discipleship

And Glenn Beck Shall Lead Them | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

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At his rally last weekend on the Washington Mall, Fox News host Glenn Beck brought 240 clergy onstage. Harkening back to the Revolutionary War, Beck called the group a “Black Robe Regiment.” He said the clergy “all locked arms saying the principles of America need to be taught from the pulpit.”

via And Glenn Beck Shall Lead Them | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.

As politically conservative as I am, I don’t thing the pulpit is the place for the ‘principles of America.’  Further, the tradition of Western Civilization which gave us the ‘principles of America’ came from Scripture–the Judeo Christian ethic.  Perhaps, if Mr. Beck and Co. desire a revival that leads to traditional public virtues, we need to preach repentance and disciple the repentant.

Christianity should alter the way we understand with and interact with the world around us.  That includes our politics.  However, preaching politics doesn’t renew minds nor transform lives.  Also, Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world–America was founded on Christian principles, but that does not make us Christ’s Kingdom.

Want to transform the moral fabric of society?  Then, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2 ESV)

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

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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.

Be a Parent

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Yahoo! News is reporting a study that links some traditional family behaviors with healthy kids.

Apparently eating dinner together 5+ nights per week, making your kids sleep 10.5 hours a night and limiting TV to 2 hours a day correlate to significantly lower obesity rates.  It is almost like spending quantity time with your kids is more important that quality time.

The saddest part of the story?

Helmcamp said it can be hard to institute some of these behaviors. But she suggested that parents “make these behaviors a priority. Sit down and figure out how you can make it happen. Maybe your child doesn’t need to be involved in four or five different activities.”

She said if it’s tough to eat together five times a week, shoot for at least three nights a week. And, she also recommended removing TVs from children’s bedrooms, which can help with limiting screen time and with getting enough sleep.

Seriously?  ‘It can be hard?’  I didn’t realize parenting was supposed to be easy.  Of course it’s hard; it is supposed to be hard.  How could shaping and forming the next generation of mankind be easy?

Anyway, read the whole thing.

The Disciplemaking Parent

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Deuteronomy 6:5 contains what Jesus called the greatest commandment—‘Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength,’ (NIV).  This verse is not just the greatest commandment; it is the beginning of a framework.  In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 we find a blueprint for parents to disciple their own children.  We see God’s plan for reproducing faith, values and lifestyle in the next generation. Continue reading →