NOTE: I am putting this particular challenge at the top of the Journey blog for awhile as we discuss more and more these topics. The Sunday blogs are still listed each week below.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO FAR - COME ON, THE REST OF YOU, LET'S DIALOGUE AND TALK (JUST NOT DURING WORK TIME!).
I am becoming a "news junkie," specifically internet news - www.msnbc.com, www.foxnews.com, and www.cnn.com - but as a pastor, I am consistently seeing a rise in articles and news stories that deal with religion in some way.
I am amazed to see just exactly how much of our news comes from moral and biblical issues. Let me challenge you, The Journey (and our friends) - I challenge you to look for yourself and see exactly how much of our modern news deals with issues of religion and morality and the Bible. Any mainline news article that you find that dealing with a biblical topic - morals, religion, etc. - post a response to this blog and include the link of your article along with the reason why you believe it deals with a moral or biblical topic - and then if you would, post your response.
I'll begin - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8511662/ - this topic deals with the Constitution and what it has to say about partial birth abortion. I personally believe that the Bible speaks of the sanctity of human life, and that abortion is wrong. In this article, partial-birth abortion, a brutal practice, comes into question.
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Found one!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8543982/
This article speaks about the Christian conversion movement for gay and lesbian people.
I'm not going to comment on the article either way, but it is an example of the media's way of portraying Christians a certain way. When was the last time a mainstream article appeared that portrayed Christians positively? KB
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8386912/
Ok, this one is much more positive! Look at the opportunity to reach teens and young people!!! KB
It seems to me that portraying Christians positively is not newsworthy. Are we not supposed to act correctly? As unbiased as news agencies say they are, they are biased towards a newsworthy event or action vs. a "Oh, the christians at The Journey in Rochester, NH. just participated in the walk for life event". I can see the editor now trying to stifle a yawn as the eager reporter gives him the scoop. But if a christian group becomes involved in something that is a little edgier that's when the news agencies pick up on it.
Shame on us as a culture for driving the news towards this formula.
Thanks Kim for the article and Dave for the insight~isn't that the truth! I don't know that I want to make the news - our mission is much too important to get caught up seeking attention - but regardless, we as "Christians" get plenty of airspace without saying a word. It goes back to my message on "Blessed are the persecuted" a few weeks back. You don't need to say anything to be opposed. As Christians, our affiliation with Jesus Christ makes us light - and the world according to John 3:17-21 hates light and loves darkness. So if the world hates light, and we are light when we stand for morality and the Bible - then the world hates us. It's guilt by association in the eyes of the culture.
Whe/if the day comes, God give us the courage to continue to stand as children of the Light.
I should correct my last post and the very last thing I said - "When and AS we are called on to be children of the Light - regardless of the circumstance or result - may we have the courage to stand. As we learned on Sunday with Bill Crawford from Ephesians 6:13 - "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything...Stand."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8587435/
Here is an article talking about further discoveries with biblical scrolls in the Middle East.
Here is an interesting article about a study done that "proves" that the power of prayer is non-existent. Although the study is a valid study it begs the question, is it just the people praying or is it the sick patient that also needs to be part of the equation, ie. is the sick person a believer vs. a non-believer.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/14/AR2005071401695.html
Well, no one asked US to pray for the people mentioned in this study?! Prayer isn't a mantra, or a "hail Mary," or a last option. Prayer for believers is the first line of defense and offense! It is in meekness releasing control to God who can do above and beyond that which we ask or think! Prayer is coming before Almighty God - not positive thinking or using "the force"! And when we pray in earnest and humility, God listens and answers.
It is amazing the world's desire to not believe in anything outside of what can be seen or touched. The discrediting of faith is common because if there is no God, than there is no higher authority. And it is not that God isn't revealing Himself - quite the opposite. It's just that we humans try to discredit God - we are like Jim Carrey's character in the movie "Bruce Almighty" when he says, "God, I need a sign!" and a sign truck pulls out in front of him with all sorts of warnings...and he MISSES IT!
James 5:16 says, "...pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results."
When we pray for each other, no matter what the distance or relationship we have with the person prayed for, and no matter exactly how God decides to answer, there is much good brought about. Furthermore, the lack of physical healing now does not mean a prayer is ineffective. Healing can take place in many realms on many levels - physical healing is ONLY one aspect of healing.
But one other question along with this article - if someone is prayed for, and they get better through what doctors would say are "natural" means, does that discount prayers, or God? Does God ever use(has God ever used) natural means (medicine, natural events, etc.) to bring about supernatural results? What do you think?
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050723/NEWS07/507230356
I'll be brief but here's a real 'thinker'. I think the main issue to ponder and confront is stated in the 2nd to last paragraph.
Rod,
I guess the question really lies in, does the Bible unequivocally speak out against homosexuality and abortion? Therein lies the "great political divide." I don't agree with everything the Christian right does, nor do I endorse every political candidate upheld by Christian conservatives. I believe we have a long way to go in REALLY being the church, and the "left" has done better at meeting social needs than the right has.
One interesting note about the article: the conservative Christians are called "fundamentalists" - brings to mind "Islamic fundamentalists" i.e. "extremists." The non-conservatives Christians, those with a liberal view of the Bible, are called "progressives" - i.e. forward thinkers, in touch with today. Labeling is HUGE - I even think of Orwell's 1984 when big brother would re-label thinks to change public thought.
Will I be thought of as a fundamentalist like an Islamic fundamentalist is thought of?
Christian Exodus. A seccessionist group looking to form its own bible based government in South Carolina.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,129023,00.html
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