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While I would not diminish anyone's concerns, I find that most churches seem in their own cultural captivity. The focus for lots of Baptists either seems to be on CBF's Illumination Project or the SBC's internal squabbling between Calvinist and non-Calvinist factions. Young people who survived a shooting in their high school have spoken much more prophetically than have we in the churches. Again, the morality of many of our government officials in both parties has produced a swamp in Washington where hush money is paid to porn stars and members of Congress spend tax money to settle sexual harassment suits without any public accounting for the violation of public trust. We keep harping on gay marriage while the world is embroiled in almost unceasing warfare somewhere. We nitpick over whether someone wishes us "Merry Christmas" or just says "Happy Holiday" while one in five American children is hungry. Racism and seething angers run beneath the surface. Can God be pleased with kind of religion we are practicing? Will our world be attracted to Christ by the ways we live? Are we caught up in "mint, dill, and cumin?" I think it's time to start asking.

You just did. Now, how about giving the first answer(s)?

Dave, I think there is little doubt that most churches are caught up in the minutia of their mint, anise and cummin. Problem is, when we start discussing it your "mint, anise and cummin" might be my "judgment, mercy, and faith" -- while my "mint, anise and cummin" might be your "judgment, mercy, and faith."