Evolution and Religion
Posted: September 12, 2011 Filed under: News & Commentary 2 Comments »The Pew Research Center did an interesting poll comparing beliefs of evolution among different religions:
Love Wins, Rob Bell Loses
Posted: March 9, 2011 Filed under: Book & Media Reviews, Miscellaneous, News & Commentary 1 Comment »
Rob Bell.
That name once resonated positively with many young Christians in America. The Chicago Sun-Times once called him “The Next Billy Graham.” I have read his book first book, Velvet Elvis, twice and have seen his DVD Everything is Spiritual and the NOOMA series numerous times. Early on, Bell would come off as a little whacky and off-center, but his questioning of orthodoxy seemed innocent and for thought-provoking purposes only. As time progressed, and he aligned himself with men like Brian McLaren, it became obvious that he was not a fan of orthodoxy at all. Actually, he seems to enjoy trying to re-create our faith.
In the promotional video for his latest book, Love Wins, most evangelicals got the impression that Bell was promoting universalism – the belief that everyone will spend eternity with God with or without believing in Jesus in this life. The questions swirled and the debate waged on but now that advanced copies have been delivered, it is painfully obvious that Bell has fallen completely off the wagon.
In a must read review by Tim Challies, this quote from the book was highlighted:
A staggering number of people have been taught that a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better…. This is misguided and toxic and ultimately subverts the contagious spread of Jesus’ message of love, peace, forgiveness, and joy that our world desperately needs to hear.
Yep. That’s a real quote. And it should be enough to scare you away from it.
In short, I pray that you will completely avoid this book unless you are reading/teaching it for the purpose of exposing it. They say that any publicity is good publicity, but I hope that the outrage of Bible-believing Christians will be enough to drive this book to the trash/recycling bins of America very soon.
Mark Driscoll on CNN
Posted: January 29, 2011 Filed under: Miscellaneous, News & Commentary 3 Comments »In light of Joel Osteen’s latest “controversy” in which he sheepishly admitted on CNN that homosexuality is a sin (although I do applaud this “new him” that he claims will talk about sin), here is a video of Mark Driscoll boldly standing for Christ in 2009:
The Gospel and the University of Texas Shooting
Posted: September 29, 2010 Filed under: Gospel, News & Commentary 1 Comment »
The University of Texas at Austin was shaken yesterday by the news of gunfire in the main campus library. The campus was locked down, a SWAT unit was called in, and national reporters were on the scene. 19-year-old Colton Tooley, wearing a ski mask and a suit and tie, unloaded several shots from his AK-47 but did not appear to want to shoot anyone and reportedly did not chase any of the dispersing students in the area. Though no students or faculty are reported to be injured, Tooley sadly took his own life on the sixth floor.
Obviously, the 1966 campus shooting comes to most minds immediately as well as the Virginia Tech shooting or even Columbine High School. Most school shooters get labeled as “former losers,” “nerds who were bullied in school,” or their actions are blamed on violent video games or movies. As of now, there is no motive being released by the Austin police. Perhaps he was mistreated or experienced trauma in his life that led to this. Regardless, he was obviously disturbed.
The Problem
Psychiatrists and the like will use textbooks and theories to analyze this situations and others like it, but the fundamental problem here is sin.
Satan is alive and well, folks. I am not totally discounting modern science, but Satan had surely gotten ahold of Tooley and convinced him that suicide was the answer to whatever it is that led him to the point of pulling the trigger. This fallen world brings about such an immense feeling of helplessness, even to the Christian sometimes, and there is no getting around it.
The Answer
Dr. Phil or the latest self-help book will not remedy the inescapable reality of sin. We live our lives day to day with the idea that problems can be fixed with advice, sheer will, or ignorance. If this were true, Jesus would not have needed to step into creation.
But He did.
News like this is just another reminder (as if we need one) that the Gospel is sorely needed and must be preached. There are not enough missionaries, there are not enough churches, there are not enough pastors, and there are not enough books. We need more. Christians, we need to fulfill the Great Commission with greater fervor. The lukewarm lives that the majority of self-proclaimed Christians live do not point people to Christ; if anything, they point away from Him.
It is my prayer, and I hope it is yours, that the pain and hurt that a kid like Tooley feels would be replaced with joy in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Only God can save people, but it is our duty to preach and live this glorious Gospel.
Ethics: How Should Christians Respond to the Proposition 8 Debate?
Posted: August 13, 2010 Filed under: Articles, Ethics, News & Commentary 1 Comment »
Unless you live under a rock, you have seen the latest news on the Proposition 8 case. Last week, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that Proposition 8 violates the constitution, a ruling that could potentially overturn the California voters’ decision that same-sex marriage should remain illegal.
Expectedly, Judge Walker’s decision has flared much debate over the issue of homosexuality. Many Christians, though not all, have been up in arms for years over the idea that same-sex marriage will be made legal nationally, and decisions like this could propel that concern to a reality. It is not outlandish to presume that if votes can be motioned to essentially be counted void, it’s only a matter of time before the federal process of voting will be undermined under the pressure of protesting nationwide. In fact, we may already be there.
Furthermore, the ruling states that Proposition 8 is nothing more than the brainchild of the “private moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite-sex couples,” attributing this to such groups as conservative Christianity, and says that such a view has no place in law. To put it bluntly, this ruling insinuates that Christians should have no right of conscience to discuss or debate their concerns or beliefs. Never mind the fact that 44 states have specific laws that establish marriage as a union between one man and one woman. It is also ironic that the “private moral view” of Judge Walker allows him to impose on law. These loopholes make a mockery of the voting system.
Simply put, this is a debate that includes conservative Christians but is not at all limited to Christian thought. We are not alone in the outrage at Judge Walker’s ruling. In light of this, how should Christians react to this news and to homosexuality in general?
With Biblical Conviction
It is our right, nay, our duty to respond with concern about the legalization of same-sex marriage. Biblically, marriage is specifically reserved for one man and one woman as created by God and reflects Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Scripture describes homosexuality as “dishonorable,” “shameless,” and “contrary to nature” (Romans 1:26-27). So, in the eyes of the Christian, there is no such thing as same-sex marriage because that would make Christ and His Church dishonorable, shameless, and contrary to nature.
Culture argues that Christians are merely imposing their bigoted religious convictions on America, but this is not the case with law-making in a pluralistic democracy. Laws in a system of government like ours do not come to pass because of a consensus worldview; rather, they come to pass when multiple worldviews converge in agreement that something is normal for societal health. So to be fair, this is not just a Christian argument, cultures and religions for all of time have agreed that same-sex relations are not normal. There are not enough Christians to overpower the government in a way that bans same-sex marriage. Many atheists and Buddhists and post-modernists alike disagree with same-sex marriage and this is why these laws exist.
As Christians being “in the world but not of it,” we are called to place God’s authority higher than the world’s while simultaneously living under the authority of those God has placed over us. We have the ability to vote, to voice our opinions, and to hold court in the presence of these authorities and that is where we can best try to defend our convictions in a system that will not allow us to dictatorially control it.
With Biblical Compassion
There is a tension that Christians are in the middle of when dealing with the Bible and the government. There are times when a law is passed or a President makes a bold statement that does not align with Scripture. As with abortion, same-sex marriage may be a controversial topic that becomes a national, legal, regular way of life in America. The appropriate response is not hate and venom. The folks at Westboro spew enough hate for the rest of us.
Instead, let us focus on compassion towards homosexuals as this process plays out. We should not condone their actions or bow to Walker and those who support same-sex marriage, but we should love them and pray for them. Homosexuals have souls, just like alcoholics, wife-beaters, gossipers, hypocrites, and you with any multitude of sins that attack you daily. Homosexuality is not its own separate level of sin. I don’t remember seeing in Scripture where God gives a list of sins that He’s more cool with than others. You are no better than they are, you have your own God-hating sin and so do I. You have been saved by grace and this should cause you to have grace for others, not elitism.
Brothers and sisters, this is nothing new. The apostles were no less at odds with their culture and governing authorities than we are today. As they did, we should make God’s Name known even more powerfully through the preaching of the Word, through constant Gospel-centered joy in the face of obstacles, and through prayer for those who need a Savior.
Baylor and Berkeley: A Liberal Pushback
Posted: June 16, 2010 Filed under: Articles, News & Commentary 1 Comment »
College football in America was rocked to the core by recent news of conference expansion and realignment. Moderate spectators and rabid fans alike were no doubt anxiously anticipating the outcome of these sudden developments. With Nebraska’s departure to the Big Ten Conference and Colorado to the PAC-10 Conference, the Big 12 Conference was rumored to likely dissolve quickly thereafter, with Texas and and handful other Big 12 schools possibly headed to the PAC-10.
One of the teams looking to follow the money train to the PAC-10 was Baylor University. Texas Governor Rick Perry has been vocal about his preference that Baylor be included in any conference realignment that also includes the other Texas teams in the Big 12 – Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech. Furthermore, Baylor launched an all-out effort in the Texas Legislature to make certain that they were included in the move to the PAC-10.
Orangebloods.com reported last week that this effort seems to be falling short. Originally, Colorado, with its Denver television market, had agreed to leave the Big 12 leaving Baylor as the odd-man out. What’s more, the website also cited sources stating that “some schools in the Pac-10, including California-Berkeley, have a real issue with adding an institution with religious ties like Baylor to the conference.”
Should this be a surprise? Probably not. California-Berkeley has never been shy about its liberal bent. In 2005, the school’s website posted an article stating that only 12% of the incoming freshman population considered itself to be conservative on such issues as abortion and same-sex marriage. Liberalism continues to subvert our country through many avenues, now college football can be included.
Ultimately, the dust settled and the Big 12 stayed together with ten teams and a great sigh of relief was heard around the sports world coming out of Waco. Sadly, Baylor would have been jobbed otherwise. Not because of their football record, their academic status, or their potential revenue. No, they would be pushed out because of their ties to Jesus Christ.
Good luck to Colorado, the cultural and economic fit for the PAC-10.
Gores Headed for Divorce: Could the SBC Have Saved Them?
Posted: June 8, 2010 Filed under: Articles, News & Commentary, SBC Leave a comment »
As Vice-President of the United States, Al Gore and his wife Tipper were in the public eye more often than most couples in the 1990s. With paparazzi always lurking, the Gores were consistently seen as the quintessential couple by the world, especially in the wake of the well-documented marital affair of Bill Clinton. Of the two families, it seemed the Clintons would be the likely candidates to eventually split. While the Clinton marriage remains strong, as least in public, it has been reported that Al and Tipper are calling it quits.
As a rising star in the political world, Al Gore was widely known as a Baptist. Receiving less attention, however, was his apparent disdain for the Southern Baptist Convention. Though baptized in a Southern Baptist church, Gore always maintained his allegiance to the church he grew up in, New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Carthage, Tennessee. New Salem Missionary has never been affiliated with the SBC.
During a 2002 interview with Newsweek, Gore stated, “I am a Christian. I am a Protestant. I am a Baptist.” In an interview published in the New Yorker in 2004, Al and Tipper exposed that they had disassociated themselves with the SBC due to its conservative bent, citing that they felt that the denomination was intolerant and hyper-fundamentalist.
Their contempt for conservatism begs the question: Could an acceptance of the SBC’s standards saved their marriage? It is no secret that the SBC stands by the Biblical view on divorce, standing on the foundation laid by Jesus in Matthew 19:6 and 5:32. Jesus commands in Matthew 19:6, “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Gore further stated in the New Yorker interview that he was “ecumenical now.” He also revealed that he was not a fan of the public faith regarding global religions that then-President George W. Bush had shown: “You don’t hear very much from them about the Sermon on the Mount, you don’t hear very much about the teachings of Jesus on giving to the poor, or the beatitudes. It’s the vengeance, the brimstone.”
Of course, no one may truly know what happened behind closed doors in the Gore household and we can only pray and hope as the body of Christ that they can reconcile. However, their open lean towards Liberalism may have left them open to real danger in their marriage. Instead of seemingly only focusing on the social justice of the Gospels, perhaps they should also set their sights on other parts of Scripture that may seem a bit too “conservative,” like the sanctity of marriage.
AG Holder Avoids Radical Islam Questions
Posted: May 15, 2010 Filed under: Articles, News & Commentary 1 Comment »
While testifying before the House Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Eric Holder hesitated to answer whether or not radical Islam was the motivating factor behind the slew of terrorist attacks attempted on our country recently.
Republican Lamar Smith of Texas asked him pointedly, more than once, “But radical Islam could have been one of the reasons?”
Holder followed, more than once, “There are a variety of reasons.”
It seemed as though Holder would have preferred a surgical operation with no anesthesia than speak the words “radical Islam.” Undoubtedly, it is the job of our government to worry less about the sensitivities of the Muslims in our country and voice aloud the dangers we as a nation are facing. Men like Albert Mohler and Franklin Graham have been blasted by the media for standing against Islamic terrorism, but they are right in attempting to draw attention to this critical national topic. Christians today must stand in the face of injustice and terrorism.
There have been numerous issue-dodging quotes from Holder of late. Some go so far as to try and defend Islam, further appeasing Muslims and sidetracking Americans. He recently claimed that al Qaeda recruiter Anwar al-Awlaki teaches “a version of Islam that is not consistent with the teachings of it.” This is the same al Qaeda recruiter who has mentored some of the 9/11 terrorists and the “Christmas Day bombing.” This administration is dangerously downplaying the dangers of radical Islam and is essentially pandering to the very men who are threatening the United States the most.
Recently, Alan Colmes has defended Holder, stating, “There is not such a thing as radical Islam … People are not doing this in the name of Islam.” Though Colmes makes an attempt at bailing Holder out, it still does not help the situation. Holder did not avoid the question because of his belief that radical Islam does not exist; he was clearly trying to keep the status quo and not offend anyone directly. Perhaps he would be applauded for being non-combatant on this issue if it we had not already experienced 9/11 and recent bombings in the name of Islamic jihad; but we have had to deal with them and they must, in turn, be dealt with by those sworn to protect us.
The 21st century is bringing about the most dangerous rise in Liberalism that the United States has ever seen. Life is being devalued, marriage is being compromised, truth is being subjectified, and now violent religions are being pacified. The question for American Christians is this: What are we to do with the chief lawyer of our country avoiding to speak about such an important national safety and religious issue?
The only thing Christians truly can do is pray for this country and its leaders. There is no greater threat to our country than the saints not seeking the Lord in this critical time. It is of no gain to protest, insult, or act violently in any way towards Muslims or the United States government. Though we are temped by the flesh to act out in anger and pride over this issue, we cannot. We can, however, join together as the family of God and promote a revival of prayer and promotion of truth in an age trying to suppress it.
We must further understand that Scripture is clear that God is ultimately in control of the government’s actions. As laid out in Proverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” It’s imperative that Evangelicalism today does not forget their Creator’s hand in all things. We should stand up for truth, battling side by side for the safety of our country and doctrines of our faith, but we should also trust that the Lord has a plan for this administration.
This administration is facing a litany of decisions that could make or break the future of this country. Will they make the moves necessary to stop these violent religious attacks, or will they continue to satisfy the hearts of the wicked? There is no way to know how the next four years will play out. Perhaps the Lord will do a great work and reveal the necessary steps to President Obama, Attorney General Holder, and the rest of these leaders.
More importantly, though, will you pray for God’s hand to lead them to right action?
Why I Signed the Manhattan Declaration
Posted: May 14, 2010 Filed under: Articles, News & Commentary 5 Comments »
Manifestos and petitions are not my thing. As Jared Wilson so aptly told me earlier today: No one remembers them six months later. Though normally true, I think The Manhattan Declaration might be different. It has been featured on several major news networks, was drafted in part by Evangelical megaleader Chuck Colson, and has been endorsed by men I highly respect such as Albert Mohler, J.I. Packer, Wayne Grudem, and Tim Keller.
What is it?
The Manhattan Declaration is a call to Christians (Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox) to stand for the sanctity of life, the preservation of marriage, and religious liberty. Published in 2009, it currently has over 400,000 signees. Here are a few excerpts on each topic discussed:
LIFE
Around the globe, we are witnessing cases of genocide and “ethnic cleansing,” the failure to assist those who are suffering as innocent victims of war, the neglect and abuse of children, the exploitation of vulnerable laborers, the sexual trafficking of girls and young women, the abandonment of the aged, racial oppression and discrimination, the persecution of believers of all faiths, and the failure to take steps necessary to halt the spread of preventable diseases like AIDS. We see these travesties as flowing from the same loss of the sense of the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of human life that drives the abortion industry and the movements for assisted suicide, euthanasia, and human cloning for biomedical research. And so ours is, as it must be, a truly consistent ethic of love and life for all humans in all circumstances.
MARRIAGE
In Scripture, the creation of man and woman, and their one-flesh union as husband and wife, is the crowning achievement of God’s creation. In the transmission of life and the nurturing of children, men and women joined as spouses are given the great honor of being partners with God Himself. Marriage then, is the first institution of human society—indeed it is the institution on which all other human institutions have their foundation. … We acknowledge that there are those who are disposed towards homosexual and polyamorous conduct and relationships, just as there are those who are disposed towards other forms of immoral conduct. We have compassion for those so disposed; we respect them as human beings possessing profound, inherent, and equal dignity; and we pay tribute to the men and women who strive, often with little assistance, to resist the temptation to yield to desires that they, no less than we, regard as wayward. We stand with them, even when they falter. We, no less than they, are sinners who have fallen short of God’s intention for our lives. We, no less than they, are in constant need of God’s patience, love and forgiveness.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
The right to religious freedom has its foundation in the example of Christ Himself and in the very dignity of the human person created in the image of God—a dignity, as our founders proclaimed, inherent in every human, and knowable by all in the exercise of right reason. Christians confess that God alone is Lord of the conscience. Immunity from religious coercion is the cornerstone of an unconstrained conscience. No one should be compelled to embrace any religion against his will, nor should persons of faith be forbidden to worship God according to the dictates of conscience or to express freely and publicly their deeply held religious convictions. What is true for individuals applies to religious communities as well.
Why is The Manhattan Declaration important?
With the Obama administration in full swing, Liberalism is attacking American quicker than ever. The secular news media is no doubt helping Obama push his agenda on abortion, freedom of marriage in different forms, and the suppression of Christian principles that supposedly once governed this nation. What’s worse, there is an optional abortion section in the new healthcare bill (though the abortion clause doubtedly will pass).
Christian leaders have been entirely too silent for years on these issues. Perhaps they assumed that the world knew the Christian stance and believed that they didn’t need to vocalize it. Regardless, Christendom should applaud Chuck Colson, Robert George, and Timothy George for putting this manifesto together. Prominent atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens take their shots on a regular basis, mocking our faith regularly with no regard. Sadly, Christians have taken the “turn the other cheek” approach to the extreme while the Kingdom of God is smeared and stomped by the very country we swear allegiance to.
Though we are called to obey our national authorities (Romans 13:1-7), Scripture makes it rather clear that we are commanded to obey God first (Acts 5:29). The Manhattan Declaration does offer advice on this subject:
Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.
What are the negatives?
John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul are noteworthy petitioners of this petition. Both make the argument that the document promotes ecumenicalism between Protestants, Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox faiths – a compromise that Protestants should not make, citing differences of belief regarding the Gospel itself.
Though the concerns of these men and others are valid, the ecumenicalism of The Manhattan Declaration should not be considered a “deal breaker,” so to speak. Though Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy both do a lot of damage to the Protestant belief of sola fide, it would be quite the stretch to call them heretics or be unwilling to stand beside them in the fight for life, marriage, and religious freedom. For that matter, should we not welcome non-believers in the fight for these principles?
Why did I sign?
I signed The Manhattan Declaration because I believe that the three issues addressed are being attacked by the Liberal bent of America in the 21st century.
I signed The Manhattan Declaration because I truly believe that Christianity itself is being infiltrated at an all-time rate by Liberalism, leading many saints astray.
Most importantly, I signed The Manhattan Declaration because I stand behind the Word of God and its principles on these matters.
Open Letter to T.D. Jakes
Posted: January 25, 2012 | Author: Brandon Smith | Filed under: Miscellaneous, News & Commentary, Pastoral Resources | 4 Comments »Bishop Jakes,
Let me first commend you on your acceptance to join the furnace that is the Elephant Room. You have taken a lot of heat over the years from pastors and theologians of all ilks, and you have handled it rather gracefully just as you did today. Perhaps the greatest compliment that one can give you is that humility does not seem to be something that
you struggle with.
At 22, I felt the Damascus Road calling to ministry and dropped everything that I was doing to pursue ministry. This led me to start school over and begin a Biblical Studies degree at Dallas Baptist University. Interestingly, the school at which I studied and lived is no farther than a few football fields from your church, The Potter’s House.
Being the young angry Calvinist that I was, my first inclination that was that you were a heretic and probably hated Jesus more than I hated the traffic your church creates outside of the campus gates every Sunday morning and evening. I often had thoughts of attending one of your services and later blogging from my dorm room in my underwear about what a shame to God’s cause you really were. When I heard that people were getting saved at your church from Potter’s House members that I had class with, I was praying for REAL salvation to come upon those who bought into your heresies. Want to know the funny part? I hadn’t so much as listened to a single sermon of yours.
So, I listened to a few of your messages and tried to convince myself that I didn’t like what you were saying (though I did much of the time) and was determined to believe that you were a snake oil salesman which a fancy suit that cost too much money. Of course, I was too busy arguing with Calminians at DBU to consider whether or not I was wrong about anything, much less whether or not you were the Antichrist.
Needless to say, the onus was on me – not you – to repent.
As the past few years have come and gone, I have begged the Lord with great fear to humble me and allow me to love my brothers in Christ, regardless of differences, so long as they are not denying the foundational tenets of our faith. When hearing about your inclusion in the Elephant Room, I was greatly excited to hear that you would be cross-examined about your theological beliefs. People were all over the Internet already accusing Mark Driscoll and James MacDonald of associating with a heretic who denied the Trinity, when in reality they were doing what they should: allowing a brother to defend himself in his own words. I was a little disappointed in your responses in Christianity Today regarding the Trinity, but leading up to the Elephant Room I re-read it and had to remember that the interview was 12 YEARS AGO. Chances are, you have developed and grown quite a lot since then.
At the Elephant Room, you answered the question everyone had been asking: Do you affirm the Trinity? Is there one God in three manifestations (a Oneness Pentecostal theology that you’d affirmed so long ago), or is there one God in three persons (the orthodox view)?
Your response: ” I believe the latter one is where I stand today. One God – Three Persons.”
You went on to explain that you’re not afraid of the word “manifestation” because Paul used it, which in context I agree with.
You were then asked the follow-up question by Driscoll: “Do you believe the Bible is the perfect, infallible Word of God? Do you believe God is Three Persons? Jesus is fully God and fully Man? He died on the cross for our sins? He rose from the dead? He is coming again? Apart from Jesus is no salvation?”
You response: Absolutely.
This letter is getting long and you are a busy man, so let me say this: I love and affirm you as a brother in Christ. There will be many people who parse your words from today and still doubt you. Sadly, people believe that you a) owe them an explanation satisfactory only to them, and b) that you’re probably still a heretic even though they can’t name a theological reason why. I don’t agree hardly at all with your methodology or even sometimes your exegesis, but I know this – you are the real deal and I can learn a lot about loving Jesus and loving others from you.
Praying for you,
Brandon Smith