I have long since felt discriminated against. Is it for my color, my gender or my lack of hair? Nope. It’s for the way I do ministry. It seems to me that there is a general awe of churches that are non-traditional. There are churches identified by hip-hop, truck stops and flip-flops. These are then labeled as cutting-edge and relevant. While they very well may be doing great and effective ministry to a segment of society, labeling them as cutting-edge and relevant has some interesting implications. The implication is that if doing certain things is what makes them relevant then if you are not doing those things, you are not relevant. Within the church growth circles, there is no greater sin than being irrelevant. As a Pastor at a church that would likely be described as fairly traditional, I resent being deemed as irrelevant simply because my Senior Pastor wears a suit instead of ripped jeans. My concern with a church’s identity being wrapped up in a style (type of music, casual clothing, etc.) is that styles inevitably change and people change away from a style. At my church, we strive for it to be our love and sense of community to be what draws people to our church. I’d rather be known for our love then for what we wear. Anyway, Isn’t it by our love that they will know we are Christians?
I recently read a Facebook comment about how could Governor Sarah Palin consider herself a feminist/crusader for Women’s rights and also be pro-life. While I am not sure of Palin’s logic, I would consider myself someone who is pro-life and someone who is in support of women’s rights. First, I think we need to define what it means to support women’s rights. I think that means wanting women to be able to do what is best for them and to live free of harmful restrictions. This does not mean that women be allowed to do anything and everything they want. For example, this does not mean that women be allowed to blow themselves up in crowded restaurants or bus stops… no matter how bad they want to, if their religion says it is ok or if they think it is something that will really help them in life. So women’s rights is wanting the best for women and wanting them free of harmful restrictions. Unfortunately, women’s rights has almost been redefined to mean that you are pro-abortion. The problem here is the underlying premise that abortion is even good for women. I think the issue of how abortion is bad for women has been discussed well and explained by better people elsewhere on the Internet… Here: Lutherans for Life Site and others… So, if abortion is bad for women then someone who is pro-women’s rights SHOULD be opposed to abortion. It’s ironic that women, who are hurt by abortion, are often the most vocal proponents for abortion.