Da Vinci Doubts..

I’ve gotten email and had conversations with lots of folks about the upcoming Da Vinci Code movie. Mostly, it seems that Christians in general are worried about this film perhaps swaying people… Interesting. I don’t believe it will.

Here’s an email text I recently sent to Brandi about it. She had forwarded me an email from a group organizing to combat the Da Vinci Code movie and its fallout.

You know…. I just don’t see it this way. I see this as another AWESOME example for us to dialogue with people about who Jesus really is. My hats are off to the media and Hollywood. Every opportunity they take to demean Jesus really gives His people added opportunity to glorify Him and present the truth in love.

I actually plan on seeing it as soon as I can so I can be somewhat knowledgeable about how to dialogue with folks. An excellent resource to put into people’s hands is the Case for Christ.

What an amazing day and age we live in… do you realize how often Jesus has been the focal point of Hollywood and the media? Perhaps they should start realizing that it’s not the church that’s obsessed with Jesus (to our shame), but it’s the people producing these things.

Perhaps if we who are lovers and followers of Christ Jesus were consistently and lovingly proclaiming His message of forgiveness, restoration, and hope through faith, our world would not be forced to listen to alternating voices?

Just ramblin’.

Resources and links
Christian responses…

• aboutbibleprophecy.com
• New book out called The Davinci Hoax
• Another blogger’s response… (especially read the comments there)

News

• Fox News reports the called boycott by the Vatican
• 
• WorldNet Daily (Christian perspective) has an article and shares the TV documentary coming on May 6 and 18 in response to the movie release

Building vs. Planting, Part 3

We’re examining reasons that churches choose NOT to plant new churches…

Selfish reasons…
Elaboration on this particular point could go on and on and cross over into the other reasons that churches choose not to plant, so I’m going to try to keep it relatively brief without letting us off the hook. Living in a consumer-oriented culture, we are all used to “having it our way.” Because of that, companies and manufacturers produce goods and services that will appeal to the consumer. If they didn’t do that, they wouldn’t make money. Period.

However, the problem arises when we as consumers transfer those same attitudes and expectations onto the church.

Continue reading »

Building vs. Planting, Part 2

In this entry, I’d like to offer up some thoughts about why churches choose NOT to plant. And away we go…

Why Churches Choose Not to Plant:

• A lack of understanding of the nature of the Church
• Ignorance of planting even being an option (even the best option in many cases!)
• Selfish reasons
• A lack of leadership from denominational or church leaders
• Assumptions about the life of their church
• Failure to understand and connect with their community
• Desire for achievement, recognition, or status
• Lack of leadership development

Let me attempt to address the first few reasons in this entry, and I’ll come back to the others in the near future…

Continue reading »

Building vs. Planting, Part 1

This is bound to be a somewhat sensitive subject for my locale. We have two churches (at least) in our area that are currently pursuing the sale of their existing property to build new facilities elsewhere. We also have other churches who are currently involved in building projects as well. At the outset, let me say that I am not trying to criticize or deride any of our sister churches in our area by my comments. This entry is simply to shed more light on the subject of church growth and health. Many who will read this are not aware that there are other options than building when a church begins to grow.

I think this will end up being a multi-part entry, so stay tuned for more additions to it…

When you talk about whether to building vs. planting, you must first identify the reasons for building. Traditionally, most churches never think of planting a new church. Rather, they first consider the option of increasing their current facilities, or building new facilities to replace outdated ones. There are many emotional issues at stake as well.

Continue reading »

Lego Light

Who would have ever thought you could communicate scriptural stories with intricate Lego creations. Well, this guy has done it. It’s pretty amazing. And some of his pictorial creations will hit your funny bone. Check out The Brick Testament. I’ve used some of these illustrations in my sermon presentations before. And if you’re doing the Patriarch’s Bible study with us (see the blog link to the right), you’ll recognize a few of them.

Boycott Baptists!

I recently took my son and one of his friends to see Chronicles of Narnia. While this isn’t a movie review, just let me say that it was like a creme soda and batch of dukey cookies. (for those of you with weak stomachs, I mean those oatmeal and chocolate and peanut butter “no bake” delights!). There’s really nothing better than that combination. So, read the book, then see the movie. It’s the greatest Christian allegory of our time.

However, my thoughts were jolted as the movie began when the Disney castle logo showed up prominently on the screen. Now, I have nothing against Disney. In fact, Donald Duck remains one of my favorite characters – probably ’cause he’s obnoxious and doesn’t care what people think. But it wasn’t too long ago when I was a member of the Southern Baptist tribe and found with great dismay that the head muckity-mucks of the convention thought it would be a great strategy for preserving our culture and land, while building good will toward those outside the church, to boycot Disney. This happened in summer, 1997, immediately after their convention that year.

Needless to say, I find it quite ironic that one of the most well-produced, and I predict wildly successful movies that celebrates and portrays the deepest Christian themes or our times was produced by the GSBE (Great Southern Baptist Enemy), Disney. Have they seen the light? Has Disney renounced the policies and practices which precipitated the Southern Baptist’s boycott of them?

Probably not. On the other hand, while Disney has prospered immensely over the last 8 years, how have the Southern Baptists done? On adherents.com, the site reports:

The reported membership of the Southern Baptist Convention has risen slowly, which indicates better growth than many “mainstream” or “oldline” denominations, which have actually declined steadily in size over the last twenty years.

But the proportion of Americans who consider identify themselves as Southern Baptists has declined steadily and significantly over the past ten years, from 10% in 1993 to just 6% in 2001.[italics mine]

These figures represent the percentage of Americans who identify themselves as Southern Baptists, according to the aggregate figures from a year’s worth of polling by Gallup.

Anyway, after careful thought, I think that a carefully conducted, successful boycott of Southern Baptists might in actuality help them, as it seems to have done for Disney… So grab your “Down with Southern Baptist” placards and avoid Lifeway Christian Stores! Join the boycott!

We’ll check back in 8 years and see if the boycott has been as successful in helping this denomination to grow as theirs of Disney was. ;)

Paraplegic Bride of Christ…

I encourage you to read David Hankins’ post at his blog. It’s an excellent, authentic commentary about being a solution or a critic in the church today. He uses the term “paraplegic to describe the church today. May I suggest we could even use quadriplegic?

Best College Entrance Exam…
You’ve got to read this one!

Christmas Eve Service vs. Sunday a.m. Service

Journey is having a Christmas Eve service this year instead of a Sunday a.m. service since Christmas will be on Sunday. We’re encouraging our families to enjoy their families that day rather than pack everyone in the car for a church service. We’re also encouraging those who just can’t seem to forgive themselves for not being “at church” to participate in worship at one of our neighbor churches in town.

There’s a great article at Scott McKnight’s blog about Christmas Eve services vs. Sunday a.m. services on years when Christmas falls on a Sunday. I encourage you to check it out!

Come As You Are?

Great comment and article on theheresy.com blog today…

Come as you as are is perfectly acceptable. Stay as you are goes against the central tenets of the Christian faith.

For my Southern Baptist friends…

I’m a little alarmed as well by recent decisions by the trustees of the IMB… Read the implications in this great article…