Archives
2:49:00 PM EDT
Hearing hearing Happy Mother's Day!
Do Evengelicals need this kind of manifesto? Part 2
Please read Part 1 above first, then go on to Part 3
It goes on:
All too often we have attacked the evils and injustices of others, such as the killing of the unborn, as well as the heresies and apostasies of theological liberals whose views have developed into another gospel, while we have condoned our own sins, turned a blind eye to our own vices, and lived captive to forces such as materialism and consumerism in ways that contradict our faith. All too often we have concentrated on great truths of the Bible, such as the cross of Jesus, but have failed to apply them to other biblical truths, such as creation. In the process we have impoverished ourselves, and supported a culture broadly careless about the stewardship of the earth and negligent of the arts and the creative centers of society. All too often we have been seduced by the shaping power of the modern world, exchanging a costly grace for convenience, switching from genuine community to an embrace of individualism, softening theological authority down to personal preference, and giving up a clear grasp of truth and an exclusive allegiance to Jesus for a mess of mix-and-match attitudes that are syncretism by another name.
All too often we have disobeyed the great command to love the Lord our God with our hearts, souls, strength, and minds, and have fallen into an unbecoming anti-intellectualism that is a dire cultural handicap as well as a sin.
Now- I don't know who they are talking about here , but they aren't describing any evengelical -Bible believing Christian that I know. Just because we - those of us who hold scripture above all else, do not take seriously the message of the environmentalists that we're all going to die in 20 years due to global warming seriosuly, does not in any way make us bad stewards of the environment. I see it as a huge hypocracy in the way that so many people who are not even scientists are trying to tell us how tolive so that we are not harmful to the planet- while they are unwilling to change their lifestyles. To mandate agenda to be passed by government- while at the same time, getting angry and defensive when Bible believing Christians try and keep good, constitutional and sensible laws in place. It is also the height of arrogance when scientists who believe strictly in the evolutionary, humanistic views of the beginning of the universe, claiming that they are open minded scientists- yet slam the door closed on all other views in which scientists are proving the existence of order and creation. Science has always been a way to see God through nature, physics and biology, an open ended discussion on how things work- but now, it is far from open. If anyone claims proof of anything other than natural selection and evolution- they are stripped of credentials and thrown out of academia. If this makes me fundamental because it angers me that our children are taught to accept one view- and not taught to seek for themselves- then I am proud to be a fundamentalist. Personally, I don't know any Bible believing Christian who has not only taught the Cross- but also taught respect for God's creation - although we don't view it as environmentalists do. Seems to me that there is an awful lot of the opposite going on these days- we are required to hear sermons on how we should revere Creation- but fail to hear enough about the One who created it. The other item here I take high exception to, is that somehow while judging others, we hide from our own sin. Again, I don't know many of us who do that. I am far from perfect- I have, unfortunately sinned greatly in my life, and I know from my own experiences Just how much my sin effects not only my own life, but that of others as well. It is because of my sin- that I can freely talk to others about their own, and help them to see how destructive sin is. I don't glorify my sin- Idon't go around piously claiming to be a sinner- but when I see someone doing something that is sin- that is harming themselves or others, I can lovingly and show care in speaking out from experience. I don't see how speaking about the killing of the unborn, speaking out against homosexual behavior, which both effect all of society is being hypocritical. I see it as shining light on the darkness of human sin- and pointing people towards the True light and forgiveness that is found in Jesus .
The manifesto goes on:
All too often we have gloried in the racial and ethnic diversity of the church around the world, but remained content to be enclaves of separateness here at home.
Again, I see all people- no matter the color, all believers are in the Body of Christ. There are no nationalities, no status in the true Christian body. That is why I take offense of teachings of those such as Barak Obama's Jerimiah Wright and other race based churches. They are teaching more on national pride and heritage, when they forget that once someone becomes a follower of Christ- there is no color - no nation- no class of people. I am proud that I come from Canada, and I am very proud of America, where I now consider my home- but I will never, ever place my allegiance strictly on these two places I have resided in. I follow the laws of each as long as they don't' contradict Jesus' commandments, but I know my true family, my true home is not of this world- I will always have a fondness and need to "evangelize" to people of all nations- but will not consider them above Jesusas so many race based churches and theologies espouse.
It goes on:
All too often we have abandoned our Lord’s concern for those in the shadows, the twilight, and the deep darkness of the world, and become cheerleaders for those in power and the naïve sycophants of the powerful and the rich. All too often we have tried to be relevant, but instead of creating new wineskins for the new wine,we have succumbed to the passing fashions of the moment and made noisy attacks on yesterday’s errors, such as modernism, while capitulating tamely to today’s, such as postmodernism. We call humbly but clearly for a restoration of the Evangelical reforming principle, and therefore for deep reformation and renewal in all our Christian ways of life and thought. We urge our fellow-Evangelicals to go beyond lip-service to Jesus and the Bible and restore these authorities to their supreme place in our thought and practice. We call our communities to a discerning critique of the world and of our generation, so that we resist not only their obviously alien power but the subtle and seductive shaping of the more brilliant insights and techniques of modernity, remembering always that we are against the world, for the world. We call all who follow Jesus to keep his commandment and love one another, to be true to our unity in him that underlies all lesser differences, and to practice first the reconciliation in the church that is so needed in the wider world. In a society divided by identity and gender politics, Christians must witness by their lives to the way their identity in Jesus transcends all such differences.
We call for an expansion of our concern beyond single-issue politics, such as abortion and marriage, and a fuller recognition of the comprehensive causes and concerns of the Gospel, and of all the human issues that must be engaged in public life. Although we cannot back away from our biblically rooted commitment to the sanctity of every human life, including those unborn, nor can we deny the holiness of marriage as instituted by God between one man and one woman, we must follow the model of Jesus.
To most Bible believing Christians, we are trying to follow the model of Jesus already. We help those who are in need, we visit or help those who are in prison, we give aid to those who are devastated by war, disease and disasters. We also do speak out on abortion- as we know that Jesus welcomes the little children. We do speak out on abortion, because we knowthat God has made each human unique- and that He knows us before we are "knit together in our mother's womb". We speak out against abortion because as a Christian ffollower of the One who created us. Without the view of the sanctity of all human life- we know that all life will become cheapened. We know this because of what society has become since abortion on demand became legal- we have higher instances of child abuse, we have assisted suicide, we have court mandated euthanasia, we have cloning of human/animal parts, we have cloning embryos for experimental use, we have aborted baby parts for sale, we have children who kill for trivial things such as video games and running shoes. We have neglect of babies who survive abortion- letting them die because they were born. We have elderly abuse, and neglect.
All thanks to the secular/humanist views which do not recognize the value of all created human life in the image of a loving God.
We do speak up against same sex marriage because we know the scriptures. We wee that Jesus Himself taught from those same scriptures that tell us that God created one man and one woman- who in holy marriage become one flesh. We do speak out against homosexuality- as well as any other sexual sin, because the Bible strictly forbids these practices. We do speak out against same sexmarriage and homosexual practices because of the social impact o such practices- that when thefamily breaks down- so does society. When government schools tell Christians that they are able to learn about Jesus on Sundays and at home- but the schools are not places to learn Christian values- yet these same schools teach the exact opposite of what parents are trying to instill in their children- that schools are teaching children that mom and dad mean anything and nothing. Children are hurt by divorce, they are hurt by sexual sin, they are hurt by being raised in families without a strong father or mother figure. There have been reams of studies done on the effects of these on children and society- and not surprising, it is not a good picture. If this is not in keeping with the commands of Jesus to love others, I honestly don't know what is.
Here's more:
We must be engaging the global giants of conflict, racism, corruption, poverty, pandemic diseases, illiteracy, ignorance, and spiritual emptiness, by promoting reconciliation, encouraging ethical servant leadership, assisting the poor, caring for the sick, and educating the next generation.
I think many Bible believing Christ followers do all of this already.
Written by lifesabench6 Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
-
I can only suppose they are referring to those who take their stand for Christ to the extreme....those who bomb abortion clinics or issue death threats to those who go there. The rare but well publicized things that satan has used to make many think all evangelicals are lunatic fanatics running amuk.
I don't see how a manafesto can distance one from such "bad PR". I think one distances oneself from that sort of thing by being what God would have him to be in his place each day.
Barbara
http://journals.aol.com/bhbner2him/LifeFaithinCaneyhead/
5/13/08 12:16 AM
Although I agree with many of your words and thoughts, I must confess that the Christian's prime directive is to preach and teach the Gospel and SALVATION thru the blood of Jesus Christ. The reason is: that we are so close to the 'end of times' and Christ's return! So why polish the brass on a sinking ship ?? There will be poverty, death, sickness and violence until the very end-- but let us try harder to bring people into the fold--into God's Family now before He puts His mighty Hammer down and cuts of salvation and mercy as He has promised. I believe that this is our main priority.
Personally, I don't have the resources, time, energy or money to help people in various situations. Wouldn't it be finer to help bring them to Christ than heal their never ending ailments by putting a "band aid" on their deficiencies ?
Just my humble opinion.
Tom S