"The Unlikely Prophet" part 2

There is a fine line between edgy witnessing practices and crossing the line. Emergent believes that it doesn't matter how you witness and long as you are witnessing. But the problem comes when there is no difference between the lives of those doing the witnessing and those hearing the Gospel. That's if what the person is sharing is actually the Gospel. In a lot of emergent circles the message turns from a salvation based on faith into an unbiblical salvation by works.

If we are to be changed after we receive Christ, that's what repent means, then we should change. Getting hammered or smoking out or whatever the method to reach people that directly goes against what the Word teaches is not an acceptable way to impact people with the Gospel. The problem is people are throwing out the second half of the quote "In the world not of it".  If there is nothing different than what is the point of changing? A good majority of Emergent doesn't believe in Hell anyway let alone teach it so there is really no repercussions for not receiving Christ.

With that being said, I now return to my purpose of writing this post. Coolio.

"If they can't understand me how can they reach me?"

In the climate of post modern and post post modern thinking that we are affronted with today, confrontational evangelism seems to quickly become the less used and trusted form. Not to say that is does not work, if the Holy Spirit wants to use it He will, so we should continue. It seems relational evangelism is the leader now, only because those getting to hear the Good News either say truth is subjective or that there is no truth. I don't know why but an additive to the outright defying of confrontational style by the witnessee could be cults. There are some places that if you walk up to someone to share the Gospel they automatically think you are either Mormon or part of the Watchtower Society (they are not witnesses of Jehovah so I try not to call them by that name). It could be "Bullhorn Guy" or any other contributing factor.

My point is, after a little rambling, the mindset of today demands there to be a relationship, to see if your faith is real, it would be rather difficult for someone like, Dr. Bowman (a dear professor here at Piedmont and as old as Noah) to just waltz into downtown Baltimore and began to share the Gospel. Same as if the pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Atlanta would walk into Martha's Vineyard, same effect. People need to know that you genuinely care for them, and understand them. This does not mean we are to join in on, at best questionable activities, but we are to be the light. We may be the only Jesus someone ever sees. I know the only job we have in witnessing is to do it and plant the seed, but if no one is listening, we need to examine our approach.

We need to understand the culture of the people we are trying to reach. It is going to be much easier for me to reach a metal head than a classical only because I understand the metal scene. Missionaries do this all the time. They have to understand the culture and where the people are coming from, but still are able to reach them whilst abstaining from certain practices, because they go against what the Bible teaches.

In summation, to effectively witness especially on a relational level, but it also goes with confrontational style, we need to see where people are coming from and be able to meet them where they are and "be all things to all people" without defying God's Word.

"The Unlikely Prophet" part 1

In the 90's there was a television show, (I don't recall the year, time, or station) that dealt with an inner-city school where there were police on every hall way, and even then it was still utter chaos. This show was called "Dangerous Minds". The theme song for the show was done by the hip-hop artist that went by the name Coolio. Now I understand most people who are going to read this post will have no Idea of who or what I am talking about. The title song, "Gangsta's Paradise" was parodied by Weird Al Yankovic as Amish Paradise. That may help a little.

However, In this song Coolio is detailing the life as a thug in inner city LA. This brings me to the point of this article. Towards the end of the song, Coolio flows the words, "If they can't understand me how can they reach me?" A valid question. As was stated in my last installment I loath as a whole the Emergent Movement. Brian McLaren, (one of the leaders of this affront to the true Gospel), is one of the biggest heretics in the church today. I was told after my first time speaking at my present church, "You shouldn't pigeon hole people" This guy was ticked. And guess what, I don't care. I will speak the truth. It is my job to give people the info, so they don't get caught up in false teaching. So if I offended this guy because I spoke the truth and it opened his eyes, (because he said he wasn't aware of this certain lady's subtle teaching, and he was going to listen more carefully) I did my job. Same reason for me mentioning Brian McLaren.

You see the whole Emergent movement is centered around a social gospel. Which is not inherently bad. The problem arises when the socialness becomes a case of the end justifies the means. Meaning is it okay to go to a bar and get hammered with someone just to be able to share the Gospel with them? Josh Wood, who is one of the great minds of our time, once published an article titled "Topless Evangelism." Now of course, he does not condone this abomination, but he is a logical enough thinker that he realizes, the way the movement is headed, it is plausible that this will become a witnessing strategy.

So. I ask the question, how Social is too Social? When does okay, witnessing practices become not okay? The answer in my next installment.

Expiditiamoriun Embarkasticus.

Ok, maybe I'm not smart enough to some up with a clever title for my first blog, and have to resort to a piddly attempt to sound smart by trying to make English words Latin. Hey, give me a break. My "Holy Crap" size of Amp hasn't kicked in yet and with this being my first blog, I have to come up with a pretty generic title considering this post is a quagmire of topics all swirled into one.

First let me inform you of my life short lived sitcom style. "I was just a kid running around with no clue where to go, what to do or how to get there. I was in a veritable teenage wasteland. That wasteland was... Avon Park, FL. I didn't want to be there, my parents drug me kicking and screaming from Indiana, my real home. I went to school and work but was merely existing. My only escape out of this 10th level of Hell (It was really that hot to this fatboy coming from a frigid climate) was going to church. You see I had heard about Christ and God all my life. I had been in and out of churches for a couple years, but never really understood Christ and what he did. However, in August of my Frosh. year, I received Christ as my Savior, because I came to the realization there was nothing I could to to atone for my sins, and that Christ was the only way.

So I kept going to church and became comfortably numb with the rest of my surroundings. So much so I actually began to like my little piece of torture. ( I still hate Florida but could live there without regret) After graduation, The best Friend anyone could ask for, Aaron Houser, begged me to come to a friends church with him. I did but under protest. I showed up dressed in my Sinister Brand pants. The legs were 16 inches wide, and had so many chains I sounded like a work detail from Alcatraz when I walked. I had black fingernail polish on and had a goatee to my chest. It was a Baptist church. Imagine their surprise. But come to find our I loved it there! They were actually teaching something!!! Unlike my church who as I know look back was so liberal and emergent it makes me sick.

So I continued to attend, and then one day the most beautiful girl walked in that I ever beset my eyes upon. Immediately I was in like and the quickly became in love. I was so up for this girl that the day before I was just going to ask her out on a date, I became so nervous I made myself sick and was in bed the next 2 days. But eventually, I did ask her out and she said yes. some time went by and on Oct. 20th 2007 The love of my live said yes again and became my Sweetie forever. Now we live in North Carolina whilst I go to Bible College and train to be a Youth Pastor.

And finally this seemingly sell-out, self edifying, glimpse into my head (something that can get quite scary at times, but will be calmed a little because this isn't so spontaneous). I will use this little piece of the technological world to amuse myself with my observations and commentary on society, vent about my annoyances (Which are quite many) and sometimes just to catch you up on my life. If I offend anyone with my writing, you either needed to be offended, or you need to lighten up. Seriously, it's just a blog, it's my thoughts, so ultimately I don't give a rip about offending you because I HATE pc and will steer completely away from it.

Each entry will not be this long, some may, I can ramble at times. Who knows how often I will update. We'll see. Have fun, and leave a comment. Thanx