Church Politics: Christian Responsibility in the World

January has seen the launch of a boat-rocking sermon series that looks at the role that Christians play in society.  I am looking specifically at how Christians think about engaging their culture, or how we should be "in, but not of the world."  The first two sermons have been preached and you can download the podcasts of those sermons from the church's website here>>.

In the first of the two sermons I take direct aim at a number of what I think are unhelpful ways in which to engage culture, one by Mark Driscoll, one by Stephen Boissoin, and one by Canadian Family Action Coalition.  Then, I develop three pillars, built on important Scripture texts, that I feel are fundamental to Christian engagement in the world. 

In the second sermon, I spend some time unpacking what I feel is at the heart of Paul's theology: the cross, and specifically the cross as the agent of the destruction of the dividing wall between people.  I spend a great deal of time meditating on Jesus' as our peace/peacemaker, and then go on to look at how Deut. 24, and its focus on gift might effect how we engage society.

In the past I've been criticized for not taking a clear stand.  Well, in these sermons I do.  I take on the unthinking devotion many Christians have towards both ultra-conservative right wing values; and towards so-called "dominionist" theology.

This whole sermon series is dedicated to The Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria.  It was there that I became convinced that this series needed to be preached and we as a church needed to talk about these issues.  It also was done in response to the perceived inadequacy of the Gospel, Culture, Church conference by our denomination as an attempt to do what people felt was lacking at that conference.

Comments

[simon]

Hey David,
Just wondering if you could email me your transcripts on this series? I might struggle to find the space for the podcast...
Simon

[Stephen Boissoin]

There is some good information in your sermon but I also wonder about the integrity of posting a public critque of other Christians whom you have never taken the time to get to know so as to understand intent, details etc.

Wholeheartedly, I believe and agree that unless called otherwise we are to speak with gentleness, graciousness and as peacemakers but there are also times when God uses us to sound the alarm, to speak the hard facts clearly without mixing words, to avoid humanizing, desensitizing and watering down the message leaving it with no effect. There is a time to shout from the rooftops in order to protect those who may hear.

Every single person that I have met that has been in the gap understands the tone and intention of my letter. On the other hand there are many more people that have never been directly involved in the socio-religious-political battle and/or have a weak knowledge of scripture that seem to feel that I did not speak in love. Considering the damage being caused by homosexual activists even in my community, there is absolutely nothing unloving (in context) about my letter. You insinuate that it is unloving and/or ungracious due to it's tone...the tone of ones voice or what they have penned is not the primary measuring stick that we are called to judge upon. The harmony of scripture is. We see clearly that various tones are used throughout the old and new testaments. I also do not share here or speak publicly as a rookie. I have given my life as an inter-city missionary, spent tens of thousands of my own dollars assisting youth, lived with and ministered to dozens of homosexual, bi-sexual, drug addicted and highly at-risk youth. I have gotten dirty reaching out to them street level, held them in my arms while they were frothing at the mouth overdosing. Have had them cry and tell me they are HIV or HEP C positive (I admit, even held them in my arms with a subtle concern for my own health), performed memorial services for them and prayed at their bedside while on life support. I also have the fancy man made credentials. I am 100% at peace that my letter was inspired within me through the Spirit of God for a specific time and purpose. God used me to write a hard hitting rebuke and admonition. That is not even debatable with me.

Whether someone likes what I wrote or not, whether I like the consequences or not, I was used to submit that letter. It was meant to be hard hitting, tough-loving and gracious in the truth it contained. It was meant to open a Pandora's Box and get people thinking, debating, deciding and acting. It has without doubt done so. If my letter has been the catalyst that has lead to even one Christian speaking out graciously for the first time, praise God! Due to that letter I have had countless face to face, very gracious, conversations with homosexuals, presidents of gay-pride groups, parents of homosexuals and many others. I have been invited to speak in Christian schools, to youth groups, at churches, fundraisers, to be on Radio and TV programs (I am in Philly next month). God has used that one letter (I have written many others you would most likely assume are more loving and inline with your view of the Christian version of Political Correctness) to open doors that no man could. It was three times bigger than the Red Deer Advocates policy for the amount of words permitted for a letter to the editor and they still accepted it.

Most people that have an anti-opinon-due-to-tone-assumption that I have met are really simply not involved. They have an apathetic, minimally sacrificial, comfort zone life and rarely make an impact outside of their familial circle of influence but these same people want to tell me how I should have worded my letter or funnier yet, how they would have worded it.

If a homosexual activist or a homosexual was enticing your child face to face to accept, even try, the homosexual lifestyle, I believe with confidence that your first response would be to sound the alarm, get their attention and protect them. One small point, Dr. Lund the complainant, was a public high school teacher in my city. The teens that attended the youth centre that I directed made me aware of the gay minister that he had been inviting into his gay tolerance group to teach these same children a pro-homosexual view of the Bible.

It is of greater importance that Christians protect their own and those that for whatever reason are not being protected. I must primarily protect my own children and the youth that God has led me to minister to. It is of greater importance that Christians and all who care about what God deems right become aware of the damage that is occurring (which the majority are not) than how homosexual activists (who my letter was addressed to) feel about our message. Though our salvific message to them and the lost in general is an extremely close second.

God is hard core at times (David). His love often comes with harsh rebuke and even harsh consequence. That should not be debated. I was not saying...kill gays, hate them or God hates homo's, homo's are good for nothing. I was saying that homosexuality and the propagation of it to children is just as wicked, just as horrendous as pedophilia, drug dealing and pimping. I was saying that if you do not wake up your child may be the next to become homosexuality positive (meaning gay).

To conclude, it is a common belief that Canada is losing it's Christian foundation and has watered down it's Christian message to the point of little effect.

I too believe that you have a right to an opinion (David). I would defend it and am a present target for the cause. My concern was that you and others make public statements without being gracious or considerate enough to further state that you were not aware of the circumstances, the context or the calling. Due to this you led your listeners to potentially pre-judge my letter, my Christian walk and my intentions. It seems that was not very gracious to do to a brother in Christ and fellow servant in ministry.

ps. Isn't it a contradiction how we claim to believe that there is a terrible hell apart from God and His love for an eternity destined for many but at the same time miss opportunities to extend encouragement to front-line brothers and sisters that takes risks for our faith and benefit while passionately attempting to save some from that very same demise. Here in Canada we have become too politcally correct for the word of God and how God wants us to use it. We are often too worried about offending, reputation, money, tax receipts, members and ratings to even hear His whole message and individual callings.

Just my opinion...Bless You!

Stephen Boissoin

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."