Insurgency and Counterinsurgency

OK, I'm back.  I was in a class on counterinsurgency all last week, getting ready for my deployment next year.  By the time I finally got home each evening I didn't have the energy to write a blog post.  One random thought from the class was was the applicability to the Christian life.  Metaphors abound that compare the Christian life and evangelism to military action.  So, I wondered, is the Christian life more like insurgency, or counterinsurgency?  On the one hand I thought it is like an insurgency:  Satan is the Prince of this world and he holds the reigns of power from our perspective.  We Christians are a minority and we are trying to undermine the legitimacy and power of the evil one.  On the other hand, I considered that it might be more like a counterinsurgency.  God is the legitimate sovereign government and Satan and his minions are the insurgency.  Christians in this model are like a special forces team behind enemy lines, trying to win the hearts and minds of the population and restore governmental control.  Of course, neither metaphor is perfect.  If anyone is still reading this blog, which do you think fits better, and why?

Roosevelt on Immigration

I knew I liked Teddy Roosevelt! Here's what he had to say about immigration:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American.There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
--Theodore Roosevelt 1907

I don't think that means that ethnic/cultural heritage cannot be celebrated. It is just that ethnic/cultural heritage must be subordinated to the new loyalty and identification as American.

American flag sent home

Did you see the news article about the high school students in Morgan Hill, CA who were sent home for wearing American flag shirts at school on the Fifth of May?  Amazing!  Wearing patriotic apparel might be too divisive on Cinco de Mayo (a holiday that isn't even celebrated widely through Mexico)?  Then, the Hispanic students demonstrated through the streets of the town waving Mexican flags?  This is just incredible.  Patriotism isn't politically correct?  This kind of thing just might be why the citizens of Arizona are standing up and saying "Enough!"

More on Franklin Graham

Just to clarify on my previous post about Franklin Graham... I really appreciate his clear, public stand for the Christian faith.  I applaud his clear, uncompromising stand - which is what got him uninvited in the first place.  I just think it was unnecessary for him to react offended and to make comments that appear to be playing power politics.

Slap in the face

From USA Today: "If President Obama fails to intervene to allow controversial evangelist Franklin Graham to lead a National Day of Prayer event Thursday inside the Pentagon, 'it will be a slap in the face of all Christians,' Graham said Tuesday."
What?! Why is he so worried about this? If we are slapped, shouldn't we just "turn the other cheek"? Should we be concerned as Christians to be respected by our national government? We already know they don't respect us. Indeed, much of what they do is antithetical to what we believe. How is acting offended over this slight going to help advance the Gospel?
Of course we should be involved as good citizens in the activities of our government the the extent we are allowed. And, of course we should pray for our nation, not just on one particular day, but continually. We don't need to be invited to some event at the Pentagon to pray effectively for our nation. In fact, I would argue that prayers at such an event may even be less effective because of all the political trimmings and trappings.
Why would President Obama even care whether he offends "mainstream evangelicals". It has been obvious in his campaign and following that he is courting votes from completely the other end of the spectrum.
By all means, pray for America. We have turned our backs on God and are completely deserving of His judgment. We need His mercy more than ever. But, we don't need some official event or the sanction of our government to pray. Just ask Daniel.

Being Comes Before Doing

I need to read Scripture daily to be reminded of who I am in Christ. Then, I need to act like who I am.  Justin Taylor says it better at his blog.

The gift

  The ministry of a church can be likened to a gift from the elders to the congregation.  The wrapping paper and bows on the outside are the cultural trappings such as music style and sanctuary decor and what type of clothes the pastor wears.  The box and packaging are the organizational structures and programs of the church.  The actual gift on the inside is the Word of God.  It is what really matters.  The packaging can help in delivering the gift but is not the gift itself.  The wrapping paper is just decoration, but can make the gift look more enticing.
  A problem often seen is similar to when you give a gift to your children on Christmas morning.  They become more enamored and interested in the packaging and wrapping paper, and the gift of value is forgotten.

A new heart

I just read Ezekiel 36 this morning for my devotions.  I was reminded how clear this passage is in support of God's sovereign initiative in salvation.  He acts, we respond, and it is all for the sake of His holy name.  He gathers His own.  He cleanses us.  He gives us a new heart and a new spirit.  And then, we will remember our evil ways and loathe ourselves for our iniquities.  It looks to me that regeneration comes before repentance.

The Gospel...

...is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.  If we really believe that we will act like it and the gospel will fairly ooze out our pores.  If we don't really believe it we will think we need to help the gospel in evangelism by attracting people with glitz and action or by helping the gospel in our own lives by adopting a legalistic attitude toward rules.  Check out another good post on this by Jared Wilson.

Chuch leadership 3

OK, so I let even more time elapse since last post.  It has been a mix of the first rush of blogging energy being over and a week of busy days so that I am very tired in the evenings with not much brain power left for writing.  I would promise to try to do better but I can’t guarantee.  I am sure there will continue to be up weeks and down weeks.

   In this post I will look at what direct instructions are given in God’s Word to church leaders and to the congregation in relation to church leaders.  If you read my first posts on this topic you will remember that I said that I would be making the point that Scripture shows church leaders being more authoritarian, i.e. wielding a great deal of authority, than we would be comfortable in modern evangelical churches.  They do this, however, as servant leaders, doing what is best for those they lead, not what is best for themselves.  Besides Jesus, Paul is the clearest example of this.  He obviously wields significant authority, such that he can command certain things be done, but he does so with humility for the good of the people under his charge.  In II Corinthians 10:8 he says he will not be ashamed of boasting of his authority, which the Lord gave for building the Corinthians up.

   So, a snapshot of passages giving instruction to leaders and followers:

I Thessalonians 5:12-13:  Paul asks the Thessalonians to “respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love”. 
I Timothy 5:17:  Paul says the elders who “rule well” should be considered worthy of double honor.  So it expected that the elders would exercise authority.
I Timothy 5:19:  Charges against an elder should only be admitted on the testimony of 2-3 witnesses where the standard for regular people was only 2 witnesses.  This seems to show that there is a special trust given to elders and it recognizes they may be a potential target for slanderous charges.
Titus 2:15:  Paul tells Titus to “exhort and rebuke with all authority.  Let no one disregard you.”  Wow.  That’s pretty strong.  I suppose some elders/pastors may take that instruction wrong and act like a dictator; but it seems that most don’t recognize the authority they are supposed to be vested with.
And it is not just Paul.  Hebrews 13:17:  The author tells the readers to “Obey your leaders (speaking of church leaders not political leaders) and submit to them.”  I am sure there are a lot of elders/pastors out there who would love to have their congregations read that one and take it to heart.
Finally, Peter gives concise instructions to elders.  I Peter 5:1-5:  They are to exercise oversight as under-shepherds, but with three positive and three negative injunctions: 
       - willingly, eagerly and being examples
       - not under compulsion, not for shameful gain, and not domineering

So, the overall view of elders seems to me to be one of great authority as subordinate leaders under Christ (like in the military context we might see company commanders under a battalion commander).  They are to execute His intent and His specific instructions.  However, they are to do so as servant leaders who seek the good of those under their charge, not their own comfort, prestige or other sort of gain.