Fourth of July Note and Blog Agenda

by Mark on July 3, 2009

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As I get ready to travel for the Fourth of July weekend I wanted to give an update on what’s coming up on the blog.  I also want to make a brief note on the Fourth of July.  By the way, prayers for our travel safety would be much appreciated.

Fourth of July Note

When the patriotic holidays come along some local churches celebrate them with a religious zeal. It often becomes apparent just how much identity is wrapped up in the American flag.  I’ve seen hats, shirts, little flags, scarfs, numerous mentions of the flag, etc. all within the church and around her services. I understand this to a point. However, like our politics, patriotic holidays tend to have very strong influences on our churches. God has give us many blessings that are take for granted that don’t have near the large scale emotional impact and attention. Note, there are plenty of gatherings to attend in celebration, outside the church, and that’s just fine. It’s within the context of worship and the church house which gives me pause.

I understand the intentions are good, but the language many times wrong. To celebrate within our worship is to thank God and call us to repentance and service. We have certainly been blessed here in America, but this isn’t the Promised Land and it’s not like society is improving in a God honoring way. Just as Johnny Hunt said in a recent sermon, God has blessed American and it’s time American starts blessing God. To get a clearer understanding of where I am please see my Memorial Day 2009 Worship Service post which further expounds similar thoughts. I wish everyone a safe, happy and fun Fourth of July.

Books and Stuff…

post which further expounds similar thoughts.  I wish everyone a safe, happy and fun Fourth of July.

Finally, a book review with a possible giveaway.  I can’t say anything yet, but if you appreciate the recent work of Dr. Horton..stay tuned.

SBC2009

Plenty of folks who were present at this year’s Southern Baptist Convention have written some good posts on it.  I was able to watch/listen to most of it online.  I keep going back and forth about whether or not to write on it.  For now, let me give a couple of thoughts.  Two things I didn’t appreciate.  Chuck Colson and Mike Huckabee.

Colson, regardless of how good his presentation was, is married to a practicing Roman Catholic.  This is stated on page seven of a lawsuit against Prison Fellowship Ministries stating Even Dr. Colson’s wife, Patty Colson, is a practicing Catholic.  Even some Catholics have wondered why he doesn’t become Catholic.  I don’t see the value in promoting a man whose family not only doesn’t attend the same church, but attends a church with a false gospel.

Huckabee I didn’t appreciate because of the politics and moralism of his presentation.  I’m so tired of national politics in the SBC.  Getting “our guy” in office won’t and hasn’t solved our problems.  We’ve got to get back to the Gospel and away from moralism.

This is why I’m thankful for the Great Commission Resurgence awareness and task force.  While not perfect atleast we have a better chance at getting the Gospel back on the radar and working together.  I’m thankful for the current SBC leadership and hopeful for a better cooperating future.  It will be nice to see both the younger and older generation come together around the Gospel.

I don’t think I’ll have much computer access over the weekend.  I hope I didn’t forget to list any books.  Have a great weekend.

And that’s a wrap…

Mark

P.S. A past post on Patriotic Worship.

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  • Looking forward to all the reviews and giveaways that are coming up. Sounds like you've got a busy few weeks ahead. I hope your travel goes well.
    .-= Aaron´s last blog ..Does having a bad reputation make a man unfit for eldership? =-.
  • Catherine
    I'm in complete agreement on your Colson comment. I have a very difficult time listening to him because I'm continually waiting for false doctrine (from his wife's cult) to enter into his message. I know this doesn't make me very ecumenical, but I'm okay with that.

    As far as Huckabee goes, it appears he has chosen politics over spreading the Gospel and that's his choice. But when he made that decision, he made the decision to no longer be a pastor. I pray that he will serve God well with the vocation that he has chosen and will be a a difficult thing in such a corrupt environment. He will have to remember to love God first and THEN his neighbor, otherwise I'm afraid that God will take a back seat and he will become just another humanitarian. Bottom line is that the only thing that will truly change America is the Gospel. Not social programs, feel good sermons or entertainment in place of Sunday morning worship.

    Thank you for this post Mark.
  • Catherine,

    Were you at the Convention? It sounds like you were. I'm curious to know if others felt the same as you.

    I don't deny that Colson and Huckabee are brothers in Christ with good intentions. I really don't mean to be hard on them, but to just make an observation with an opinion. :) I understand Huckabee speaking more than Colson. I'm not sure Colson would be allowed to be a deacon or elder/pastor in the SBC. Not that this is the line of decision. It would lead me to question if his theological convictions and understanding of the Gospel line up with the BFM2K.

    It's tough for me because Colson does write some good material.
  • Catherine
    I was not at the convention. These have just been my own observations on these issues. I can tell you that I do know of others that feel exactly the same way I do. I think that there are some SBC pastors out there that really put a muddy footprint in the middle of the SBC, but I do understand that they have the ability to run autonomous. Because of this, it is of utmost importance that Bible believing Christians in those churches hold their pastors accountable for what is being preached from the pulpit. You probably know of those pastors that I speak of. I am attending an SBC church and am under a wonderful expositional pastor/teacher so I am blessed. Not all are having this same blessing.

    As far as the 'Great Commission Resurgence' I will be interested to see what this GC Resurgance will look like. My hope is that it will involve supporting those missionaries that are indigenous to the countries that need to be reached, with no strings attached to the monies that are sent. Our western ways do not work in other countries, especially when we are speaking of Asia. It costs us more money to send out our own missionaries from here (training and keeping them in western comfort) than to support those that are already in those areas. Just my thoughts. Thank you for your blog Mark. I enjoy reading it.
  • abclay
    On Colson:
    Mark, you are right, he couldn't be a deacon or elder at the church that I attend either.

    On Huckabee:
    It's just silliness, the national politics involved. And, not to throw out a litmus test, but Huckabee doesn't denounce the darwinian theory on the origin of species. I don't see how you can say you believe the Bible, and then stutter when asked about evolution.

    Hope you had a good fourth holiday.
  • abclay,

    I know you've been busy. Thanks for stopping by, bro. I had no idea about Huckabee and the origin of species issue.
  • abclay
    Brother Mark,

    I may want to retract that (just a little). Huckabee says he believes the bible, but then he doesn't know if God created in 6 days or 6 days that represents thousands and thousands of years.

    To me, anyways, and I am admittedly a bit cynical about these things, it is doublespeak, trying to appear "smart" while still remaining a hero to those Christians who don't see the problem that Biblical Christianity has with "theistic evolution". Either God created the world in 6 days and nothing died until the fall, or He created it in 6 "ages" and was a purposeful process of death and deformity until man emerged. I don't see how it can be both.

    You can see the confusion yourself at youtube, just type "republican debate evolution" into the search box.

    Anyways, my apologies for my hyperbole.

    kindest regards,

    abclay
  • Bro. Tony,

    I understand your frustration and how you are drawing your conclusions. I'm not sure someone must hold to young earth to escape theistic evolution. We have Christians on both sides of the young earth vs. old earth debate as you know.

    And yeah, I wish he'd take a more solid stance, but we can still give him grace. :)
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