Update 3.5.09

Been awhile due to the level of insanity of my schedule. I have NO free time whatsoever with 15 hours of class and full time work. The brain is nearing capacity. Hebrew is a killer right now. First semester was a breeze. This one is killing me. Church History is being SERVED by me which gives me joy since its my hardest class.

Church planting was laughable. If I had a dime for every time a church growth book said "It's not about the numbers" and followed that up with tales of church plants that grew to the thousands. I took ample opportunity to unload on the discussion board. I said if we were to follow the example of having a church that has planting as their mindset, then we need to tell every small group that their goal should be to become their own church and plant more churches themselves. Many were frightened that this may take away from the church growing to a couple thousand...that was my point. If they were serious about planting, churches would rarely if ever reach a thousand because there would be a thousand churches with 100.

I'm crushed at the departure of Brian Dawkins from the Eagles. He was the heart and soul of the team and was the majority of Eagle fans favorite player. He understood the fans and the fans loved him because he brought 125% every game. He will be PAINFULLY missed.

My current music playlist:

• The Airborne Toxic Event- Sometime Around Midnight (new band, great song)
  
• Incubus- Love Hurts (old album, greater song)
  
• The Ting Tings -Great DJ (I LOVE this band...so catchy)
  
• Snow Patrol - Take Back the City (a decent sophmore album...best song on it)
  
• Rammstein - Morganstern (I don't know what he's singing in German, but they rock)
  
• Norma Jean - Vipers, Snakes and Actors (Love the new album)
  
• Flogging Molly - Punch Drunk Grinning Soul (I'll see them live next week!!!)
  
• Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound (Another new one with a Springstein-ish sound)
  
• Lamb of God - Laid To Rest (Thx Guitar Hero)
  
• Pink Floyd - The Wall Album (Kicking it old school!)
  
• Fred Hammond - No Weapon Formed Against Me (had to throw some gospel in there)
  

The Days of Constantine and Modern Church

Reading in Church History has been one of the most beneficial things I have done in 33 years. It has got my wheels turning regarding even our modern church's state. One of the things I've been thinking about lately with the election going on is the ease of Christianity in America compared to the times of Constantine.

Prior to Constantine coming to power and declaring Christianity the national religion (loosely since he also permitted paganism), Christians were persecuted and killed at the hands of emperors. Christians knew that converting meant they would be in danger of loosing their lives for what they believed in. As a result, the church may have been decently small in number, but the passion and zeal of it was mighty. The martyrs were committed to Christ unto death.

Constantine took over the empire and brought an end to years of persecution. He declared Himself Christian and stopped the martyrdom of believers. As a result, throngs of people in the Roman empire "converted" to Christianity. It was the thing to do. It seems as those everyone was doing it. Christianity's cost was diminished due to ease in the Empire. This continued till persecution once again reared it's ugly head. As a result, many recanted their belief and again Christianity was costly. Under persecution, many of our great church fathers were born and led. Their impact goes on till today.

Fast forward to today. Honestly, converting to Christianity is as easy as saying you prayed a prayer and getting dunked in your local baptist church. Rarely are you examined to see if the fruit of the Spirit is evident in your life. Rarely is their much cost to being a Christian in America other than some harassment. As a result, much of modern Christianity is a lifestyle, not a life endangerment. We've adapted Christianity to America, not vice versa. Modern American Christianity cost so little. Even our political candidates proudly assert their Christianity with little fear of backlash. Throngs fill our churches and go through the motions of the lifestyle of Christianity.

I wonder...how full would our churches be if persecution were to rear it's ugly head in America? I mean real persecution...life endangering stuff. Would Saddleback, Willow Creek, Lifechurch, and Thomas Road Baptist still be as full as they are today? Would we focus on seekers or survival and surrender? Would the "giants" of modern Christianity still be considered giants or be seen as feel-good motivational speakers? Are we today, calling people to a life of complete rejection, surrender and rejection? That is the Christianity I know.

When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die...

Thoughts From My Reading on The Early Church

I just knocked out 10 chapters of Church History reading through about the fourth century. Good stuff. I've really enjoyed it. As I read, a lot is hopping out at me and getting my wheels turning. I'll try and summarize as much as I can.

• There is much to be said of the boldness recorded of the early martyrs. In fact, it appears they were killed, not so much for their religous belief as much as their stubborness with their beliefs. Many of them were eager to die for their faith and considered it a blessing! I loved reading the account of Polycarp's martyrdom. He is brought before the proconsul who repeatedly gives him the option of recanting his faith due to him being 86 years old. His response to them was finally "For 86 years I have served him, and he has done me no evil. How could I curse my king who saved me?" He then asked to be burned and told them they would not need to nail him to the post so he wouldn't jump out of the fire. 
• Whereas church centers on preaching today, the early church had communion as the centerpiece of their time together. Communion wasn't a time of repentance and grief. It was a celebration! Only baptized believers (who had been through three years of discipling) were allowed to partake. They also fasted on Wednesdays and had time of repentance on Friday. There is something about that that fascinates me. We have changed things.
• Creeds were not witty little poems whipped together to make people feel good. They were bold, in your face declarations of beliefs in resistance to cultic sects of the day. These were often used in a persons baptism. I really like that idea! Instead of "Have you received Jesus as Savior?", they catchumen is asked if they believe the different statements in the creed. WOW!
• The early apologists were awesome! I loved reading some of the statements of Justin Martyr, Tatian and Minucius Felix. They were in your face to the philosophers of the day. We need more of that type today.
• The early church understood it would be rejected by society. They knew it so well, they didn't try to make people happy. They stood on truth and refused to be politically correct. The modern church has clearly stopped this. We are concerned about not offending others. We are great at loving people to hell. 

I'm really enjoying reading this stuff. It makes me wonder...what should the church look like? I'm also looking at discipleship in this. Conversion wasn't something lightly taken and to top it, before a person was baptized, they went through teaching of doctrine. This in and of itself is a great divider of aunthentic faith and easy believism. Most of our churches are rushing people into the baptismal pool. Many of them leave the faith. Why the rush?