WHAT’S RIGHT?

A couple of days ago, I posted some questions to facilitate discussion about the persecution and killing of Jews in Nazi Germany and Europe before and during WW2 in a post entitled, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Which questions were in turn born out of a previous thread concerning the killing of babies in the womb entitled, Pro-Life & In favor of Keeping Abortion Legal.

In that Pro-Life thread a number of interesting points/opinions, implicit as well as explicit came up…. 

1) it's not Government's role to regulate morality,  

2) Christians have no business getting involved in political processes,   

3) abortion is already legalized and thus is a moot point,  

4) Christians are not responsible for what is done as a whole in an unbiblical society,  

5) too many of the Republicans and the Religious Right have already muddied the waters for useful action, 

6) after more than 30 years of Roe vs. Wade, who really cares? 

….and the like.  

None of which notions hold water IMO. And so I ended up positing that — in both society as a whole and among Believers in Jesus — to reject the one (the killing of Jews) and embrace the other (the aborting of babies) is tantamount to not only apathy, but also hypocrisy. 

And it seems to me that decrying the killing of Jews in WW2 while accepting the legalized killing of babies in America since 1973 is not the only incongruity we have in society.

There are other “hot” topics which have fomented their way to the surface of politically correct dialogue, like:   

1) the wrongness of male chauvinism 

2) the need for women’s suffrage and rights

3) the evil of past injustices to racial/ethnic groups, 

4) with the resultant attitudes of entitlement by other racial/ethnic groups

5) the folly of a disregard for, and mistreatment of the environment

6) how the inhumane treatment of animals is wrong

7) the wrongness of bias against homosexuality/lesbianism.   

So what we have is the fact that some things are obviously right or moral to one group of people, and those same things can be considered wrong or immoral to a 2nd group. And visa versa. 

For stance, tomorrow I could attend a predominantly African-American local church and use the so-called “N” word several times in conversation, and I’d probably not make it out of there alive. And yet, I could also say I believe in abortion and would probably experience little opposition, much less physical violence. 

And then, I could jump on a plane and attend a church in the so- called "Bible Belt" that evening populated by predominantly white farmers, and if I were to use said “N” word, I would probably get congratulated, while remarks supporting abortion would probably be disdained. 

So my question is, who — or what’s — to say what’s right and what’s wrong?  

Why is one thing deemed to be wrong or immoral while another is not?  

 -joe   

P.S. If my hypothetical scenario offends, I apologize ahead of time to any African-Americans, or farmers (sorry bout that 'Scrupe! Wink ) who may read this.

Jumpin on the Grace Bandwagon

The theme for the 2009 Generation Church Conference is: Embrace Grace

It's nice of the City Church to finally start talking about grace, eight years after it became a popular concept.

Of couse, knowing Judah Smith, the sermon will be 50 minutes of Judah focusing on the word embrace and telling mildly procative stories about how to embrace a lover. Followed by a 10 minute anecdote on how being the star of his high-school basketball team taught Judah to be gracious to the less talented guys on his team. And it will end with him losing a piece of jewelry in his hair. (that hair always cracks me up)

But still, it's better he focus on grace than on cash. So, I'm actually kind of impressed. Good for him.

What Would You Do 2?

Recently, the following questions were asked in another thread on this blog, and after changing the wording slightly, I would like to post them for discussion here:

1. If you had been living in Religious America in the 1920s-1940s and a ballot measure was proposed which would allow the Government (and citizens) to rob American businesses, beat drunkards in the streets, and even kill a good buzz, would you vote on that measure?

2. And assuming the measure passed and thus became law - and wine was no longer game – would you get involved and try to help?

3. Next, would you go so far as to break the law, and serve beer in your home if necessary?

4. And lastly, if the Gestapo came to your door asking if you were hiding liquor in your home, would you lie to them to keep these bottles/kegs  from being destroyed?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Recently, the following questions were asked in another thread on this blog, and after changing the wording slightly, I would like to post them for discussion here:

1. If you had been living in Nazi Germany in the 1930s-1940s and a ballot measure was proposed which would allow the Government (and citizens) to rob Jewish businesses, beat Jews in the streets, and even kill Jews, would you vote on that measure?

2. And assuming the measure passed and thus became law – and the Jews were now open game – would you get involved and try to help them?

3. Next, would you go so far as to break the law, and hide Jews in your home if necessary?

4. And lastly, if the Gestapo came to your door asking if you were hiding Jews in your home, would you lie to them to keep these Jews from being murdered?

-joe

Breaking News: Church Actually Helps Poor People

A reader sends in this KATU news clip about a program City Harvest Church has helping underprivileged children in an apartment complex in Vancouver, Washington.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFNLJPc2le8 

It's nice to be able to post something on this blog that is positive. And I commend CHC for their work here. This seems like a program that is aimed at actually helping other people rather than just trying to increase membership at their church.

Note to Bobby Mac, your daughter makes an excellent spokesperson. I suggest you keep her out front as the face of your operation.  No one wants to see your ugly mug on television. Ever.  

And because I can never tell if people realize I'm joking, here is the obligatory smiley face. :)  

Church to use Helicopter only for Special Occasions, like Pastors Birthday.

Chris sends in this follow-up article on Christian Faith Center's new helipad.

The church sensing some backlash sought to clarify the use of the helicopter:

The church will use the helistop only on major religious holidays and for special guest speakers, said Hulsmann, owner of Abbey Road Group Land Development Services. Another case would be a special event, such as Wendy Treat’s birthday, so she could be at both campuses for services, Hulsmann said.

So, no worries, folks. This will only be used on religious holidays and the Pastor's birthday.  You know, Christ's Birthday and um, Pastor Wendy's Birthday. What? What? That's the same thing.

This is actually par for the course for a pastor who once uttered: "When God looks into the Mirror, He sees Me. When I look into the Mirror I see God." God looks into the mirror, He sees me! When I look into the mirror I see God!," -Casey Treat