Culture-Engagement Thinking

Recently, I read an article that revealed some alarming figures about the decline of Christianity in England and Wales. The number of people who identify themselves as Christians has fallen from 37.3 million in 2001 to 33 million last year. Equally disturbing was the number of people declaring themselves to be atheists. That number went from 6 million to 14.1 million. 

This is not unique to England. I know of no one that would say that Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds in the United States. In fact, we see marks of decline. Jeff Iorg, president of Golden Gate Seminary suggest that we must develop a new way of thinking called ‘culture-engagement thinking.’ Dr. Iorg writes, “Cultural-engagement thinking is taking the gospel into existing structures, activities and relationships among a specific group of people in your community.” What does this mean? 

To me this means that we cannot just be comfortable in the church and wait on people to come and see all the nice things we are doing. We have to go and tell. We have to rub shoulders with unsaved people and earn the right to be heard. This takes time and effort. 

What might this look like? Answer two questions: What do you enjoy doing? How can you do it with non-believers? It comes down to getting where people are, truly caring about them and building friendships. As we do this we are praying all along for God to work and show us how to lovingly communicate the gospel. 

2013 is almost here. Does our thinking need to change?  

A Must Read for Parents

Often I read something that I think is so good that I should share it.  Occasionally I read something that I must share. If you are a parent you really must read the article below written by Dr. Russell Moore. Again, if you are a parent, I would think long and hard about the article. For the record, I could not agree more with what Dr. Moore has written. 

iPhones, iPads, and Christian Parenting

Dr. Russell Moore

Here's what I just don't understand:  the trend among professing Christian families to give their pre-teen children iPhones and iPads or their equivalent devices, with unrestricted internet access.

It's not that we don't have the data to know what happens when sexually-forming minds are exposed to pornography.  And it's not that we don't know the kind of pull to temptation, especially among young males, that comes with the promise of sexual "fulfillment" with the illusion of anonymity.  It's not that we don't know, moreover, the way that unsavory characters use the Internet to troll for naive children to exploit.

Why would you put your child in a situation of that kind of peril?

Given what we know about a.) sexually developing adolescents and pre-adolescents and b.)the internet itself, it is impossible to rank unrestricted access to the World Wide Web in a category with watching television or freely roaming the neighborhood.  This is more like sending you adolescent male to spend the night in adult movie theater because you trust him not to look up from his Bible, or allowing your daughter to grow marijuana in her room because she likes the bud as decoration.

This is astounding not primarily because it militates against the higher standards of Christian parenting but because it militates against the natural ordering of human parenting itself.

Jesus, in describing the Fatherhood of God, told the crowd that no one, even being evil, would give his son a serpent when he asked for a fish (Matt. 7:10). Why not?  It's because natural affection impels a father to seek to protect his child from something harmful.  In this case, we see a culture, even among Christians sometimes, that's quite willing to give a child a serpent, as long as he really wants it, and we think he's trustworthy as a snake-charmer.

Don't get me wrong.  I think the digital revolution is largely a good thing, and I think children need to be raised up to use technology as a gift for dominion.  But there's too much at stake to turn a child loose, with no boundaries, with a technology that could psychically cripple him or her (and his or her future family), for a lifetime and thereafter.

What do you think are some wise practical guidelines for helping parents make decisions about using technology, without turning their children over to the cyber-wilderness?

Presbyopia

Ever heard of presbyopia? Many reading this have this condition even if you are still uncertain of what it is. Presbyopia is the eye’s loss of ability to see objects up close. You experience it, for example, when you try to read small print. This condition typically starts happening to most adults around age 45. You notice it when you begin to have to hold small print items at arm’s length to read. The only way the condition is corrected is by getting a pair of reading glasses or prescription eyeglasses. 

Consider a parallel to the average Christian. Sadly, as we ‘age’ in Christ, we tend to lose our ability to focus on and see the needs of others that we are up close to everyday.  We start to hold others at a distance. We get too busy to notice and lack a desire to get involved. This condition does not just improve automatically. Our vision must be corrected. We need to see others through His eyes. 

For most of us, I do not think this comes from a sudden touch from the Lord that radically alters our world view. Rather, it is a progressive correction as we ask the Lord daily to help us see people differently. Gradually, our vision improves. The interruption gradually comes to be seen as a divine appointment. The delay has a purpose. The change of seats on the airplane is not a computer failure but a move of God. The testy, difficult person you are now assigned to work with is your ‘mission field.’ Do you see this? Think about it. Maybe it would help to listen to this song as you do.

Resolutions from Father's Day Sermon

A Biblical Understanding of Manhood

Resolved, above all else, I will be in a growing relationship with God that is anchored and built on having a genuine salvation experience. Understanding that I am far from perfect, the longing of my heart is to please the Lord and live a life marked by character and integrity that honors Christ.

Resolved, to be a man of courage as Joshua in the Old Testament was. This does not mean that I am fearless but rather that I fear God and have confidence that the Lord my God is with me wherever I go.

Resolved, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and by God’s grace, to display the fruit of the Holy Spirit in godly character of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Resolved, through the life I live and the words I speak to teach my children and grandchildren and great-children the precepts of God’s Word. It will be my aim and desire to know God’s Word by reading, memorizing, and meditating on Scripture.

Resolved, to always love, honor, and respect my wife in private and in public. In accordance with 1 Peter 3:7 I will live with my wife in an understanding way and I will show her honor as the weaker vessel.

Resolved, by the grace of God, I will seek to keep my mind and body pure so that I might honor Christ and remain faithful to my wedding vows. I will take every thought captive, as 2 Corinthians 5:5 instructs, that would raise itself up against the knowledge of God in my life. I will not subject myself to sexual temptation through the internet or any other printed material.

Resolved, I will protect my family from Satan and his evil desires to destroy my family. I will pray for and over my family and seek to identify and stand against any harmful influences of the prince of darkness. 

“Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.”   Jonathan Edwards

(Name)___________________________________ 
 June 17, 2012