Things I Think…
1. “And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13 NLT-SE)
This is the Lord describing Christian Nationalism…they love to use his name and they love their “worship”, but what they are worshipping is a god made in their own image.
The proof of this is that whenever they deal with people that Jesus called ‘the least of these” and demonstrated compassion and grace towards…what they exhibit is contempt.
Jesus says people like that are going to hell…look it up…
2. Even a cursory reading of the Gospels demonstrates that the proof of “believing” is ‘obeying”…and if your heart doesn’t align with Gods heart then you had better repent…I spend a lot of time repenting…especially for the sin of not wanting to repent…
3. June is Pride month…I know this because the internet told me so. Red states have decided that they will oppose this with “nuclear family” month or similar themes. I find it all obnoxious…
4. Having an opinion is not an indicator of expertise…I’m not very interested in your opinion unless you have a measure of expertise that formed that opinion…
5. The Southern Baptist Convention is having it’s annual shindig this week…they’ll be voting on keeping women out of the pulpit and declaring that there is no sexual abuse issue in the denom…old white men longing for the 19th century…
6. This…was not wise…but it is disgusting…
7. The SBC voted this morning to ban women from their pulpits…they consider this being “biblically faithful”…I think women leaving in droves would be more “biblically faithful”…
8. As best as I can tell, evangelicals limit “biblical morality” to abortion and sexual preferences…which eliminates about 90% of what the bible actually teaches about “biblical morality’…
9. Experts say that come mid July we’re going to be in a worldwide crisis because of the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. I would be prepping if I could afford it…
10. Ten is too many when you should be prepping…
#5
“If you want to be complementarian, fine, I get it; but if your primary interest is prohibiting women from service rather than protecting women and empowering women, then it is just a pernicious patriarchy with a vague Christian gloss.”
Michael Bird
The SBC could not have sent a worse message this week than the passing of a proposed constitutional amendment (they want this in the constitution? Really?) and the election of a new president who is attempting to minimize (at best) the sexual abuse issues within SBC churches and attempting to “move on.” This is not how you win the hearts and minds of people whom they claim to care about and want to bring the message of salvation to. This is the “gospel” they want to lead people to? Ridiculous.
Mission is not an exclusive venture, but a going forth into the world of people who are different than you. And don’t tell me about your International Missions program, I know some of those backstories as well. They have shot themselves in the foot, and God will raise up another group to do the work of the gospel.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28 [NKJV]).
When that worldwide crisis comes in mid July, the lion’s share of responsibility should be put at the feet of the current POTUS. His irresponsible actions resulted in the Gulf of Hormuz closure, and now he doesn’t know how to get it open again. The history books will be the opposite of kind to him in this and many other matters.
I interrupt this discussion with some serious news. I feel it’s my obligation to inform Michael that I just got a cat. A 10 week old orange tabby.
PH,
Your life just became blessed…
#5…as a degreed meteorologist with 20+ years experience, you’d think I can opine on climate change/trends. However, I have not read the studies and literature. Hence, I know enough to stay in my lane, which is aviation weather forecasting.
#1…I find it telling that those who attend these “God and Country” events/nationalistic stuff are more adorned in American Flags and the like paraphernalia. I agree that they are lost.
Those MAGA Christian Nationalists are no different that the Jews that wanted Barrabbas. They got what they wanted and 40 years later they were destroyed courtesy of several Roman legions. 600,000 Americans died in the Civil War to save the republic. If it means 25 million MAGA Christians nationalists need to die to save the republic again, so be it. Count me in.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
#9
Experts said the “Y2K” built in “bug” was going to be apocalyptic with wide spread system shutdowns. I even had a friend who made some substantial $$ installing home backup electrical systems. Pastor friends of mine were storing water, “just in case.”
Yes the built in error was a real issue for programmers, but what actually happened after all the hype and fear mongering?
Basically nothing, because the programmers actually knew about the issues and worked on solutions prior to the new Century.
July will just be another hot summer month, especially if one turns off the media.
But, like Y3K, fear sells.
oops! Y2K
TH,
Inflation due to the war and other Trumpian policies already has some of us under water.
Mid July is when global oil supplies will be exhausted and that will drive all prices up.
Sometimes fear is healthy…
Pstr Mike
I think there are some wonderful people of both genders working within NAMB and the posture of the NAMB seems to be generous in supporting and encouraging those outside their specific ranks.
But, because of the SBC 50 plus year systemic sexual abuse suppression and denial, the renouncing of women pastoral leaders and the abject hypocrisy of David Platt who I believe is a wolf hiding under the guise of supporting church plant support for national leaders in the 10/40 window;
I believe receiving NAMB support is like opening your back window to the fumes of a fire burning at a nearby neighborhood toxic waste dump.
The SBC taking another retrograde action to disempower women within the local congregation, and to attempt to demote them in the Kingdom of God. It goes hand in hand with the SBC’s move in the last years to suppress, delegitimize, and minimize talk of pastoral abuse in the denomination. Soon they will be re-embracing the legitimacy of the institution of slavery, a position they held for most of their existence. No wonder young women are leaving the SBC (and other evangelical churches and denominations) at a higher rate than ever, and in fact at a higher rate than young men — it’s returning to its roots as a patriarchal institution, for boys only at the leadership level.
Thanks vic,
I was talking specifically about Foreign Missions, but since you mentioned NAMB, their reputation here is less than stellar. They have a record of control issues, and not playing well with the locals. They seem to convey that whatever comes from Nashville is holy (They would never admit to it of course) and the rest is substandard. Essentially, Southerners attempted to use templates that work in their backyard, but not so much in other parts of the country. They take their culture with them without respecting the local milieu.
“Inflation due to the war and other Trumpian policies already has some of us under water.”
That is true, I know it doesn’t help but after 7 decades of life I know we will live through this cycle of policy. My parents and grandparents survived the Great Depression and 2 world wars. It may hurt today, but we too will survive this one.
I also know some things get burned into us. To this day the oil embargo of the early 70s affects the kind of vehicles I personally purchase.
It is also why I believe energy and its use is the number one issue effecting cultures and the world.
Doesn’t matter if it’s wood, olive oil, coal, natural gas, oil or nuclear, everything we touch is touched by energy. Including the ability to have this very website.
Michael, he’s a lot of fun with a wild side. Just 11 weeks old so still a lot of crazy kitten behavior to go. It’s amazing to see the hunt instinct kick into gear.
For #5, I am all for a return to Biblical Womanhood. Let’s start with Judges 4:17-22.
All I can say is that is that Jael nailed it. There is even a Precious Moments parody meme about it (see the 2nd image):
https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/realistic-moments