by James » Sat May 25, 2019 5:27 pm
Random Thoughts.
I was raised in one of the most mod/lib churches in the state of GA (1942-1964). We did not focus on any one sin or any one virtue. We tried individually and collectively to live by the Golden Rule. My current church, Hampton Baptist (VA), is the most liberal Baptist church in southeastern VA. I got a large dose of fundamental evangelical Christianity at Knight's Missionary Baptist Church in Plant City, FL. I sang in the choir Knights and preached my first sermon there, but I could not take communion there.
I agree with Dave and those of you who think that church growth has been influenced by the "personal matter" characterization of faith and religion. Fundamentalist Evangelicalism tries to do it all. They preach salvation from the TV screen and practice hatred on the evening news. We have all heard the phrase "hate the sin; love the sinner." I think this phrase has been turned around in the 21st century. Now it is "love the sin because it gives us an excuse to hate the sinner." Kill the abortionists and the desperately pregnant women: the homosexuals and other sexually confused, the homeless, the huddled masses yearning to be free, the blacks, the Jews, the native Americans, etc. How could anyone want to be associated with these people? We need a label to distinguish us from them. Why is it that Christians hate each other so much?
At HBC we have chosen two issues or causes as ministries to the least of these. Both have cost us money and members. The first and least troublesome internally are our homeless and ill fed. We cooperate with other Hampton churches to provide a warm sleeping space during the cold months and, on Mondays a free hot meal, a hug, clean and repaired (if necessary), a place to shower and a washer and dryer for their laundry. Our new building was designed for this. The other issue is that of sexual orientation. Two young ladies were married in our sanctuary. They are both Christians and have become good friends.
With all of this going on, how are we to identify ourselves to either the unchurched or the unsaved. Forty years ago I could identify myself as a Christian and everyone born in the South would immediately know a lot about me. Today, if I tell someone I am a Christian, I have to carefully explain what I mean by that statement. Of all the groups of people in this country, I fear most the Christians who spin much of their time hating others-including me.
James North
CBF, Virginia
Born again by God's free grace