Centuries of social, political, cultural, and religious diversity weigh heavily on expressions of Christianity. Party politics, greed, personality driven ministries, ministry as business, and denominational and non-denominational church struggles over members seem to be the order of the day. These influences have moved Christians further and further away from divine principles to which Christians are called to live out before a world that is far from God. The Church is called to be holy; so Christians must pursue holiness amidst an unholy world. The world does not know God so the world cannot lead in holiness. The best way to win the world to faith in Christ is by bearing witness to Christ through the Christian’s lifestyle of holiness – a life that is indifferent of the world—and expressed love towards those who are not living that life. Miller argues that a careful revisit of historical developments that have altered Christianity from its biblical form of indifference might be a meaningful way for the Church to regain its fervor in representing Christ in the world—a world that God expects for Christians to be in but not of. Read the rest of this entry »
Posts Tagged ‘church’
God Says, “Be Holy!”
Monday, August 6th, 2012 by Antipas HarrisWhere are the Prophets — The Real Ones?
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 by Antipas Harris
Today is a very sad day in South Georgia. After a long fight to prove his innocence, Troy Davis faces the death penalty tonight. From my view of the television, largely Caucasian American Law Enforcement Officers are on post to maintain order outside the chambers with tons of people, appearing to be mostly African Americans, standing in protest, awaiting the Supreme Court’s final decision whether to execute him or acquit him.
Then, word comes back — “The Supreme Court Denies Davis Appeal.” Gosh! The scene on the television screen is way too reminiscent of the scenes from the 1960′s Civil Rights Movement. Some scenes and situations need not be repeated — this is one of them!
Davis is accused of murdering a police officer is 1989. The evidence has been weak to prove that he is guilty. Yet, he has found it difficult to prove his innocence. It is not surprising that Davis is African American. Researchers like University of Iowa law professor, the late David C. Baldus has proven that racism permeates the death penalty and has done so since it was re-instated in America.
I have no desire to protect the guilty at the expense of the violated. Yet, the death penalty is problematic on so many levels. I cannot address all of them here. However, I will say that research proves that the practice of the death penalty represents strands in American fabric that are racist at the core. There are similar racist strands that seem to weave through the educational system, job markets, Plan Parenthood’s abortion clinics, and more. Read the rest of this entry »
Women in Church Leadership
Friday, January 21st, 2011 by Diane Chandler
Last week, I had a three-way phone conversation with friends of mine, a married couple, who live in another state. Last year, the husband became the senior pastor of their local church, where he had previously served as a board elder. My friends described a recent issue being discussed among the current board elders, which is comprised of all men. It has been suggested that a multi-gifted person in the church, who has been in fruitful ministry over many years, be invited to serve on the elder board. This person is a woman. The reaction ranges from full agreement to adamant refusal.
In this conversation, both of my friends (the pastor and his wife) are very supportive of this woman joining the elder board. Not only has she faithfully served in the church but also has ministered at other churches and in the community with obvious giftedness and anointing, which has earned her great respect. However, one elder, in particular, is having a problem with the thought of a woman having authority over a man. Of course, you can imagine the Scriptures that he has identified to preclude any such eventuality, among them 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.
This issue of women serving in church leadership remains a contemporary “hot button” and raises the question of how spiritually gifted women might fulfill their God-given calling within the local church and beyond. These scriptures mentioned above remain the arsenal for the prohibition of women fully expressing their giftedness in serving the body of Christ. Further, traditional views/practices and cultural assumptions related to the preclusion of women serving in leadership roles in the church reinforce these textual interpretations.
These issues are real and contentious, often leaving Christian women who are gifted and anointed to defend their callings, often facing misunderstanding and rejection.
Let the Church be the “Body of Christ”: Continued Reflections on Urban Churches
Monday, November 1st, 2010 by Antipas Harris
Paul describes the Church as “the Body of Christ.” This means that the Church is a Christological organism and not a corporate organization. While organizational management has its place in the operation of the church, the organizational ideals that find themselves antithetical to the Church as an organism are problematic to the continued presence and work of Christ in the church. For example, recently I attended a church ministry conference wherein a noted guest speaker, a ministry consultant commented that in this time of economic challenge, this is a good time for ministry leaders to re-evaluate her or his vision and “get-rid-of ideas and people who he or she does not need.” Such advice may be appropriate to mainstream organizational leadership training wherein the organization has its own vision as central to its objectives. However, the conference speaker’s advice seems adverse to principles and theological ideals related to the Church as organism – the Body of Christ. There must be a more compassionate approach to handling hardships and economic challenges for churches. Scripture teaches principles for showing grace and love towards people struggling during desperate times. Certainly, the church should lead this charge. Read the rest of this entry »
Macedonian Cry from the Urban Streets: ‘Come Over and Help Us!’
Monday, September 20th, 2010 by Antipas Harris
If twenty-first century ministry leaders take the divine call to ministry seriously, in the words of John Perkins, “they must take the gospel to the streets.”[1] I have spent time on the streets, praying with people, talking to them about the problems they face, feeding the hungry, picking up drug-addicts and taking them to Teen Challenge, pulling men off the streets late at night to prevent them from vandalism and robbery, and helping the homeless find safe places to live. None of the people I have ever worked with wanted to be in the situation they were in. Situations and poor choices landed them there. Their deepest cry has been ”Please, please help us!” From the ravages of Katrina to what’s left of the earthquakes in Haiti, Cuba and China, people continue to cry, “Come over and help us!” From the urban war-zones of Los Angeles, the south side of Chicago, Boston and many places in-between, there is a cry from the streets, “Come over and help us!” From battered women to trafficked girls, there is a cry from every corner of the urban world, “Come over and help us!” From the brutally treated undocumented residents to the swollen bellies of the hungry children, the cry resonates, “Come over and help us!” I have seen the eyes of pain and have heard the cries of anguish. The hearts of people are bleeding and their souls are crying out. Read the rest of this entry »
Is the American Church Selling Out?
Friday, September 17th, 2010 by Diane Chandler
In a recent book entitled Thieves in the Temple: The Christian Church and the Selling of the American Soul (Basic Books, 2010), author G. Jeffrey MacDonald levels a caustic critique of the American church.
As a former pastor and journalist, MacDonald offers a basic premise that the contemporary American church has lost its impact on contemporary society because it has sold out to consumerism. As a result, the church’s effectiveness has not only been diluted but it has lost its primary mission of providing a conduit of authentic spiritual growth for the church body and being a powerful witness in the world of moral formation.
MacDonald starts with three stark observations aimed at church leaders. First, he notes the entertainment-orientation within the American church-at-large by citing the prevalence of hefty operating entertainment budgets, large projection screens, worship styles that are more worldly than God-honoring, and an emphasis on the cash collection devoid of a worshipful expression. He comments, “Unfortunately, a church that functions like a fun house cannot fulfill religion’s central mission. The Church can’t transform the desires of people it’s trying to titillate” (p. 36).
Second, MacDonald accuses the church of offering comfort to the exclusion of healthy confession, which has led to making church members happy at the exclusion of deep inner transformational change. He writes, “Small groups, organized around shared interests, offer indiscriminate affirmation rather than the rebuke or admonition that participants sometimes need” (p. 62).
Third, MacDonald identifies the weak moral character of the church, noting the financial indebtedness and mismanagement, evidence of rampant personal addictions, and unresolved relational conflicts that provide anything but a positive witness.
In summary, MacDonald attacks the religious consumerism that he observes running rampant in the American church as indicative of the consumerism in the American culture, which caters to a “feel-good” mentality in order to appease church-goers. He cites as an example of consumerism the practice of mega-churches opening their doors to corporate sponsors. Anyone seen Starbucks coffee available in church lobbies?
MacDonald’s admonishes, “The Church must overcome both its baggage and its present tendency to pander in order to become a character-shaping force in the twenty-first century” (p. 87). So I pose these questions ~
- Is MacDonald’s critique of the contemporary American church valid? Why or why not?
- What specific counter arguments might you offer in response to MacDonald’s criticism?
- How can the American church remain culturally sensitive without losing her soul and central mission?
