Thursday, September 21, 2006

Racing Toward Irrationality

In Romans 1:18-21, Paul points out that the downhill spiral of a culture begins with ignoring the truth of God. In verse 21 he points out the final stage of this intellectual decline with the words “and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Recently John Knox Press, serving the Presbyterian Church USA, released a book that claims that the American government was responsible for 9/11. To hear such revisionist nonsense is not new. It is new, however, at least in my experience, that a major religious publisher is putting it out for serious consideration.

A recent article at Church Report Online notes several items regarding the author, David Griffin, who is professor emeritus at a United Methodist school in California, that should give a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ insight into how such an idea could take root in a mind. God is not a work in progress. Christ did not come to overthrow the Roman government.

When men – when a culture suppresses the truth of God in His Word, like America is doing more and more, Europe has been doing for two or three generations, and like the Islamic world has done for over a millennium, it should not be surprising that the darkness produced would look for something to fill itself, even when it is irrational to the point of laughter.

Except – no one is laughing.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Been thinking about Fellowship

Every once in a while, someone says to me, "Pastor, we need more fellowship." Last evening after church, several of us went out for some real fun fellowship at our local Perkins. Lots of fun and laughter, and even some serious conversation. Now, I have two comments.

First, true Christian fellowship is not coffee and rolls, or pie, and funny stories. Those things are enjoyable, but God has called us to something much more than that. Fellowship always includes building each other up in the faith and knowledge of Christ. That leads to second comment.

Those who were at the Sunday Evening Bible Study had a great opportunity to enjoy fellowship around God's Word and fellowship around some good food and conversation. The second predicated on the first.

On the one hand, we are developing more opportunities for getting together outside of the walls of the church. On the other hand, not availing oneself of the opportunities of real spiritual fellowship that the church offers makes the request for more fun ring a little hollow.

The purpose of the church is to facilitate spiritual growth among its members. Fellowship is one of the tools God uses to accomplish this task. Getting together for some fun is no substitute for real spiritual fellowship.

I am going to think some more on this. When I get another idea, it will be here.