E-Vangel Newsletter
August 20, 2012
Pastorgraphs: “Your Pastor Might be a
LIBERAL, if…”
The
key point of this litmus test was, “Your pastor might be a LIBERAL if…he
preaches a lot on social justice.” It reminded me of Glenn
Beck’s warning: “I beg you, look for the words 'social justice' or
'economic justice' on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you
can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words."
When
did social justice become a bad thing for preachers?
I
was unaware that it was a problem, so I checked the Bible and, sure enough,
found LIBERAL preachers hiding all over the place, including:
David: “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” Psalm 82:3 Plus a bunch more. Oh no, not David, too!
Micah: “…what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8. Micah, say it ain’t so!
Zechariah: “So once again, I, the LORD All-Powerful, tell you, "See that justice is done and be kind and merciful to one another! Don't mistreat widows or orphans or foreigners or anyone who is poor, and stop making plans to hurt each other."” Zechariah 7:9-10 CEV. Say what?
And
don’t leave out the biggest LIBERAL preacher of them all, Jesus, who was always
taking the side of the poor and oppressed, teaching us to feed the poor and
thirsty, cloth the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, and befriend the
strangers.
Man,
that’s heavy stuff. You can’t talk that social justice agenda from the pulpit.
Somebody might hang that LIBERAL tag on you.
It
is sad that in many of our churches, it’s either social justice or evangelism.
It’s either “do good-ers” or “give ‘m hell fire and damnation”. John Wesley had
the right idea: the church should be about BOTH. He was a theological
CONSERVATIVE and a social LIBERAL (caring for the souls and bodies of England’s
street orphans, prisoners, etc.).
I will
remove my tongue from my cheek long enough to say, “You can call me Ray. You
can call me Jay. You can call me J.J. And yes, if caring for the poor (both
body and soul) makes me a LIBERAL, then call me that, too. To paraphrase Rhett
Butler in “Gone With The Wind”, “Frankly, my dear, I don't give a d***
(hoot)."
I will wear the label proudly, especially on Judgment Day when Jesus says “I was THE ONE hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned and a stranger.” (Oh yes, you see this LIBERAL preacher actually believes the Bible; that there will be a Day of Judgment – and a Day of Justice.)
I will wear the label proudly, especially on Judgment Day when Jesus says “I was THE ONE hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned and a stranger.” (Oh yes, you see this LIBERAL preacher actually believes the Bible; that there will be a Day of Judgment – and a Day of Justice.)
Bless you, one and all, Brother
Bill
From
the Quote Garden:
“A quarter century ago
a group of legalists asked if I believed God created the world “in seven 24-hour
days”. I replied, “No”. That was blasphemy to their ears. So they “blacklisted”
me, assuring me I would never get a “prize pulpit” in that denomination. They
made me wear the Scarlet Letter “L” for LIBERAL. I accepted my punishment for
heresy. But on the way out the door, I asked them, “Please tell me who was
holding the stop watch Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3? Because the Bible says the sun,
moon and stars (by which we determine time) were not created until Day 4. So
how do YOU KNOW those first three days were 24 hours long? And how were you
able to see the stop watch in the dark?” I’m still waiting for their answer.
Personally, I think God could have done it all in 7 seconds, 7 days, or 7
trillion years.
He is LORD God, All-Mighty.”
He is LORD God, All-Mighty.”
~ William L. Jenkins ~
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205
No comments:
Post a Comment