To those under 40 years of age.......
To those under 40 years of age -(I will turn 50 in less than 730 days...).
The prior posting from Leondard Pitts denotes a huge chasm in generational thinking.
This quote is the most telling: "Designer facts are easy because they are soothing, because they are predictable, because they never make you think, only react. But they also leave us talking past each other because we no longer operate from the same assumptions or speak the same language. "
If we can"no longer operate from the same assumptions" or "speak the same language" than the message of Christianity becomes harder to deliver. If we cannot agree that there is one God and one Son, Jesus Christ; Christians automatically become counter-culture.
It was not as severe when I was younger - the changes in assumptions were beginning to happen but the foundation was familiar to all of us.
Jesus Christ was that familiar foundation. Yes, you had the different denominations but Christianity was still main stream in "Word" if not deed. Now even the "Word" is under attack.
A person must make a choice about Jesus Christ. Any kind of faith is dependent on that. Jesus himself said -"I am the way, the truth and the life, no comes to the Father but through me".
What does that statement say about Judaism and Islam?
Add to that the message of the media (TV, movies, the internet) where we are constantly bombarded by earthly messages. The messages have become so common place that many people follow these messages without thought; only reaction.
We must realize that a majority of the people have been raised on TV. Their perceptions of Christianity and Jesus Christ have only come from the media. Many have never opened the bible to see what it really says. And the use of the King James version in the media has created a further gulf by using the outdated language of that version.
Shows that do not follow Christian morals only serve to undermine Christianity. TV is used as a pulpit to move away from Christian values. "Will and Grace" only serve the homosexual agenda of making homosexuality acceptable and the crime shows play on the nerve that "death is our greatest enemy" and reality shows play on our ability to have relationships.
As Christians we are called to live above that. We are called not to react to this world but to act with purpose. Our purpose is to proclaim Jesus Christ, not only in word but in action. Not reacting to threat of terrorist attacks or pandering to the "passion of pity." But live our lives in a controlled and disciplined way where people notice us because of our actions not because of our words.
We must learn to understand other people's assumptions but still maintain our Christianity.
This is now harder than when I was under 40.
The prior posting from Leondard Pitts denotes a huge chasm in generational thinking.
This quote is the most telling: "Designer facts are easy because they are soothing, because they are predictable, because they never make you think, only react. But they also leave us talking past each other because we no longer operate from the same assumptions or speak the same language. "
If we can"no longer operate from the same assumptions" or "speak the same language" than the message of Christianity becomes harder to deliver. If we cannot agree that there is one God and one Son, Jesus Christ; Christians automatically become counter-culture.
It was not as severe when I was younger - the changes in assumptions were beginning to happen but the foundation was familiar to all of us.
Jesus Christ was that familiar foundation. Yes, you had the different denominations but Christianity was still main stream in "Word" if not deed. Now even the "Word" is under attack.
A person must make a choice about Jesus Christ. Any kind of faith is dependent on that. Jesus himself said -"I am the way, the truth and the life, no comes to the Father but through me".
What does that statement say about Judaism and Islam?
Add to that the message of the media (TV, movies, the internet) where we are constantly bombarded by earthly messages. The messages have become so common place that many people follow these messages without thought; only reaction.
We must realize that a majority of the people have been raised on TV. Their perceptions of Christianity and Jesus Christ have only come from the media. Many have never opened the bible to see what it really says. And the use of the King James version in the media has created a further gulf by using the outdated language of that version.
Shows that do not follow Christian morals only serve to undermine Christianity. TV is used as a pulpit to move away from Christian values. "Will and Grace" only serve the homosexual agenda of making homosexuality acceptable and the crime shows play on the nerve that "death is our greatest enemy" and reality shows play on our ability to have relationships.
As Christians we are called to live above that. We are called not to react to this world but to act with purpose. Our purpose is to proclaim Jesus Christ, not only in word but in action. Not reacting to threat of terrorist attacks or pandering to the "passion of pity." But live our lives in a controlled and disciplined way where people notice us because of our actions not because of our words.
We must learn to understand other people's assumptions but still maintain our Christianity.
This is now harder than when I was under 40.
posted by Glen at 7:59 AM
1 Comments:
I will have to disagree on this one. First, as a person who is in my community talking with many different people, it is easier post 40. I have learned more and am more open to dialogue.
Second, research is showing us that many ministers, theologians, and Christian authors are not out among people sharing their faith. Thom Rainer's book on Reaching the Unchurched indicates that we have declined in sharing our faith with the unchurched. Whenever I read comments about our culture I realize that many of them come from people who have been isolating from the world.
Third, media still holds Christianity in high regard--they just poke fun at the hypocrites. Again--the media has been very good to our church. The "liveral Oregonian" (the newspaper here in Oregon) has been more supportive of our church's work in the community than most Christian publications.
Good comments but I would have to say that our community and culture are much more open to the Gospel than many people suggest--we just have to be willing to go out and talk with them about it.
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