Obama-wahabiism: Wright or Rong?

Obama-wahabiism: Wright or Rong?

wsj.com

What Obama is evading is that this "profoundly distorted view" is not just some passing emotion. It is what Wright himself, in the "talking points" page of his congregation's Web site, describes as "systematized black liberation theology." As we noted yesterday, Wright credits James Cone of New York's Union Theological Seminary with having undertaken this systematization. Here again is Cone's description of black liberation theology:

Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community. . . . Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love.

TEN DANGERS OF RUNNING WITH BIG B.A.D. WOLVES

TEN DANGERS OF RUNNING WITH BIG B.A.D. WOLVES

Galatians 5:15, "Ye B.ite A.nd D.evour one another..."

(Pharasaical legalists are the wolves.)

Pastor Terry Hagedorn, Calvary Baptist Church, Reedsville, WV

When things got to be too much--when he needed to clear his mind--Pastor Hal liked to take a drive through the country. On one such therapeutic excursion, he chose a road less traveled--really less traveled. In fact, it didn't look like anyone had used the road in a long time.

It was adventuresome to be in unknown territory, on a strange road, and all alone. AND, he was enjoying the beautiful scenery. The late afternoon sun was shining brightly. There was a babbling blue brook flowing along the left side of the road. There was a steep green meadow filled with yellow flowers to the right side of the road. The birds were singing. God was in His Holy Temple. All was at peace. Everything was just...swell.

The stress and tensions just started to melt away; yet, not entirely, because, as any pastor knows, just when things start to seem so good--it all falls apart. So, you are always on edge. There is no rest from the ministry. One must learn to rest in the ministry because sooner or later every lovely country road leads back to an ugly city.

Although, somehow today did seem to be so different, as he approached a bend in the road--a sharp turn to the right--he was suddenly met by a speeding car that closed in on his car. At the last possible moment it swerved and missed him. As the car went past him, the driver, an old woman, scrunched up her wrinkled face and from a deep tobacco colored cavern where her mouth ought to be she yelled--at the top of her lungs--"ROAD...HOG!"

Road hog?...Road hog! That was it! Pastor Hal lost his sanctification. He craned his neck out the window, shook his fist at the old lady's car, and yelled, "OH YEAH! YOU OLD COW!"

When he turned back to the front, there was a large hog standing in the middle of the road. He hit it broadside. The hog's terrified squeal ended when it landed five feet down the road with a pathetic, "THUD-oink!" The hog was killed instantly.

Hal's car came crashing to a dead stop. He was thrown into the windshield and was knocked unconscious. His new car was totaled.

No one came along to help. That's what's bad about the road less traveled. Hal was unconscious for almost a half of an hour. It could be days before anyone would travel this road again. When he finally came to, he saw a pack of wolves devouring the carcass of the hog.

Oh, not all of them were eating. Some had evidently pigged out already and were lying in the bright sun…waiting to feed some more. They were lying on their backs with their limp legs folded down against their bellies. Awkward as this was--it was still easier for them than trying to lie on such a full stomach. With all due respect to the deceased hog, the wolves looked like Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs. The other wolves snapped, snipped and smacked their happy way through the gargantuan porker.

Now, what I am about to tell you is hard to believe; however, as hard as it might be to do so, allow that it could be true. Please try to imagine it as true: when Hal came to, he thought he was a wolf!

How could that happen? Well, do you know how newly hatched birds, like Canadian Geese and others, bond to the first creature that they see after hatching--sometimes bonding to a dog, cat, cow or a farmer. You've heard about the "Ugly Duckling". Haven't you?

Well, Pastor Hal was not ugly and he only waddled like a duck. Yet, he "hatched" out of that short coma with a blank mind--due to amnesia. He didn't know who or what he was! When Hal saw those wolves--he just flat out bonded to them. He just figured he was one of them. You know a person can think they are what they hang around with--and be fooled. Hal was! Hal thought he was a wolf. Really! The only question that came to his mind was, "Hey! What am I doing in this car? Look at all that good food!" He jumped out on all fours and joined in the meal like any other wolf would do.

Hal normally didn't eat pork for fear of tapeworms. See! That's what happens when you run with a pack. Thinking yourself to be a wolf and running with the wolves might change your menu and make you less concerned about such maladies. Some who run with the pack, even eat snails, fish eggs--and raw fish! From which, some have died--or wish they had! Thinking you are something that you are not can lead to your doing things that you would not normally do.

A wolf will eat anything--including other wolves--if he gets hungry enough. Unbeknownst to Hal, the other wolves would have eaten him--if they were not so full of pork. Wolves turn on each other; therefore, be careful when running with a pack of wolves.

The sun was setting when the pack left the makeshift roadside cafe. They ran up across the meadow--stopping only to smell the occasional droppings and markings on the trees and flowers--yapping and barking in ecstasy. Even Hal stopped and tried to mark a tree or two along the way--the other wolves were doing it! When you're a wolf--you must do as wolves do!

However, he didn't realize that he was still wearing pants. In fact, he no longer knew what pants were. He had a beautiful fur coat like the rest of them--in his mind.

He looked so foolish. Yet, in his mind, he felt so wolfish. In his mind he was marking the trees and territory with the best of them. If there was a mirror out there and if he would have looked into it, then he would have known that he was not a wolf. Boy! They looked so good. It made him proud to be associated with such a...a...pack of wolves.

The pack ran to the top of a hill and sat on their haunches facing the east. And, as the summer moon rose over the horizon, he howled at the top of his lungs with the rest of the pack in greeting the moon's great pale green face. He didn't know what he was doing by howling like that--he was just doing what all the other wolves were doing. It just seemed right--really right! However, as he howled--at the top of his lungs--he kept glancing out of the corner of his eye to make sure that he was acting like he should. You are never really ever totally comfortable with yourself when you're running with a pack. You want the other wolves to accept you. In reality, the others could care less about you. You'd do better if you'd do the same toward them.

Be that as it may, Hal never knew such joy--such comradery--such "aliveness"! He knew what he was--a wolf. His stomach was full. He was surrounded by a wolf pack. He looked like a wolf. He acted like a wolf. He ate like a wolf. He howled like a wolf. He even smelled like a wolf. He was no longer just plain old Hal--he was a member of a pack of wolves. He was somebody!

He even had fleas like a wolf. That's an occupational danger of running with a pack of wolves. If you lie down with wolves, you get up with the fleas--and other pests to torment you.

The air was fresh. The great moon face watched down on him as he fell asleep. He was glad to be alive and to be a wolf. He never slept so well--or ever would again.

They were all awake before sunrise. A few at a time, the wolves all went out to relieve themselves--Hal went as well. As Hal squatted in the field, he didn't know it but he was the topic of the conversation between Snarl, pack leader, and his number one wolf, Fang. In the feeding frenzy and the howlingly good fellowship of the night before, Hal had been able to blend in--kind of. However, today was another day. When you run with the wolves, there always comes the dawning of a day of reckoning. And, in the bright morning light, it was obvious that Hal was no wolf!

"Hey, Fang, who OR what is that?" Snarl demanded.

Fang looking in Hal's direction said, "I don't know. He came out of nowhere and ate on the hog with us. He howled at the moon with us and slept with the pack last night. I thought you knew who he was."

"No. But, I am going to find out right now!", Snarl growled.

Snarl went over to check out Hal's pedigree. Well, one sniff was all it took for Snarl to know that the stranger was not welcome--any closer than three miles. A wolf's nose is sensitive that way. Mark my words--you make one mess--and the other wolves will disown you!

Snarl snapped a snippet out of Hal's pants and leg, as if to say in wolf language, "Unless you want worse--get out of here!" Hal thought he was playing. He thought it was a game of tag. (When you run with wolves it is hard to tell when they're just playing or are serious--deadly serious).

Hal took off running down the hill. He was unintentionally running toward where his car was--and the whole pack took out after him with Snarl in the lead.

Hal was running as hard as he could. He was going faster and faster. His tongue hung out of his mouth. He was breathing so hard that he wheezed and chugged like a locomotive. Every now and then he looked with a wild eyed glance to see if the guys were still chasing him. Unbeknownst to him, they had long since cut off the chase--his pedigree was too much--running and sweating only made it worse from behind.

When Hal could no longer take the suspense, he slowed just enough to look completely behind him. His shock at learning that the guys had left the chase came to an abrupt end as he crashed headlong into a great oak tree. He was knocked unconscious. Well, that was where the searchers found him.

You guessed it! The second blow to the head returned him to just being Hal. He never remembered running with the wolves. He could never explain how he got up near the tree, how he got blood on his shirt when he had no cuts, or how, weeks later, he got trichinosis--that was what puzzled him the most. Despite all that he forgot, Hal never could look at a full moon without having a strange desire to howl at the top of his lungs.

Don' t you forget what happened to Hal. Running with wolves will change you--whether you are aware of it or not. SO, DON'T RUN WITH THEM. You've got enough problems already.

Pastor Terry Hagedorn
Calvary Baptist Church
Reedsville, WV 26547
304-864-3870
http://www.calvarybaptistchurchwv.com
"Pointing Mountaineers to Mount Calvary"

THE YUPPITY-DOO-DAH CHURCH MOVEMENT

THE YUPPITY-DOO-DAH CHURCH MOVEMENT--Also called the Backyard Church Movement--
Stressing X-citement, X-perience and X-perimentation for the X-generation

written by Apaul of Tartarus, Pastor of Wallow Grave Backyard Church,


Dear Fritus, peas and grapes--the best of Cain’s offering, to you from Apaul, author of the following books of the Nous Testament: Pro-Mans, I&II Carnalians, Galivants, Effusions, Flippantians, Confusions, I&II Thatserroneous, I&II Apathy, Fritus, Fleament, and Beshrews writes:

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth new, modern, “with it” and “up-to-date” ideas on church growth, It seemed good to me also, having had a perfect understanding of all things ecclesiastical from the very first, to write unto thee, Fritus, my son in the faith, to instruct you on the Yuppity-Doo-Dah or Backyard Church Movement--the Third Wave--the revival and emergence of the Jeroboam religious movement. (The x-perience and x-perimentation movement is the third wave of power manifesting itself in the new millennium. The first wave was turn-of-the-century Pentecostalism; the second wave was the Charismatic movement.)

It is a new paradigm--NO that’s not twenty cents! It is a “user friendly” plan to sell religion to the modern generation. I call it “Yuppity-Doo-Dah” religion. Because, that term properly connotes the serendipitous spirituality being sought after--and how it is manifested; and, it is called “back yard Christianity” because of its emphasis on “casual Christianity.” ( I.e. your front yard is formal. That’s where formality and image is all important--where you set your artificial pink flamingos and lawn gnomes. Whereas, the backyard is where you set the lawn chairs, chaise lounges, and barbecue grill--i.e. where you can really let your hair down and relax.)

The Emerging Church paradigm involves three things: the music, the message and the mood.

Yuppity-Doo-Dah music should be 7-11 music! 7-11 music is seven words sung eleven different ways. The X-generation is the fast food, fast lane, fast life generation. It likes things fast an easy. So, hymns should be kept to simple lyrics. No more than seven words should be sung. They can be sung eleven different ways: fast, slow, soft, loud, with feeling, without feeling, happy, sad, contemplatively, prayerfully or praisefully.

Sample lyrics include, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, my friend, friend, friend.” “Happy, happy, happy, I’m happy, happy, happy.” “Heaven, heaven, heaven, O, heaven, heaven, heaven.” “I’m praying, praying, praying, praying, praying, Jesus.” “We worship, worship, worship, we worship you.” “Jesus, sweet Jesus, sweet Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” “I feel you, Jesus, really feel you.” “We praise, praise we, we praise you.” “Yes, yes, we say yes, Jesus, yes,” Or, “We need you Jesus, we need you.” Remember: K-I-S-S (Keep It
Simple, Stupid). And, yes remember the Rock group KISS. They should be invited to hold a sacred concert.

Music with worship and with meaning--the old standards should be avoided--at all cost. This is a new age. This is Y2Khristianity! Get with it, man: Christian Rock about the Rock. The end DOES justify the means—and the music!

The Yuppity-Doo-Dah Message must be relevant. Get rid of the patriarchal dictatorial pulpit. Get rid of that platform. Get down. Get with the people--on their level. You must consider the people’s feelings. You must preach motivational messages.

Yuppies, the X-generation, do not want pie-in-the-sky religion. They want messages that are helpful for the nasty now-and-now. Messages that will help them be more successful and, thereby, even more happier: Happy! Happy! Happy! More happy! Happy! Happy!” (I think that I just wrote a new song!)

Incidentally, don’t preach--talk! In fact, use the interview format. Put husband and wives, brothers, sister, siblings, bosses and workers, etc. in the center. Interview them about their problems, their hopes, their dreams, their game plan for success, tips on child rearing, recipes, etc. Give people something relevant for their lifestyles. Talk shows are the latest! We need more Oprah and less "O, praise-uh!"

Don’t preach. Have fun. Use a game-show format for a worship program. Call
the service, “So, you want to be a Christianaire?” Quiz them. Then ask, “Is that you-ruh final ant-serrr?”

Have a contest. Give real prizes--cash prizes: CD’s, Stocks and Bonds, etc. No junk bonds! People will give more--if they get more! Why not a holy-lottery? (Give ten percent of the proceeds to missions--i.e. planting more Backyard churches.) God loves a cheerful giver! Right? Well, what could make this generation happier--more cheerful--than to have fun and make money at the same time?? It’s a win-win proposition.

God is happy. The people are happy! When those two are happy, then how can you help but be happy, as well? “Happy, happy, happy, I’m happy, happy, happy.”

Why not introduce “Sanctified Cyber-Services?” Provide laptops to everyone in attendance. Have interactive services where people surf-for-the-truth. And then, they can share what they have downloaded to the group. Cyber-church? Why not? The X-generation is the Cyber-generation! Instead of the House of God--emphasize the Mouse of God! Teach people to logon to Jesus! Teach people about the hyper-drive of the Holy Host. Teach them that God the Father is the Main Frame of our existence.

If we are going to reach and retain x-ers, we must re-tool and re-brain! Fritus, if you cannot take the heat, if you cannot change, then get out of the way for the Third Wave and a new Praise Leader! Either you relate; or, you will deflate!

The Yuppity-Doo-Dah Mood is exemplified by making your facilities user-friendly. Get rid of all the pews. Put in a lawn chair and recliner section to replace the removed pews. Put in recessed lighting tanning lights. Set up a cappuccino stand. (WWJD—What Would Jesus Drink? Espresso?) Fill the baptistery with ice and use it as a large ice chest. Or, on special occasions, convert it to a hot tub. Have hot tub fellowships. “Hot tub! Hot Tub! Hot! Hot Tub!” [Another song!] Build: Weight rooms, Massage rooms, Homeopathic, and Aroma Therapy Sunday School rooms

Install Play Stations in the Sunday School. Give tokens to children for learning a Bible verse. Let them play for learning Jesus stuff.

Is this all scriptural? Well, according to my book it is! Yes! Absolutely!

Jeroboam was wise to develop his alternative to the Temple worship of Rehoboam. You gotta’ re-brain to retain. Schmooze ‘em--or loose ‘em, Fritus!

He made calves of gold. What could be more cute and cuddly than a calf? We need a
kinder/gentler image of god. Don’t we? And, what could be more attractive than gold and glitter? Especially to X-ers. Jeroboam wisely connsidered “location, location, location.” Build your Backyard church where a McBurger would build a fast food joint. After all, you are after the same traffic. In fact, why not have a Burger fellowship every Sunday night? Sunday Night wrestling--a Big-Screen TV, closed-circuit, pay-per-view—fellowship? Rock and Roll concerts? (Start with oldies and work your way down to Grunge Christian Rock concerts.

Fritus, if you cannot beat--join ‘em. We NEED Backyard churches. X-rs want Backyard Churches! They are whining for them. Win the whiners!!

However, I am convinced that you are going to just keep on with praying,
preaching, and personal soul winning. Right? Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you. When the Backyard churches have the big crowds, big buildings and big programs--don’t come crying to me. Do it the old fashioned way--if you must.

Sincerely,

Pastor Terry Hagedorn
Calvary Baptist Church
Reedsville, WV 26547
304-864-3870
http://www.calvarybaptistchurchwv.com
"Pointing Mountaineers to Mount Calvary"

10 Habits of Ineffective Christian Leaders

10 Habits of Ineffective Christian Leaders

Pastor Terry Hagedorn, Calvary Baptist Church, Reedsville, WV

1. Ineffective leaders lead by word only—not by word and example:

“Do as I say—not as I do!” (What you are speaks so loudly people cannot hear what you say.)

2. Ineffective leaders do not have clear objectives:

By establishing clear goals, you establish a purpose and sense of direction. Remember the hunter’s adage: If you don’t aim at something, you won’t hit it.

3. Ineffective leaders are inconsistent:

When all is said and done by the inconsistent, more is said than done.

4. Ineffective leaders never praise good work—just condemn the wrong:

Make a point of only telling people when they do something wrong. Or, praise them in a vague way, “Well, you did the best you could--I think.”

5. Ineffective leaders do not communicate effectively:

Good communication breeds good communication. So ineffective leadership causes people to not understand you--so, they respond accordingly.

6. Ineffective leaders discourage ideas and initiative:

Innovation and creativity are essential requirements for every organization to move forward. Therefore, ineffective team leaders should look to discourage team members.

7. Ineffective leaders see any change as dangerous:

An ineffective leaders makes certain he or she is unaware of the changes in dynamics in the team and do not regard change as an opportunity to improve.

8. Ineffective leaders neglect the development of team members:

This prevents members from growth and motivation. In turn, this will also stymie and stall the team as a whole.

9. Ineffective leaders do not treat team members as individuals:

All people are alike. What works for one team member will work for all—after all, they are sheeple.

10. Ineffective leaders do not learn from experience or advice:

Change means that you were wrong—else you would not need to change.

10 Reasons Why Preahers Avoid Cultural Issues

Clash Radio ^ | 12/26/07 | Doug Giles

Doug Giles: "As far as I'm concerned, a silent or waffling pastor in today's paranormal climate is about as necessary as Rosie O'Donnell is to CPAC. I don't care how much the minister likes kitty cats, candy canes and if he cries at Celine Dion concerts. Look, voiceless vicar, if you're not currently in the big middle of this crucial cultural squabble, pointing out what's putrid and cheering on what's proper, then you're Dr. Evil in my book.

Given that this is an upcoming election year and that the culture-dividing issues are more obvious than Joan River's last lip implants, it is mind-boggling to me that many ministers are mute or side with parties, policies and principles that are antithetical to the Christian worldview. I don't know if you got this memo in seminary or not but pastors are supposed to not only salvage souls but also build the good society.

In some kind of ascending order, it seems to me there are 10 reasons why pastors avoid political and intense cultural issues and thus aid and abet evil.

1. Fear of man. If you purport to be a man of God, then your regard for God and His opinion must trump the trepidation of the creature God created from spit and mud. Come on, man of God, don't fear the crowd ... we're ants with cell phones that'll shoot Botox into our foreheads. We're weird and fickle weather vanes of what's en vogue. You've got to lead us. Therefore, go to the mountain ... get a fresh dose holy terror and move into the Moses mode and command us to be and do what is holy, just and good. The grinning mild subtle Oprah approach doesn't seem to be stemming the current flood of filth.

2. Ignorance. Most people are not bold in areas where they are ignorant . . . always excepting Britney Spears, of course. I know keeping up with all the pressing political issues is maddening, but that's life, brother; and if you want to be a voice in society and not just an echo, you have got to be in the know. Staying briefed, running each political issue through the gauntlet of Scripture and determining God's mind on a certain subject are par for the course for the hardy world changer.

3. Division. Y'know, I hate the current non-essential divisions in the church as much as the next acerbic Christian columnist. Squabbling over the color of the carpet, who'll play the organ next Sunday or who is the Beast of Revelation, is stupidity squared. Hey, divisive Christian rebel without a clue-get a life, por favor! Or become a Satanist and go screw up their church. Do something other than make mountains out of your little molehill. That being said, there's a time and place for a biblical throw-down and an ecclesiastical split from political policies and parties.

For a minister to seek unity with secularists when they are trashing and rewriting scripture with impunity is to side with vice and to allow darkness to succeed. On these kinds of issues, the minister cannot group hug or sing a James Blunt song to the secularist or the apostate Christian.

4. Last Days Madness. Many ministers do not get involved in political issues because they believe that "it simply doesn't matter" since "the end has come," and Jehovah is about to run the credits on this failed earth flick. These defeatists believe that any change in the jet stream, war, earthquakes, a warming globe, the success of a corrupt politician-even a new Shakira video-are "proof" that God is getting really, really ticked off, and that His only recourse is to have Christ physically return and kick some major butt.

They see the church and themselves as impotent and having no real ability to change things culturally with any long range ramifications. Thus, any stab at a better tomorrow is simply an exercise in futility for this rapture crew. Attempting to right culture is, in their eyes, equivalent to polishing brass on a sinking ship; therefore, they are content to simply pass out tracts, tramp from Christian rock concert to Christian rock concert, eat fatty foods and stare at Christian TV.

5. Sloth. Classically defined, sloth is lethargy stemming from a sense of hopelessness. Viewing our nation and the world as an irreparable disaster, where our exhortations, prayers, votes and labors will not produce any temporal fruit, leaves one with all the fervor of a normal guy who's forced to kiss his sister.

If you're wondering why your flock is so apathetic, Pastor Eeyore, ask yourself if you have stolen their earthly hope that their valiant efforts can actually prevail in time, and not just in eternity. If you constantly pump the doom and gloom message, if you teach them that evil will ultimately triumph on our terra firma, if you spew messages that consciously or unconsciously convey "big devil" and "little God," then you have effectively zapped what's left of your parishioners' passion.

6. They don't want to lose their Tax Exempt status. Many pastors, priests and parishioners have been cowed into inactivity by the threatened loss of their tax-exempt status if they say anything remotely political. This can make pastors who don't, or won't, get good legal advice about as politically active as Howard Hughes was during the flu season.

The church may, among other things, register their members to vote, pass out voter guides, invite all candidates in a race to speak (even if only one of them shows up) and speak directly about specific issues.

Off the clock, in his personal capacity, the minister can endorse and support (or oppose) whomever or whatever he wishes-like any other citizen. There are no limitations to the individual; the ones that do exist under the 501(c)(3) statute are only for the church entity and/or the pastor in his official capacity, not for the pastor or the members who make up the church.

7. They bathe in paltry pietism. Pastors avoid politics because such concerns are "unspiritual," and their focus is on the "spirit world." Yes, to such imbalanced ministers, political affairs are seen as "temporal and carnal," and since they trade in the "eternal and spiritual," such "worldly" issues get nada.

This bunch is primarily into heavenly emotions and personal Bible study, and they stay safely tucked away from society and its complicated issues. How sweet. They forget that they are commanded to be seriously engaged with our culture and or fall into the worthless category Christ warned them of (Mt.5.13). Snap.

8. They have bought into the Taliban comparison. Pastors have muffled their political/ cultural voices because they fear being lumped in with Islam by the politically correct thought police. The correlation made between Christians' non-violent attempts at policy persuasion and the Taliban's kill-you-in-your-sleep campaigns is nothing more than pure, uncut crapola.

Ministers, please blow off the tongue-wagging blowhards who try to intimidate you into silence by making quantum, ludicrous, scat-laden and analogous leaps in equating the implementation of a gracious, Biblical worldview with the Islam-o-fascists cross-eyed dream.

9. They can't say, "No" to minutiae. Some ministers can't get involved in studying or speaking out regarding pressing issues simply because of the ten tons of junk they are forced to field within their congregations. Spending time wet nursing 30-year-olds without a life and being bogged down in committee meetings over which shade of pink paint should be used for the women's ministerial wing of their church, ministers are lucky if they get to study the Bible nowadays-much less anything else.

This is the fault of both the ministers with their messiah complexes and the congregants with their me-monkey syndromes, and they must all have their foreheads thumped if the church is going to tackle cultural issues.

10. They likey the money. The creepy thing about a lot of ministers is their unwillingness to give political or cultural offense when offense is needed, simply because taking a biblical stand on a political issue might cost them their mega-church, which means their seven homes, their Bentley and their private jet. Oh well, what do you expect? Christ had His Judas, and evangelicalism has it money loving hookers.

If the ministers within the good old US of A would crucify their fear of man, get solidly briefed regarding the chief political issues, not sweat necessary division, not get caught up in last days madness, maintain their hope for tomorrow, understand their liberties under God and our Constitution, not become so heavenly minded that they're no earthly good, focus on the majors and blow off bowing to cash instead of convictions, then maybe . . . just maybe . . . we will see their righteous influence cause our nation to take the needed sharp turn away from the secularist progressives' speedily approaching putrid pit."

The Christmas Invitation

(Luke 2:7)

It was the biggest event of the year in the little town of Cornwall – the annual Christmas pageant, starring many of the people of the town. When it came time for casting the various parts, every parent wanted their son or daughter to be included. On audition day, it didn’t take long to match every part with just the right person. But then there was Harold. The little guy really wanted a part. But because of his suffering with Down’s Syndrome, the directors kept passing him over. But Harold just kept popping up again, asking for a part. Finally, the directors gave in and gave him what they judged to be a no-risk part – the innkeeper who comes to the door and tells Mary and Joseph the inn is full. It was a part with only one simple line. Little did they know that the stage had been set for the most memorable Christmas pageant they had ever seen.

The night of the pageant, you had to get there early just to get a seat. Backstage, the shepherds were putting on their bathrobes, the angels were adjusting their haloes, and everyone was reviewing their lines. The directors were going over Harold’s line with him one more time – “Remember, Harold – ‘I’m sorry, we have no room.’” Slowly, but surely, Harold repeated his line.

The men of the church had built a set that portrayed Bethlehem in the background, a manger on the right, and the inn on the left. As Act One neared its end, a weary Mary and Joseph trudged up to the inn door, desperately looking for shelter. Joseph knocked on the inn door. Nothing happened. Backstage the front rows could hear the director whispering, “Now, Harold!” The set began to shake as Harold struggled to get the inn door open. Then, standing there in his bathrobe, Harold listened as Joseph begged for a room for his pregnant wife.

Harold said nothing. Again, the backstage whisper - “I’m sorry, we have no room.” Another long pause. Finally, Harold struggled through his line – “I’m sorry . . . we have no room.” Then he slowly closed the door. It was as Mary and Joseph began to turn away that totally unforgettable moment came – the one no one would ever forget. Suddenly, the set started to shake again as Harold again struggled to get the door open. Before the stunned director could get to him, Harold opened the door and ran after the departing Mary and Joseph. And loud enough for people in the basement to hear, Harold shouted - “Wait! Wait! You can stay in MY room!”

Little Harold understood exactly what Christmas really means. Luke 2:7, our word for today from the Word of God, says, “There was no room for them in the inn.” But Harold understood that when the Son of God is at your door, you have to make room for Him. Which is something you may have never done. You’ve done Christian things, gone to Christian meetings, believed Christian beliefs, developed a Christian image – but you’ve never really opened the door of your heart to the Savior who died for you. Why not make room for Him today? John 1:11

MARRIAGE/DIVORCE/REMARRIAGE

Recently, a fellow pastor told me that he had asked four other pastors what their position was on this topic. He said that he received as many different answers. Now, including his own, he knows five positions!

Why is there such a divergence of opinion on this subject in our Fundamental circles? How is it that we can come to a consensus on so many other topics and yet can be worlds apart on this one?

In part, it is because this topic has been dealt with in the most cursory manner by most books and commentaries. Even Bible schools and Seminaries avoid dealing with the topic. The solidly Fundamental school that I attended gave me a single page handout describing the DIVERSE opinions of leading Fundamentalists on this topic. There was NO consensus among their opinions. Also, for most preachers, it is a taboo subject. How many messages have you heard on the subject? Those who have attempted to deal with it are looked at askance. Questions arise about any preacher who addresses the issue in any manner less than in the condemnation mode. Questions arise in the hearer's mind: "Is he divorced? Is he planning to be divorced? Is he liberal, or just a compromiser?"

If you have already made up your mind on the topic of Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, then stop reading now. However, if you are willing to read and consider this information, then I would appreciate your comments and criticisms.

POSITION

Please read Gen.1:26-31; 2:18-25; Ex.20:14, Deut.24:1-2; Ezra 10:9-14; Jer.3:1-9,14, Mal.2:13-16, Matt.5:31,32; 19:3-12; I Cor.7:1-28. PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THESE VERSES.

MARRIAGE:

1. is the first Divinely ordained institution. (Gen.2:18-25)

The home predates the chronological revelation of the other two Divine institutions: Government and the Church.

2. is to be a monogamous relationship. (Gen.2:24)

Multiple spouses (polyandry or polygyny) and multiple marriages (polygamy) are not according to God's Will. His perfect will is ONE man and ONE woman for ONE life time. One MAN and one WOMAN are to LEAVE their individual homes, CLEAVE to one another to make a new one, and WEAVE a life together.

3. is covenant based on love and respect that joins (Gen.2:24-25) a man and woman in a holy relationship (Prov.2:17)

4. is Scripturally, legally, and morally binding for life and not to be put asunder by man or woman. (Matt.19:6)

5. is for the purpose of loving companionship and sexual intimacy. (Hebrews 13:4)

6. is for the purpose of child rearing. (Gen.1:28)

7. is to conform to the model of Christ and His Church. (Eph.5:22-33)

DIVORCE:

1. always stems from some sin and is therefore hated by God. (Mal.2:16)

2. is not sinful for the innocent spouse. (Matt.1:19)

Re: Jer.3:8, I Cor.7:27,28, Matt.19:9 (cf."except"), Ezra 10

3. is never necessary between believers. (Eph.4:32)

"Hardness of heart" (Mt.19) may refer to the inability of the wronged spouse to forgive the unfaithful spouse.

4. is not necessary when a spouse dies (Death). (Rom.7:1-6)

5. is permitted on the grounds of fornication (Dirt). (Matt.19:9)

Christ explains that the "uncleanness" of Deut.24:1-4 is fornication- the only cause that allows for divorce and remarriage. This agreed with the school of Rabbi Shammai. It is opposed to the interpretation of Rabbi Hillel. This school taught it meant that divorce could be granted "for any cause."

6. is permitted if an unbeliever Deserts a believer. (Desertion) I Cor.7:15

DEATH, DIRT, AND DESERTION BREAK MARRIAGE!

7. is forgivable even when sinful. (I John 1:9) However, Gal.6:17 still applies- you reap what you sow!

REMARRIAGE:

1. is forbidden to a believer who deserts an unbeliever. (I Cor.7:11)

2. is possible for a Scripturally divorced person. (I Cor.7:27,28)

Divorce AND remarriage were included in Christ's answer and the exceptive clause" of Matt.19:9.

3. is "better" for others who cannot remain celibate. (I Cor.7:9 )

4. is authorized for the one who receives a bill of divorcement . (Read Deut.24:1-4)

5. is recommended only when both partners are prepared for the commitment of marriage. (Luke 14:28-30 )

6. is possible ONLY when all Biblical requirements have been met. (Matt.5:31,32 )

7. is accompanied by special challenges (trouble) for widows and widowers, but especially for the divorced, former spouses,

custody of children, child support and allimony, etc... I Cor.7:28

I will make no conclusion or application. That is for you to do--in accordance with God's Word .

For a more detailed explanation of this topic please check out http://www.inkweb.com/divorce