Comments on: Thoughts on “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” http://iemissional.com/2008/09/30/thoughts-on-pulpit-freedom-sunday/ teaching. glocalizing. living. serving. repenting. incarnating. loving. repeating. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:32:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Strider http://iemissional.com/2008/09/30/thoughts-on-pulpit-freedom-sunday/#comment-4117 Strider Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:24:56 +0000 http://iemissional.com/?p=139#comment-4117 I agree with you Marty- and Alan. But don't just speak in the past tense- although Alan could add our more recent failure to speak out on the Aids issue. In the 80's we condemned homosexuals who were dying and desperate just when we had an opportunity to reach them. But what about today? Will we speak love into the issues of today or continue to look back on missed opportunities? We have before us the issue of Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Islam, Global poverty and dependency- especially in Africa- and terrorism. Will we speak prophetically and offer God's love or continue to be perceived as lost in our own bubble looking down our noses at the rest of the world who just can't seem to behave. I agree with you Marty- and Alan. But don’t just speak in the past tense- although Alan could add our more recent failure to speak out on the Aids issue. In the 80’s we condemned homosexuals who were dying and desperate just when we had an opportunity to reach them. But what about today? Will we speak love into the issues of today or continue to look back on missed opportunities? We have before us the issue of Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Islam, Global poverty and dependency- especially in Africa- and terrorism. Will we speak prophetically and offer God’s love or continue to be perceived as lost in our own bubble looking down our noses at the rest of the world who just can’t seem to behave.

]]> By: Alan Cross http://iemissional.com/2008/09/30/thoughts-on-pulpit-freedom-sunday/#comment-4116 Alan Cross Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:12:29 +0000 http://iemissional.com/?p=139#comment-4116 I would say that the fall of Christendom was the fault of the Church post-WWII for not living out its own values. Shelby Steele says that the children of "The Greatest Generation" woke up and saw the hypocrisy that existed in things like racism, sexism, and the other "isms" of the 1960's and they rebelled. When they rebelled their parents had no moral authority to oppose them and, out of guilt, gave them everything they wanted. It was the first time in the history of America that the children had successfully rebelled against their fathers because their fathers were eaten up with hypocrisy and everyone knew it. Fighting and winning WWII for the sake of freedom caused us to look at our own country and the inconsistencies that existed here. When those who fought and won WWII did not extend freedom to all people in their own country, they lost their authority. Unfortunately, the Church sided with the fathers against their children and they sided with the larger society that was oppressive to minorities, women, etc. When we did this, we lost our moral authority as well because it was obvious that we were not being true to the ethic of Christ. We thought that the cracking structure of Christendom and Civil Religion would save us and it did not. In 1961 when the Freedom Riders were being beaten by mobs in Montgomery, AL in 2-3 days of civil unrest and Marshall Law, the sermons that Sunday as announced in the local paper were on individualistic concepts, doctrine, and some were even against Communism. We had chances in the 1950's and 1960's to stand for justice but when we sided with injustice, we lost our credibility. It is interesting that we claim to be "people of the book" and inerrantists, yet, we ignored the guidance that Scripture gave us in those days because of our own prejudices and ignorance. Is it any surprise that we live in a nation that is not interested in what we have to say? When it really mattered, we were either silent or we opposed righteousness. There is a price to be paid for opposing righteousness and we are paying it right now, whether we like it or not. I agree, Marty. We need to quit complaining and get on with being the people of God in this present context. It is what it is and all of our anger about our lost place in culture is not going to change anything. I would say that the fall of Christendom was the fault of the Church post-WWII for not living out its own values. Shelby Steele says that the children of “The Greatest Generation” woke up and saw the hypocrisy that existed in things like racism, sexism, and the other “isms” of the 1960’s and they rebelled. When they rebelled their parents had no moral authority to oppose them and, out of guilt, gave them everything they wanted. It was the first time in the history of America that the children had successfully rebelled against their fathers because their fathers were eaten up with hypocrisy and everyone knew it. Fighting and winning WWII for the sake of freedom caused us to look at our own country and the inconsistencies that existed here. When those who fought and won WWII did not extend freedom to all people in their own country, they lost their authority.

Unfortunately, the Church sided with the fathers against their children and they sided with the larger society that was oppressive to minorities, women, etc. When we did this, we lost our moral authority as well because it was obvious that we were not being true to the ethic of Christ. We thought that the cracking structure of Christendom and Civil Religion would save us and it did not. In 1961 when the Freedom Riders were being beaten by mobs in Montgomery, AL in 2-3 days of civil unrest and Marshall Law, the sermons that Sunday as announced in the local paper were on individualistic concepts, doctrine, and some were even against Communism. We had chances in the 1950’s and 1960’s to stand for justice but when we sided with injustice, we lost our credibility. It is interesting that we claim to be “people of the book” and inerrantists, yet, we ignored the guidance that Scripture gave us in those days because of our own prejudices and ignorance. Is it any surprise that we live in a nation that is not interested in what we have to say? When it really mattered, we were either silent or we opposed righteousness. There is a price to be paid for opposing righteousness and we are paying it right now, whether we like it or not.

I agree, Marty. We need to quit complaining and get on with being the people of God in this present context. It is what it is and all of our anger about our lost place in culture is not going to change anything.

]]> By: Tom Bryant http://iemissional.com/2008/09/30/thoughts-on-pulpit-freedom-sunday/#comment-4113 Tom Bryant Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:39:43 +0000 http://iemissional.com/?p=139#comment-4113 That was good, Marty. You are absolutely right that the church has always done better (been the real church) when we have been on the fringe. That was good, Marty. You are absolutely right that the church has always done better (been the real church) when we have been on the fringe.

]]> By: Mike Woodward http://iemissional.com/2008/09/30/thoughts-on-pulpit-freedom-sunday/#comment-4104 Mike Woodward Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:49:14 +0000 http://iemissional.com/?p=139#comment-4104 Doesn't a simple observation of the book of Acts show that the church thrives in a neutral or hostile environment? That's being played out today in China, India, and on the African continent. Yet, we prefer our comfort as the majority religion. We really don't want ridicule and hostility. Is it any wonder our children see through us and leave the church in droves? On a related note, it's almost that time of year when we'd rather force those liberal shopkeepers to say "Merry Christmas" than to share with them the Christ of all seasons. Shop Early! Shop Often! Your country needs you! Doesn’t a simple observation of the book of Acts show that the church thrives in a neutral or hostile environment? That’s being played out today in China, India, and on the African continent. Yet, we prefer our comfort as the majority religion. We really don’t want ridicule and hostility. Is it any wonder our children see through us and leave the church in droves?

On a related note, it’s almost that time of year when we’d rather force those liberal shopkeepers to say “Merry Christmas” than to share with them the Christ of all seasons.

Shop Early! Shop Often! Your country needs you!

]]> By: Marty Duren http://iemissional.com/2008/09/30/thoughts-on-pulpit-freedom-sunday/#comment-4103 Marty Duren Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:03:55 +0000 http://iemissional.com/?p=139#comment-4103 Thanks, David. Great to hear from you! Thanks, David. Great to hear from you!

]]> By: David Brazzeal http://iemissional.com/2008/09/30/thoughts-on-pulpit-freedom-sunday/#comment-4102 David Brazzeal Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:58:54 +0000 http://iemissional.com/?p=139#comment-4102 Great post Marty. I enjoyed "Exiles" as well. David Great post Marty. I enjoyed “Exiles” as well.
David

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