Pop Culture

On Shibboleths . . .

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

In Judges 12 the men of Gilead use the word ‘Shibboleth’ as way to discern whether someone is from Gilead or Ephraim. The Ephraimites, you see, were not able to say the word correctly. Thus, when asking a man to say, “Shibboleth,’ how he said it revealed his origins.  It appears that supporting same-sex marriage is becoming a shibboleth for all people of good will.

First, I saw this.

Mozilla Chief Executive Brendan Eich has stepped down, the company said on Thursday, after an online dating service urged a boycott of the company’s web browser because of a donation Eich made to opponents of gay marriage.

 

Then, I saw this.

As the Associated Press reported Thursday, Jacquelline Fuller said in an email Wednesday to AP that while she remains a “huge fan” of the group’s work on behalf of the poor, she resigned Friday “as I disagreed with the decision to exclude gay employees who marry.”

What do these two separate events have in common? The rejection of those who do not share the accepted wisdom on same-sex marriage. In Mr. Eich case it does not matter whether or not he could actually lead Mozilla. His years with company, during which he supported traditional marriage, are not taken into account. No one appears to have asked, “How has this view impacted his work thus far?” Instead it is simply assumed that he is incapable of leading. Why is this assumption made? Because apparently no one of good will could ever follow a leader who does not support same-sex marriage.

Ms. Fuller, who apparently joined WorldVision’s board back when their employee policy forbid same-sex marriages, suddenly has a problem with this policy. After the kerfuffle caused by their embracing of same-sex marriage rapidly followed by their return to traditional morals, suddenly a non-profit she supported before they were pro-same-sex marriage cannot be supported now that they are, once again, pro-traditional marriage. What, exactly, is the difference? WorldVision still does great work among the poor and they still have the same employee policy they had when she joined the board. The difference is that now all people of good will know she is on the board of a non-profit that supports traditional marriage.

In both cases support for same-sex marriage is a shibboleth. If you don’t support it, we don’t want you to lead our company and we won’t serve on the board. Of course we’ve seen this in other areas, already. Business owners in court because they refused to serve same-sex weddings. Business owners hounded out of business because they refused to serve same-sex marriage.

One wonders how long it will be before this shibboleth arises in other areas of life. Will corporations find reasons to fire (or not even hire) the person who posts traditional marriage links on Facebook? Will businesses refuse to supply other businesses whose employee policies or CEOs opinions don’t support same-sex marriage?

One also wonders what the next shibboleth will be. Certainly this is not the end, but merely another step in redefining morality and marginalizing those who hold to any traditional moral concepts.

Merry War on Christmas! – Mark Steyn – National Review Online

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

The crisis afflicting the West is not primarily one of unsustainable debt and spending. These are mere symptoms of a deeper identity crisis.

via Merry War on Christmas! – Mark Steyn – National Review Online.

Steyn is spot on that we face a much larger problem in America than who gets elected, what laws they pass and what judges rule on those laws.  The foundations of our culture are being undermined by those very folks who, in previous eras, would have been guarding the gates.

I wonder if the Church doesn’t have some blame in all of this.  Steyn points out the ‘faintheartedness’ of the American Church in confronting those forces that would destroy celebrations like Christmas.  True, we are often faint of heart.  Yet, the Church has poured countless sums into political action committees, candidates and other such endeavors.  We’ve sought to overturn Supreme Court decisions, repeal laws, enact new laws and get ‘our’ guys to a place where they control the levers.

But that isn’t the Church’s mission.  Western Civilization is, in large part, the result of more than 1,000 years of making disciples.  The cultures of the West developed because we proclaimed the Gospel to hostile people.

Thus, our current cultural devolution is not a call to greater political action.  It is a call for the Church to reinvest in our core mission:  making disciples of Jesus Christ.

What's the message?

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

So, our family has been out of the cable TV loop for about six years.  Today, a few things came together and I had the chance to watch a show on Nick.  While the show, clearly aimed at pre-teens, was cute, it left me wondering what message there are trying to send.  The basic premise was something like this:  a group of kids wanted to eat dinner at a really expensive restaurant.  Being teens, they could not afford to and they devised a scheme to eat there.  To get the money they defrauded their high school out of $1500 (convincing a teacher to assist them), then used the money for their extravagant dinner.  Did they get caught?  No, they did not.  Was there any lesson about lying, fraud or theft?  No, there was not.  In fact, the only message that I could see was, “There are no consequences for immoral or illegal behavior.”  Not exactly a message I want my kids getting.

Parents, watch your kids shows with them from time to time.  Watch them critically.  Ask yourself, “What lesson(s) are my kids learning from this?”

Pajamas Media » Five Societal Trends That Signal Our Nation’s Decline

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Here are five societal trends that will further exacerbate the pessimism of two-thirds of American adults who believe our nation’s future is bleak: National poverty is higher now than in all 51 years of record keeping. There is an increasing number of high school drop-outs. The American workforce is steadily becoming less educated. Four of out of every ten births in America are to unmarried women. Only 53% of Americans pay federal income taxes.

via Pajamas Media » Five Societal Trends That Signal Our Nation’s Decline.

It seems to me that each of these indicators of societal decline connect with the decline of Christianity.  Here is a brief explanation.

America is getting poorer?  Christianity teaches the sanctity of work.  Work is a God-given and blessed endeavor.  Further, the New Testament forbids providing welfare to those who can work but choose not to.  Could America’s increasing poverty be a result of rejecting this work ethic?

Increasing number of high school dropouts.  Liek with work, Christianity generally encourages education.  Universities sprung forth from this, and it was Christian’s who saved many ancient works from passing into the dustbin of history.  Also, men like Newton pursued Science out of a conviction that studying Creation glorified God.  Perhaps abandoning the tenets of Christianity means there is no longer a strong cultural basis for education.

4/10 births are to unwed woman.  This doesn’t even need comment.

For me the bottom line is this:  Western Civilization grew over thousands of years of discipleship.  It will not be reclaimed in a moment.  The church must return to instilling Christ’s teachings in the hearts and lives of Christians, who will instill it in their children and so forth, so that society can regain her Christian foundation.

WORLDmag.com | Community | Blog Archive | Does Americans’ faith run only skin-deep?

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

In a newly released poll from the Barna Group, only 12 percent of those surveyed said faith was their top priority. This despite the fact that, as the Barna press release points out, more than 75 percent of American adults identify themselves as Christians.

via WORLDmag.com | Community | Blog Archive | Does Americans’ faith run only skin-deep?.

Jesus said, ““If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple,” (Luke 14.26).

Now, if Jesus is saying that absolutely nothing–not even family or our own lives–can take precedence over our faith in Him, what can we conclude about the 75 percent of American’s who claim to be Christians?  Do quote The Princess Bride, “That word you keep using.  I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Conscience

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

At the age of six months babies can barely sit up – let along take their first tottering steps, crawl or talk.

But, according to psychologists, they have already developed a sense of moral code – and can tell the difference between good and evil.

via Babies know the difference between good and evil at six months, study reveals | Mail Online.

If there is such an innate knowledge of good/evil and a natural desire to punish evil and reward good, two thoughts occur to me.

1)  This fits with the concept of a Creator.  Beings created in His image, fallen though we may be, could be expected to possess this inherent morality.

2)  The post modern concept which suggests right/wrong are social constructs–not absolutes–is in need of serious tweaking.  How can they be mere social constructs when babies already possess a rudimentary understanding of them?

Survey: 72% of Millennials more spiritual than religious – USATODAY.com

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

Most young adults today dont pray, dont worship and dont read the Bible, a major survey by a Christian research firm shows.If the trends continue, “the Millennial generation will see churches closing as quickly as GM dealerships,” says Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources. In the groups survey of 1,200 18- to 29-year-olds, 72% say theyre “really more spiritual than religious.”

via Survey: 72% of Millennials more spiritual than religious – USATODAY.com.

One of the greatest mistakes the Church makes is lowering the bar.  When becoming a Christian means nothing more than praying a prayer, or being confirmed in a denomination, it shouldn’t surprise us when folks abandon ship.  After all, if there is little more to Christ than Sunday mornings, why waste my time at a Church?

This is why Christ’s teaching was filled with grace and truth.  The grace is simple:  all those who follow Christ will be saved.  The truth is harder:  you actually have to follow.  It’s not enough to say, “I love Jesus,” and then go about life as if He didn’t exist.  To be a Christian is to strive to know and follow Him, imperfectly for sure, out of my love for Him.

Maybe the Church needs to spend time sharing the cost of discipleship, as Christ did, before inviting people–young or old–to follow.