Observation On RNC Protestors

I've always thought it was curious that there are thousands of lefties who demonstrate and protest at Republican and conservative events, often times accompanied by several arrests, but you will almost never here of righties demonstrating and protesting at Democratic and liberal events. Is it that conservatives aren't as passionate as liberals about their ideas? Or is it maybe that conservatives are just not that rude? I tend to think the second option is more likely. Seriously, there are a million things I can find to disagree with in the democratic platform, but I won't be protesting and causing havoc at any liberal events in the near future. They're entitled to their beliefs, and they can go ahead and celebrate them. Why don't the lefty protestors just let the conservatives have their moment in the sun? (to be fair, the DNC was protested, but not by conservatives - it was protested by radical liberals who think the democrats aren't liberal enough!)

My line of thinking was inspired by my wife as we sat and watched the evening news tonight. The story was that much of the RNC proceedings have been and will be affected by the arrival of hurricane Gustav to the Gulf Coast. Much of the festivities and parties that make up the convention have been (rightly) postponed or canceled out of respect for the potential disaster down south.

It should be noted however (but the media hasn't), that the protestors will continue to protest, even in the absence of many of those they are protesting against. One protestor on the news said that this protest has been in the works for the past two years, and they refuse to call it off, even if the Republicans aren't in the building. Doesn't she realize that the RNC at the X has also been in the works for just as long, cost way more money to plan and implement, but they have chosen to cancel and postpone? Sounds like the protestors should take a cue from the Republicans on this one.

Another interesting thing to think about is that the protestors are protesting the Republicans for being cruel, heartless, war mongers who love to see the innocent oppressed, or so they believe. But the Republicans are canceling parts of the convention out of heartfelt compassion for people! Could that be more ironic? And another thing: the republicans are canceling, but the protestors are insisting that the protest will go on - in spite of the fact that hurricane Gustav is barreling down on the Gulf Coast! Couldn't we thus conclude that the protestors are the heartless, cruel people who are looking after their own interests rather than those who are oppressed by the hurricane? It seems that they've become what they hate!

Delicious.

Political Prayer

If you're into politics at all, you've probably at least seen or heard some of the DNC. My interest was piqued when I heard that Cameron Strang, editor of Relevant Magazine initially accepted an offer to pray at the DNC, but then backed out because he didn't want to imply that he or his magazine endorsed the democratic party. I find that reasoning to be astounding. Strang didn't realize the incredible offer he'd been given. Pray on a national stage! You wouldn't be able to hold me back. You wouldn't have to endorse the party or what they stand for by praying at their convention. Instead, you could go there to boldly proclaim the gospel and to the wind with any thought of an endorsement. If I were invited to pray at the DNC (which I'm sure will happen next time) I would accept and pray the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Since Strang declined the opportunity to pray, the offer was then given to Donald Miller(by the way, if you follow this link, check out the picture at the top of his blog - it looks more corny than mine, except he's being serious!), idol of 20-something Christians and author of "Blue Like Jazz" (a book that I have a lot of issues with, although it is a fun read). It turns out that Strang's misplaced fear of inadvertently (or probably better put, intentionally) endorsing the democratic party was realized in Donald Miller. Here's a transcription of Miller's prayer, or if you're not into reading, watch the video.

"Father God, this week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future. We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation. We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy. Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left. Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them. Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions. Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle. Help us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education. Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony. We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help. Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world? A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American. Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world? Help us be an example of humility and strength once again. Lastly, father, unify us. Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common. And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish. God we know that you are good. Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans. I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice. Let Him be our example. Amen."

Allow me to point out a few things regarding Miller's prayer:

1) He totally whiffed on presenting the gospel in any shape, form, or fashion which, I think, is a shame. What an amazing audience! The DNC had 40 million television viewers! Not to mention all those who would see the video on YouTube and other places. It was a prime time (literally) opportunity to share the gospel, and it wasn't there.

2) His prayer wasn't much more than a statement of the democratic platform. For example: liberal social programs, universal healthcare, wage increases, funding college tuition, taxing big business, (democratic) unification, etc.

3) Miller expressed the democratic platform as right, true, sound, and the will of God. Now I'm not saying it isn't the will of God (although I'm about thaaaat close to saying it), but it's pretty presumptuous to think that God's on board with the democratic platform. He prayed about those meeting at the DNC and those meeting the following week at the RNC to make the right choice and adopt universal health care (oh if only those crazy republicans would see the light, that God wants us to have universal healthcare!).

4) The last line of Miller's prayer is an absolute travesty: "I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice. Let Him be our example." First of all, if you watch the video, he stresses the word "I," as if this were only his sentiment - as if this was just his opinion, but others could pray to a different God. We don't want to be exclusive. Also, the thought that Jesus "gave his own life against the forces of injustice" is completely unbiblical - you won't find that anywhere in the Bible. Jesus didn't give his life in against the forces of injustice. In fact, he did the exact opposite: he gave it against the forces of justice! He gave it to satisfy God's justice - that one man might bear the wrath of God for all men. Justice is the reason that Jesus died on the cross, not injustice. Don, read your Bible. Please read your Bible.

There are a lot of bloggers out there criticizing people (like me) who are critiquing Miller's prayer, and saying that it's wrong to find error in an individual's heartfelt cry to God. Well let me ask you this: what would the apostle Paul have thought if he heard this prayer in one of the churches he ministered to? He'd take them aside and tell them that the way they saw God was completely skewed. He'd tell them that Jesus didn't die because of the forces of injustice. Theology is important. It's important to know what the Bible says and what it means. Your knowledge of scripture informs your knowledge of God, and your knowledge of God will inform the way you interact with God, in this case, prayer.

In conclusion, I think it's a shame that a noted, popular Christian stood before potentially 40 million viewers and did such a poor job of showing the world who God is, who Jesus is, and who his followers are and what they are about.

100 Things To Do Before You Die

In Luke 13 Jesus is talking to some people about death. He basically tells them that everyone dies, no matter how "good" or "bad" they are, and that the moral of the story is that everyone should "repent or perish." In other words, Jesus is saying that everyone is going to die...and they need to be ready for it.

Cut to August 17. Did you hear the news? Dave Freeman died. Who's he? He's the co-author of "100 Things To Do Before You Die." He apparently had a nasty fall at his house, hit his head on something, and it killed him. He was 47 years old. I looked on the internet, but I couldn't find any report about how many of the "100 things" Dave accomplished before he died. I assume he did all or most of them - after all, he was one of the authors of the book. But I'm pretty sure he wasn't expecting to kick the bucket at the tender age of 47.

I'm sure he still had a lot that he wanted to do, places to see, destinations to visit, adventures to have. But it was all cut short because he slipped, fell, and hit his head. Do you think he was planning on that happening? Surely not. And despite his list of 100 things, there was really only one thing on his list (whether he knew it or not) that was essential: be ready to die.

Back to Luke 13: Jesus gives an example of a large tower that collapsed and fell, and killed 18 people back in his day. He says that there was nothing about these 18 people that caused the tower to fall on them. In other words, karma didn't make the tower fall and kill them - it just happened because it happened. They weren't super evil people who deserved to die for something they did or did not do. Accidents just happen and sometimes, people are killed. It doesn't make sense, there's no rational rhyme or reason for it, it just happens. The warning Jesus gives is startlingly to the point: "...unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Jesus' point is that you don't know what's coming. You might be walking down the street and have a tower collapse on your head. You might be driving across a collapsing bridge and fall to your death. You might be in a tower, minding your own business at work when someone flies a plane into your building. You might be killed in a tornado or a hurricane. You might slip in the shower and bang your head on the sink. The point is, YOU DON'T KNOW. No one ever expects to be tragically killed. And since we live in an evironment of such uncertainty and accidents, what should we do? Repent.

John Piper's ministry released this video after the 35W bridge collapse, and it would be well worth your time to watch it:



This is not a scare tactic - it is reality. Again, just ask Dave Freeman. Or ask the people who died on 9/11. Or ask the people who died in Hurricane Katrina. Do you think they were expecting it?

Most people have their list of things they want to do before they die, and they look forward to the things on that list. They want to accomplish these things because they want to do something interesting with their life. What they take for granted though, is that it could all be over in an instant. Just ask Dave Freeman. People don't realize that the number one item on your list of things to do before you die is to get saved. And don't go on to number two until you've completed number one. It might be you who slips and falls and bangs your head.

I probably haven't (and won't) accomplish 99 of the 100 things that Freeman says I need to do before I die, but I can still go to the grave knowing that the most important thing on that list is taken care of.

His Life Is The Textbook

MESSAGE: One Life: Fruit (podcast)
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6.43-45



His Life Is The Textbook from In His Steps by J.R. Miller, 1897:

"Leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21

Jesus took His first disciples into His school and for three years taught and trained them. He made known to them the great truths of Christianity, which He had come to reveal. Then He taught them how to live.



Bible knowledge alone, does not alone make one a godly Christian. One might know all the great facts and doctrines of the Word of God, might be a profound Bible scholar and a wise theologian—and yet not be an advanced or even a growing Christian!

We are to learn to live Christ as well as to know the truths about Christ. Jesus in His teachings makes a great deal of obedience. We are His friends—if we do whatever He commands us. We are to learn to be patient, meek, gentle, long suffering, compassionate. We are to learn to be humble, kindly affectioned, unselfish, truthful, sincere.

We enter Christ's school, to be trained in all the qualities which make up the true Christian life.

The lessons the Bible sets for us—we are to learn to live out in common life. Every word of Christ sets a copy for us, as it were—and we are to learn to write it in fair and beautiful lines.

For example, it is not enough to learn from the Beatitudes, that certain qualities are praised by the great Teacher; we are to get the Beatitudes into our own life as quickly and as perfectly as we can.

Just so of all the teachings of Christ—they are not for knowing merely, as one learns the fine sayings of favorite literary writers; they are for living! They are to become lamps to our feet and lights to our path—and they are to be wrought into the web of our character.



In the school of Christ, we are not to expect perfection—but we have a right to expect an increasing knowledge of spiritual things, and also spiritual growth in all the qualities which belong to Christian character. We should become . . .
 more patient,
 more loving,
 more unselfish,
 more helpful, 
 more faithful in all duty,
 more like Christ!



The ideal Christian life—is a growing likeness to Christ. Christ is the pattern after which we are to strive to fashion our life. As we study Christ in the Gospels, there rises up before us, the vision of His matchless beauty. We go over the chapters, and we find one fragment of His loveliness here, and another there. And as we read the story through to the end—beauty after beauty appears, until at length we see a full vision of our blessed Redeemer.

This is the pattern we are to follow in fashioning our lives. This is the vision we are to seek to carve into reality in our own character. All our acts we are to bring to the example of Christ, testing each one by that infallible standard.



Jesus should be studied by the Christian, as a builder studies the architect's drawings—that every minutest detail may be exactly reproduced; so far as in a faulty and sinful human life, the character and conduct of the faultless and sinless Jesus can be reproduced.

The perfect pattern is ever to be held before us for imitation, and as we look at it glowing in all its marvelous beauty—yet far above us and beyond our present reach—we are to comfort ourselves and stir our hearts to the noblest efforts and highest attainments by the thought, "That is what I shall one day be!"

However slow may be our progress toward that perfect ideal; however sore the struggles with weakness and sin; however often we fail—we are never to lose sight of the distant goal, nor cease to strive and press toward the mark. Some day, if we are faithful to the end and faint not—we shall emerge out of all failure and struggle, and, seeing Jesus as He is—we shall be fully transformed into His blessed image!



Such is the aim of the Christian life. "We shall be like Him!"—that is the final destiny of every redeemed life. This should be inspiration enough, to arouse in the dullest Christian, every sluggish hope and every slumbering energy—and to impel to the highest effort and the most heroic struggle.

Jesus is not only the teacher—His life is the text book which we are to study. Part of His mission to this world, was to show us in Himself—a pattern of a godly life. We are to look to His life to learn just how to live, the kind of character we are to seek to have, the meaning of the lessons which His words set for us. We are in the school of Christ—to be trained in all Christian life and duty.



Judge Not...

Every day in my email I get a "Grace Gem" from an organization that provides commentaries and devotionals from old school preachers and puritans. These emails are awesome. They're humbling, instructive, and informative (plus I like reading the old school english sometimes). You get great stuff from the likes of Spurgeon, Thomas Watson, and a whole host of other super-brilliant dead preachers.

Anywho, this is the Grace Gem from today, and I thought I'd post it here to share with the other two of you who read this blog since it's directly related to our message series at SHOUT this month. Miller does an excellent job in explaining this often-adulterated passage. Enjoy.

From Judging Others, by J.R. Miller, 1894 (If you'd like to read the original entire article, go here).

It is better to have eyes for beauty--than for blemish. It is better to be able to see the roses--than the thorns. It is better to have learned to look for things to commend in others--than for things to condemn. Of course, other people have faults--and we are not blind to them. But then, we have faults of our own--and this should make us charitable!

We have a divine teaching on the subject. Our Lord Jesus said, "Do not judge--or you too will be judged." We need to understand just what the words mean. We cannot help judging others. We ought to be able to read character, and to know whether men are good or bad. As we watch men's acts--we cannot help forming opinions about them. The holier we grow, and the more like Christ--the keener will our moral judgments be. We are not bidden to shut our eyes--and to be blind to people's faults and sins.

What, then, do our Lord's words mean? It is uncharitable judgment against which He warns us. We are not to look for the evil things in others. We are not to see others through the warped glasses of prejudice and unkindly feeling. We are not to arrogate to ourselves the function of judging--as if others were answerable to us! We are to avoid a critical or censorious spirit. Nothing is said against speaking of the good in those we see and know; it is uncharitable judging and speaking, which Jesus condemns.

One reason why judging is wrong--is because it is putting one's self in God's place. He is the only Judge, with whom every human soul has to do. Judgment is not ours--but God's. "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?" James 4:12. In condemning and censuring others--we are thrusting ourselves into God's place, taking His scepter into our hands, and presuming to exercise one of His sole prerogatives!

Another reason for this command--is that we cannot judge others justly and fairly. We have not sufficient knowledge of them. Paul says: "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts." 1 Corinthians 4:5. Our judgments cannot be anything but faulty, partial and superficial.

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