Dealing with Islam: Passive or Active Resistance?
The more I ready about incidents like that of the Nigerian teacher whose home was burned to the ground for disciplining a Muslim student, or any of the other ways that "radical" Islam is trying to intimidate the free world, the more I keep asking myself, what would I do if they were coming for me?
I’ll tell you what I would not do – I would not let myself be slaughtered like a sheep. I keep thinking of the movie The Mission, where Jeremy Irons and Robert Deniro play two Jesuits who have to choose to fight or passively resist – tough choice – it shows the value of both positions (and I think both are valuable and "right.")
God’s cartoonist – Jack Chick
You either love or hate 'Chick Tracts' – this documentary is interesting. Imagine this – over 1 Billion of these have been printed, in over 100 languages. Jack Chick may be the most successful cartoonist, in numbers of items sold, ever. And yet, he is not that well known.
10 Commandments of Ethical Witness are peace-loving but controversial
The Christian Muslim Forum, an interfaith group, has released what it calls Ethical Guidelines for Christian and Muslim Witness in Britain (PDF). Interestingly, some more conservative Christians don't like a couple of the provisions because they fear that it could be used to stifle criticism or even moral condemnation of spirituality that contradicts what some would call basic human rights.
If you'd like to hear a spirited debate about the guidelines between a moderate Christian, a moderate Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist, and a conservative Christian, check out the excellent debate at Muslim, Christian, Hindu debate on evangelism.
What some are calling Ten Commandments of Mission? are after the jump, with my highlights and brief commentary.
Hearing what people are really saying about their faith
I found this really compassionate up to the part where they say Plastic Jesus. But maybe they didn’t mean to talk down. Otherwise, very meaningful.
The shifting of Christianity’s center
As America is following Europe down the gradual path of secularization, Christianity is not slowing down but merely shifting where it is centered. The next great "Christian nation" will be China.
My Two Cents (03/26)
Satan and Rock and Roll
- CrossTV has posted a free version of their hour-long evangelistic
documentary linking rock and roll with artists who have sold their soul
to Satan for fame, or have admitted that they feel possessed when
playing. Common old timers are documented here, like Robert Johnson,
Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and the Grateful Dead, but also
covers more modern groups like Oasis, Godsmack, as well as many modern
rap artists such as Ez-E, Snoop Dog, Method Man, Master P, DMX. It’s
also interesting how they view Bill Haley’s "Rock around the clock" the
"trojan horse of rock," which slipped rock by parents because of
Haley’s "innocent, uncle-like look." I must admit, having seen the
similar Hell’s Bells
videos by Eric Holmberg, I am a little skeptical of such scare-tactic
approaches, but on a purely intellectual level, these types of
evangelistic documentaries are fascinating for both their alarmism, their exposition of artist interviews and lyrics, and their tie-in with sexualizing our children through sexualized music by popular artists.
Riding the Gospel Bike
Since 1998, a young man nicknamed “Bike” has ridden his bicycle over 10,500 miles to tell others about Jesus. He has riden trains for several days simply so that he can share with other passengers about his faith. He hands out business cards which list his profession as “evangelist.” Bike also has a Bible study that meets in his home.
What makes any of this significant? Bike’s home is in Beijing, China.
Finding Cool Stuff By Reading Anti-sites
There is an aphorism which I agree with, which goes like this:
In every criticism, even from your most hateful detractors, there is often a grain of truth.
This, of course, means that if we are critically reflective, we should pay attention to our critics, and determine if there is anything that we can improve upon. However, I’ve found a new use for the Religious left and neo-fundie sites, that often spew criticism – finding cool stuff that I like! For instance, a bunch of conservative sites and new Christian House Music.
The Glory of Open Air Preaching
I haven’t done open-air preaching for years, but I remember how much fun it was. Today at The Reformed Evangelist, Jeff talks about whiny Christians, has a link to a HILARIOUS parody of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (American Edition), and a truly great story of one preacher’s recent experience open-air preaching. Don’t miss it.
