"That American Christians are known among many not for our primary allegiance to God's kingdom, but rather for our allegiance to wealth, power, and voting blocs suggests that the very fabric of our churches has become idolatrous. Thus the idols plaguing the American church are not made of wood, metal, or stone, but instead lie … Continue reading Quote of Note #181: Political Idolatry
Tag: Religion and Spirituality
Pastor Note #136: Cable News Networks Are Evil
What follows will read like a rant. I’m sorry about that. Try not to traffic in rants. So, let me ask that you take it as a plea—a plea from the heart of a pastor who is concerned for your spiritual well-being. If you watch more than an hour or so of some 24-hour cable … Continue reading Pastor Note #136: Cable News Networks Are Evil
Quote of Note #180: The Christian & Partisan Politics
"In culturally polarized times, it can be tempting to find comfort in a partisan Christ who will place a halo over our politics. But the biblical Jesus calls us to renounce the world and follow him--to allow the gospel to lead us." Jonathan K. Dodson, The Unwavering Pastor: Leading the Church with Grace in Divisive … Continue reading Quote of Note #180: The Christian & Partisan Politics
Quote of Note #179: Spiritual Wisdom and Justice
"Spiritual wisdom is false unless it goes beyond pious sacrifices and regulated worship services and enters into the bloodstream of society by giving justice to the downtrodden, the lonely, and the destitute, and ending the oppression of social outcasts (Isaiah 1:10-20; 29:13-24; 58-59; Amos 5-6; Micah 2-3, 6)." Calvin G. Seerveld, Biblical Studies and Wisdom … Continue reading Quote of Note #179: Spiritual Wisdom and Justice
Quote of Note #173: The God Who Speaks to Us
"Even when the Word of God strikes a man without warning, when there is a sudden conversion, and inner call, which changes all at once the direction of his life, he perceives that God has been speaking to him for a long time, that the dialogue was already going on in the darkness of the … Continue reading Quote of Note #173: The God Who Speaks to Us
Pastor Note #134/Bible Note #55: Love of Jesus, Love of Neighbor
“Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son that love is the fulfilling of the law. Grant that we may love you with our whole heart and our neighbor as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[1] Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he … Continue reading Pastor Note #134/Bible Note #55: Love of Jesus, Love of Neighbor
Quote of Note #172: The American Dream
"Throughout scripture, we are told that there is no lasting joy in the things of this earth--that they decay, grow boring, and bring ultimate destruction as consumers of our rapt attention. We are reminded that we come into this world with nothing and go out the same way. Yet, we in America have given divine … Continue reading Quote of Note #172: The American Dream
Quote of Note #171: Jesus Prays our Prayers
"God is the Father of Jesus Christ, and that man Jesus Christ has prayed, and he is praying still. Such is the foundation of our prayer in Jesus Christ. It is as if God himself has pledged to answer our request because all our prayers are summed up in Jesus Christ; God cannot fail to … Continue reading Quote of Note #171: Jesus Prays our Prayers
Pastor Note #133: To Post the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes?
Lately, I’ve been pondering a question about something that seems to be in the news a good bit. A number of states have passed or are considering passing laws that would require the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, courthouses, and other public buildings. I’ve written elsewhere [Pastor Note #130: The Government … Continue reading Pastor Note #133: To Post the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes?
Quote of Note #170: Repentance
"To believe in repentance is to believe there will be repentant murderers who will meet their victims in paradise, to believe there will be repentant slanderers who will meet those they slandered in heaven, to believe there will be repentant thieves who will meet those they've plundered in heaven." Leonard Sweet, Rings of Fire: Walking … Continue reading Quote of Note #170: Repentance
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 