There is no way Jesus would be "party" to the party against himself!
Posted on 07/31/2006 6:21:23 AM PDT by 2banana
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — Like most pastors who lead thriving evangelical megachurches, the Rev. Gregory A. Boyd was asked frequently to give his blessing — and the church’s — to conservative political candidates and causes.
...
After refusing each time, Mr. Boyd finally became fed up, he said. Before the last presidential election, he preached six sermons called “The Cross and the Sword” in which he said the church should steer clear of politics, give up moralizing on sexual issues, stop claiming the United States as a “Christian nation” and stop glorifying American military campaigns.
...
The response from his congregation at Woodland Hills Church here in suburban St. Paul — packed mostly with politically and theologically conservative, middle-class evangelicals — was passionate. Some members walked out of a sermon and never returned. By the time the dust had settled, Woodland Hills, which Mr. Boyd founded in 1992, had lost about 1,000 of its 5,000 members.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Of course, he doesn't easily fall into such simply labeled categories.
But the reality of this situation, as well as with most churches in America is this:
Conservatives Republicans are much more likely to go church. Conservative Republicans are much more likely to give large sums of money to a church. Conservatives Republicans are much more likely to be the ones that do all the volunteering and work. Conservatives Republicans tend to have larger families and children are the next generation of a church.
This church of Mr. Boyd was built on the backs of conservatives. It sure wasn't the anti-war, do it if it feels good, America is always wrong liberals that built his church.
That is also why churches that have "gone liberal" such as the Methodist or Episcopalian Churches are dying. They will be gone in a generation. No one shows up. Their congregations are made up of mostly elderly who remember the good old days (before ordained gay ministers). Liberals just don't pack in the pews.
That is also why "conservative" churches are booming. Why Baptist churches are booming. They are the largest and fastest growing churches in America.
As for liberal churches - "When your religion says "whatever" on doctrinal matters, regards Jesus as just another wise teacher, refuses on principle to evangelize and lets you do pretty much what you want, it's a short step to deciding that one of the things you don't want to do is get up on Sunday morning and go to church."
And that is the reality of today's successful churches.
It is also interesting on this Andy's list. You (they) criticize the church for not doing enough to stop the likes of Hitler, but get crazy if they talk about politics and the church in the same sentence.
PS - Also ""America wasn't founded as a theocracy," he said. "America was founded by people trying to escape theocracies. Never in history have we had a Christian theocracy where it wasn't bloody and barbaric. That's why our Constitution wisely put in a separation of church and state." is historically and factually very incorrect - but very politically correct.
Discussing the very simple, and you'd think indisputable, fact that "America was founded as a Christian nation" with a lib is tantamount to the abortion debate. It brings out their inherent vileness.
Well, what did you expect....another conservative Christian hit piece by the New York Times.
There is no way Jesus would be "party" to the party against himself!
finally, an evangelical church the New York Times can endorse.
Now if I could only remember who that was. Anybody else remember seeing it?
Neither. Yeshua is a monarchist and a Zionist... Bible tells you that right up front...
"the church should steer clear of politics, give up moralizing on sexual issues, stop claiming the United States as a “Christian nation” and stop glorifying American military campaigns."
The church has one charge: Preach the Gospel. I refuse to attend churches that are nothing but patriotic pep rallies.
Shut up and preach.
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Thanks,
I guess I can see steering clear of politics (for the most part) and definitely refraining from "America is God's chosen people" sermons.
HOWEVER...
Moralizing on sex?
C'mon!
How many of society's ills can be traced to a breakdown in morality that used to be taught by churches? How much are we suffering from the single female head of household (aka "Bastards") situation? How much are we suffering from drunkedness and recreational drug use? What happened to teaching the "Protestant work ethic"?
Churches walked away from their moral teachings because it became un-cool. Unfortunately for Christians, we aren't called to be cool.
It was founded by a group of then college students in the late 60s, and it has become a type of mega-church, winning thousands to the Gospel.
I attended during the 80s - 90s, and over a period of time one of the things that I became more and more disenchanted with was the Hippie/Leftist mindset. For example, the military operation in Grenada was seen as "jingoistic" instead of rescuing American citizens and preventing the spread of Communism in the Caribbean. (Communism is a great friend of Christianity, you know...) No prayers for the troops offered.
It wasn't hard to find a church member that was anti-American, not patriotic, ignorant of the Founders and their beliefs.
Part of my awakening was when Don Richardson, author of "Peace Child" came to speak and had a book table. I purchased one of the books (not authored by him) titled "Re-Writing America's History". It documents the Founders beliefs - Christian or not - and how it interacted with their public life. Not long after that I came to the conclusion that I was not a Hippie, nor did I come from the Hippie/Leftist viewpoint and I needed to find another church.
It took some searching, but I did find one. The pastor will talk about America's goodness, not varnish over its problems, the orchestra will play Patriotic music during the 4th of July, Vacation Bible School had a theme of America's Christian Heritage (sets/decorations from VBS were put together and made into a 4th of July parade float and won 1st Prize in the city's parade). We pray for our troops, recognize Veterans and thank them for their service. We also pray for our enemies and support our missionaries - knowing that it's the Gospel of Jesus that changes hearts and minds.
If you want to read a pretty short book about where pollster George Barna's research shows the Christian church is heading, you may wish to check out his book Revolution. He contends that committed Christians are leaving the church in large numbers but not leaving the faith community altogether. They are becoming more likely to start neighborhood and home churches.
I just cut the quote from the Times. Obviously sexual sin was not addressed in my quote. Just the politics part.
I just cut the quote from the Times. Obviously sexual sin was not addressed in my quote. Just the politics part.
***If you want to read a pretty short book about where pollster George Barna's research shows the Christian church is heading, you may wish to check out his book Revolution.***
I suspect that people are leaving the church because the church has followed Barna's polls (sounds like a former president) rather than their charter as found in Scripture.
Blood of Tyrants.
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