...And I Agree Completely

Jim Tonkowich, president of the Institute on Religion & Democracy writes in the Weekly Standard about the breakup of the ECUSA and the struggles in the PCUSA. The article is titled Religion Without Foundations.

I've been writing quite a bit about subjectivism in matters of faith, the lack of adherence to both scripture and the consensus of church history. Tonkowich says of the mainliners:

"In contrast to Christians through the ages, the denominational left has substituted sentiments for facts, passions for authority, and subjectivity for reason. Their belief seems to be that if they "create space for dialogue" it will allow them to emote and vote with the result that a simple majority determines the new revised standard version of God's truth and will."

Those Dangerous Dispensationalists

Interesting art exhibition by one Jill Greenberg who has caused a sensation by making a political statement out of photos of crying babies. To get the photos, she had to get the kids to cry, ususally be giving the kids a lollypop and then taking it away. One might argue this does no permanent harm to the kids, but it does seem rather - shall we say - insensitive? But that isn't the gist of this post.

Quoted in the press release for the exhibition is Bill Moyers' 2005 piece There is no Tomorrow, which gently savages evangelicals and all politicians who are supported by evangelicals.

"For the first time in our history, ideology and theology hold a monopoly of power in Washington. Theology asserts propositions that cannot be proven true; ideologues hold stoutly to a worldview despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality. The offspring of ideology and theology are not always bad but they are always blind. And that is the danger: voters and politicians alike, oblivious to the facts. "

Outreach, Worship and Sunday Mornings

Been busy of late, not a lot of time to think, much less write. I found a great little article in Touchstone, where one John Parker writes some gentle and prodding thoughts in his Guide for the Cineplexed, Parker is an Orthodox Priest, but obviously has some evangelical influence in his past. One small point that immediately stuck out is that while so many megachurches are meeting in theaters, warehouses, theaters, schools and anyplace else that will hold lots of people and won't feel too "churchy", almost everyone wants to get married in a place that feels - like a church. The church in which he once served, went so far as to construct a "wedding chapel" precisely because of this conundrum. "Until now, this church has never had a place 'suitable' for 'that special day.' Who wants to get married on a stage? In a warehouse? In a theater? "

The reason for the "neutral" atmosphere of the seeker service is to make the service comfortable and inviting for the "unchurched". And in America, not only have the inherently "religous" trappings been removed, but also all symbols that smack of authority. We are egalitarian, at least in the image we try to present. But I think Parker puts his finger on the real issue that seeker churches have maybe not considered fully enough.