Ramblings to start the new year...

I thought I'd start out the new year with some ramblings on various issues and/or observations as I'm looking at this world through a spiritual lens. So here we go...

Donald Trump

There is something worth musing about Donald Trump. I hope we as Christians are trying to figure out the implications to his rise to a front running Republican candidate for president. Furthermore, why is Bernie Sanders capturing 41% of the Democratic vote? I don't care about it as much from a political standpoint, but much more from a theological standpoint. What's going on? What are the implications? Does this inform me about the way I ought to be evangelizing? I think we all have to agree that there is a shift going on in the culture, undoubtedly. We have a possible candidate for president on the Republican side that is frankly, uncouth. He has a lot of money, but that doesn't buy you class or manners or kindness. This man has been winning hands down since the start of the race. Why?

Then on the Democratic side we have a rank socialist. He's not even shy or subtle about it! And he is getting 41% of the Democratic vote. Most polls say he's tied in Iowa with Hillary and winning in New Hampshire. What does this mean?

Is there anything we can learn for preaching; for evangelism?

In the last debate Donald Trump was asked a question about Nikki Haley, the governor of South Carolina. She made a statement in her rebuttal to the State of the Union address that there are people who are running for president that are angry. No doubt in my mind she was referring to Donald Trump. So, about a week ago, Donald Trump was asked about it. He responded by saying... he likes her and we're still friends but here's the truth... "I am angry!" "I'm angry about what's going on in this country and I'm going to stay angry until these problems are fixed." In a way is this is a very refreshing answer. Yes I'm angry but I'm angry at things that need to change.

Is it possible that people are just yearning for firmness in an answer? In an age in which people have checked firmness out in favor of political correctness, we are constantly told it's not nice to be bold and direct. He's definitely not the most articulate or eloquent person on the stage. If you heard him debate he doesn't even finish sentences!

Donald Trump is tapping into something that has been missing for quite some time. Is it that people just want a declarative strong leader? Does this translate over to our evangelism or preaching are people in culture yearning for George Whitfield like preaching? Maybe people are tired of all the nuance and the pandering that has taken over our dialogue. Donald Trump, even if he's inarticulate, lacking any semblance of eloquence, is being loved by a majority of conservative constituents. Most likely because he is one that speaks with authority. Whether you agree with him or not, this appears to be why he is leading in polls.

Christians, is there perhaps an implication that this is what the world is yearning for? Firmness in dialogue... Authority in speech. Are people in this world yearning for declarative speech?

This is quite the opposite of what we're hearing in modern evangelical churches today.

The following link is funny but sadly true. The Church in America is seeking those who want to be entertained exactly as God's word puts it in 2nd Timothy 4:3.

Jon Bon Jovi Backstage Pass Sermon Series

http://media.mybayside.church/livin-prayer/


How are we as Christians articulating truth?

Maybe one of the reasons that an inarticulate, corse man is so popular is because people are just getting it straight from him. Right or wrong they're getting a firm answer with no apologies. They are getting no nuance... just yes and no answers.

I think Christians could take a page from Donald Trump's book:

Q: Don't Muslims worship the same God?

A: Muslims don't worship the same God as Christians. No they don't. This is why we evangelize them. This is why we pray for them.

Q: What about other denominations?

A: Depends... name it and I'll tell you where they stand in orthodoxy.

I think we are at a time in our culture where we are called to be Whitfield's in our preaching and evangelism. Firm, declarative, and unapologetic about the truth.

Ok since we talked about Donald Trump what about Bernie Sanders?

His world view is so anti God. Socialism is an anti God worldview. This is a worldview in which the state is the one who rules.

So what does this mean theologically for our country today? I think we're seeing that more and more people in this country are not interested in the things of God.  They're not even willing to call themselves a Christian Democrat. They're just flat out saying "nope not interested". I think we're seeing this lack of interest as well in our country.

Anyway we look at it there are implications, but figuring them out is no easy task. I think however, it is worth the effort to figure out how can I communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world.

I think a start would be just communicating it. Most Christians don't share their faith which is a travesty and makes one wonder if they are truly a Christian.

Let's take a page from Donald Trump's book and be bold with our faith and do not apologize for truth.



Sermons, worship music and Christian media structure.

Do you have any sort of structure when listening to a sermon, worship song or reading a christian book?

When the pastor opens up his Bible (hopefully he does in your church), do you have any didactic format that you go through, in your mind, when being taught by preaching or worship? That's right... worship should engage your mind in good theology!

Here are three questions when you are listening/reading to something Christian( sermon, book, song):

   1.) How am I saved according to this sermon, book, song?

This is a great question. In most Christian songs you'll never hear how you're saved because they never talk about such things.

   2.) From what am I saved?

My sad life? My depressed life? My troubled life? My poor life?

Or...

The wrath of God.

   3.) For what am I saved?

Ok...God saved me and he gave me works to do.  What does that song, what does this sermon, what does that book tell me?

Bottom line... in all these things we want to make sure we're hearing the basics of the gospel.

So often these days you will not hear the true gospel but you will hear a prosperity gospel, or therapeutic gospel, or a self-help gospel, or a self actualization gospel, a placebo gospel to make you feel better.

I am struck by the number of pastors who seem to be Orthodox. They even talk about the gospel and even will talk about how great Jesus is without giving anyone any details.  This is a huge trend in evangelical Christianity.

If I shared with you that "my wife is great!", you probably say "well, that's nice that you feel this way". Then I continue... "I'll tell you she's really great".  "She is so super duper great!". "I've got to tell you, my wife is really something!" "She is amazing!" "Terrific!" "My wife is just stupendous!!"

At some point wouldn't you question, "Are you going to give me some details on why you think she is so awesome?" "What makes her so great?"  if all you do is say she's great over and over again, the person listening to you has nothing to tap into. They have no details as to why she is this way.

We can hear this in sermons, worship songs and books...

"Jesus is everything we need!"

Why? Tell me about him... How good is He? How kind is He? How merciful is He? What has He done to show me these outstanding qualities?

Do our sermons, songs, books measure up?

They should. Take a look at these items with these three questions in mind and just maybe you'll start to see that you're not hearing some things that you should.

And Pastors, maybe it will remind you to preach those things.  Let me also encourage you to not forget the preaching of the law.  When I see evangelical pastors getting involved in ecumenism and preaching from a pulpit in a Mormon temple saying "we got some differences but I'm here today..." The little caveat is not enough. Or the pastor that refuses to call sin sin and beats around the bush calling it mistakes or life issues. Sir that is not enough!

Thanks for reading my new year rambling! I look forward to what God has for his Church this year. Lets strive to glorify him in all our ways!