Things I Think
1. I’m still working through some health and personal situations that require my attention…posting will be sporadic and moderation minimal to non existent. If I don’t respond to a comment, it’s not because it’s not a good comment…I’m just not in front of the computer.
2. One of the issues I’m thinking about is how much blogging has changed since IÂ started the PhxP long ago. Back then, few sites where available for victims of church abuse to have a voice…now there are many and many good ones. My concern is that we still aren’t talking about meaningful solutions to the issues raised…and that’s what I want to find a way to contribute at this point in my life.
3. The easiest articles to write are the ones ripping someone, especially someone who richly deserves a ripping. They draw attention and post numbers…but I believe that if those articles aren’t accompanied with constructive solutions to the issues raised and a Gospel hope of grace then we bloggers have already received our reward…
4. One of the other major changes in the blogging world on church abuse issues is that most of us writing back then wrote as lovers of the church. Now, many not only loathe bad leaders, but the church itself. I still love the church…and believe that Jesus knew what he was talking about when He promised the gates of hell would not prevail.
5. Well known Reformed author Michael Horton has written a book on the subject of vocation. The best book on that topic was written by Matt B. Redmond and it’s called the “The God Of The Mundane”. Horton would have served himself and the church better to just make a book recommendation…
6. It makes absolutely no sense to me why we are demanding that sports franchises become the moral arbiters for the culture. It further confounds me why we don’t understand that the only reason they would do so was for economic, not ethical reasons.
7. Too many of us are reacting instead of thinking…and that’s part of why I’m on semi-sabbatical as well. I don’t want to be just another voice yelling across the line at someone else, hoping others will yell with me.
8. There are times in life when God will bless you unilaterally…but there are other times when He will respond only to prayer. You don’t have because you don’t ask…
9. I believe that everyone has spiritual gifts that are an integral part of a functional local body of believers. Are you using yours? Are you allowed to? Do you care?
10. I have to hand it to the Lutherans…Issues Etc. is the best Christian media program being produced today.
phoenixpreacher@gmail.com
Matt’s book was excellent! I have recommended it to several people.
Hope you are feeling better soon, Michael.
Haters of the church are allowed to be their antichrist self.
Michael, FWIW – last week I was going through 1 Samuel in the midweek, got to where Saul wanted to kill Jonathan, all because of Saul’s ego and pride and stupid orders, and yet the people jumped in and said “You will not” and Saul had to leave without getting his way.
Used it for an application about the power of the common people, as one, united in a just cause, can stop a bully and change the situation – with specific application to church congregations and rogue pastors.
I doubt I would have thought to see that possible application from that text before coming to your blog six plus years ago.
Take the time you need to get well in every aspect needed. Praying for you.
I’ve also been meditating on the book of 1st Samuel this month. Yesterday I was reading 1 Samuel 20 where we see Jonathan ask King Saul at the dinner table “but what has he(David) done that he should be put to death?” In the next verse we see Saul’s reaction, a tyrant’s true colors as he hurls a spear at his own son to try to kill him when Jonathan asks why and demands the Truth. Saul wanted a “yes man” out of his son but then had to resort to retaliation out of fear and insecurity. We can say Jonathan was a “yes men” but only to God. It is godly and brokenhearted men like Jonathan who fear God more than man that the Church desperately needs today.
Michael I will pray for you as well. I know that I and many others are blessed that you are not a “yes man”. I thank God for that.
Be Blessed.
fn
To # 9 – I use my gifts, they are allowed but controlled. I care that others use their gifts, hence my favorite gift I use most often is “laying hands on shoulders call.”
#6 Maybe the justice system doesn’t get all the way to delivering justice. Offenders get off without penalty. When it’s an ordinary guy, there’s not much we can do, but when he’s famous, we can at least get someone to do something about it. So it’s a shame that you can ask the sports administrators to administer justice and not the justice system.
#2 Very true. Lately you’ve been talking a lot about culture problems. How do you fight sickness in a culture? It’s easy for non-offenders to point the finger, but it takes a brave man to say “I used to be violent with my wife/kids… it needs to stop”
Are you using yours? Are you allowed to? Do you care?
Yes. Who would stop me? Yes
Btw- I think it’s a fallacy to think spiritual gifts are just exercised within the confines of a church.
What is really sad is much of the Church is just as sick as the unbelieving world .
If the church is going to bring hope to the lost it must be done Gods way not ours…….to much fool digery being passed on as biblical Christianity….
“What is really sad is much of the Church is just as sick as the unbelieving world .”
We are, but some are saved sick bastards and some are unsaved.
Hey folks I passed my driving test today
http://youtu.be/p3fN2ptNNKk
Brian,
I’ll bet the folks at the DMV we’re glad to see you leave. I can almost smell the burnt rubber.
Spell check – should be were, not we’re. There should have also been a smiley face, too.
“Many … loathe … the church.”
If “church”? is:
The people – then I doubt that anyone could cite a specific example of a Christian writer/blogger who loathes the people of God, other than venting etc.
The meetings – then God has said he hates certain gatherings in His name (in early Isaiah etc.).
The organizations – then certainly many Christian organizations (including some “churches”) are ineffective and ultimately counterproductive to the purposes of the kingdom.
What do you mean here by “church”, and exactly who hates it, and why is that wrong?
PP Vet,
Exactly! I agree that the “church” needs to be defined first. Personally I feel its not so much loathing bad leaders but rather bad leaders loathing genuine sheep that is the issue. If I put it in Driscoll language it would be throwing them off the bus in a pile of dead bodies.
I certainly believe the gates of hell will not prevail; however I have seen bad leaders abuse this verse to justify prevailing of their bad leadership and their unbiblical church polity. Once you have a good definition of what the church really is, the sheep seem to love the church and seeing false teachers for what they truly are is a sign of maturity.
Right on #15.
Don’t touch God’s anointed, but serve her instead as the object of Christ’s love in this NT covenant. He doesn’t kick His bride to the curb or throw her under the bus when she falls but rather continues to serve her faithfully even through she is often unfaithful. Last time I checked Christ remains on the throne of His Church.
I don’t think that sports franchises should become the moral arbiters for the culture; however (particularly as relates to football) sports players earn a living by performing violent acts on field. As long as that violence is on field, it’s fine, but if a player engages in violent behaviour off the field they should lose their job for the safety of society at large because they should not be regularly engaging in a violent activity (even if that particular activity is legal and socially benign) when they clearly are unable to control their violent tendencies in other situations. The same goes for other violent professions, such as the military and law enforcement.
I also don’t think it’s wrong if people are demanding that sports franchises take a moral stand on player misbehavior and domestic violence. The courts for the most part aren’t the place for abused women to find justice or even protection. So, if people want to try to change the social perception of this issue and they want to try to do so by demanding the NFL start responding differently, then it is their right to do that.
I think grocery stores should lead the way – refuse to sell groceries to abusive athletes.