John Hagee Backpedals on Rome

In today's USA Today, an article reports how Rev. John Hagee has issued an apology for his anti-Catholic statements. Now that the public spotlight is on the popular preacher, he faces the daunting task of trying to explain his politically incorrect views to a broader audience than his usual constituency. So the waffling begins. With respect to previously referring to the Roman religion as an "apostate church" and the "great whore [of Babylon]," Rev. Hagee has fallen all over himself as he stands by his favored presidential candidate. The article goes on to say:

Hagee said he now better understood that his use of those descriptions, taken from the Book of Revelations, are "a rhetorical device long employed in anti-Catholic literature and commentary."

Ah, thank goodness Hagee has seen the light and realized that some people might foolishly have gotten the silly notion that he thought ill of the Roman religion! They might have mistaken him for an historic Protestant or something. Now that that little "misunderstanding" has seen the light of day and been corrected, we can all sing hands and sing Kum-ba-yah and go on pretending that theology doesn't matter. Nothing helps smooth over doctrine like political expediency.

Another Church Lures Potential Converts with Free Gas

In today's USA Today, I read about another church that's holding a gas lottery giveaway in order to lure people into their revival services. Old Charles Finney would have been proud of this latest effort to use "excitements sufficient to induce conversion." And not merely conversion, but combustion, too!

I guess First Baptist isn't part of the Founders organization.

The Racism of Rev. Jeremiah Wright

This isn't another sensational post implying that Barack Obama is some covert Muslim bent on introducing sharia law to the US. It's really not even about Obama, except for the fact that the man who might be our next president has been tutored under a pastor who does espouse a racist "Black Power" theology (although theology, as you'll hear, is really a misleading term). I've been listening to the most recent podcast (link below) by Dr. James White, who has been reading extensive quotations from one James H. Cone.

For those not familiar with Cone (and I wasn't until my morning drive to work this morning), he is an outspoken black proponent of racist views on Christianity and the meaning of "blackness." Rev. Wright, the controversial former pastor of Obama's church, is an outspoken advocate of Cone's writings. If Cone were a white author speaking about the negative influence of "Black Christianity," you would probably associate his name with the likes of David Duke. The book that Dr. White is reading from is entitled Black Theology and Black Power. White plays a clip from an interview Rev. Wright did on Hannity & Colmes, in which Wright repeatedly asks one of them if they had read any of Cone's books.

If you're concerned about the controversy over Wright's past comments, and his influence over his long-time parishioners like Obama, it would well be worth your time to download the free edition of The Dividing Line MP3 and listen to some disturbing pontifications by one of Wright's seminal influences.

Muslim Pots and Dutch Kettles

In a hypocritical, self-serving demand for religious tolerance, several Muslim countries have expressed official outrage over the anti-Islamic film produced by Dutch politician, Geert Wilders. Although the Dutch government has gone on record asserting that Wilders' views do not reflect national policy towards Muslims, this official statement concerning Wilders' views is insufficient to assuage their outcry. In addressing the U.N, a Pakistani representative demanded that the producer of the controversial film be prosecuted for his insult to Islam. The Dutch, while distancing themselves from Wilders' position, have been clear in asserting his right to freedom of speech under their own law.

The blatant hypocrisy of some of the nations represented is grotesque beyond words. Countries like Iran routinely persecute members of minority religious groups, particularly members of the Baha'i religion, and have been guilty of atrocious human rights violations over the years. In Saudi Arabia, Islam is not just the official state religion - it is the only religion tolerated. In countries where Islam predominates, other religious traditions are at best tolerated - their adherents officially treated as second-class citizens and forbidden to proselytize their neighbors - and at worst are persecuted or killed for their refusal to submit to Allah. Conversion to Christianity in such countries often means death for those who profess faith in Christ.

And these are the people telling the Dutch they need to clean house? It's hard to believe they can make these assertions without cracking a wicked smile.

No Religion in "Juno"

Saturday afternoon my wife and I occasioned our usual haunt, the local dollar theater. There wasn't a lot to choose from, but she picked Juno (last week I picked National Treasure 2). Juno was an interesting and artsy sort of movie, from the sketchy pseudo-animation of the opening credits to the soft, whimsical vocals of the soundtrack.

The movie was billed as a comedy/ drama/ romance, and took us into the life of a sharp-witted, smart-alecky teenage girl who finds herself saddled with an unplanned pregnancy. As the story unfolds, she decides against getting an abortion and finds a young couple interested in adopting her baby. The situation becomes complicated by her ongoing involvement in the lives of this couple, particularly after the husband becomes enamored with Juno upon discovering they share many common artistic interests. Throughout the film, Juno's candid comments and quirky outlook on life provide for comic relief in a way that seems to come naturally for the actress.

There was a lot to like about the characters, and the way that the movie doesn't concern itself with political correctness. I really liked the fact that Juno isn't wearing a helmet when riding her bike; it's refreshing to see a modern movie depicting reality rather than moonlighting as a safety video. When Juno visits an abortion clinic, she meets a classmate who is protesting outside. Her presumably religious friend - who, non-stereotypically is Asian and female, not a Caucasian male as I am supposed to be ashamed to be - tells Juno that her unborn baby has fingernails, which seems to resonate in her mind as she enters the clinic. After sitting in the waiting area, Juno suddenly decides against going through with the procedure and flees the clinic much to the joy of her pro-life classmate.

Overall, I think Juno was well scripted and produced, and the characters were mostly believable. There were some positive messages in the movie, particularly concerning Juno's choice to carry her baby to term. In the end, she realizes that the baby's father is the friend she's loved all along, and he proves his love to her throughout her ordeal. Juno learns that her step-mom is actually pretty cool, and her father is also a nurturing figure in his own way.

There is one image, however, that I can't get out of my mind. About 12 minutes into the movie, there's a scene where Juno is rummaging through her school locker. While it only appears for a few seconds, there's a sticker inside her locker that appears to read "No Religion." [Update: The sticker actually reads "Bad Religion," and is the name of a punk rock band, as a reader has pointed out. That doesn't really alter my original comments, however.] Right below that phrase is a picture of a cross contained within a red circle, and a line through it - like a No Smoking sign. I've pasted a screen shot of the image at the top of this blog entry, although the text doesn't show up clearly. Now why was that in there? I can hear some people objecting that this is an inconsequential decoration in the locker of a high school student. Maybe. But somehow I doubt that the movie producers just randomly grabbed that particular sticker as a prop. There's a message in that sticker, and it's not one that reflects favorably on the faith of many American moviegoers.

For those who might think it silly of me to point out such a thing, consider the parallel image of an anti-semitic symbol displayed in the Ukraine. If Juno had opened her locker, and there was a Star of David with a red slash through it, would anyone take offense at that? I would suggest that if such a symbol had been placed in her locker, the Jewish Anti-Defamation League would have been all over it in a heartbeat. Remember that Jewishness is not an ethnicity - there are converts to Judaism from many other ethnic groups, not just physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So if anyone is going to take exception to even a fleeting anti-semitic display on the grounds of "hate speech," surely they ought to take umbrage at the most basic symbol of Christianity being attacked as if it were a cancer-inducing substance.

It saddens me that an otherwise charming, coming-of-age movie has to take underhanded swipes at the rawest symbol of my faith. Don't tell me it's not important what details a producer includes in a movie; when you've got 100 minutes to tell a story, every detail is significant. As a Christian who enjoys the arts, it concerns me that so many young people think it's impossible to be both creative and a Christian - as if Christianity were all about humorless conformists who drive SUVs and buy cheesy, mass-produced, propagandist "artwork" from Christian Stores. Let's not allow those who hate Christ to make all the good movies. I spend a lot of time enjoying amateur artwork over on deviantArt, and I see artists denying the God who gave them their skills almost every day. Just last weekend I saw a picture of a smirking individual wearing a t-shirt that read: "If Jesus comes back, we'll kill him again."

It's time for Christians to get back to making art that is authentic and communicates the wonder of God's creative mind. In the words of my favorite hymn: This is my Father's world. So let those who glorify him make beautiful art that reflects the majesty of our Creator in all areas of life.

God Always Tells Me Stuff I Want To Hear

One thing that has always amazed me about some super spiritual people is how God always seems to confirm exactly what it was they wanted to hear in the first place. Among charismatics, for example, "God" might tell certain people that they should abruptly leave a church they are attending. By an amazing stroke of coincidence, it turns out that some kind of intense, interpersonal conflict has made their imminent departure an attractive option at the exact same moment that God tells them to leave! Some people walk so closely with the Lord, it would seem, that their wills are almost indistinguishable from his will.

In the 19th century, the leaders of the Mormon religion found themselves at odds with the United States government over the issue of polygamy. Joseph Smith allegedly received a vision in 1843 which established the spiritual basis for the practice. But in the face of mounting pressure, the LDS received a new revelation in 1890 that the practice was to be discontinued. As it turns out, "God," the LDS leaders and the US government were in complete harmony on this issue at the exact same time. What remarkable providence that all the authorities involved were suddenly in one accord! God's timetable called for the modern age of American polygamy to last for a period of 47 years, and so it did.

In today's news, more members of a "Russian doomsday cult" (although they use the more nuanced appellation, "The True Russian Orthodox Church"), emerged from their cave after being holed up for 6 months. Although they had previously threatened violence if compelled to leave, their cave has begun to collapse. By an amazing stroke of luck, those emerging from the cave explained that they had received a divine revelation overnight that they should depart thence immediately. It's a good thing "God" told them to come out or they might have remained and been crushed underground.

While it may be amusing to observe the self-serving claims people make about God's revelation, it is a tragic thing when men presume to speak for the Almighty and put their words in His mouth. Where God speaks in Scripture about events to come, the prophecy may be fulfilled days, months or even centuries later... but it does come to pass. When men presume to speak for God today, they are usually trying to find justification for their actions based upon current conditions and their own perceived best interest.

If you have a message from the Lord for me, please check it against Scripture before opening your mouth and proving yourself to be a false prophet. That's no April fools, either.

Global Threats to Freedom of Speech

I generally avoid political topics in my blog, except in cases where there is a direct connection to religious issues. I've been following the story of Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, with some interest. Wilders has taken a harsh stand against the advance of Islam in his country, arguing that the Koran is a danger to freedom and a book that incites violence. He is behind the production of a 15-minute film that warns the West against the dangers of Islam.

Predictably, this film and Wilders' views generally have unleashed a storm of anger from outraged Muslims. The concern is that unlike Christian outrage in the West (which is generally met with scorn and mockery by media pundits and secularists), this film has potential to incite further violence from adherents of the "religion of peace." Other European governments have been quick to denounce Wilders' views for fear of the unrest that will surely result (recall the fate of filmmaker Theo van Gogh). They point out that the majority of Muslims oppose terrorism, which is no doubt true. On the other hand, even Westernized Muslims have sometimes been slow to condemn terror in the name of Allah. (The American organization CAIR seems to be a notable exception to this trend.) And there are many signs that as Islam spreads in Europe it is marked by further radicalization and violence. Even if moderate-to-liberal Muslims in Western countries voice their opposition to terrorism, their Eastern counterparts - who take the Koran at face value - do not seem to uphold such a charitable view of infidels.

In an article appearing in today's USA Today, Arab and Muslim leaders have called for a binding international law "to prevent insults against religions." Thankfully, the European Union's ministers have rejected that call... for now, at least. In their response, they stated that "Feeling offended is no excuse for aggression or threats." The irony is that those taking most umbrage against Western "insults" to their faith are those most likely to express their disapproval with the sword - at least in certain countries where "justice" is quickly served against rape victims and rapists alike.

And at the risk of sounding alarmist, we should be asking the question: When those who are now calling for laws against "insulting" religion are in the majority in Europe (which is no longer a question of "if" but "when"), what will life be like for those who don't submit to Allah? Will their religious freedom be upheld by those demanding these laws today? If you think that is the case, I suggest taking a trip to Saudi Arabia with your Bible in hand.

Exchange with a LifeChurch.tv Pastor

Within hours of posting my last blog entry, I received an email from another pastor in the LifeChurch.tv network (the Knoxville campus opened yesterday, giving away free $20 gas cards to visitors). I'm not sure how he found my blog entry so quickly, although I can imagine that other satellite churches are keeping an eager eye on internet chatter regarding their organization. Besides providing me with some links to online resources, he made an interesting comment: "I have to admit that the gas card thing is pretty funny." According to this pastor, this is not a standard approach for LifeChurch.tv network affiliates.

It wasn't entirely clear from the context whether he meant "ha ha" funny or "weird" funny, but I'm pretty sure he was mildly amused. I sent back the following reply in an effort to explain my criticism of the practice. Unfortunately, he hasn't yet replied. So in case anyone seeks further clarification, I'm posting the entirety of my response below. I think this is an important issue because the evangelical world has invested tremendous stock in Finneyan "New Measures" for the past 150+ years. While the gas card promotion is over the top (although a quick Google search reveals it's become a disturbingly common practice), it's merely indicative of a deeper and ongoing trend. Nineteenth-century revivalism has assimilated 21st-century, high-tech social networking.

Without further ado, here's my reply to the pastor. I invite any thoughtful comments:

Hello (Pastor),

Thank you for your email. I was honestly very surprised to get such a quick reaction to my blog entry (actually, I'm surprised whenever anyone reads it at all). In any case, I appreciate your feedback and the links you sent.

I guess I just don't view the gas card giveaway as "funny". It's not because I don't have a sense of humor - I possess a fairly robust, even warped, sense of humor, particularly when it comes to satirical writing. But with respect to the gas card, I find the approach to be callously anti-biblical in its basic assumptions. The simple fact is that the Gospel itself is an offense to the natural man. And I don't believe there's anything we can do to "sweeten the deal" that's going to help the Holy Spirit nudge a sinner towards regeneration. It all comes down to the biblical injunction that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. So, as Christians who desire to see converts, we have but one primary task to do: proclaim the Gospel.

A little over a year ago I left a large and trendy church here in Knoxville that is part of Bill Hybel's Willow Creek Association. One of the key distractions that caused me to leave a congregation where my wife and I had worshiped for nearly 10 years was their sickening, slavish devotion to the Cult of Relevancy. There was a time when I would have agreed that the church must seek to be relevant, and - in a very limited way - I still believe that. But when the church relies on secular marketing methods, trendy fads (let's chuck most worship music that's older than Y2K), and slick gimmickry instead of focusing on the centrality of the Cross and the absolute, transcendent holiness of God, we have abandoned our true calling. Who cares if we can pack an auditorium by giving away gas cards? Are we giving them Jesus or trying to prove that being "spiritual" can be hip and will fit their active lifestyles?

Giving away gas cards, in my opinion, is one of the worst things we can do to attract the lost. Sadly, the world sees through our slogans and efforts to be ultra cool. Just watch a few episodes of The Simpsons or Family Guy for their reaction to our efforts to market Jesus. Being a Christian is rarely cool. But Jesus is always relevant, even without Flash-laden websites, fog machines and Howie Mandel lookalike pastors.

In Christ,

Lance

More About the "Church of the Free Gas Cards"

In yesterday's post I mentioned hearing of a new church opening locally on Easter weekend. It turns out that this is more than a rumor. The story was reported in a local newspaper, and the official church site can be found here. A billboard posted along my way to work announces the opening of "Real Life Church."

It's hard to get a handle on any of their theological distinctives, as their statement of faith is broadly orthodox and fairly unremarkable. I've noticed a tendency, however, for certain large ministries to officially uphold a more-or-less orthodox statement of faith even as they move in a decidedly unorthodox direction (Joel Osteen's statement of faith is a notable example of this trend). This certainly bears watching for Lifechurch.tv.

What does set them apart is hinted at in their motto: "One Church, Multiple Locations." According to the website, they currently have 12 churches in various locations (presumably Knoxville will make #13, as it's not yet listed). Their worship services are conducted by live satellite, linking all of the congregations at once. Additionally, they feature an "Internet Campus," which appears to allow for participation in their regular services. Not sure if this is what the Bible had in mind when we are told not to neglect meeting together, one purpose of which is to encourage one another in the faith (Hebrews 10:25).

As a promotional event, they are giving away free $20 gas cards to those in attendance. Whether the church is affiliated with any major gas and oil entity has not been disclosed. Picture is for illustration purposes only. Any similarity to bribery and cheap marketing gimmicks in the name of evangelistic fervor is purely coincidental.

The Pragmatic Use of Religion

According a study cited in yesterday's edition of The Daily Mail (UK), Europeans who attend church and pray are generally happier than those who don't. This increased overall satisfaction in life is attributed to religion's capacity to provide an emotional buffer from the world's hardships. While the measure of effectiveness varies according to religious affiliation, the general conclusion is that religious practice is good for you. Like a multivitamin.

Unfortunately, this kind of story will be applauded by the Oprahs of the world, where the possession of "faith" is considered an asset, regardless of the content or object of that faith. What are Christians to make of this kind of message? I would never point to this study and tell my unchurched friends, "See? If you come to church, you'll feel better about yourself!" That mentality represents everything that's wrong with man-centered religious tradition. The question is not "What's in it for me?" but "What does God require of a person?". As long as Christians assent to prostituting our faith as a metaphorical carrot, we are only luring people by appealing to their carnal appetites. Just yesterday I heard about a local church that is purportedly giving away free gas cards to entice people to attend church on Easter. Did Jesus die for your sins or for your Honda? If they come for a free gas card, what will it take for them to join as members?

Jesus was quite popular when he was in the business of giving away free bread and fish; a massive crowd followed after him. But his popularity quickly plummeted and all but a handful of his disciples abruptly abandoned him shortly after he had fed thousands. Why? When Jesus pointed out that "you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves" (John 6:26, ESV), things kind of started to go downhill for the popular teacher. When he proceeded to tell those gathered that he is the true Bread of Life, and those who partake of his body and blood will never die, he directly challenged their own sense of self-sufficiency and claimed a role for himself that no one by God could occupy. In the verses that follow, we see how the crowd takes offense at his teaching and soon it appears that most of them leave. It appears Jesus should have taken some lessons in church growth from Bill Hybels.

There are forms of religion that might make a person feel like they have a "buffer" from the difficulties of life. Those religious practices might indeed make one feel better about coping in a hostile world, but they are not what Jesus offers us. Jesus promised that our lives would get a lot more difficult as a result of following him. May Christians not misrepresent the reality that is Jesus in exchange for therapeutic forms of spirituality that offer nothing but false comfort. We must offer people what they need, not what they want.

John Piper on the Prosperity Gospel

Proclaiming the Entire Story of Redemption

The common perception is that all of this comes down to the perception that our children are lacking self-esteem, resulting to anti-social behavior, violence and dysfunctional lives. We have thus moved out of the modern world into the therapeutic world.

Oftentimes, what I post here isn't timely - at least not with respect to commenting on breaking news. But this post is about a very timely commentary delivered last year by historical theologian David Wells. I stumbled across this piece while browsing the Founders website tonight, and I was struck by the clarity of his observation. Today's would-be evangelist in the United States can no longer assume that sin and redemption is part of a language understood by his hearers in a postmodern world. Biblical Christians must act like missionaries if we want to be understood by our neighbors.

Your Best T-Shirt Now!

I joined the masses shuffling through our local Walmart last night. In general, I try to avoid trips to Walmart unless my wife and I are doing our monthly "big spend," where we get all of our consumable household supplies in one massive spree. I feel a twinge of guilt for shopping at a store that has done so much to homogenize our country and which undermines the health of native businesses. A piece of American culture dies whenever a new mega-Walmart is built in a rural community. But like most working class people , I find it hard to resist getting the best possible price. So I sell my soul there on a semi-regular basis.

As I was being herded along the white tile walkway with the other zombie shoppers, I couldn't help but notice that this particular store has a rack full of Christian t-shirts in a prominent location facing their grocery department. One of them read "Got Jesus? It's hell without him." When I was about 18 or 19, I probably would have thought that shirt was cool if I found it in a Christian bookstore (except now they're just "Christian Stores" because they've found they can make more money off religious trinkets and mass-produced propagandist "art"). But I never would have dreamed of finding a shirt like this one prominently displayed at Wal-Mart.

Maybe it's due in part to the fact that this is the Bible belt, but it sure seems strange that t-shirts bearing kitschy references to Jesus are sold in a store better known for low prices on dog food and discount prescription drugs. Why should I be surprised? When Jesus "sells" well enough to be featured on front-facing clothes racks at a mainstream retail store, is it possible we have misunderstood his message? Even maybe just a teensy bit?

Jesus has become just another mass-marketed product, a choice among other shirts bearing Nascar emblems, the classic outdoorsman's print of a trout struggling heroically on a fishing-line and Nike logos. "Try Jesus. He's at least as good as Budweiser," or "Choosy mothers choose Jesus."

The problem is that Jesus, as the Creator of the universe, will not allow himself to be folded up and placed in a box, on a pallet, along with all manner of baubles and sold at discount prices. He demands that we believe in him, take up our crosses and follow him. He promises eternal life, and he also promises that his followers will be hated by the world.

When Christian t-shirts become popular enough to expand beyond the traditionally much smaller religious market into the Goliath that is Walmart, a massive cultural transformation is underway. The Gospel has been reduced, grotesquely distorted and recast as something other than what it really is: a revolutionary proclamation that the 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity invaded time and space around 2,000 years ago in order to expiate the wrath of God and to provide himself as the Lamb who made propitiation for the sins of God's people. And when he talked about drawing men to himself by being "lifted up," we can be sure he wasn't talking about a clothing rack.

Maybe Walmart can mass-market a t-shirt that says that. Then again, it's not quite as catchy as ripping off the milk industry's ad campaign in a crass attempt to move merchandise.

America's Religious Landscape

Al Mohler has written a thought-provoking commentary on the recent Pew Forum survey regarding religious life in America. His piece expresses many of my own deep concerns about religious trends in America. I highly recommend it.

Although I've quoted from it before, this might be a good time to remind my friends of an insightful book about the religious perceptions of America's youth: Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers (2005). If you have teenagers, or work with youth in any capacity, this book is a must read. Today's youth have even less connection to a specific body of truth than do today's adults. The problem that Dr. Mohler addresses in his blog is only going to grow as these young people move into adulthood and begin families of their own.

Bottom line: teenagers, regardless of their parents' religious affiliation, are embracing a spirituality that is quite apart from a biblical worldview - a religious belief that the researchers call "moralistic, therapeutic deism." Their findings are based upon a survey of more than 4,000 teenagers throughout the U.S. I can't recommend Soul Searching enough. Seriously, you really, really, really need to read this book. (Is that enough "reallys"?)