Living in the World
Points of Contact

There is a story in today’s Post Gazette http://www.post-gazette.com about the Steelers’ first round draft pick, Santonio Holmes, late of Ohio State. In a span of 25 days he was arrested twice in two different cities. The second was a domestic matter in which he allegedly assaulted the mother of one of his children. During the 2nd arrest he was incarcerated for failure to pay a fine for rear ending a car on I-70 in 2005. He was also arrested at OSU in 2003 for an altercation where 4 female students were reportedly assaulted.

Holmes is 22 and the father of three children to two different women. He has never been married. The article speaks of folks in the NFL knowing about his “problems”, yet he was the first receiver chosen in the draft. Another indication of how character is not an issue in the public world today. And, when it comes to professional sports, winning is all that counts. Read this interesting quote from Lovie Smith, head coach of the Chicago Bears when asked about Holmes’ moral failures:

Does he take his kids on the field with him? Very seldom to guys get into that once they’re on the football field. Things like that happen. We’re looking at his character on the field. We look at their character when they break the law, but that’s not breaking any laws. That’s part of society.

Is this not indicative of the secular world view? There are 5 tenants represented in this one little paragraph:
1. There is a difference between you private and public behavior.
2. If his problem does not affect his ability to do his job, it is irrelevant.
3. There is only a civil law with which to be concerned…there is no higher, transcendent moral law.
4. Three children out of wedlock to two different women…that’s the way it is.
5. The temporal and eternal well being of Holmes, his children and the mothers of the children are not a concern.
It is not hard to see why our world is in such a sorry state when these attitudes prevail.

As Christians, we can agree with point #4. That is what Calvinists call the total depravity of man. It is reflected everyday on the evening news. Of course, we Christians have the answer for Holmes. And, what a good place to begin by addressing the other four points outlined above. These are points of contact between the world and the Kingdom of Christ. Can we show that we do care about others as image bearers, that there is a better way to live, that all your conduct, private and public, matters, that who you are is more important than what you do and that there is a transcendent, self-sufficient Creator-Redeemer-King? Until and unless that is done, we can expect #4 to be the only point of agreement we have with Lovie Smith, Santonio Holmes and all other secularists.

Tuesday Devotion
Mud and Mire

It was Tuesday evening. Every Tuesday, we put the pads on but had a light, short practice putting in offense and defense for the coming week. Tuesday night was chalk talk and film night so as was our want, we went to Bailey’s for dogs, burgers and fries for dinner. Kopper’s dad just bought a new jeep…so we decided to go “jeeping” before the 7:00 p.m. meeting.

There had been heavy rains the previous week and the ground was wet and spongy. Nevertheless, we headed to Clear Run to try the jeep on some logging roads. Downhill was great, but when we got to the bottom of one ravine, it had standing water. The jeep began sinking as we traversed standing water. Gunning the engine only made us sink further and the jeep began listing to the side until mud came halfway up the passenger side door! We attempted to get ourselves out which only succeeded in covering us with mud. We hiked back 2 miles to where we could find a phone and called a wrecker. We were hopelessly stuck in the mud and mire and it took a huge wrecker to pull us to solid ground.

In Psalm 40: 1-3, David praises God for drawing him out of the miry pit of destruction and placing him on the sure footing of the rock. David was stuck in the mud and mire of sin and could not extricate himself. He cried out to God and God pulled him out of the pit. As a result of what God did for him, David sang a new song of praise to God. And, many came to see, fear and trust God because of David’s glorifying the God of his salvation.

A bunch of high school jocks learned a lesson in September of 1964. We were extremely thankful for that wrecker. If you have been raised from the mud and mire of sin by God, see that your praise is to Him. In that way others will see that He alone is the wrecker Who pulls one stuck in sin to the solid rock of Christ. For the plight of man is the same as ours in Clear Run…hopeless and helpless without rescue by another. One more thing, the idiot teenagers knew not to return to that ravine. We preferred solid ground. So, if God rescues you from the pit of sin, stay on the rock and stay out of the mud and mire!

Christian Thinking
Here and now

“[T]he truths of Christian revelation, one and all, put this life decisively within the framework of a bigger one; and the Christian mind, thinking christianly, cannot for a moment escape a frame of reference which reaches out to the supernatural.

In this respect, the Christian mind has allowed itself to be subtly secularized by giving a purely chronological status to the eternal, That is to say, the Christian has relegated the significance of the eternal to the life that succeeds this one. In doing so, it has enabled itself to come to terms with the secular mind on a false basis. The basis is that here and now Christians and secularists can share the same conceptions, attitudes and modes of action within the temporal sphere, since the essential difference between them—i.e. the dispute whether or not there is God’s eternity beyond this world—is one which begins to be applicable only when this life is ended.”

Harry Blamires, The Christian Mind, How Should a Christian Think?,(Servant Books: Ann Arbor, Mi, 1963), pp. 69.

The Church
What's next?

Now that the Presbyterian Church (USA) is a "local option" church on ordination issues essentially changing their government to a congregational form, what is next? Lots of opinions being thrown about. Get Religion www.getreligion.com has a great entry on 24 June concerning the fate of mainline churches. They ask 3 questions that gives insight to where a church is headed:

1.Did the resurrection of Jesus Christ really happen?
2.Is salvation through Christ alone? [A matter tabled by the ECUSA.]
3.Are sexual relations outside of marriage a sin?

tmatt, the author of the article comments on those three questions:

"Want to find out who is a true liberal and who is a waffling conservative? Who is a person who worships the institutional church and its pension fund? Want to see the full scope of “local option”? Ask those three questions. I have asked those questions in press conferences and seen bishops simply refuse to answer."

Boy, good questions for discerning where each of us and or churches stand in the swift moving currents of today's ecclesiastical changes.

A 21st Century Parable
Who doesn’t get it?

“Commonwealth versus Ray Franklin, Case No. 06-00412-46, violation of MVC 4436.01(a), traveling 81 MPH in a 65 MPH zone,” read the District Justice [DJ]. “How does the defendant plead?” “Not guilty.”

The DJ said, “O.K., everyone who is going to testify rise and be sworn.” Three men took the oath and the DJ said, “Mr. Redkin, present the Commonwealth’s evidence.” Trooper Josh Redkin presented the Commonwealth’s evidence that Ray Franklin was speeding in his 18 wheeler on Interstate 80. When he completed the DJ asked, looking at Ray Franklin, “Cross?” “No, your honor.” “Present your case then Mr. Franklin.”

“Can I have my pastor speak on my behalf?” “Is this some kind of character evidence?” the DJ asked. Rising from the seat next to Franklin, a tall graying man said, “No your honor. This is more of a defense.” “What is your name sir?” “Dr. Henry Cantwell Monksimmion, pastor of the Church of the Celebration Presbyterian Church.” “OK, Dr, Monksimmion, what would you like to say?”

“Ray is a parishioner of mine and a truck driver for over 30 years. If he is convicted of speeding, he will lose his operator’s license. He would no longer be able to drive and provide for his family. This would destroy his self-esteem and who he is as a human. This should not be the goal of the Commonwealth. So, I believe in this case, Mr. Franklin should be exonerated from the speeding law.”

“I should absolve him of speeding because of his particular circumstances?” asked the DJ. “Yes,” replied the pastor. “How can I justify that?” replied the DJ, “the law is the law.” “But,” responded the pastor, “in the situation of Ray it should be interpreted differently.”

The DJ asked a third question, “You are not arguing the law is somehow wrong, just that it not apply to Mr. Franklin?” “Oh, no. I am most certainly reaffirming the validity of the law. We need speeding laws. It is just that it must be applied differently in situations like Mr. Franklin’s. Mr. Franklin is a fine man, attends church regularly, pays taxes, belongs to Kiwanis, contributes to the United Way and his kids are on the honor role. He just has a little problem speeding and I think the law needs to be applied differently for him.”

“A problem speeding,” the DJ raised his voice. “This is his 12th violation in 5 years. That’s more than a little problem.” The good pastor was became indignant, “You just don’t seem to understand, sir. Mr. Franklin’s status as a human is at stake here…the way he sees himself and how he contributes to society. He is a very nice, kind and considerate man. In all his speeding, he has never had an accident. No one has been harmed. So, surely you can apply the Commonwealth’s law in a way that is affirming to all that is good about Mr. Franklin. Otherwise, he will be harmed as a person and the Commonwealth will be acting in an onerous and discriminating way against him.”

The DJ paused for a long time before speaking. “Padre, I think it is you who does not understand. If I did what you want me to, everyone would want the same treatment…”Yes, I know it is the law, but my special circumstances should exempt me from application of that law.” If I do that there is no law at all except what each person wants. We are a land of laws not men. I, as well as Mr. Franklin and you too Padre, are under the authority of the law. For me to decide who is to be exonerated from the law makes me the law. That may work in your world Dr. Monksimmion, but it does not work in this courtroom.” He continued, “Guilty, fine to be in the amount of $600, plus costs, the defendant to surrender his operator’s license to the Commonwealth for a period of ninety days.” The gavel hit the bench. “Next case.”

World Cup 2006
Soccer is a beautiful game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the champions of the NFL, but not the world. The Miami Heat are the champions of the NBA, but not the world. But, on 9 July 2006, at the conclusion of Match 64 of the World Cup in Berlin Germany, there will be a World Champion of Soccer, football in the world outside the continental USA. The World Cup is held every four years and is the largest stage in the world. After one of his Super Bowl victories, when asked about the magnitude of the victory, Joe Gibbs replied that 600,000,000 Chinese could care less about the Super Bowl [It would be 1,000,000,000 today.] Not so the World Cup…the whole world wants in and the whole world is watching.

Soccer is a beautiful game. It is wonderful to see the grace and style of the Brazilians, the precision of the Dutch and Germans, the passion of the Mexicans and Argentineans and the athleticism, stamina and strength of all the players. Unfortunately, in this country, much of the interest stops today. The US was eliminated yesterday by losing 2-1 to Ghana. The one military and economic superpower in the world, defeated by a third world county of around 22 million citizens with 10 television stations and 12 airports…7 with paved runways! Soccer is a beautiful game, for when the players step on the pitch to represent their countries, what their countries represent or possess is of no consequence. Who wins is the team with the most passion, energy, imagination and team work. None of those were evidenced by the US side.

The US had 4 shots on goal in their 3 games. They were credited with 2 goals but one was scored by Italy on themselves [an “own goal” in soccer parlance]. Incredibly, the opposing goal keepers only had to save ONE shot in all three matches! Talk about third world county firepower. How can a team expect to win with such a miserable offensive show? Was it the wrong alignment, the wrong players, the wrong attitudes, that lead to such a miserable showing? One thing for sure, the US looked wooden in their approach and displayed little creativity that the top teams evidence. And, it was all a disappointment considering the expectations from a group of 16 showing in the 2002 World Cup.

Some, including the US coach, are bemoaning the call made in stoppage time [soccer parlance for time added to the 45 minute half for injuries and substitutions] of the first half that lead to a penalty kick converted by Ghana into a second, and ultimately, winning goal. If there is one person and place in the world where there is absolute, god like authority, it is in the referee in the middle in a soccer match. His actions are not reviewable. There is no “upon further review.” He determines whether fouls are committed. He has the authority to overrule the flag of a linesman indicating offside or a foul. He has absolute discretion to give yellow cards or send any player off the pitch with a red card. There is no appeal. And, dissent from a referee’s decision can lead to cards and send offs. His word and action is final. When a player steps over the touch line onto the rectangular playing surface of a soccer field he places himself under the absolute and complete jurisdiction and authority of the official in the middle. That is why you must play with passion, desire, team work and ingenuity to win. Otherwise, you place your team at jeopardy of a referee’s decision that could determine the outcome of the match. That can and does happen. But, only if your team fails to control its own destiny by its play.

I hope our boys stay and take in some of the games in the round of 16. Tomorrow the Germans and Swedes go at it. Two supremely prepared sides who play sound, well prepared soccer with intensity to win. Mexico and Argentina also hook up with their flamboyant and exciting styles…the stadium will be rocking. Sunday Portugal with their collection of brilliant stars and Holland with their tactical “run to space, pass to feet” style meet in Nuremburg. And, later in the week Ghana in their first Cup and Brazil the winner of the most Cups tangle in what should be an entertaining match. And, out of the entire round of 16, requiring victories to advance, will come the champion. In this country with professional athletes with bloated salaries and bodies, the World Cup is a welcome relief. Enjoy the teams left as they play to exhaustion using all their skill and determination to win for their national team the “real” world championship. Soccer is a beautiful game.

Reading

It's summer...those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer...to quote Nat King Cole. It is time for summer reading. I have given up on my personal baseball team the Pirates of Pittsburgh. I think they are aptly named...the fans are being pillaged by their play and their management. They were swept in a three game series by the KC Royals, the team with the worst record in baseball. But now, not the worst team in baseball. The Buccos will not be viewed again by me until they become respectable. 2008?

Anyway, why not join me and read this summer? But not just those airy "beach books". Reading is one of the few gateways we have to serious thinking in this world. So, read to learn and apply to your life so you can better discern how to look at issues and live your life. And, of course, reading Scripture is the key to living. Don't just take it from me read what Horatius Bonar has to say about the importance of reading with a purpose:

Specially beware of light reading...The light literature of the day is working a world of harm; vitiating the tast of the young, enerverating their minds, unfitting them for life's plain work, eating out their love of the Bible, teaching them a false morality, and creating in the soul an unreal standard of truth, and beauty, and love. Don't be too fond of the newspaper. Yet read it, that you may know both what man is doing and what God is doing; and extract out of all you read matter for thought and prayer...Let your reading be always select; and whatever you read, begin by seeking God's blessing on it. But see that your relish for the Bible be above every other enjoyment, and the moment you begin to feel greater relish for any other book, lay it down till you have sought deliverance from such a snare, and obtained from the Holy Spirit and internser relish, a keener appetite for the Word of God.

Great advice. And, he was writing before TV, People and US magazines and pulp paperbacks. How much more applicable are Bonar's words today in our dumbed down society. In future posts we will look at some books every Christian should read.

ECUSA and PC(USA): Are they churches?

‘Tis the season of church assemblies. The Episcopal Church USA elected a female bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori as presiding bishop. She is an outspoken advocate of homosexual ordination and has never been a parish priest only being a bishop since 2001. The majority of Anglican Provinces do not embrace either female or homosexual ordination. Seems like an “ugly American” response to the world wide Anglican church. See Al Mohler’s view http://www.albertmohler.com/ on this development.

News from the Presbyterian Church USA isn’t much better. They did vote down an attempt to redefine the Trinity in “fresher” terms such as “Mother, Child and Womb” [What are they smoking?] although it was sent back to committee not done away with completely. And, that has been the history of PC (USA) radical movements. They never go away, they keep coming back until the opposition is worn down. Witness the adoption of the so-called Authoritative Interpretation of the Peace, Unity and Purity Report (PUP) that allows ordaining bodies (individual congregations and presbyteries) the latitude to ignore Constitutional and Book of Order standards when ordaining a deacon, elder or minister. So, even though a homosexual cannot be ordained by church law, a position strongly reaffirmed by this same General Assembly, the GA also granted congregations and presbyteries the authority to ignore that ecclesiastical law! Read what one PC (USA) pastor has to say http://markdroberts.com/ about such irrationality.

Stated Clerk of PC (USA), Clifton Kirkpatrick opined on the voting: "We have not in any fundamental way changed our standards. The standards remain the same, but the assembly's action has offered a more pastoral way and spirit to uphold those standards." Barbara Wheeler, a PUP member and author of the controversial report said: "We hope in time that all people in the church are going to come to see that this measure gives those who are a minority the chance to exercise their conscience within the bounds of Scripture in matters that they deem to be non-essential. Those who are minorities today will welcome this. The Presbyterian Church (USA) will coalesce around this because there is something in it for everyone."
Kirkpatrick says the “standards remain the same.” That is balderdash. Granting authority to ignore the standard is tantamount to repealing the standard. There is no standard unless you want it to be the standard. Wheeler says “there is something in it for everyone”. Does this have a post-modern ring: What is true for you may not be true for me. There is no absolute truth. Make up your own standards based on your wants and desires.

It seems there is no end to what the church does to bring about its self disintegration. Many years ago when exploring whether to take a PC (USA) church out of the denomination to the PCA, I met with the venerable John Gerstner. He had just removed himself from the PC (USA) after 50 years as an ordained pastor. He had been prodded for many years by his former students to come over to the PCA. But, he remained, trying to bring about change within the denomination. Here is his explanation to me: “When mother is ill, you stick by her side helping her to get well. But, when she dies, you lay her to rest. The PC (USA) is dead…she no longer carries the marks of a true church.” While in 1990 some may have called his verdict premature…now it is hard to doubt.

Thankfully, man is not in charge of God’s Church. He is building His Church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). There are no perfect churches, but churches can, as John Gerstner pointed out to me 16 years ago, no longer be true Christian churches. The Westminster Confession of Faith, one of the confessions of the PC (USA), puts the entire situation in context:

The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so disintegrated as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to His will.
WCF XXV,5.

There will always be a true Church. And, there will always be those so-called churches that are not really churches at all. The question to ask is whether each of us is a part of that one, true Church of Christ.