People is automatically separate from any other culture in this World. By virtue of Coming to God, we have been called out of every culture of the World into His Culture. And God has no desire to see us return to any other culture of the World.

In fact, we are to propagate the Good News of God's offer of Salvation to those in the World and its attendant cultures so that they, too, can join our Lord and His Culture. And after we come to Him, we begin to adopt the lifestyle that God requires for His People.

Yes, it is different. But nowhere in Scripture can you find the command to inculcate the Culture of Christ into any culture of the World. The two don't mix. In fact, they are diametrically opposed to one another. They cannot mix because their natures are different. Their natures are different because their origins are different. One originates with man. The other originates with God.

However, there will be an epoch in the future where the Culture of Christ will be in force on this earth. His ways and thoughts will be enforced by Him personally within the population of man. Until that time arrives, it's God's People and the World, two entirely different cultures with two entirely opposite missions. That is the real culture war!

Everything is Political

When you see Barack Obama and John McCain waxing eloquent about the minute details of some political issue deemed important during this Presidential campaign, remember this:

In this age of ultra compartmentalization, it's easy to erect barriers and identify the contents of each compartment. This identification tends to differentiate minutely. It is so detailed that the slightest difference creates in our mind a totally separate reality for each thing identified, even when each compartment contains the same type of item.

When it comes to politics, this scenario is again played out. We tend to think of certain things as being within the realm of politics. It is OK in our mind for politicians to address certain issues and problems because that is within their power to do so. Other things are strictly taboo and private. A hands off policy is thought to be only too appropriate for political legislators. After all, certain things are different. They are not political. So, shoo fly shoo!

Regardless of what you think about certain things being political or not, the fact remains that all things are political, whether you think they are or not. Don't believe me? Then take this challenge.

Identify one area of your life that is not addressed by a law or set of laws.

You can't, can you?

Now, identify the ones who make those laws. Aaahhh! That's right! Politicians!!!!!!!

Lest you think that only men are this way, let's take a look at God. Could it be that He operates in the same manner? Never thought about it?

Well, there's a verse that Jesus quoted from the Old Testament that sheds light on our query. This verse says, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Any knowledgeable Bible student knows that the Creator of the universe possesses every right to determine how his creatures are to conduct themselves while on this earth. And that He does, in every area of life.

In addition, the book of Psalms says that God is our Lawgiver. So, guess what? That makes everything political, since the Eternal Legislator has spoken.

So, the next time someone starts to talk about a particular thing not being political, remember that everything is political.

Christians Mocked??? Are you Shocked?

Among the Political World of Christians, the latest attention grabber to make the rounds is a video clip of Barack Obama mocking and ridiculing Christians. Christians are supposed to be outraged by this and make certain political conclusions and choices as a result.

Pardon me if I sound a bit incredulous. Are we supposed to actually be outraged by this? Does this somehow shock our sensibilities. If so, why? Have we overlooked or forgotten entirely the words of Jesus to His Disciples in the Book of John. Chapter 15, verse 20 finds Jesus saying, "....If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;" Earlier he stated, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you."

And why does this state of affairs happen. In this context, Jesus also tells us why. He says simply in verse 19, "If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

Why does Jesus speak these words to His Disciples. The first verse of Chapter 16 finds him telling why, "These things have I spoken to you that you should not be offended," A few verses late, we find Him continuing, "But these things have I told you that when the time comes, you may remember that I told them to you."

Are you ready for another shock? Most Christians in this country have been under a milder form of mockery and ridicule for generations. In fact, President Bush has informed religious types exactly what they were, nothing more than "Political Capital." Political powers that be have used the political energy of God's People to further their agenda. And what have they received in return? Nothing!! Absolutely Nothing!!!!! Except more promises if they commit themselves and work hard towward another unreachable political goal.That's right! More work for the World's political machine, the same World, Jesus said He called us out of.

But we know better than Christ. After all, as His servants, we obviously know more than He does. And our zealous activity will make everything right. Jesus will see our good intentions to make this World a better place to live in and He will change his mind about the World. That's why he placed us here! These people aren't so bad after all. Jesus just didn't understand them.

So, are you offended by Obama's alleged mockery? Or anyone else's mockery, for that matter??

Welcome to the real World!

Christian Politics: Barak Obama & John McCain Excluded

In Philippians 3:20, the literal translation reads, "Our politics is from heaven:"

If you know anything about Greco-Roman politics, this statement was packed full of information to Believers. First of all, Greek politics was always on the local level, IE the city. That's why cities had walls and military campaigns were usually city against city. It is significant, indeed, when Paul identifies the origin of Politics for the Christian as "heaven." New Jerusalem is the city from whence Christ will return to this Earth to establish his earthly political reign. Until that time, our political policies and instructions while in this World originate from God's throne. After all, He is the Sovereign of the Universe and does reign over the affairs of men, even the political affairs.

But, this does not mean that we as Christians are to join in the political affairs of the World system. No, Paul is very clear that our politics is of a very different nature. In no way, though does this mean that we, as Children of God, are to disengage ourselves from contact with World inhabitants. To the contrary, we are to engage them with the message of Reconciliation to a Holy and Just God, the provision of which has been made through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are to propagate this political message to World citizens, the same World citizens Christ loved and died for.

So, as you watch Barak Obama and John McCain campaign for the office of President, remember this one fact. They are both on the wrong side. And they both need a new Political Leader to follow.