"Expect from your shepherds not that they would rally you behind political . . ."

As is happening around our country, from time to time these days, the citizens of Minnesota are being called on to make a decision about the definition of marriage. Two leaders in the church are being called on the political-activism carpet, for what is being seen as their non-participation in the campaign.  Leith Anderson is former president of the National Association of Evangelicals.  John Piper is the long-time pastor of Bethlehem Church.  Of the two, I have much more familiarity with Piper, so I'll limit my comments to him.
The controversy concerning the well-known preacher centers around these words delivered from the Bethlehem pulpit.

Your Pastor Is Not Your Political Activist

  "Expect from your shepherds not that they would rally you behind political candidates or legislative initiatives, but they would point you over and over again to God and to his word, and to the cross."

At the risk of exposing myself to the same kind of criticism as my Minnesota colleague, I basically agree.  Having said that, I feel a bit like a member of one of the old women's lib. groups standing at the entrance to a restaurant, wondering why no gentleman will open the door.  "Because you told us not to.  That's why."
Unfortunately, Evangelicals have become known for the politics associated with their movement, more than the Evangel--the Gospel--the Good news--from which the group's name comes.  I'm not saying Piper did this.  I don't think he did.  But he and Iare associated with a movement.  I didn't sign up to join, but it is the Theological pigeon-hole where I best fit.  Ask the average person-on-the-street about Evangelicals and they will likely begin their description with the political rather than the Biblical.  Sad!
Some critics of Piper are making comparisons to the ineffective church in Nazi Germany during the rise of Adolf Hitler.  No.  I think the case can be made that the problem with the church in Germany was not that they were not sufficiently involved in politics, but that they were involved up to their clerical collars.  Many leaders in that church made the mistake of thinking that a political leader, and regime, could "fix it."  Wrong. Piper has spoken unequivocally about the Bible truth on marriage.  I think he is right when he says to his congregation.  "It's up to you."
As a less well-known pastor, me, recently said: "The battle will not be won in the political realm, but in the heart."

John, if you would like to come, Sunday, and say "Amen!" you are welcome.  I speak on what our response to the Debate on the definition of marriage should be.

  

It's STTA

1/21, Thoughts on Inaugural Day:

Two words of warning:

1. This STTA is long.
2. It is much more political than STTA generally is.

If you walk out now, you won't offend.

I am watching the Second Inaugural Ceremony of President Barrack Obama. Like Senator Lamar Alexander all Americans ought to be very thankful for the peaceful transition of power that once again takes place in our nation. Those who worked hard for the President's reelection can properly take satisfaction in the fact that their candidate won a hard fought election. All of us who acknowledge the Supreme Lordship of Jesus Christ ought to renew our commitment to "render honor" to our President as well as other governmental leaders. We should pray "for [our President] and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."

The reach back a century-and-half to the second inaugural of Abraham Lincoln is obvious. For the first Chief-executive of the United States self-identified as African-American to reference that historic occasion is entirely appropriate. I am proud that we, as a nation have come to this place in our long, and yet unfinished attempt to deal, in a just and honorable way, with the racial divisions and conflicts that have come as a result of history. To read my personal thoughts about how close the past is to the present read here.

There is much about what is going on today for which I can be proud and thankful, and I am.  Having said that, however, I am concerned that while our President proclaims an allegiance to liberty, and appropriate personal freedoms there are words that he speaks and actions that he is taking that cause me concern.

I am prepared to extend a bit of rhetorical license to any public speaker, but when a well-educated and articulate man--and our President is both--gives a speech that has been vetted as thoroughly as this inaugural address has been, one must assume that what the President says, he means. The President clearly stated that same-sex attraction is a matter of birth. I do not doubt the President's sincerity, and I join him in a commitment to treat all people with fairness and kindness. The point he makes, though, is one that is properly open to debate. The President falls into the pattern of many in the early Twenty-first Century--if enough people, especially people with cultural capital, say something often enough it is true. Just as past presidents have been wrong, sometimes tragically so, this one can be as well. His path from his view of the origin of sexual attraction, to his endorsement of the redefinition of marriage, that his speech contained, is not nearly as smooth or clear as his rhetoric. To imply that it is, does us all a great disservice.

While our President eloquently spoke of personal liberty, the wheels of his administration are busily grinding others into the dust of liberty lost. The President is promoting policies, and pushing forward a program that requires people to pay for healthcare procedures, so called, that clearly violate their conscience, and require them to deny the doctrine of their church, and, I would maintain, clear Christian, Biblical teaching. The provisions of what is popularly called "Obamacare" requires employers, like Hobby Lobby, and even some detentions of churches (here) to provide coverage for what I would regard as the wrongful taking of human life. This is wrong. (See here to read how one state, my own, is seeking to address this.) The rationale behind this requirement of Obamacare is even more scientifically suspect than his statement about homosexuality. The idea that human life begins at the time of implantation is as arbitrary as the old primitive notion that life begins at birth, or quickening. The scientific foundation of the prolife movement is that life begins at conception.  At the least, that is a credible conclusion.  It ought not be arbitrarily, and bureaucratically put aside.  Objections to the requirements of Obamacare requiring employers to make provision for post-conception, termination of pregnancy, a part of the "health-care" provided to employees ought to be respected. While I do not share the the view of many (the Roman Catholic Church being a notable example) that all artificial contraception is wrong, I do uphold their right to hold those views. People who hold such views should not be forced to violate their consciences in this regard.

On this historic national day, I renew my commitment to pray for my President. Part of my prayer will be for greater clarity of thinking on his part, and for the defeat of some policies that he is pushing forward. I commit myself to do so with as much grace and kindness as I can muster.

There is much more, but for now it's

STTA.

The Most Important Thing I'll Do On Election Day:

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT I have no doubt, that right now, some enterprising business people are gearing up the machinery for a new batch of "Don't blame me" stuff.  You know, bumper-stickers, T-shirts, etc. that say "DON'T BLAME ME.  I VOTED FOR  xxxxx.  Over the past months we have seen incredible examples of blame dodging.  If one is going to be a successful candidate in our modern political world she or he needs to suit up in Teflon.  Every accusation needs to be dodged or parried with "Not my fault," or a "There is the blame!" I just read a prayer by an incredibly Godly, very effective government operative.  What a contrast! If ever one could claim, "It's not my fault!" it was Daniel.  He was just a kid when a conquering force took him and made him a servant to the victorious king.  Everything we read about him indicates that he was a man of sterling character, yet when he prayed (Daniel 9): He confessed the sin of his people.  He saw that the state they were in was because they had not heeded God's warnings. Rather than whine, he acknowledged that what had happened and was happening to his people was just and right. His conclusion was that God keeping His word was much more important than the difficulties in which his people found themselves. (Pretty much the whole prayer) After his confession, Daniel went on to humbly ask the Lord for relief.  He stepped up and did the most effective thing he could do--he prayed.  There was no "You owe me!"  Rather Daniel made this plea:  " . . incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion." (Daniel 9:18) I've heard a number of campaigners and talking news-heads tell me that voting is the most important thing I can do today.  Well, I do plan to vote, but that is far from the most important activity I'll be involved in.  Daniel and I are going to pray.  I encourage you to join us. It's STTA. Find lot's of information about how God stepped into our world to meet needs we cannot meet on our own here.

What, Exactly, Are You Conserving?

Wed. 10/14
I run across a lot of folk who take pride in being conservative. Likewise, I frequently meet people who spit out the word as an insult—in the same category as accusing someone of not loving his mother.
So, is it virtuous to be a conservative, or is it a vice?
It all depends: If what is being conserved is a good thing, then conservatism is wonderful. If not, then not so much. I know of folk who claim to be defenders of the faith, but the faith they are defending has been wrong for hundreds of years. I find little to praise in that kind of conservatism.
Some folk describe me, and the Covington Bible Church, as conservative. If you are speaking of politics, then concerning the church, that is totally wrong, because other than truly Biblical issues, we really don’t have a position. And even I am often uncomfortable with the title. Sure, I continue to believe and teach the unchanging truth of the Bible, but beyond that I see a lot that needs to be changednot conserved.
It’s STTA.