This week, as Mandi and I have visited our families during Christmas, we have had several opportunities to talk about some things. As a youth minister, most of the conversation about us revolves around what I do and what my passions are. I am sure that this is simply because I am selfish and desire to talk about things only as they pertain to me. I pray that this is not the case but I feel that it often is.
But one thing that came up this week as we have driven these many hours is that I have the tendancy to be very cynical and often critical about the church. For some reason I have acted like a passive aggressive person with something to prove. It has become really easy for me to criticize the things that I see the church doing that I consider a waste of time or at least not good use of time.
I could spend several days on the things that I believe are not the main thing, but I will just leave you with the vague notion that this happens almost every day.
But one thing that I have really seen this week is that God has given me a heart that is not satisfied with complacency and I really want to find so much joy in God that the whole of my life is affected.
On the other hand, I have seen that I must be patient and eager to show grace while the church goes through the changes that will come over the next several years of the current culture shift.
For the most part, the church has the opportunity to really affect the heart of the culture with right doctrine and joy in Christ. I know that this is something that I am called to be a part of and I really believe that God is going to allow me to see fruit from this great calling.
Praise be to God for a wife that has the compassion for unbelievers and even the church that is still struggling to understand the call of God on us. Mandi truly gets the fact that whatever God leads us to do, He will be faithful to complete. For me lately it has been theory and for her, it is a chance to exercise her faith.
I love you Mandi.
Brad
Monday, December 27, 2004
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Before you read this, you need to see my last blog to see that I have been wondering why the evangelical church actually thinks that the world will be brought back to Jesus now that President Bush is elected. I am confused at the thought process of some and more than that, I am a bit disturbed at the laziness and lack of faith in the power of the gospel to changes lives.
Here is an article from my brother's blogspot. His site is:
www.justinjones.blogspot.com
"Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center...says that religious conservatives insisting on immediate social change have misread Bush. “They are in a crisis of patience,” he says, “and are likely to be disappointed.' "This is the most poignant passage of an article I just read about Bush's faith. I dont think that I have done a very thorough job with my past postings about the role of evangelicals in the political process. Granted, I have told you what irks me, but have not offered what I feel to be the correct position on the matter; partly because I simply dont have the time and partly because it is a very complicated matter to explain. But I will give a few thoughts:First, read the link: In sum, this article simply says that though Bush holds his faith as very dear to him, he does not see his faith playing as central of a role as most evangelicals would like to believe. I've thought for some time now that evangelicals have given far too much credit for Bush in the faith department. Don't get me wrong, I love the man! And I love the fact that he talks about his salvation experience, but the man has unduly been treated like John the Baptist preparing the way for "the Sunrise above" (read: Zechariah's Benedictus).Bush is a great man, but far from what Evangelicals think, he has yet to wear his religion on his sleeve. As the article above implies, his references to God are far from Christ-centered. AKA, any Orthodox Jew should be just as proud. Come to think of it, any theist at all should be comfortable with Bush's Godward references. And that's okay.Obviously, I'm out of the norm of most evangelicals when I consider Bush's newfound "mandate" to cure the world of all its sin. Keep in mind, though evangelicals can scream that they put him back in the White House, they only made up something like 12% of the voters for Bush. That means that he certainly will not feel as though he owes us something; well over 75% weren't thinking evangelically in the voting booth. Which tells me that abortion isnt just an evangelical/ Biblical issue. It also tells me that gay marriage and terrorism and stem cell researcg aren't just evangelical issues. They are traditional American values issues...and this is mostly how Bush thinks. (at least that's what I think)I'm saying all of this to reiterate once again, that evangelicals have to be less political in their campaign to win America for Jesus. Just because most people don't want gay marriage certainly doesnt mean that revival is beginning in America. As I've said before, the way to "win hearts for Jesus" is not found in amending the Constitution or in legislating a ban on abortion...it's preaching the Gospel, plain and simple. And while we are on the subject of abortion, let me burst another evangelical bubble - Republican elected officials dont want to touch this subject with a ten-foot pole! In reality, if Roe v. Wade is overturned, all Hell will break loose in politics and GOP leaders, including Bush know it. You will find very few recent quotes from leaders talking about the evils of abortion...very few. Why? Because right now, they are garnering tons of women voters on the whole, "we protect better" mantra. And, like it or not, Republicans will lose a lot of votes of abortion is killed (pun intended).Anyway, like I was saying, most evangelicals think that having Bush in the White House is step one over the next four years in bringing God back to the public square. All I am saying is don't be so sure. Is Bush the right man for the job? You better believe it. Is he interested in turning hearts back to God from the oval office? Hardly. Sadly enough church leaders are, once again, trying to do things the easy way: "Forget preaching your guts out from the pulpit and energizing Christians to glory daily in the cross (which is where real change will come from), let's try starting another evangelical PAC and make sure that Bill Frist stays in office." I love Bill Frist, but like everyone else, he would treat religion like the plague, if he felt that he could get reelected without it.So, lets not be so enamored with the Bush view of God. He's great but he's no theocrat. As for evangelical leaders and laymen, here's my advice: continue to work your butts off in Washington trying shape policy - that's what I would do. But, as you work, remember that real revival starts in the hearts of men, not on the Senate floor.
Alrighty then? Alrighty then.
Justin
Here is an article from my brother's blogspot. His site is:
www.justinjones.blogspot.com
"Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center...says that religious conservatives insisting on immediate social change have misread Bush. “They are in a crisis of patience,” he says, “and are likely to be disappointed.' "This is the most poignant passage of an article I just read about Bush's faith. I dont think that I have done a very thorough job with my past postings about the role of evangelicals in the political process. Granted, I have told you what irks me, but have not offered what I feel to be the correct position on the matter; partly because I simply dont have the time and partly because it is a very complicated matter to explain. But I will give a few thoughts:First, read the link: In sum, this article simply says that though Bush holds his faith as very dear to him, he does not see his faith playing as central of a role as most evangelicals would like to believe. I've thought for some time now that evangelicals have given far too much credit for Bush in the faith department. Don't get me wrong, I love the man! And I love the fact that he talks about his salvation experience, but the man has unduly been treated like John the Baptist preparing the way for "the Sunrise above" (read: Zechariah's Benedictus).Bush is a great man, but far from what Evangelicals think, he has yet to wear his religion on his sleeve. As the article above implies, his references to God are far from Christ-centered. AKA, any Orthodox Jew should be just as proud. Come to think of it, any theist at all should be comfortable with Bush's Godward references. And that's okay.Obviously, I'm out of the norm of most evangelicals when I consider Bush's newfound "mandate" to cure the world of all its sin. Keep in mind, though evangelicals can scream that they put him back in the White House, they only made up something like 12% of the voters for Bush. That means that he certainly will not feel as though he owes us something; well over 75% weren't thinking evangelically in the voting booth. Which tells me that abortion isnt just an evangelical/ Biblical issue. It also tells me that gay marriage and terrorism and stem cell researcg aren't just evangelical issues. They are traditional American values issues...and this is mostly how Bush thinks. (at least that's what I think)I'm saying all of this to reiterate once again, that evangelicals have to be less political in their campaign to win America for Jesus. Just because most people don't want gay marriage certainly doesnt mean that revival is beginning in America. As I've said before, the way to "win hearts for Jesus" is not found in amending the Constitution or in legislating a ban on abortion...it's preaching the Gospel, plain and simple. And while we are on the subject of abortion, let me burst another evangelical bubble - Republican elected officials dont want to touch this subject with a ten-foot pole! In reality, if Roe v. Wade is overturned, all Hell will break loose in politics and GOP leaders, including Bush know it. You will find very few recent quotes from leaders talking about the evils of abortion...very few. Why? Because right now, they are garnering tons of women voters on the whole, "we protect better" mantra. And, like it or not, Republicans will lose a lot of votes of abortion is killed (pun intended).Anyway, like I was saying, most evangelicals think that having Bush in the White House is step one over the next four years in bringing God back to the public square. All I am saying is don't be so sure. Is Bush the right man for the job? You better believe it. Is he interested in turning hearts back to God from the oval office? Hardly. Sadly enough church leaders are, once again, trying to do things the easy way: "Forget preaching your guts out from the pulpit and energizing Christians to glory daily in the cross (which is where real change will come from), let's try starting another evangelical PAC and make sure that Bill Frist stays in office." I love Bill Frist, but like everyone else, he would treat religion like the plague, if he felt that he could get reelected without it.So, lets not be so enamored with the Bush view of God. He's great but he's no theocrat. As for evangelical leaders and laymen, here's my advice: continue to work your butts off in Washington trying shape policy - that's what I would do. But, as you work, remember that real revival starts in the hearts of men, not on the Senate floor.
Alrighty then? Alrighty then.
Justin
Thursday, December 09, 2004
It has been some time since I wrote. Like any journal of mine that frequently is abandoned, this is one more.
This morning, I read an article by Charles Colson, who I think that many conservatives agree with and like. It was in the Southern Baptist newsletter and I really hope that all of those people who would not ordain the reading of any other material, catch the message and the spirit of the article.
First let me say that as a Christian and a conservative (both theologically and politically), I appreciate the heritage that we have in this country. As I see the news over the past few days, I notice that there is more from the left that really stinks of complete nonsense. From the story about the teacher who cannot teach from the Declaration of Independence because there are references to God and the older argument that the phrases "In God We Trust" and "One nation Under God" should be revoked from any public viewing, there is an obvious thread to push not only God, but the person of Christ out of the American picture. This is something that Europe has faced for years.
So as one who has raised the banner of "conservative Christianity" please understand that I see what is happening and really believe that we are in a culture crisis and because of that, a moral crisis.
This past year more than ever, I was caught up in the politics of our nation. I watched both party (Democrat and Republican) conventions. I watched every debate or listened to them on my trusty XM radio. More that all of this, I even went to President Bush's rally in the Office Depot Center. So I was caught up in it. Halfway through however, I became increasingly disturbed by what I saw from the "Christian conservatives." That was the increasing desire to fight secular society on their terms. It was like the only hope for our faith was the re-election of President Bush. With that I disagreed. The fact is, throughout Europe, Africa and the middle/far east, there are remnants of the church that are thriving under persecution. To believe that America is the anointed institution and all of our efforts of the gospel must be through political means is complete nonsense. I see many believers who truly think that there is no other way to advance the gospel and it seems that they are not advancing the actual "gospel" at all.
It truly hurts my heart to see that many evangelicals tie their faith in Christ with a "republican" vote. To tell the truth, in my short years of ministry, I have heard many people in evangelical churches say that they are "moral conservatives" and yet they stand in public holding signs to push their aganda and never having a loving, earnest conversation with the lost people that they are trying to convince...did you catch that...lost people...people with a heart that is so depraved by sin that they make sinful decisions. I also have heard people say that they are "fiscal conservatives" who believe that social programs should be the church's responsibility and not the government. I agree with that...but where are they. Where are all the people who really believe that God calls us to care for the widow and the orphan. From my perspective, they are having the widow and the orphan kicked off the church property because we don't want "their kind" hanging around to damage our image of a "family church." Besides that, we have taken a biblical comment of "if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat" to such an extreme that we look down our cosmetically reconstructed noses at someone who is having a hard time financially.
By now, writing any more would just make me a cynic, so I will stop there.
My original point was actually to say that the article by Chuck Colson was right on. The re-election of George Bush, in my opinion, makes us safer, makes us stronger and will uphold a moral agenda that is consistent with our 200 years of history.
But where would we be if he didn't win and now that he did, why has the church settled back into complacency? If the people holding signs would enter a conversation with someone who doesn't know Jesus, would love win?
I think so.
This morning, I read an article by Charles Colson, who I think that many conservatives agree with and like. It was in the Southern Baptist newsletter and I really hope that all of those people who would not ordain the reading of any other material, catch the message and the spirit of the article.
First let me say that as a Christian and a conservative (both theologically and politically), I appreciate the heritage that we have in this country. As I see the news over the past few days, I notice that there is more from the left that really stinks of complete nonsense. From the story about the teacher who cannot teach from the Declaration of Independence because there are references to God and the older argument that the phrases "In God We Trust" and "One nation Under God" should be revoked from any public viewing, there is an obvious thread to push not only God, but the person of Christ out of the American picture. This is something that Europe has faced for years.
So as one who has raised the banner of "conservative Christianity" please understand that I see what is happening and really believe that we are in a culture crisis and because of that, a moral crisis.
This past year more than ever, I was caught up in the politics of our nation. I watched both party (Democrat and Republican) conventions. I watched every debate or listened to them on my trusty XM radio. More that all of this, I even went to President Bush's rally in the Office Depot Center. So I was caught up in it. Halfway through however, I became increasingly disturbed by what I saw from the "Christian conservatives." That was the increasing desire to fight secular society on their terms. It was like the only hope for our faith was the re-election of President Bush. With that I disagreed. The fact is, throughout Europe, Africa and the middle/far east, there are remnants of the church that are thriving under persecution. To believe that America is the anointed institution and all of our efforts of the gospel must be through political means is complete nonsense. I see many believers who truly think that there is no other way to advance the gospel and it seems that they are not advancing the actual "gospel" at all.
It truly hurts my heart to see that many evangelicals tie their faith in Christ with a "republican" vote. To tell the truth, in my short years of ministry, I have heard many people in evangelical churches say that they are "moral conservatives" and yet they stand in public holding signs to push their aganda and never having a loving, earnest conversation with the lost people that they are trying to convince...did you catch that...lost people...people with a heart that is so depraved by sin that they make sinful decisions. I also have heard people say that they are "fiscal conservatives" who believe that social programs should be the church's responsibility and not the government. I agree with that...but where are they. Where are all the people who really believe that God calls us to care for the widow and the orphan. From my perspective, they are having the widow and the orphan kicked off the church property because we don't want "their kind" hanging around to damage our image of a "family church." Besides that, we have taken a biblical comment of "if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat" to such an extreme that we look down our cosmetically reconstructed noses at someone who is having a hard time financially.
By now, writing any more would just make me a cynic, so I will stop there.
My original point was actually to say that the article by Chuck Colson was right on. The re-election of George Bush, in my opinion, makes us safer, makes us stronger and will uphold a moral agenda that is consistent with our 200 years of history.
But where would we be if he didn't win and now that he did, why has the church settled back into complacency? If the people holding signs would enter a conversation with someone who doesn't know Jesus, would love win?
I think so.
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Risk. That is something that I have thought about quite a bit lately. The fact is, all of my life, I have not been a person that has lived life on the edge. Most of the time I spend my life sitting far away from the edge admiring (or jealous of) the person who is standing there with some of their feet hanging off. But as I get older (and maybe a bit braver) I have seen myself as someone who is so captivated by the danger of walking near the edge.
In 2 Samuel 10, Joab, the commander of the army of Israel was facing an army at the front (Ammonites) and at the back (Syrians). He takes one front and sets his brother at the other. What gets me about this story is what He says in verse 12. He tells his brother, "Be of good courage and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God, AND MAY THE LORD DO WHAT SEEMS GOOD TO HIM."
I see it. That is the thing that I see and admire and wonder if I could ever do it. Can I really look at the tough things in front of me and say, I will make the best decision I know how, but no matter what, let the LORD do what seems good to Him. I want to be a leader, but more than that, I want to be a risk taker and see what the LORD will do.
Grace
In 2 Samuel 10, Joab, the commander of the army of Israel was facing an army at the front (Ammonites) and at the back (Syrians). He takes one front and sets his brother at the other. What gets me about this story is what He says in verse 12. He tells his brother, "Be of good courage and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God, AND MAY THE LORD DO WHAT SEEMS GOOD TO HIM."
I see it. That is the thing that I see and admire and wonder if I could ever do it. Can I really look at the tough things in front of me and say, I will make the best decision I know how, but no matter what, let the LORD do what seems good to Him. I want to be a leader, but more than that, I want to be a risk taker and see what the LORD will do.
Grace
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Thursday, March 11, 2004
This disciple thing is tough. I guess that is what Jesus meant when he told the twelve guys that if they would follow, they had to "take up their cross." It is really a life of abandonment like no other. It just seems that I would be better at it than I really am. Due to my job and new role of "spiritual leader" in a house, I am really hoping that I do get better.
More than anything, I am just so incredibly taken aback that I am living in grace. God looks at me and all my junk and sees Jesus.
One more day that I am living in awareness of God.
More than anything, I am just so incredibly taken aback that I am living in grace. God looks at me and all my junk and sees Jesus.
One more day that I am living in awareness of God.
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