Christianity, PRIME TIME?

Christianity Today has covered the "phenom" of some evangelical leaders rise to network prominence. In a recent article, the writer of the editorial posits the following:

"So, we've been mainstreamed. Now what? First, we can thank God. Jesus Christ's unique message and values will gain a larger and more respectful hearing. Second, as noted, we really can't play the persecution card anymore. As "players," we will be criticized sharply still, but that's just part of life in America. Third, let's remember that how we got here is how we will stay here: Careful scholarship. Measured proclamations. Majoring on the majors. Grassroots organizing. Patience. Prayer. Now that we're prime-time, we don't want to start acting like American idols."

Not sure how "we" got here--but a few things that were left off the editor's list were: faithfully proclaiming the gospel of sola fide and the doctrine of imputation; preaching uncompromisingly the Word of God; calling all men to repentance; living holy in a pagan society; church discipline of sin; and worship of the one Triune God in spirit and truth. But wait, if we were doing those things, we wouldn't be mainstream at all--we'd be on "PBS."

Has CT forgotten these powerful words of our Lord Jesus? "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his Master, if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...'" (John 15:18-20b). Doesn't sound "prime time" to me, does it to you? And what of Paul's words to timid Timothy before being beheaded by Nero: "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). Listen, the very fact that we can no longer "play the persecution card" and that evangelicalism has been legitimized by the networks (ABS, CBS and NBS) suggests that how we got here isn't by biblical means at all.

One clarifying thought here: I am not suggesting self-made-martyr's is to be endorsed or championed. Far from it. And I do know that the Lord can give favor with unsaved people in preaching His Word and heralding His gospel. But it's the imbalance that's in question here. We can do acts of kindness and mercy that produce encouragement to us--not a problem. But if that praise is obtained absent of living and proclaiming what genuine biblical Christianity is, then isn't it just the tickling of the ears? Both deed and doctrine need to be done to His glory. Having been in CCM industry for over twenty-five years you get used to seeing everything measured by money, numbers and noteriety; rather than measured by the depth of ministry; biblical truth; and godly character. May the former not eclipse the later in our daily serving of the Lord and His creatures.

The editorial suggests that we "arrived" because of "careful scholarship." Would they consider Open Theism; New Perspectivism; Oneness Theology; ECB; ECT; pragmaticism; psychological sanctification; postmodern ecumenism, inclusivism "careful scholarship?" And what about their claim of "measured proclamations?" Translation, sounds like "playing politics with the gospel" to me.

When the world applauds and accepts what we do, it's time that we measure afresh what we are actually saying and doing. Constantine eliminated persecution for a season with the stroke of a pen by making Christianity the national religion. It has consequently been asserted that Constantine favoured Christianity merely from political motives, and he has been regarded as an enlightened despot who made use of religion only to advance his policy. He certainly cannot be acquitted of grasping ambition. Where the policy of the State required, he even could be cruel. Yet, in the aftermath, history proves that this political blending of church and state was one of the most catastrophic blows to Christianity and the gospel.

This world is not our home beloved; give me the lions any day if they must--just don't give me "prime time" watered down, pabulum based, cream of wheat, status quo, culturally processed, network friendly Christianity. Christ's gospel does not exist to gain "a larger and more respectful hearing." so that we can become "players" in the media circus. It exists to call men to repentance for the salvation of their souls and for the glory of God.

The Cross is a Radical Thing,
Steve Camp
Galatians 1:10-12

How Does the World See "Our World?"...another view of CCM and Christian publishing

An interesting article on CCM music and Christian publishing is featured currently at MSNBC. This is on the theme of Selling the spirit: The power of Christian music and books in Nashville. Interesting to see how the world views "our world." It's very disparaging, what many in society identify us with in our witness as Christians: money, market influence, noteriety, political activism, moral-traditional family value ethics, etc. It is to our shame that they don't see us as being followers of Jesus Christ... as being imitators of God. (Ephesians 5:1-2).

What do you think? You can email me your thoughts at info@audienceone.org or leave your comments below.

Take Heaven by Storm,
Campi
2 Cor. 4:5-7

Finishing Well?...last words are lasting words

The Apostle Paul said to a young Timothy, I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7). Here Paul is urging him to be a faithful soldier, uncompromised in the heat of battle (2 Tim. 2:3-4); to be disciplined athlete and run the race with perseverance according to the rules of Scripture (2 Tim. 4:5); and finally, to be a hardworking farmer, laboring tirelessly for the gospel-putting your hand to the plow and not looking back (2 Tim. 2:6). To be a faithful soldier, one must deny himself the affairs of this life; to be a disciplined athlete, one must deny himself the appetites of the flesh; and to be a hardworking farmer, one must deny himself the applause of men. Those words are all our prayer, constant aim and goal aren't they? To finish faithfully by God's grace this earthly journey until we are home with the Lord (cp, Phil. 1:21). We all know and are keenly aware of our own blind spots, failings and shortcomings in this life. Yet still the Lord calls us to encourage each other to Christlikeness and confront sin head on when it rears its ugly head within the church or the individual lives of believers (Galatians 6:1-3).

In that spirit, one can only wonder what was the motivation behind Mr. Graham's words about the Clintons from Saturday evening of his final American crusade in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, NY. He paid political and spiritual homage to Bill and Hillary who are considered the Democrat Party's, most Dynamic-Duo. Though Hillary Clinton is a liberal Senator from the state of New York, a BGEA crusade dedicated to the heralding of the gospel of Jesus Christ seems a bit out of place for such grandstanding (and it would have been just as inappropriate if it were Republicans he was paying tribute. The cross waves higher than the flag.)

Here are a few excerpts:
"Hillary and I are honored to be here tonight... 46-plus years after I attended my first Billy Graham crusade," Clinton said. "I took Hillary in 1971, and in 1979, when he came back to Arkansas, I was the governor. So I've been doing this a long time." He said Graham won his heart decades ago when he refused to speak to a segregated audience. "I was just a little boy, and I never forgot it and I've loved him ever since," Clinton said. "He's about the only person I know who I've never seen fail to live his faith."

Graham returned the favor, lavishing the Democratic power duo with praise. "They're a great couple," he said. "I told an audience that I felt when he left the presidency he should be an evangelist because he has all the gifts and he'd leave his wife to run the country."

Did you hear that, beloved? Was that a political endorsement we just heard at a meeting designed for evangelism? But the shocking statement was that Bill Clinton should be an evangelist because 'he has all the gifts?" What spiritual gifts does a non-believer possess qualifying him to "do the work of an evangelist", Mr. Graham? This is absolutely preposterous! How dare he slight the work of the ministry (2 Timothy 4:1-5) by showing favor to one that does not know the Lord, has lived unashamedly in gross lasciviousness most of his adult life and presidency, and to this day has never repented of his sins in response to the gospel call? This is inexcusable and could forever taint the BGEA.

Rev. Graham caused some controversy in 1998, when he seemed too quick to forgive Mr. Clinton just weeks after the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke. "I forgive him because I know the frailty of human nature and I know how hard it is," Graham told NBC's "Today Show, adding that Clinton "has such a tremendous personality, that I think the ladies just go wild over him."

My friend, the late Dr. Stephen Olford, wrote Billy a hard letter confronting him over his pronouncement of "absolution" on Clinton's life and shameful conduct. He tried to spin comments after the fact without much success. By the way, Stephen was probably the only person in the world who could have written such a confrontational letter to Billy, for it was Dr. Olford who was used by the Lord in the late 1940's to walk Billy through a period of intense revival, renewal and repentance before his ministry exploded. Billy, himself credits the Lord using Dr. Olford in leading him in this ministry. If Stephen were alive today, what would our dear brother being saying to Billy this morning? It could be summed up in one word: repent!

I appreciate a man of unwavering conviction; and especially when a man has the courage to act upon those same convictions. Rev. Rob Shank (National Clergy Council president), with great sadness of heart, walked out on his "role model of twenty-five years" as Billy was paying homage to the Clinton's. (Read more of Rob's honorable actions.)

Take Heaven by Storm,
Steve Camp
(2 Cor. 4:1-7)

Here are a few other links you might be interested in as follow up:
CNN; Houston Chronicle; NY Daily News; USA TODAY

The Supreme Court:Trying to Find Just the Right Venue for The Law of God

The Supreme Court, in a very familiar 5-4 decision, tried to exhibit a modicum of wisdom today in it's ruling about potentially where does the display of the Ten Commandments represent national and religious history vs. promoting religion. Here is the issue: if its display promotes history--it can stay; if its display promotes religion--it must go. This is foolishness; for in terms of content it is only religious--it is God's Law! But unfortunately, they have once again muddied the political waters when it comes to the debate on Disestablishmentarianism.

However, the Supreme Court is not supreme. Their arguments are mostly incoherent; they seem to represent in many instances only the postmodern secularists of the day; and they are not the "lawmakers" in our nation as defined constitutionally (they're just nine people in black robes). But, God is the Great and Dreadful Sovereign of the universe and will not be thwarted, shaken, disturbed or derailed in His unassailable will, purpose and design over all His creatures. Especially by this court.

The emphasis given to the Ten Commandments these days should cause us within Christianity to recover "the law in gospel preaching." The law is not meant to be reduced as a moral code for unregenerate people to live by in order to make society a more civil place. It is not designed to hang in halls of justice as decoration or religious fare. The law of God convicts us of sin (Romans 7:7-12); stops the mouths of sinners from boasting Romans 3:19-20; incarcerates us into sin Galatians 3:22-23; and acts as a tutor instructing us, leading us to the gospel of grace Galatians 3:24-25.

Beloved, take heart. Here is an encouraging way to respond to their decisions today: Read Isaiah 40 and meditate on the immutable character of God; pray for each of the members of The Supreme Court 1 Timothy 2:1-3 ; and then faithfully carry on in the work of the gospel Luke 24:44-48.

Focus on the Faith,
Steve Camp
1 Peter 2:11-17