User Comments

1. 

   10/26/09

   EffectiveSpirit

   Great article - Thanks for directing to it.
   
   Christians need to get out of Church and get into the streets and among the people that need to hear the news. We need to be radical and authentic like the first Christians in the book of Acts.
   
   America is facing challenges of truly Biblical proportions and these challenges will only be met through Biblical answers.
   
   The religious right, moral majority, and once a week "make me feel happy cotton candy Christianity" need to be tossed out. We just need to go out into the world and do the things Jesus told us to do in a straightforward and loving way.
   
   It's not complicated - it just takes guts.

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2. 

   10/27/09

   ThirstyJon

   Hi Chad!
   
   Thanks for participating in the discussion.
   
   These are the questions that come into my mind when I read your thoughts:
   
   1) What does it mean practically to be out "in the streets?" What does that look like? And what does one do when they get there?
   
   2) Why would you "toss out" the "religious right" and the "moral majority?" I'm not sure what you mean by that. These groups of people primarily consist of ordinary Christian Americans. To "toss" them sounds more like the language of the Anti-Christian Secularist Humanist Left. I reviewed your blog a bit, and I don't think you are a part of the Secular Humanist Left.
   
   Remember, it is the "religious right" that brings us World Vision, Huge Missions Movements, Tons of Money for relief work and Mission work around the world, Restoration Work in the area of Family, Marriage, and Child Rearing, etc. There is also a great educational movement, especially through homeschooling.
   
   There are a lot of people that are often labeled "religious right" who are out there "in the streets" making a very real and significant difference. I wonder how many homeless shelters are run by the "religious right." Then there are ministries like Teen Challenge, etc.
   
   Be careful not to "throw the baby out with the bathwater."
   
   I find myself to be a bit of an "anti-pharisaical" and "anti-religious" person myself. I certainly don't fit in with the main stream of American Christian Culture. (How many times have I scanned right past the Christian Radio Stations?) But I want to recognize what is good as well, and not join the Crazy Nero types that are currently standing against the Church with hate and vitriol.
   
   Well... There's my thoughts on that. :-)

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   1. 

      10/27/09

      EffectiveSpirit

      Hi Thirsty Jon,
      
      By getting "out in the streets" I mean for people to make contact with the sick, the homeless, the suffering. Christ and the early Christians did all they could to help others - and the message took hold as a result. Many who really need Christ's love will never set foot in a mega Church.
      
      When I refer to the "Religious Right" and the "Moral Majority" I do so from the sense that the only identification we need is "Christians". We simply need to do the work that Christ told us to do as Christians - any other label is off base. Many non-Christians view the "Religious Right" and especially the "Moral Majority" as the millionaire TV evangelists that put a stigma on true Christianity. Did you notice the photo at the top of the article we are discussing? How many starving people could have been fed for the price of that organ?
      
      Early non-Christian Roman writers stated that the Christian way was growing so fast because the "Christians" cared so much for those that were not Christians. I personally only want to be known as a simple Christian, (even though I like being a bit on the radical side).
      
      This is only my opinion, and I should have been more clear in my original comment.
      
      
      Thanks for the great discussion!
3. 

   10/27/09

   ThirstyJon

   Thanks for clarifying chad. That helps.
   
   There's such a "reactionary" movement against the "Religious Right" right now. I wasn't sure where you were coming from. Sounds like you are just concerned about accepting the labels people put on us.
   
   I agree with that. I don't like labels.
   
   :-)

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