October 14, 2013
Pastorgraphs: “Losing Young Christians”
If you
think I am about to go political, you will miss my point. So please hear me
out.
Matt Lewis,
the 2012 American Conservative Union CPAC "Blogger of the Year",
wrote an article last week that I could not agree with more! My conservative
friends may be surprised, and my liberal friends (yes, I am pleased to have
BOTH kinds) may be tempted to stop reading. But give me a chance and I think we
will all be edified.
Lewis’
article, “The GOP is losing young Christians” appeared in “The Week” magazine.
He also appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” where Joe Scarborough, former GOP
Representative from Pensacola, Fla. confirmed Lewis’ view. (Here is a link to
that brief but informative conversation: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3036789/#53215576
)
In short,
what Lewis said is that young evangelical Christians, who were largely
responsible for the boots-on-the-ground that led to the GOP’s gains in 2010
have fallen by the wayside. The reason: “…many young Christians are choosing to
be conscientious objectors in the culture wars. Some of this may be due to
changing attitudes concerning some hot-button social issues. But there's
also a growing sense among young Christians that political involvement, no
matter how pure the original motives, is a corrupting force. Christians who
attempt to be in this political world, but not of
this political world, are constantly faced with ethical conundrums.”
Or stated
another way, these young Christians find it hard to reconcile the venom and
hatred of our current politics with the Christian injunctives to “love your
neighbors” and “pray for your enemies”.
Lewis
added, “For Christians, political involvement has a way of breaking bad. The
real danger is that over time, it has a coarsening effect, and that our
political ranks and church pews alike will be filled full of [those] who will
do anything to achieve their goals. They are wise as serpents, but no longer
innocent as doves. For what shall it profit a man if he should win the
election, but lose his soul?”
In
fairness, it is not just the GOP’s young adults that are disillusioned. I
personally know several young adults who worked hard for President Obama in
2008 and saw “Yes we Can” become “No we Can’t”. Disillusioned, but for a
different reason.
But the
point is not political. It is spiritual. It is at the heart of Jesus’ message. It ultimately comes down to: Where
do we stand on “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”? It has everything to
do with how we view our fellow human beings, ESPECIALLY the poor, oppressed,
and voiceless.
Joe
Scarborough pointed out the conflict between “massive [government] cuts to the
poor and Matthew 25”. (I was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, in prison, a
stranger.) Scarborough said, “You read Matthew 25 and there is a responsibility
if you believe what Jesus said to figure out how to alleviate suffering for the
poor and just ‘cutting it off’ without transition doesn’t square up with
Matthew 25”.
This speaks
to me at the level of my two highest Christian ideals: ministry to the poor and
a call for integrity.
In the next
few weeks, you will hear more about “Fount of Blessings”; a major project I am
working on. It is an online database that displays how churches and charities
(Founts) in San Diego are offering “Streams of mercy, never ceasing” (such as
food, clothing, prison ministry-reentry, refugee assistance, wellness
ministries, shelter, help for battered women and abused children, quenching
spiritual thirst, and so on.) I am convinced The Fount will fill a huge need
for helping those in need find the resources they need more efficiently and
effectively. Stay tuned for more on this.
Also, I am
working on a “40 Days to Integrity” series for Lent 2014. Those who join this
journey will watch a different four-minute video online each day for 40 days to
gain an understanding of what integrity is, and get the tools necessary for
achieving integrity in their lives. Anyone, anywhere who has internet access
can join us on this journey. It is free. Contact me if you want to reserve a
seat or would like to receive a brochure.
The issue
Lewis points out is the lack of integrity between what the political parties
say and what they do. The opposite of integrity is hypocrisy.
Young
adults are our hope for the future. Thank God they recognize this hypocrisy and
the evil that results when any power (political, military, economic or even
religious) runs roughshod over the poor.
Lewis is
correct: “Big-hearted youngsters looking to "do unto others" won't find
their calling in today's rancorous politics.”
God bless
our country and our leaders!
Happy 50th
Anniversary, Herschel and Sherry Morgan
Whoever
said “You cannot make old friends” was spot on. I want to send a shout out to
one of my longest friendships. The Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Herschel Morgan will
celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary this Saturday (October 19)
at Bethabara Baptist Church where they were married October 19, 1963 near
Owensboro, KY.
In 1971,
Herschel and I were pastors of neighboring churches. We formed a car-pool and
commuted from Owensboro to Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY TWICE a
week for most of three years. (Our churches required us to return for Wednesday
night Prayer Meeting, so we got up at 4:00 AM Tuesdays and Thursday’s to make
it to our 8:00 AM Louisville classes – in another time zone. We made the trek
back to Daviess County after class on Wednesdays and Fridays.) Wow. I get tired
just thinking of it now.
I calculate
Herschel and I traveled over 50,000 miles and spent 1,200 hours together on
these trips. You really get to know someone when you spend that much time
together, especially in the confines of a car. Herschel is one of the most
genuine Christians I have ever known. Although the years and miles separate us,
Herschel continues to bless my life and make me strive to be a better person.
Happy
Golden Anniversary, Herschel and Sherry, my “dear, old” friends.
Devotedly, Bill
Jenkins
From the
Quote Garden:
“The best kind of
friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk
away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had.”
~ Author Unknown ~
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295 Meade
Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205
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