Archive for the ‘Law’ category

Gay Marriage & Christian Faith

August 31st, 2010

In my last post on this topic, I made two observations regarding this debate.

  1. First, the issue of gay marriage and Christian Faith will not go away and it will continue to shape the public debate.
  2. Second, every church in America will at some point be forced to take a stand on this issue one way or the other.

I have spent a lot of time contemplating this post.  The issue is a lot more clear in my head, so what follows is my best attempt to put my Faith into writing.

First, My Faith is Not Political

This, to me, is the most fundamental point to the issue of gay marriage.  I have written a lot on about the politics of Faith over the past years, so I will leave it to you, the reader, to do some research so you can understand this point (a good starting point is the articles linked at the bottom of this post or use the Category “Politics” to refine your search).  Christianity, in its truest form, is quite dissimilar from the other major world religions when it comes to politics.  The little chart below shows the fundamental difference.

 

Faith Comparison of Major Religions

Most important to notice is that Christianity is the only major religion that is NOT political.  In contrast, Judaism IS a political religion, but NOT evangelistic and Islam is BOTH Political and Evangelistic.

Israel, for example, is the political expression of Judaic faith, but they make no attempt to convert the Muslim or Christian citizens of Israel to their faith.  Nor do they force their citizens to observe Jewish Torah.

Islam is BOTH Political and Evangelistic.  Pick any Muslim country in the world (Turkey being the most moderate example) and you will see a legitimate interpretation of Islamic faith in action.  Mohammad is the first and best example.  He established the first Islamic State, Medina, in the middle 7th Century.  Islam is both concerned with Political power and converting non-belivers to follow Allah.

Christianity, as defined by Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and the New Testament, is NOT Political, but only concerned with taking the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus to those who do not have it.  Jesus refused to establish himself as a political leader and his first Apostles followed his example.  Christianity is decidedly apolitical in its nature. Our goal is Evangelistic (which means to spread to the good news), but not to convert people to a political view.

I will pick up on this point in another time, but suffice to say, this is why I think Conservative Evangelicalism in America has bastardized what it means to be a Disciple of the Messiah Jesus. Conservative Evangelicalism in its current incarnation has conflated politics, and Democracy, with the true evangelistic mission of Christian Faith.

Second, My Faith is Not Legal

This is another area where so many Christians get confused because of poor teaching over the past decades.  Too many confuse the Old Testament, which tells the history of the Jews, with the politics of America.  Simply put, The Old Testament theocracy and Torah (Law) was meant to bring Israel to the realization that no Law can make the heart of Man righteous.  The Law of the Old Covenant between God and Israel illustrated that no legal system can make people good.  Each person needs to be remade in the Image of God, not subjected to a form of government.  Thus, all the Law pointed to Jesus as the Savior and hope of mankind.

Judaism, as it is lived out today, does not see a need for Jesus as Messiah and so they live out their faith through either the politics of Israel, or through obedience to a set of Laws they find consistent with the Torah.

Islam, because it is both Political and Evangelistic, lives out their law and enforces it on others.  That is why we find Homosexuals hanged or killed in Muslim countries for their “sin” of homosexuality.  It is why Islamic countries have laws that force women to wear head coverings and stone women to death for sex outside of marriage.

Faith in Jesus, in contrast, recognizes that no matter how good our laws our, they are not enough to change the heart of people.  It is the great irony of American Evangelicalism that so many people think that if they pass a law to prohibit gay marriage, they will somehow keep the country “pure.”  But even God with his perfect Law (Torah) could not purify Israel.  This is why so much of the Evangelical furvor against homsexual marriage makes no sense.  It is an attempt to live out a Legalistic faith instead of an Evangelistic one.

Finally, Where I Stand

So given this understanding of my Faith, here is where I stand.

1. Christianity is not political, yet we live in a democracy.  Out of respect to the political powers in authority over me, I do feel obligated to vote my conscience.  However, there are two caveats to this point.

First, I do not find any foundation in the teachings of Jesus or in the teachings of the New Testament that would allow me to persuade others to share my political conscience.  In other words, it does not fit with my personal faith to endorse or create any “Christian” Political Action Committees to oppose gay marriage.  I do not think it is of any value to donate money to candidates who share my faith.  I do no support any advertisement campaign to “raise public awareness,” engage the “culture war” or persuade people to vote against gay marriage.  These are the methods of politicians, not Christians.

Second, if push comes to shove, I would gladly give up my right to vote at all if it caused anyone to stumble and think my faith in Jesus was in any way political or legal.  Voting my conscience is NOT my primary obligation.  My first obligation is to be an Ambassador to Jesus, not an emissary of the political Right (or Left) of America.

2. Christianity is not legalistic, so while I trust the biblical teaching that homosexuality is a sin, passing a law against homosexuality or against homosexual marriage is not my mission.  My mission is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  My only obligation is to share the Good News of Jeuss and then I must allow the Holy Spirit to convict others of both their sin and the path of righteousness. This is hard for legalistic-Evangelicals, because they would rather be in control and force others to follow their rules even if they do not share their heart.  But the message of Christ, and Him Crucified, is that our Heavenly Father wants to restore our hearts and then lead us into right action—not the other way around.

In short, it does not matter if gay marriage is legal or illegal in America.  The legality of this State sanctioned contract does not change my mission; it only shows how big my mission is.

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Posted in Culture, Discipleship, Emerging Church, Evangelism, Hamartology, Law, Missiology, Politics, Religion

The Manhattan Declaration-A Call to Conscience or Compromise?

November 25th, 2009

Screen shot 2009-11-25 at 12.39.57 PMThe Manhattan Declaration is a formal “call to arms” to all Christians asking us to engage in the major issues that are shaping our modern society. Following is the summary of this declaration.

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are (1) the sanctity of human life, (2) the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife, and (3) the rights of conscience and religious liberty. Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Human Life

The lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are ever more threatened. While public opinion has moved in a pro-life direction, powerful and determined forces are working to expand abortion, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Although the protection of the weak and vulnerable is the first obligation of government, the power of government is today often enlisted in the cause of promoting what Pope John Paul II called “the culture of death.” We pledge to work unceasingly for the equal protection of every innocent human being at every stage of development and in every condition. We will refuse to permit ourselves or our institutions to be implicated in the taking of human life and we will support in every possible way those who, in conscience, take the same stand.

Marriage

The institution of marriage, already wounded by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is at risk of being redefined and thus subverted. Marriage is the original and most important institution for sustaining the health, education, and welfare of all. Where marriage erodes, social pathologies rise. The impulse to redefine marriage is a symptom, rather than the cause, of the erosion of the marriage culture. It reflects a loss of understanding of the meaning of marriage as embodied in our civil law as well as our religious traditions. Yet it is critical that the impulse be resisted, for yielding to it would mean abandoning the possibility of restoring a sound understanding of marriage and, with it, the hope of rebuilding a healthy marriage culture. It would lock into place the false and destructive belief that marriage is all about romance and other adult satisfactions, and not, in any intrinsic way, about the unique character and value of acts and relationships whose meaning is shaped by their aptness for the generation, promotion and protection of life. Marriage is not a “social construction,” but is rather an objective reality—the covenantal union of husband and wife—that it is the duty of the law to recognize, honor, and protect.

Religious Liberty

Freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized. The threat to these fundamental principles of justice is evident in efforts to weaken or eliminate conscience protections for healthcare institutions and professionals, and in anti- discrimination statutes that are used as weapons to force religious institutions, charities, businesses, and service providers either to accept (and even facilitate) activities and relationships they judge to be immoral, or go out of business. Attacks on religious liberty are dire threats not only to individuals, but also to the institutions of civil society including families, charities, and religious communities. The health and well-being of such institutions provide an indispensable buffer against the overweening power of government and is essential to the flourishing of every other institution—including government itself—on which society depends.

Unjust Laws

As Christians, we believe in law and we respect the authority of earthly rulers. We count it as a special privilege to live in a democratic society where the moral claims of the law on us are even stronger in virtue of the rights of all citizens to participate in the political process. Yet even in a democratic regime, laws can be unjust. And from the beginning, our faith has taught that civil disobedience is required in the face of gravely unjust laws or laws that purport to require us to do what is unjust or otherwise immoral. Such laws lack the power to bind in conscience because they can claim no authority beyond that of sheer human will.

Therefore, let it be known that we will not comply with any edict that compels us or the institutions we lead to participate in or facilitate abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or any other act that violates the principle of the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every member of the human family.

Further, let it be known that we will not bend to any rule forcing us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality, marriage, and the family.

Further, let it be known that we will not be intimidated into silence or acquiescence or the violation of our consciences by any power on earth, be it cultural or political, regardless of the consequences to ourselves.

We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.

I have not yet read the entire declaration available for download from their website, but I hope to get to it soon.

Who Signed It

There are literally hundreds of thousands of signers to this Declaration, but below are a few names I recognized from the main list of supporters.

Randy Alcorn
 Founder and Director, Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM) (Sandy, OR)
Kay Arthur
CEO and Co-founder, Precept Ministries International (Chattanooga, TN)
Gary Bauer
President, American Values; Chairman, Campaign for Working Families (Washington D.C.)
Ken Boa
President, Reflections Ministries (Atlanta, GA)
Timothy Clinton
President, American Association of Christian Counselors (Forest, VA)
Chuck Colson
Founder, the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview (Lansdowne, VA)
Rev. Daniel Delgado
Board of Directors, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference & Pastor, Third Day Missions Church (Staten Island, NY)
Dr. James Dobson
Founder, Focus on the Family (Colorado Springs, CO)
Dinesh D’Souza
Writer & Speaker (Rancho Santa Fe, CA)
Dr. Wayne Grudem
Research Professor of Theological and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary (Phoenix, AZ)
Rev. Ken Hutcherson
Pastor, Antioch Bible Church (Kirkland, WA)
Rev. Tim Keller
Senior Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (New York, NY)
Dr. Richard Land
President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC (Washington, DC)
Josh McDowell
Founder, Josh McDowell Ministries (Plano, TX)
Dr. Tom Oden
Theologian, United Methodist Minister and Professor, Drew University (Madison, NJ)
Marvin Olasky
Editor-in-Chief, World Magazine and provost, The Kings College (New York City, NY)
Dr. J.I. Packer
Board of GovernorsÕ Professor of Theology, Regent College (Canada)
Dr. Ron Sider
Director, Evangelicals for Social Action (Wynnewood, PA)
Joni Eareckson Tada
Founder and CEO, Joni and Friends International Disability Center (Agoura Hills, CA)
Paul Young
COO & Executive VP, Christian Research Institute (Charlotte, NC)
Ravi Zacharias
Founder and Chairman of the board, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (Norcross, GA)

Here are my questions:

  • What do you think of this declaration?  Is it a genuine call to engage the Christian conscience or a compromise of our faith?
  • Will you sign the declaration? Why or why not?
  • If you sign it, would you really follow through with the call to civil disobedience and risk imprisonment?
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Posted in Culture, Discipleship, Epistemology, Law, Leadership, Politics, Religion, Social Justice

The Home is No Place for Church

May 30th, 2009

Here is an interesting story out of Communist China (ooops, I mean San Diego County, California USA).  

A San Diego pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a county official and warned they will face escalating fines if they continue to hold Bible studies in their home.

The couple, whose names are being withheld until a demand letter can be filed on their behalf, told their attorney a county government employee knocked on their door on Good Friday, asking a litany of questions about their Tuesday night Bible studies, which are attended by approximately 15 people.

“Do you have a regular weekly meeting in your home? Do you sing? Do you say ‘amen’?” the official reportedly asked. “Do you say, ‘Praise the Lord’?”

The pastor’s wife answered yes.

She says she was then told, however, that she must stop holding “religious assemblies” until she and her husband obtain a Major Use Permit from the county, a permit that often involves traffic and environmental studies, compliance with parking and sidewalk regulations and costs that top tens of thousands of dollars.

And if they fail to pay for the MUP, the county official reportedly warned, the couple will be charged escalating fines beginning at $100, then $200, $500, $1000, “and then it will get ugly.”

For my brothers and sisters in Christ who are involved in the house church movement, or for any church that promotes home group ministry, this could become a barrier.

Broyles confirmed the county official followed through on his threat. The pastor and his wife received a written warning ordering the couple to “cease/stop religious assembly on parcel or obtain a major use permit.”

“The Western Center for Law and Policy is troubled by this draconian move to suppress home Bible studies,” said the law center in a statement. “If the current trends in our nation continue, churches may be forced underground. If that happens, believers will once again be forced to meet in homes. If homes are already closed by the government to assembly and worship, where then will Christians meet?”

On a personal note, Broyles added, “I’ve been leading Bible studies in my home for 13 years in San Diego County, and I personally believe that home fellowship Bible studies are the past and future of the church. … If you look at China, the church grew from home Bible studies. I’m deeply concerned that if in the U.S. we are not able to meet in our homes and freely practice our religion, then we may be worse off than China.”

Broyles also explained to WND that oppressive governments, such as communist China or Nazi Germany, worked to repress home fellowships, labeling them the “underground church” or “subversive groups,” legally compelling Christians to meet only in sanctioned, government-controlled “official” churches.

“Therein lies my concern,” Broyles said. “If people can’t practice their religious beliefs in the privacy of their own homes with a few of their friends, that’s an egregious First Amendment violation.”

WND contacted a spokeswoman for San Diego County, who acknowledged the description of the incident seemed “bizarre,” but who was unable to locate the details of the account. She simply could not provide comment yet, she said, until she could become familiar with the case.

No matter how this turns out, I want to encourage my church-Family not to fear.  Look at China, they are hindered by the law, imprisoned, beaten, and killed…. yet the church under Communist oppression has grown faster than in any other nation.  Yes, we must be aware of how Government seeks to constrain our Faith, but we should not fear it, but trust in Jesus!

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Posted in Culture, Ecclesiology, Law, Religion

What do Communist Chinese and American Secularists have in Common?

March 5th, 2009

What do the Communist Chinese and American Secularists have in common?

Read these two news stories and you will see it.
First, lets look at the state of things in Communist China.

Tibetan Monks Protest New Year Prayer Ban

Defiant Buddhist monks banned from marking a key Tibetan New Year prayer festival marched in protest in China’s southwest, rights groups said. It was the latest resistance to Chinese rule ahead of sensitive anniversaries in Tibet…

The latest protest began Sunday morning — the second day of Monlam — when Chinese officials stopped the monks at the Sey monastery in Sichuan province as they gathered to pray, the International Campaign for Tibet said, citing unidentified sources. The monks left the prayer hall and started walking toward the main town, shouting to be allowed to pray, ICT said.

A few minutes later, armed security officials arrived and the monks returned to their lamasery…

Now lets look at the state of things in a Secular (post-Christian) America.

Supreme Court Lets Ban on Type of School Prayer Stand

Coach Marcus Borden used to bow his head and drop to one knee when his football team prayed. But the Supreme Court ended that tradition on Monday when it refused to hear the high school coach’s appeal of a school district ban on employees joining a student-led prayer…

Judge D. Michael Fisher, writing for the Philadelphia appeals court, said Borden’s past action of leading the prayers made his head-bowing seem inappropriate. “A reasonable observer would conclude that he is continuing to endorse religion when he bows his head during the pre-meal grace and takes a knee with his team in the locker room while they pray,” Fisher said.

What is the common thread between these stories?  Both the Communists and Secularists are ruled by fear.  Here is my opinion?

  • Secularists fear religion because it robs them of power; power to control other people.
  • Secularists fear the public expression of faith, because they are intellectually weak and cannot win in the public arena of ideas.
  • Secularists fear religion of any kind, because they are psychologically weak; seeing other people pray creates self-doubt and anxiety.
  • Secularists fear prayer, because it reminds them of the emptiness and vanity of their own existence.

What is the commonality?  Both the Communists and Secularists rule through fear!

  • Secularists create fear by using the Government’s power to suppress those with religious beliefs.
  • Secularists create fear by putting in prison those who does not share their belief in a godless society.
  • Secularists create fear using legal-violence against those who protest their rule.
  • Secularists create fear through intimidation; including the loss of a job for anyone who does not check their faith at the door into the public arena.

So what do you say?  Given these, and the many other stories in today’s news, what do the Communist Chinese and American Secularists have in common?

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Posted in Culture, Law, Politics, Religion