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A nation ‘under God’?

Aug 5th, 2010
by misterrichardson.
1 comment

It seems the prestigious American Constitution Society for Law and Policy has decided to do some editing of President Lincoln’s Gettyburg Address. It seems they have a problem with the phrase “under God.”

Robert George has written an excellent article at First Things and he summarizes the article with these words:

The omission of the words “under God” in a document characterized as a founding text by a liberal legal advocacy organization in the context of our contemporary debates over the role of religion in American public life and the meaning of the Constitution’s provisions pertaining to religion is just too convenient. We now have positive evidence that they know exactly what they are doing, and, to achieve the result they want, they are willing to violate scholarly consensus, common sense, and the memorization of generations of schoolchildren.

As a side note, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan has spoken to the Society’s national convention three times in the last six years.

Posted in: History, Liberalism, Politics.
Tagged: ·

“How shall a man judge what to do in such times?

Jul 18th, 2010
by misterrichardson.
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…[Eomer said,] ‘It is hard to be sure of anything among so many marvels. The world is all grown strange. Elf and Dwarf in company walk in our daily fields; and folk speak with the Lady of the Wood and yet live; and the Sword comes back to war that was broken in the long ago ages ere the fathers of our fathers rode into the Mark! How shall a man judge what to do in such times?’

‘As he ever has judged,’ said Aragorn. ‘Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. It is a man’s part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house.’

‘True indeed,’ said Eomer…

- JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers

Posted in: Tolkien.

UM Church almost does the right thing…

Jul 1st, 2010
by misterrichardson.
1 comment

But, then after careful study (“outstanding financial audits“), it was decided that the United Methodist Church will go ahead and continue funding Claremont School of Theology, and accepting the school’s students into its ministry.

Claremont, in case you didn’t remember, has lately drawn the scorn of many concerned Christians because of their sharing of classes with Jewish and Muslim schools. Some have been concerned that this might compromise Christianity, but the fine people at Claremont have assured us that “they are not watering down Christianity but rather, taking ‘Christ’s commands to be peacemakers and to love our neighbor as ourselves seriously’.”

Of course, a glance at the courses being offered at Claremont might cause one to seriously question which kind of Christianity they’re talking about. Here’s a few:

Process Theology and Ethics

Animal Theology and Ethics

Religion and Liberal Democracy

Form-Critical Theory

Contemplative Prayer Group

Origins and Classics in Black and Womanist Theologies

Third World Feminist Liberation Theology

Whitehead and Deleuze

Theologies of Liberation and Preaching

Mysticism and Process Theology

Contemplative and Sentient Living: Theories, Applications, and Psycho-Physiological Effects

Process Theology, Feminism, and Gender

Immigration as a Human Rights Crisis

and (my favorite) Queer Explorations for Pastoral, Theological, and Ethical Issues

Somehow, I don’t find this reassuring.

Posted in: Christianity, Education, Liberalism.
Tagged: ·

Thomas Manton on Psalm 119:1

Jun 2nd, 2010
by misterrichardson.
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When true happiness is sufficiently revealed, we like it not upon God’s terms. The Jews, when our Saviour told them of the bread of God that came down from Heaven to give life to the world, said unto Him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread” (John 6:34): but it is said, upon hearing the conditions of obtaining it, “they murmured, went back, and walked no more with Him” (John 6:66). All would live forever; but when they must follow a despised Christ up and down in the world, and incur censures and dangers, they like none of that: “Yea, they despised the pleasant land; they believed not His word” (Psalm 106:24). The land was a good land, but the way to it was through a howling wilderness. When they heard of the strength and stature of the men, their fortifications, they fell into passion, and murmur, and gave over the pursuit of Canaan. Heaven is a good place, but men must get to it with such difficulty; therefore they are loth to be at the cost. Men would be happy, with that kind of happiness which is true happiness; but not in the way which God propoundeth, being prepossessed with carnal fancies.

Men make laws as tailors do garments, to fit the crooked bodies they serve.

God will not thank them that give more than He requireth… When men’s zeal boils over in a false pretended holiness, it quencheth the fire, and destroys true godliness and religion.

Posted in: Bible, Puritans.
Tagged: ·

Rick Warren vs. Henry Venn

May 30th, 2010
by misterrichardson.
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The last thing many believers need today is to go to another Bible study. They already know far more than they are putting into practice. What they need are serving experiences in which they can exercise their spiritual muscles.

- Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, 2002, pg 231.

There is not a more false maxim than this, though common in almost every mouth, that ‘men know enough, if they would but practice better.’ God says, on the contrary, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” And as, at first, men live in sin, easy and well pleased, because they know not what they do, so, after they are alive and awake, they do little for God, or gain little victory over sin, through the ignorance that is in them. They have no comfort, no establishment, no certainty that they are in the right path, even when they are going to God, because the eyes of their understanding are so little enlightened to discern the things that make for their peace.

- Henry Venn, Letters of Henry Venn, 1763, pg 106.

Posted in: Christianity.
Tagged: ·

Falwell gets it right… and wrong

May 26th, 2010
by misterrichardson.
3 comments

Jonathan Falwell, son of Jerry Falwell and current pastor at his dad’s old church, has stated that “something is wrong in ministry.”

In an article on the Christian Post about Falwell’s Refuel Conference, it states that “Half of pastors would leave the ministry tomorrow if they could. Seventy percent are fighting depression and 90 percent can’t cope with the challenge of ministry.”

“The measurements of success are all messed up,” Falwell said.

So far, I would agree. The ministry is messed up. There are way too many pressures put on pastors that are totally unnecessary, unrealistic and unbiblical. Megachurch pastors are constantly putting themselves forward as those who have “done it right” and will even accuse pastors of small churches of being unfaithful to God. They say that if you just use the right techniques (like they have) you’ll have the same success they have. The very fact that you don’t have a massive membership or budget is an indication that you’re not doing enough. It’s an unrealistic expectation that many pastors know they can never meet.

Falwell states that pastors need to “start focusing on one person, one hurting person, who’s lost, … who’s desperate to hear the Gospel.” He believes that rather than focusing on hundreds or thousands, pastors should focus on one person at a time. He states, “Don’t make it about the lists, the fame, … the respect. Make it about the one.”

However, I believe that the focus on the “one” is the wrong one. The focus should be upon God, not any one person. There’s just as much pressure to get that one saved as there is to get one hundred saved. In fact, there’s probably more pressure. How many pastors have been beat up because they didn’t add one new member to their church last year? They’ve been told there are things holding them back and if they would just start certain programs, they would succeed.

These are the things that cause burnout in the ministry and trying to convert only one is no help. The fact is that pastors don’t convert people at all – God does. Pastors are supposed to be faithful, not successful. Pastors plant, others water, but God gives the increase. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a pastor preaching to the same congregation for years with zero numerical growth as long as he is faithfully preaching God’s Word. Those people who show up for worship week after week need Christ just as much as those who are lost without Christ.

A focus on Christ, not lost people, is the best remedy for a minister’s problems.

Posted in: Christianity.

“…I went very unwillingly…”

May 24th, 2010
by misterrichardson.
1 comment

In the afternoon I was asked to go to St. Paul’s. The anthem was, ‘Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? For there is mercy with thee; therefore shalt thou be feared. O Israel, trust in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his sins.’

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate-Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter to nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for my salvation: And an assurance was given me, that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

- John Wesley’s Journal, May 24, 1738

Posted in: Christianity, Testimony.
Tagged: ·

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