Reflections on a year at TH...

The basics are gone and in it's place are the one liners that entire denominations get based on.

Reason apart from God is irrational. We see this in so many venues it's mind-boggling. It's okay to murder babies, but we really must save the whale, as Randy Stonehill sang. Parents must grant permission for our children to get their ears pierced, but we needn't be told if they're getting an abortion. We can't discipline our children, but we're held legally and financially responsible when they break the law because they lack discipline. Again, quoting Randy, it's a great big, stupid world.

I also agree that Christians are a part of the problem. We don't do Christ any favors when we act like the world. It's bad enough that we're caught in sins that the Bible tells us to avoid -- these things do happen when dealing with humans -- even saved ones. However, when the churches cover up sin rather than address it, we shoot ourselves in our collective foot, because negative secrets always have a way of coming to the public's knowledge. Conversely, when we turn on our own and judge harshly for sins we "would never" commit, we send a clear message to non-Christians that we're no different from the rest of society -- there is no peace, acceptance or love in Christendom, just a bunch of rules we expect you to follow and if you don't, well, we'll turn our backs on you forever in a heartbeat.

And, my! Don't we American Christians do a fantastic job of twisting the definition of sin into a pretzel? I'll skip the scotch, but can I have a third piece of cake please? It's a wonder we can keep all those half-truths straight.

There's much I think modern American Christianity will be called to task for when we stand before God. God is still upon His throne and able to save the world that He has created. Unfortunately, those of us tasked with the job of speaking the truth to a unknowing world are failing in our assigned duties. God must weep for our stubbornness.