The Day After
The election is now history. The people have decided and the victory of Barack Obama is decisive. Yet scripture declares a truth even more decisive: The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. (Ps. 29:10)
However you may feel about the outcome of the election we know that God is working his eternal purposes and that He has not turned a deaf ear toward His people. The growing voice of united prayer emerging all across this nation will be answered by our God. The cries for Him to have mercy on the nation, and in particular to come to the aid of the most vulnerable will not be ignored by our compassionate heavenly Father. I am undaunted in pressing in to prayer for awakening among the people of God, and I hope that you will see how critical it is for us to never give up (Luke 18: 1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart).
Our hope is in God alone. However, our strategy to see righteousness established is not simply a matter of praying and waiting. We are compelled by the Word to marry our prayers to wise action which puts our ‘money’, so to speak where our mouth is. We are not ideologues, but as James exhorts us: What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)
Ideology and Action must be one.
One of the very first things I am proposing to the church is that we seek someone in our midst who will act as a liaison to the local crisis pregnancy center. We need someone at Lamb who will ‘own’ this and help us as a congregation to move beyond our current ‘modest’ support for this ministry and take us to a new level of action. What good is it to be strident in our pro-life rhetoric and not have it translate into actual meaningful assistance to those who have decided that they will bring an unexpected pregnancy to term? That volunteer person would help us to know the needs of the center and to help us plug in wherever we are able. Pray and ask the Lord if you might be that person. I suspect that it is a task that would be quite manageable, and the key thing is to make the entire congregation aware of ways in which we can help.
It takes theological savvy to think ‘Christianly’
Secondly, I think there would be great benefit in having a forum, and maybe several in which those who are interested, sit down together to study and discuss how a Christian World and Life view actually impacts political positions. We as Christians typically only consider a few obvious moral issues, however it seems to me there is value in seeking to dig out a broader paradigm of how to think ‘Christianly’ about a whole range of issues? We would have some simple guidelines, like agreeing that this kind of discussion has to be done with gentleness and respect and a commitment to seek a genuinely Biblical framework.
There are some hopeful signs. The election of an African American president can have a positive impact on the way in which black and white Christians relate to one another. However, it is an challenge to me to celebrate one thing - the obvious significance of electing an African-American president while at the same time being very sad at the prospects of a bill like the Freedom of Choice Act becoming law. While on the one hand we have a country which has abused, and mistreated people of color for nearly our entire history, on the other hand I can’t rejoice at the thought that our new president might help to bring about an increase in the taking of innocent life.
Why the ban on homosexual marriage matters…
Next, three states passed bans on homosexual marriage. This is more than likely where this battle will have to be fought, state by state. The ultimate effect of the legitimizing of homosexual marriage isn’t so much its impact on marriage but the long-term effect on coming generations of having to treat homosexual pathology as normal. Consider how the change in sexual morality has transformed our culture in ways that are devastating. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s there were still an overwhelming majority of young people who were virgins prior to marriage. I recall this clearly in my own high school of about 4000 students. Then slowly over the next few years ‘free love’ became the motto of a generation. Then steadily something changed. Virginity was no longer considered a virtue. Now think about the changes which have come as a result of this - its almost impossible to calculate them all. Permissiveness regarding sexual purity lies behind so many social ills. Abortion became a matter of necessity as a result of the much higher need of woman to deal with unexpected pregnancies directly connected to the change in sexual morality. How closely do you think the rate of divorce in the US is tied to the way in which sexual intimacy has clouded the way in which people ‘fall in love’ and end up marrying someone to whom they are emotionally tied, but for whom they are poorly suited. This is a cataclysmic transformation of our entire social order. It crept up on us and changed the entire playing field. It is even a significant problem among Christians.
The unintended legacy of normalizing homosexuality…
This same kind of cataclysmic change will result from the acceptance of homosexual marriage as the moral equivalent of marriage between a man and a woman. It will trickle down through our society and it will impact even the way young men and woman relate to the same sex. It will have a chilling effect on how friends of the same gender express their public affection for one another. It will make the confusing time of puberty even more fraught with chaos, because vulnerable young people in the throws of developing their sense of who they are will have now another option - ‘maybe your gay.’ Adolescent sexual development involves some powerful and confusing emotions - it is a time when their is a fair amount of doubts and uncertainties - the presence of ‘normalized’ homosexuality will have a devastating effect on young men and young women attempting to navigate these waters.
But we as a congregation must strive to express a consistent Christian witness…
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth (I John 3:18) Our identification with Christ calls us to a radical commitment to love. This involves seeking to match together our ideals with action that flows directly from what scripture teaches concerning love.
We have in the past 6 years invested a great deal of time and money in ministering to the needs of Brazilian people in poor churches in Belo Horizonte, Sao Paulo, Nova Lima, as well as the work in the Amazon. I believe that this work has been important and life-changing. I believe this is what the Lord called us to do and I believe we responded faithfully.
However, I believe it is now time to turn our attention closer to home (not that we abandon Brazil), and focus on building lasting local ministry aimed at being faithful to what I John 3:18 calls us to regarding love. There are several things right at our doorstep. First, there is our obvious connection to the Good Will Rescue Mission. I have a pastoral relationship with the executive director as well as their new program director, our own Kevin Houk. We have begun to see men from the mission attending the service, and coming to the community meal. But this is only a small start. We have the opportunity to get into these men’s lives, to build relationships and to be encouragers to them. That requires that some of our men volunteer to meet with guys from the mission and to build friendships. It is important as well that we invite the men from the mission into our homes for meals and fellowship. They are looking for ways to build new lives, and we have an opportunity to be part of that. I am challenging Lamb of God to take this on, and to see it as critical.
I already mentioned the local crisis pregnancy center in Montclair. We have had a relationship with them over the years, but it has been modest of late. This needs to change. Once again, I am challenging Lamb of God to be ready to involve itself in this ministry. There are many ways and many different levels on which this involvement can occur.
There is the food pantry at Lamb, which is only hosted by us. There is opportunity to reach out to the folks that come there three times a month. We have an easy strategy to do this. Ben Stamper has agreed to spearhead this and I urge you to call him or email him (benstamper@hotmail.com) and consider being involved. We are talking about a few hours a week, maybe 3 times a month.
These are only a few examples, but they can lead to lasting witness in our immediate community to the love and compassion of our God. One thing that this election has done to me if stir my heart to want to role up my sleeves and demonstrate the goodness of God to the world around.
This does not change my hope in God intervening and bringing a fresh national outpouring of His Holy Spirit. I believe that the church needs revival and reform. We can not control revival, it is a sovereign act of God. However, I believe that there is a connection between sustained believing prayer and revival and so I will not let go of my commitment to pursue prayer at Lamb and in partnership with churches in Essex county. I also believe that the church needs reform, and this is something I, along with the elders, and Mary Anne can help facilitate. I have set forth several things for this year - the need for deeper study and growth in Christian world and life view, the need to actively build our community life, worship and local mission. So far we have meet a few times for study, we just had our second community meal, we are working on worship. It is also time to strike out more substantially in local mission.
Brothers and sisters let these words of Jesus stir you - let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
November 7th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Thanks for this. You know, I’ve been thinking about the progressive Christian movement (Sojourners would be one example) and how well-meaning believers, wanting to have a renewed focus on the poor, have chalked killing babies and homosexuality up to “divisiveness” in the church, all but ignoring those issues and focusing on the poor (which is laudable!) instead of taking a stand on both. I think we’ve seen the effects of that in this election. Those of us who are socially conservative but liberal in other ways are in a real double bind. I’m glad Obama won for many reasons, and since he names the name of Jesus as his Savior, we have even more of an obligation to pray for him. This is a man who could worship with us on any given Sunday–a flawed, sinful human being, but a brother– who has unfortunately bought into the lie of the age that one has to choose sides on issues of universal importance.
I applaud your suggestion of a biblical worldview teaching that has legs based on what we are *currently* undergoing as a nation. If we don’t talk about the reality of the way the world works, it stays in the realm of theory and ivory tower self-indulgence.
Interestingly, I heard why Proposition 8 passed in CA even though Obama won overwhelmingly. It was the African-American and Latino vote. They supported Obama and his history-making run, as well as his liberal fiscal policies. They voted for Prop 8 because the majority are churchgoers and stand for those “divisive” issues like life and the sanctity of marriage.
One final note: Some have asked why it matters whether homosexuals “marry” or not. Regardless of the social ramifications, the fundamental issue is this: before any Law came out against sexual immorality, even before Christ came and showed us the Father, God created Adam and Eve, together, to be the bearers of His Image. Man and Woman together is the first and primary way that God revealed and continues to reveal Himself in the world. We cannot stand for His Image to be profaned. And THAT is why it matters. It is a fundamental fight for the truth of His Image.
November 7th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Its a shame that its either the poor or the unborn. You are right - it has to be both. We can get better in expressing a more realized Biblical perspective on everything. This however takes the willingness to know the Word, to study history (trying to understand how Christians in ages past have wrestled difficult issues), and to prayerfully seek wisdom and consistent application of God’s truth.
Along with this is the necessity of raising up godly works of charity that give us a witness to the truth of what we claim to believe. I have always struggled with this having spent a big part of my early years working in community mental health, drug rehab and marriage and family counseling. I left that field in the belief that the church was a more effective place to walk out many of the things that I had gone into community mental health, rehab and counseling to try and do.
The challenge of the church is mobilizing consistent and effective ministry with volunteers, most of whom are time challenged. The work that needs to be done requires substantial effort, time and sacrifice. For example to dig the one well in the Amazon took two years of planning, a pile of money and 20+ people working together.
Having said that as a qualifier I can say that I am tremendously convicted by the need to find a way to make the commitments necessary to effect these ‘good works’ in our own community. I am personally open to changing my own focus (from such a significant involvement in one-on-one pastoral care) to work that will advance ministry among the most needy. Regarding my focus this would of course be a matter I would take up with my fellow elders and Mary Anne.
Lamb has always sought to help any poor or needy person who has come across our door. In particular since coming to St. Mark’s we have had many occasions to give assistance to the poor. It is something we never turn away from doing. We have taken in needy folks to live with us, we have supported unemployed families, even acted as ‘job searchers’ when the occasion calls for it. But still I feel that God is calling us to more, something that represents an ongoing work.
May the Spirit lead us….
November 7th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I’ve yet to see evidence that Obama is a believer. I believe he loves his kids and that he’s a good dad. But being a believer is something different. One can call himself a Christian, but there must be some evidence that the heart is regenerate, that the faith is real. I can’t judge anyone’s heart, but we can see fruit. And we know out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. I have read his opinion that there are many paths to one God, and that people of different faiths know the same God. I believe he is more of a universalist. I don’t know if I could worship with him since I don’t think he believes there is an exclusive path to the Father provided through Christ alone. His pandering to Planned Parenthood is especially disturbing. His lack of concern for the infanticide in Illinois that was passing for abortion is repugnant. I could be wrong and there is always hope in Christ for anyone. As Scott says, may the Spirit lead us and him …
November 8th, 2008 at 12:09 am
He might be regenerated, but extremely poorly taught. He spent 20 years in a church where he was ‘instructed’ by Rev. Wright, a bible teacher that seems to be an extremist. President-elect Obama called Rev. Wright his ‘mentor.’ Perhaps the lack of moral clarity on when life begins, and his radical pro-homosexual views emanate from the poor teaching which formed his understanding of the Bible.
It is very difficult to judge a public person, because it is never very easy to even know what is true and what is hype.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I agree with Scott–he may be saved, but extremely poorly formed. The media tells us what they want us to know, often taking things out of context. I know the wife of one of his advisors (not well, but I’ve talked to her about this), and they are born again, pro life Republicans. They say that he is definitely authentic in his faith. My point is not to debate that, though. I’m simply saying that if someone names Christ as their savior, especially if you don’t (and can’t) know them personally, you take them at face value and pray for them like you would anyone who would come to Lamb, who makes abysmal choices or poorly formed beliefs but has the kernel of belief. You come alongside them, trust the Holy Spirit, and while you can “judge” behavior and proceed with Scriptural pastoral care (and possibly discipline) for that person, you do not judge the heart (Mt 7:1-5). What I’m saying is that if he claims to be a Christian (not in the way the Clintons did sporting very shiny new Bibles, but actually claiming to have a conversion experience) that should engender love in our hearts for a man who is likely our Christian brother, but needs a supernatural visitation from the Holy Spirit. It might surprise us, if we were to take a poll, that probably some in Lamb believe in many paths to God (especially some of the younger people). I certainly had screwed up beliefs when I was new to the faith, having been a brand plucked out of the fire of intense Eastern mysticism, and it took me a while–it was only because I was in an unwavering Bible-teaching church and youth group that I was formed well (and I say that to their credit, not mine! I sure have a ways to go).
Bush had a conversion experience, too, and for all the *very* good things that he has done with AIDS and abortion, has also sent thousands to their deaths (military and civilians) in a false war that he may or may not have been complicit in pushing for very wrong reasons. That’s wrong, and I believe in his unwillingness to humble himself and admit even the *possibility* of wrongdoing, he has sinned. (Is it “as bad” as abortion or gay marriage? probably not. But I don’t believe God has a sin scale.) But he’s still a brother, and when we pray for him, we need to let the Holy Spirit cause love to arise in our hearts for him. It will make our prayers more effective and heartfelt. It will make us WANT to pray for this leader, precisely because the stakes are so high–if he names Christ as his Savior, we want that Name lifted high in truth.
Above all, I feel, we cannot let fear win us. The bottom line is, what’s done is done, and we have to move forward in prayer. We can’t get caught up in the “real or not real”, because we will never know until heaven (or unless he sprouts horns and goes up to the temple mount! that’s a joke…sorry, couldn’t resist!). What we can do is commit ourselves to pray, and for our part, work to eliminate and educate about these grave social ills and sins.
November 8th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Check out this article on the presidential election of 1800, between Adams and Jefferson - http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/2008/issue99/3.14.html
November 8th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Two comments:
1. Scott, I am very glad to hear that Lamb of God as a church (not just as individuals) is starting a ministry to the poor by connecting with our local crisis pregnancy center. I look forward to supporting such a ministry with both my time and my finances.
2. Regarding whether or not Bill Clinton is a Christian: I doubt that anyone in Lamb of God knows him well enough to make such a judgment, but there are some fairly reliable brethren out there who have met him and think that he is. Philip Yancey met and interviewed Clinton for Christianity Today, and concluded that he is indeed a believer. According to Yancey, he does indeed claim a born-again experience. It is also my understanding that the pastors with whom Clinton met after the Monica Lewinski scandal (Tony Campolo and Gordon MacDonald) were convinced of the authenticity of his faith. Interestingly, when Yancey’s interview of Clinton was published, he received some astonishingly vitriolic letters from CT readers. He has a whole section on the experience in his book What’s So Amazing about Grace? One of the most disturbing letters stated something like “Clinton doesn’t deserve the grace of God.” Of course he doesn’t — it wouldn’t be grace if he did!
As for judging the defectiveness of anyone’s faith: This side of Heaven, all of us have defective faith, and who (other than God) can judge which defects are more significant than others? I have to accept as my brethren some who have attempted to expunge my race and others who have enslaved other races. And both of these groups claimed to be acting in the name of Christ. I’d say more, but we’re getting pretty far afield of the original topic of Scott’s blog posting.
November 8th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
We really can’t do anything other than roll up our sleeves and build a more consistent witness to the sacredness of life - I trusting that God is already speaking to someone about acting as a liaison to the center in Montclair.
November 24th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I don’t watch a lot of TV because I am usually busy doing something. Every once in while I see shows in a certain sequence that ah…, well for lack of a better term “blows my mind”. I watched an animal show last night. A baby elk was caught in a mud slide in California. Dozens of people and rescue squads (paid by tax dollars) spent hours rescuing this elk, washing it and then returning it to its herd. The rescuers spoke of how good they felt at having saved a life. The next show was about people who go to sea on a ship and find the Japanese whaling fleet. They interfere with them to stop them from catching whales. They were shown at the beginning of the show taking a pledge to give their life if necessary to keep innocent whales from being killed. They were portrayed as heroes. Then I tried to find the show that was about people who try to rescue innocent baby humans. I wanted to see these heroes in action. Does anyone know what channel that show is on? I must have missed it. I am sure there must be such a show!