Christianity Today interviews Barack Obama
Jan 28, 2008 Current Events, Found Online, Spirituality
Christianity Today interviewed Barack Obama recently, and the interview revealed his true
colors about where he stands spiritually. I really respect this guy. From the interview:
“I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life. But most importantly, I believe in the example that Jesus set by feeding the hungry and healing the sick and always prioritizing the least of these over the powerful.”
I get the feeling that he has a string faith that is real, but he is not using it as a tool for political advancement. I respect that a lot. Using your faith as a political tool is something that cheapens the power of the Cross.
Tags: barack obama, christianity, church, election, faith, God, Spirituality
And They’ll Know We are Christians By Our…?
Nov 14, 2007 Spirituality
I just read an article on Fox News that really has me sad and disappointed. First off, the article:
—
Baptist Convention Expels North Carolina Church for Welcoming Gays
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Delegates to the Baptist State Convention have voted overwhelmingly to expel a Charlotte church for welcoming gays and lesbians without trying to change them.Myers Park Baptist Church became the first to be kicked out under rules passed at last year’s meeting. Those rules say any Baptist church that affirmed or endorsed homosexual behavior would be considered not to be cooperating with the convention.
The vote by the nearly 3,000 delegates came after two of the church’s leaders called on them to open their hearts to homosexuals who want to worship with them and to respect local autonomy in interpreting the Bible.
But convention president Allan Blume told the meeting that the Bible calls on believers to turn away from sin. He also suggested that Myers Park Baptist was mostly interested in seeking publicity for its views, not in trying to work within the Baptist State Convention.
Source: Fox News
—-
What bothers me here is how Blume says that the Bible calls us to turn from sin. Yes, that is correct, but at the same time, we ALL have sin that we either struggle with or have become so accustomed to that we forget it is sin. With that line of thought, the church should be turning everyone away. What about the alcoholic? The divorcee?
I guess that as a Christian, I am tired of Christianity that is so harsh in judging others for not being absolutely perfect. That is what is making the church less and less relevant to the world as days go by, and we need to turn it around. We need to be preaching a Gospel of love that says that no matter what, there is nothing that “w
ill be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
Tags: christianity, church, faith, opinion, religion
To Digg and Live by Faith
Nov 25, 2006 Uncategorized
First, let me start off with this: I love Digg. The concept of the website is great, and I love the content that is found on there. I go to Digg several times a day, and, like with a lot of people, it helps me get through my work day. The Diggnation podcast is hands-down my favorite of all the podcasts I subscribe to. So…
I have noticed recently that it seems to be the life-goal for several users to dismantle Christianity. Many times, you can find a front-page story that has to do with an atheist doing this-or-that, something about a Christian whacko, or something about Science being the only way to go.
I am a Christian, and I have to admit, there are a lot of times I read those stories, and I am embarrassed by the people they are about. For example, say there is a front page story about some ultra right-winged person who is blowing up an abortion clinic in the name of God. That kind of crap embarrasses me to the core, but what is worse is that the story will make it to the front page of Digg, just fueling the anti-Christianity fire, when in reality, that person in the story is not even practicing Christianity. They are ruining it for the rest of us.
I am a Christian, and I am also a logical thinker, and so I know that there is definitely a place for Science within Christianity. In fact, the two work very nicely together. There is a GREAT book about this issue by Lee Strobel called The Case for a Creator. I will not go into that here, but for the Science-minded person, it is a great read. It is about a guy who was out to disprove Christianity, but ended up getting all the proof he needed in favor for it. I digress.
My point is this. To be a Christian means to live by faith, which is an issue that has made its way across Digg several times. I know that seems like a cop-out to some, but there is a lot of stuff that we live by faith on. I have faith that when I press the break pedal in my car, that it will stop. I have no way of proving that it will work the next time I need it, I just have faith that it will.
That is not a good example, but the point is made. I think it is best summed up by the song “Live by Faith” by Chris Rice (iTunes link). Please read these lyrics, and let them sit on your heart. It’s time there was some clarification and response to the outpouring of atheistic views on Digg.
“Live by Faith” by Chris Rice
I can’t feel You movin’ inside
I don’t hear Your voice whisperin’ in the night
And I’ve never seen You with these eyes
Am I a fool, am I just a fool?
They ask how I follow what I can’t see
Why I trust in a love that my arms won’t reach
I don’t need You, don’t need You, to prove it to me
I’ll be a fool, yes I’ll be a fool
‘Cause blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe
And blessed are the hands that keep givin’ but never receive
Blessed is the heart that gets broken but keeps holdin’ on
Holdin’ on for another day
‘Cause that’s what it means to live by faith
So I cry for Your help while the world looks on
And they laugh at my hope when all hope is gone
But I’ll just keep prayin’ when answers won’t come
Am I the fool, am I just a fool
For standing alone while they mock Your name
“Well if your God is so good, tell us why all the pain?”
I’m not sure, not so sure that God is to blame
So don’t be a fool, please don’t be a fool
‘Cause blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe
And blessed are the hands that keep givin’ but never receive
Blessed is the heart that gets broken but keeps holdin’ on
Holdin’ on for another day
‘Cause that’s what it means to live by faith
In a world where our questions are haunted
‘Cause life’s not as fair as we all wanted
Where the innocent die, we ask why
And still we await the reply…
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe
And blessed are the hands that keep givin’ but never receive
Blessed is the heart that gets broken but keeps holdin’ on
Holdin’ on for another day
‘Cause that’s what it means…it means holdin’ on for another day
‘Cause that’s what it means to live by faith
Yes that’s what it means to live by faith
That’s what it means to live by faith, to live by faith…
**Yes, I submitted this entry to Digg myself. If that makes you mad, sorry. There are more important things in life to get your panties in a wad over**
Wal-Mart: We’re not afraid to say Merry Christmas
Nov 9, 2006 Uncategorized
Good for Wal Mart. I don’t know if this is only to boost sales, but I think it says a lot about a company of that size to stick to what is right. By the way, how is it that you can go to Wal-Mart not needing ANYTHING, but always find something to buy? Anyways, from the article:
Wal-Mart has told its employees that it’s OK to once again greet shoppers by saying “Merry Christmas” this holiday season instead of the generic “Happy Holidays.”
CNN confirmed that Wal-Mart will announce Thursday that it plans to use the phrase “Merry Christmas” in products and around its stores this holiday season.
