The Perfect Storm

OK, I realize that I haven't published anything for QUITE some time (thanks Chuck for reminding me - and everyone else ;-) ).

But what better time to start than now - as I sit in Louisville, KY at the Southern Baptist Convention.

 

Some might wonder if the title of this entry (The Perfect Storm) describes the SBC.  You might think so, but , no, it doesn't.  I'm referring to a challenge we received Sunday evening from Chuck Colson.  (A link to his latest book is below.)  I thought I would type a little on this - and then enter other thoughts in the hours/days/weeks/maybe years (haha) to come.

 

Mr. Colson made some powerful observations on America - stating that WE are in the midst of the perfect storm due to some terrible conditions surrounding us...

(1) Our government is breaking down.  There is no denying that Christianity is being pummeled like never before.  Christian views are being ignored and vilified - abortion is becoming more accepted (though the majority of Americans are now against it) and funded with our taxpayer dollars like never before - they are trying to take away the conscience clause (so all doctors must perform abortions if asked to) - groundwork is being laid to make any disagreement (or preaching) against sins (like homosexuality) considered hate crimes - and we could go on and on because our governmental leaders are going on and on.

(2) Our economy is breaking down.  In the past 6 months we have taken our national debt to levels never dreamed (except maybe in nightmares).  Billions of dollars are being spent on things that will in NO way help the economy.  And it's only going to get worse.

(3) Terrorism is still rising.  No matter how sweetly we speak with the radicals, it will NOT help because their desire is not dialogue - their desire is to destroy us.

(4) We are losing our national identity.  We are forgetting who we are - what we came through - what we stood for...

 

Really, our country's worldview is warped.  Rarely do we (yes, even we Christians) look at life through the eyes of faith.  Instead, faith is either a part of our lives (instead of the totality of our lives) - or it is considered archaic.  And all of our troubles can be seen as a result of immorality - yes all of our troubles!  If we thought and acted like we should, we would not be in the mess we are in.

 

So, do we hide?

 

No - our only hope is this - to change the country, we must change the church!  After all a nation's culture is its religion incarnate.

Did you know that 1/3 of American adults consider themselves evangelical Christians?  What would happen if 1/3 of Americans took their faith seriously?  What would happen if we were really discipled our own?

 

In recent years several prominent European athiests have come to faith because they have finally realized that Christianity is true.  Why don't we realize that this will continue to occur - even with those in our own neighborhoods - if we will share with them what is true, what is real hope?

 

These are desperate times, filled with fear.  But they are not the times to give up and hide.  We must confront life head-on.  We have the answer.  We have the hope.  We must make disciples.

 

Do you want to see America change?  Then the church must change.  You and me.