Does Dr. Ben Carson Miss The Mark?

After watching Dr. Carson's speech at the prayer breakfast, it raised more questions in my mind than it answered. Dr. Carson brought up the biblical concept of tithing as a model of tax policy for a secular nation. I have to ask myself if this is sound.

While I do believe that the tithing system is a fair system as the good doctor points out, it's purpose was for the support of the religious system of the people of Israel and not for the support and financing of public works, a secular educational system, an interstate highway system, and on and on.

The second thought that comes to mind is that the notions of "the world" and "the church/kingdom of God" being two separate and distinct entities.

Two passages of scripture will point this out. Christ speaks of "the world" as being separate for His people, His kingdom, and His methods.

1)John 17:11-15
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 

2)John 18:35-37
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight (use secular methods and tactics like politics, armed resistance, taxation) , that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

For christians to be true to the Master, they really need to understand that God and Christ are not trying to establish an Earthly government. They've already tried that and it didn't work. Collectively, men were not able to fulfill that ideal.

Dr. Carson is a brilliant neuro-surgeon. I have admired him for years. However, I have to admit that I wasn't that impressed with his thoughts on public policy. To be fair, and he admitted as much, he didn't have time to elaborate much.

However, what he has suggested seemed to conflate the spiritual with the secular. And, hasn't been even attempted by any other nation since old testament times. Not even by present day Israel. Seems a little naive.

What Does Jesus Say About Love?

Love

You can find a lot of places in the bible where Jesus talks about love. And back then, when Jesus was on Earth, the one word that we use for "love" had several different meanings. It really depends on what you're looking for.

The word used to talk about God's love for humankind was different than the word that was used to talk about how people should love one another. And, those words were different from the word used to talk about romantic love.

One passage that comes to mind is in John chapter 13:34-35.

34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

In this passage Christ is talking to his disciples about how He wants them to act toward each other. Jesus is so serious about what He's going to tell them that He calls it a "commandment".  This isn't a suggestion. And He gives the reason why.

Christ tells his little band of spiritual brothers that they need to develop a love for each other. A love that is just like the love that He had for them. He probably knew it wouldn't be easy. There was a lot of jealousy and ego involved. But, it was important for a couple of reasons.

Reason number one that Jesus commanded his followers to love one another is that without love and respect and self sacrifice for fellow believers, not a whole lot would get done. In fact, the whole operation would fall apart and the disciples would be prone to go back to their separate lives and the mission would fall apart.

And, reason number two, was that if non-believers actually saw true love at work among the disciples, then it would be a powerful witness about the life changing power of the gospel. Others would be drawn to the message that Jesus had left with the early church. And thus the kingdom would spread.


Think about that for a moment....

What would happen if the outside world saw that Christians (of each denomination) actually loved one another? How would that play on CNN? How would it play on Saturday Night Live?

While there may have been other things that Jesus says about love, this one in particular deserves a little more attention I think.

Why Christ Doesn't Need Christianity

Sailboat (Photo credit: Small Streams)

Just because Christianity claims Jesus as its own does not mean that Christ automatically claims Christianity as his own.

+Shane Hipps pulls back the curtain in this particular article and makes it plain about how the christian should look at religion. Especially their own.

He points out that it was not Christ's intention to start a "new denomination".  Christ's purpose was to reveal His Father and redeem mankind. That's it. While He may have known that his followers would have to have some degree of organization in order to carry on the mission He gave to them. He knew it was the mission and not the organization that had the pre-eminence.

John 3:16 stands as a good reminder: "God so loved the world"....not the church...

Read the full article: Shane Hipps: Why Christ Doesn't Need Christianity:

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Jesus : "Ma'am, I'm not your sugar daddy..."

John 4:13, 15-17 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again. For my gift will become a spring in the man himself, welling up into eternal life.” The woman said, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may stop being thirsty—and not have to come here to draw water any more!” “Go and call your husband and then come back here,” said Jesus to her. “I haven’t got a husband!” the woman answered. “You are quite right in saying, ‘I haven’t got a husband’,” replied Jesus, “for you have had five husbands and the man you have now is not your husband at all. Yes, you spoke the simple truth when you said that.”

Every time I would read this passage I would always wonder why Jesus seemed to abruptly change the conversation. When He first starts it seems like He's just about to launch into the gospel. But it seems He changes course when the Samaritan woman is just getting into it. He tells the girl to go get her husband. Why would he do that?

Was Jesus just showing her that He "knew all things"? Was He trying to let her know that "He knew all the bad things she had done?" Or, was there something else to it?

Well, after reflecting about the whole conversation I have come up with something that makes a little more sense to me.

Think about it this way... If a guy meets a woman at some "watering hole" today, like a bar or coffee shop, and tells her "hey, what I have for you will take care of you for the rest of your life", what would you think he was talking about?

You can tell by the woman's response. "Hey, mister, I want some of that! I'll gladly give up the deadbeat I'm with now for some lifelong security".

Did the lady of Samaria think Christ was coming on to her? After all, that's what it seemed she was used to, doesn't it? Seems like it.

Not to be misunderstood, Jesus starts talking about her mate, er... mates.

How many times has that happened to you or someone you know? You're talking to someone and you can tell they're getting a little too cozy and you start talking about your mate or theirs just to redirect the conversation?

Jesus did not want to be misunderstood. What He had to say to her was on a whole 'nuther level. For her to understand it, He needed to make sure she knew where
He was coming from.

It's a good example of how He operated. He wasn't interested in pointing out her sins and making her feel bad. That wouldn't make her want to open up and listen to Him.

He wanted her to know that, even though He knew certain things about her, He was still interested in her well being. He was interested in giving life giving water to her and her husband. It didn't matter what kind of life she was living or had lived.

How's that for inspiration?






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Saturday Night Live's open season on Christianity

Saturday Night Live (season 36) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I read this article and have to admit that I did not see the Saturday Night Live episode that it refers to. Ho
wever, I am struck by the tone of the article. There seems to be an apparent lack of appreciation of how it is that popular culture actually gets it's understanding of who Christ and what Christianity really is.
Most Americans and probably most American Christians probably have no problem with associating terrorism with Muslims. I mean, it's what we see on our news everyday. It's what our politicians talk about. It's what we have come to understand about the Muslim world because it's what we are shown by the media on a regular basis. And, there is no doubt that there is a lot of turmoil in the Muslim world.
But is this what Islam and being a Muslim is all about? Well, I don't really know. I'm not Muslim and I don't live in the Muslim world.
Well, if you think about the scenario above,  the same is true for western Christianity. Popular culture can only reflect what it sees from people who proclaim to be Christians. It's kind of silly to expect that some Christian scholar is going to write a skit for Saturday Night Live to be shown to a secular audience that actually and accurately portrays the Gospel isn't it?
In addition, when there are so many "christians" in the public eye that are saying things like "legitimate rape" or some of the more caustic things about gay people, muslims, liberals, and what have you... Why should it be a surprise that a popular TV show picks up on that attitude?
As Christians, why don't we show people what Christ was really like? Do you know?
Saturday Night Live's open season on Christianity
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