A Christian Worldview from Silicon Valley

On my way to Bible study this morning I heard the news that an atheist group at the University of Texas in San Antonio was giving porn to anyone who would give them a “holy text,” including Bibles, copies of the Qur’an, and perhaps other books of a similar nature.

I thought about flying down to San Antonio to see if I could turn in my 9th edition The Macintosh Bible, but I suspect only the Mac faithful would think of it as a holy text.

Turns out this started back in 2005, and that year it made a big media splash, with Tucker Carlson of MSNBC both reporting on the story and debating a bit with the then president of Atheist Agenda, Thomas Jackson.

This year it seems that several folks took umbrage at this little annual parlor trick, from feminist groups to Muslims to Christians, and protests  and protesters made their presence known in the area. That made the news, and there wasn’t much else happening today, so this tempest in a teapot story made it all the way from Texas to my radio in California.

The best suggestion I’ve heard about how to respond came from Keith Mitchell, one of the elders at PACC, who said we ought to trade Bibles for porn. No doubt someone somewhere in the country, perhaps even in Texas, is already doing that.

But what I found most curious is that people would willingly give up light to receive darkness. Most people, it seems to me, are trying to find their way out of the dark, not descend more deeply into it. Of course my perspective may be skewed by the fact that I’m a preacher, but don’t you find it the same?

In the 2005 interview with Mr. Carlson, Mr. Jackson said they thought of it as “…trading something that’s very, very bad [a Bible] for something that’s only moderately bad [pornographic material].” Apparently even his goal was to move people toward more light, but if so this really is a case of the blind leading the blind, about which Jesus said, “And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

When that happens, we’ll be here with a rope, ready to pull them both out into the daylight.

According to Wikipedia, “Members of the Churches of Christ believe… that the only basis for restoring Christian unity is the Bible.” Therefore, as Batsell Barrett Baxter said, “the whole movement is designed to reproduce in contemporary times the church originally established on Pentecost, A.D. 30.”

Sounds good, eh? However, even the Churches of Christ take a cafeteria approach to Christianity, picking and choosing what Biblical practices to continue today.

Our ladies’ Bible class recently studied Acts chapter 4:

32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had…. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Sounds like communism to me!

We talked about how most attempts at communism fall short of the ideal. We talked about how some practices of the Acts church might reflect their particular time and place. We talked about how their communal attitude was admirable, but not required, as a way for Christians to live.

Hey, wait a minute! I can see dismissing a Biblical practice on cultural grounds (you won’t see me wearing a hat to church), but should we be so quick to dismiss a Biblical practice just because it’s difficult? (After all, it’s been impossible to get rid of denominations, but surely that’s not what God had in mind; see v. 32 above.) I’ll agree that communal living is not required for salvation; however, what would the world be like if everyone shared as the Acts church did?

Our favorite stories are about underdogs pursuing their aspirations against all odds. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Why don’t we Christians do more of that?

What Biblical ideal are you reluctant to add to your plate?

When I came across this church, I was reminded of Ezekiel and the vision of the valley of dry bones.

I wonder…is this really what becomes of churches that are minus the Holy Spirit?

Could life be restored to this church?

more pics

I came across this explanation of the difference between a Conservative Christian and a Progressive Christian at a local church website a couple of days ago.

“You’ve heard the phrase ‘Conservative Christian,’ but what’s a ‘Progressive Christian?’”

• • The life, teachings, and example of Jesus are the core of progressive Christianity.
  • The Bible was not written by God. It was written by people – many of whom were inspired by God’s presence. The Bible is worthy of our deep study, but not unthinking belief.
  • Ultimately, it’s NOT what you believe that makes the difference. It’s how you lead your life. Our members have a wide range of beliefs.”

So, what’s the definition of a conservative Christian?

The Taliban admitted to being responsible for killing a Christian aid worker in Kabul.

Taliban gunment drove by on a motorbike in western Kabul and shot and killed 34-year old Gayle Williams as she walked to work. Her work, helping handicapped Afghans.

“This woman came to Afghanistan to teach Christianity to the people of Afghanistan,” militant spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press. “Our (leaders) issued a decree to kill this woman. This morning our people killed her in Kabul.”

How long, Oh Lord? How long?