Things I Think…
1. I’ve been thinking about why I’ve been thinking about the election of a new pope so much… I am an Anglican after all and we do not recognize the authority of the pope.
The reason dawned on me when I saw this article about Greg Laurie in Christianity Today.
The public face of American Christianity is usually someone like Laurie… a celebrity toady to the President who would not dare to speak prophetically to his own people or ever speak truth to power.
I’ve had to spend far too much time explaining that such people do not represent Jesus, nor His ways.
This pope, (and Francis before him) speaks to social issues with clarity and compassion…and is not afraid to call out power when it is oppressing people.
As for Laurie and his ilk…
““Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’”
(Matthew 23:5-7 NLT-SE)
I call them other names…
2. I’m working on a long and complex story about abuse and grooming…and let me say for the record that any group headed by someone who calls himself an “apostle” is a group you want to run like hell from…
3. People keep asking me about why I’m not worried about Roman Catholic theology. That would mainly be because I’m not a Roman Catholic…and I know that they affirm the ancient creeds and confessions of the church…everything else is fodder to have drinks over…
4. If I was among those who cared about Roman doctrine, I’d wonder why their doctrine seems to form Jesus shaped leaders and ours doesn’t…but it used to…
5. One more thought…we see in Francis and Leo that simple kindness and decency are still attractive to people and can start meaningful conversations about the Source of love and kindness…
6. “You’re too political”… I get that frequently. I’m going to explain this one more time, so read slowly. The kingdom of God is at odds with the kingdoms of men…so where the kingdoms of men are in opposition to the kingdom of God, the people of God are supposed to speak about that…so people see the difference between the two kingdoms…
7. Where so many get confused is that they think speaking biblical truth to power is partisan…I would challenge those folks to read the Scriptures that speak of what godly and ungodly leaders look like…the prophets are a great place to start. Once you’ve done that simply compare what God says against what the politicians say…
8. The harder you embrace the realities of the kingdom of God the harder it is to embrace partisan politics…oddly enough, the easiest way to begin that journey is with daily prayer and Scripture readings…sets your mind right for the day to come…
9. One of the meaner spirited “theobros” got himself in a heap of trouble for his online activities...the road to hell is paved with “likes” and “follows”…
10. I learned something new about how my Mac works today…which isn’t worth writing about… except that I think learning something new about something every day is what keeps me alive…
I remember when Greg Laurie just preached about Jesus and salvation. He’s come a long way. A long way off course, that is.
CK,
My memory isn’t that long…
The CT article is disappointing, and I wish that those who have access to the power brokers in the world would use it for Kingdom purposes and not just be enamored with it. Esther risked her life to use her position to speak truth to power, saving lives. GL doesn’t seem to be advocating for any vulnerable populations, but is seemingly more enamored with access to the worldly houses of power. He quotes Pr 29:2 but seems to ignore what biblical justice is (caring for immigrants, truth-telling, humility, etc.). GL comes to faith during the Jesus People movement, which explicitly critiqued establishment power structures, but now implies that mainstream evangelicalism aligned with political power is what God is doing? These high-profile pastors and church celebrities seem to be enamored with the proximity to power, acting like “kids in a candy shop.” I don’t know what I would do if I was in his position (safe to say I never will be), but I do hope if I was ever given that moment that I would use my voice to advocate for the things of the Kingdom that actually make a difference in people’s lives. Or, just say ‘no’ to the opportunity, and keep serving the people I’m called to love, teach, and disciple.
I really don’t understand what people like GL and others have to gain in a space like this. They aren’t in any genuinely formative relationship with the president – just maintaining a facade. DJT clearly uses the church, manipulating and placating believers to secure votes. He paints the other party as the great satan and evangelicals buy it hook, line, and sinker.
I appreciate having this platform to discuss these concerns. It’s dangerous when we start seeing “Babylon” as the answer to roles Jesus specifically assigned to his followers. Gospel ministry can’t be outsourced to “they” and “them” in government, which is inherently slow and inefficient. The church is called to be nimble, effective, and carry out gospel ministry on earth as it is in heaven – not to chase political influence at the expense of prophetic witness.
Every single day it seems there is additional news about how our presidency is minting “billions” off of their status in leadership. Much like the church so called leaders today. Money fuels their empires. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-jr-cashing-dads-081101983.html , it is never-ending and by the end of the 4 year term if he survives such…..our leader will be one of the richest men in the world (especially if crypto becomes an adopted currency with the US Government). I am certain Laurie has his millions. Would any of us lesser humans even be capable of approaching such a man? Times are interesting. “Things I Think” is increasingly more like “Things I Also Think”. I will be leaving the county for a while in 2 weeks. Could be permanent, could be years, don’t really know but a country where VPN’s are required (to access Phoenix). It will be a journey but nevertheless, a place to experience aspects of life I am unable to experience here. Another great posting Michael.
Peter Voorhees,
They do it because it draws people and their money…
Well said comment…thank you.
prodinov,
Praying protection and every blessing for you on your journey.
Check in as you’re able.
The way things are going here you may need to use a VPN to read this site in the U.S. soon…
I think it might be as simple as ‘in lieu of ‘The Rapture’ taking all the aging hippies of the so-minted ‘Jesus Revolution’ generation to His Kingdom and Power, we’re tired of waiting on God (Lamentations 3. 25-30) so we’re seeing folks retire to being enraptured by this kingdom’s power.
Enraptured in lieu of The Rapture. We sure hear more about the former than the latter nowadays.
Rob,
I think that is a real possibility, now that you say it.
Never thought about that angle, but I think we need to…are we tired of waiting?
Yes, I think ‘we’ are… again, owning to the prophetic ‘we’ and lamenting like Jeremiah – what the heck happened to us? and Jeremiah itemizes the treaties with wickedness to ensure stability. It’s awful. familiar.
Like those JG Wentworth commercials: It’s my kingdom and I want it now.
Except it’s Jesus’ Kingdom and He’s the one we’re supposed to want.
So we settle, an ‘offer in compromise’ is a financial term that we’ve coopted to our spiritual lives.
Like Lot, we know exactly what God said but our fears govern instead. That Lamentations 3 and Isaiah 40 take on a whole new meaning if we’re relying on the strength from God to keep on waiting. We’ve decided it’s strength to forge our own way, completely ignoring Isaiah’s warning against ‘lighting our own torches’.
I like that Lot is called righteous even in his failures – the greatest being his failure to lead his family subculture in living exactly by God’s commands – but I’m terrified at the prospect of how Lot’s story ends on earth, because that’s just horrible. What will the modern U.S. church’s offspring be? I hope that’s wrong.
But it sure looks familiar, doesn’t it? A “family” no one would ever want to be part of, all because fear “out-shouted” God.
“But it sure looks familiar, doesn’t it? A “family” no one would ever want to be part of, all because fear “out-shouted” God.”
A family no one would want to be a part of…this is the heartbreaking reality of our times…
Laurie seems to have had a double-shot of the kool aid and is thoroughly intoxicated, unable to see, think, or act clearly. While I have never been impressed with anything about him, this is really deep end stuff. What is sad is that he has so many followers who will take their cues from him rather than think for themselves with eyes wide open. On Easter, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, he digresses into a sidebar about his foray into the halls of corrupt power?? That is taking the spotlight off of Jesus and onto himself. Very sad.
And, finally, given that Trump is now trying to be a “man of peace” . . . well, just read Revelation.
DavidM,
Well said.
I will give Laurie this…he has profited more from utter mediocrity than anyone I can think of…
I have often been told this is pathetic, disgusting, and I am a piece of subhuman trash for thinking this way, but I call the white house comment line almost every day when it is open. It is to the point where some of the volunteers who answer the phone know my voice, and I know theirs. It would be wrong not to use the rights so many have given their all. Again, I understand this is stupid and I am pathetic, idiotic, vile, etc. for even thinking like this. I also write many emails, make many phone calls, and go to many, many meetings. At public meetings come the threats, the shoving, elbowing, and once in a while, the fist fights. I am not involved, of course, but I do get elbowed, pushed, and a few times followed out to my car by angry people. That over the past 45+ years, I have done this.
None of this even comes close to business meetings at some churches, but that is another post. Again, these are the extremes, and for the most part, the meetings are orderly and people are polite. In most of my communications, I try to offer solutions to issues rather than complain. I think maybe .00000000001% might sway an atom, maybe. I do this because the alternative is to do nothing or to go cuss and swear and spit on police, threaten and intimidate people, call elected officials, and be rude and nasty, but I lack the spiritual gifts to do that.
“I will give Laurie this…he has profited more from utter mediocrity than anyone I can think of.” This is a sacrament in the machine, don’t believe me, get in the way of it and watch how management responds.