…Some of the most popular Christian leaders and authors stress the social agenda. Francis Chan, in his wildly popular book Crazy Love, wants Christians to live as simply as possible in order to give more toward the alleviation of “suffering in the world and change the reputation of His bride in America.”[25] I think one of the reasons Chan’s book has been received with such enthusiasm is that he is not telling people anything that our culture is not already saying. When Bill Gates and Warren Buffett pledged much of their vast fortunes toward the same agenda, the world applauded, just as it has for Chan. Chan is concerned about the reputation of the church in America, and not without reason. However, the true church doing the true work of God (calling people to Christ) will never win the world’s approval. Our message is offensive (1 Cor 1:18-25) and once the world catches on to that we are far more likely to be vilified and persecuted than we are to be cheered – as Jesus promised (Matt 5:11-12). We should find it a source of concern, not a reason for rejoicing, when the world likes us, as Christianity Today in its lead article in August 2011 affirmed it did.

A similar voice is David Platt’s and his book Radical. Platt offers better balance than Chan but still propagates a two-tiered gospel composed of the true gospel of redemption and the social gospel. While Platt is careful to elevate the true gospel, the social gospel of feeding the hungry and giving to the poor is the primary focus of the book and accounts for its popularity.[26] He writes, “As we meet needs on earth, we are proclaiming a gospel that transforms lives for eternity.”[27] The author does not advocate the social agenda as opposed to true evangelism, as mentioned above, but he does say that caring for the poor is evidence of salvation. As a matter of fact “rich people who neglect the poor are not the people of God.”[28] However, when we turn to the New Testament, we find that, while Christians are to be loving and generous to all people, they are never told to attempt to remedy the consequences of the sin of unbelieving humanity through social action. Instead, they are instructed to meet the needs of brothers and sisters in Christ, something Platt admits in a footnote (p. 225). In fact, the church is never commissioned to rectify injustices by dealing with the symptoms of sins but to “radically” uproot sin itself through the gospel…

In the full article, which is part 1 in a series, Gilley goes on to examine the view of well-respected evengelical leader Timothy Keller on this topic, pointing out that Keller has to quote N.T. Wright instead of the Bible in order to support his own view. One other source promoting this social gospel is Rick Warren with his PEACE plan: Promote Reconciliation, Equip Servant Leaders, Assist the Poor, Care for the Sick, and Educate the Next Generation.

I encourage you to take a few moments to read the rest (or bookmark it for when you have time later in the week) for an important church history lesson that puts this whole concern in its proper context.

Here are a few things to check out and get involved with. Instead of a separate write-up for the following book, album, movie, blog, and events, I decided to just toss everything into a quick list. Enjoy!

Book to Read

“Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters” by Timothy Keller. I’ve been challenged by Keller in his writings lately (including “The Reason For God” dealing with skepticism, and I’m looking forward to picking up “The Prodigal God”), but I’m just surprised by how clearly someone can explain the simple truth behind things we’re seeing in our American culture. Pick up the book and give it a chance to change you. If I could suggest reading one new book this year, this would be the one. Last year it was “Crazy Love” from Francis Chan, and I ended up buying a bunch of them as gifts for different friends (Chan actually gave me his classic “No way!” laugh with the eye brows up when I had a chance to thank him and mention the one given to solo artist Andrea Hamilton was passed on to a radio DJ in Japan!). Anyway here’s the one from Tim Keller:  Counterfeit Gods, on Amazon.

Music Album to Hear

“Hello Hurricane,” the new one from Switchfoot, has a fresh sound that is big enough to blow your roof off… or at least unashamedly test the full capacity of your car stereo. The quality of musicianship is apparent, the creativity is intriguing, and the lyrics are solid. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen these guys in concert (actually was on a plane flight with them to Cornerstone Festival), but they’ve come a long way since my high school days (opening for The Supertones on the Loud and Clear Tour with Relient K), and I believe they’ve really matured in ways that challenge their listeners to do the same. One of the recurring themes you may pick up in the album is what I’d call a confession that life’s most serious dilemma is that the problem is inside me, rather than around me. It’s a convicting commentary on man’s state before God using the biblical idea of man’s depravity (Mark 7:21-23, John 3:19, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Titus 3:3, etc) with lyrics like: “I am my own affliction / I am my own disease / There ain´t no drug that they could sell… The sickness is myself” on Mess of Me. Directly relating to the Christian faith, it’s not until you realize how serious the bad news is that you come to seriously appreciate the good news of salvation. And Switchfoot’s album, rightly so, has such a beautiful hope contained within the lyrics: “Come set me free / Down on my knees / I still believe you can / Save me from me” (Free). This is coming from a band that has gathered a considerable following, with their new album currently debuting at #13 on the Billboard Top 200.  Hello Hurricane, from Amazon.

Film to See

No Greater Love. Filmed here in Santa Clarita and being released directly to DVD on January 19th, 2010 from Coram Deo Studios, Lionsgate Studios, Thomas Nelson Publishing, and Carmel Entertainment. I have a friend working with these guys, and the film has received good reviews. Also, I recognized the pastor in the movie, Chris Johnson of Grace Chapel in Lancaster, after hearing him speak at The Master’s College. I’m always skeptical of films that are made by and marketed to Christians for a couple big reasons, but I think as with the music industry, a higher standard of talent is finally starting to come out. Check out the movie trailer online:  www.nogreaterlovethemovie.com

Blog to Bookmark

I met Robby in college. He left the States and moved to India. http://afacelikeflint.blogspot.com

Music Tour to Experience

My buddy Chris is a great guy, an excellent drummer that has inspired me over the years, and been kind enough to show me a few things on the drum kit when we hung out. He was invited to play for the San Diego band Future of Forestry on their Advent Christmas Tour, and I’d say if you can make it to a show near you, you won’t regret it. The guys from FOF are creative and experienced musicians, plus they’ve actually done justice to some old Christmas songs that will sound amazing live. Also as an added bonus, Josiah James will be opening for them on the tour; a nice guy I had the privilege of meeting here in Santa Clarita for a small show at Antioch. I’m planning to catch the tour at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley on December 5th, otherwise the Bakersfield show on the 4th is not far away. More info here with shows in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada: www.myspace.com/futureofforestry

Video Clip to Watch

John Piper on twitter mentioned this clip of the Vietnamese police raiding a house church. And if you have a minute to browse around the Persecution.com website, you’ll find a very different picture of the global church than what we see in comfortable America. But I think that in locations where resistance to true Christianity is normal, we generally find more faithful followers who “count the cost” (Luke 14:25-35). Or as Charles Spurgeon pointed out, “That religion which costs a man nothing is usually worth nothing.” Here’s the video from Persecution.com.

Photograph to Remember

This is a sad one from Three Angels Relief, along with an excerpt from an Amnesty International press release.  http://www.threeangelsrelief.org/child-slavery-in-haiti/

Quote to Dwell On

“Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious, the self-righteous, are in that danger.” – CS Lewis, The Problem of Pain, pg. 200.

Cause to Donate To

Last winter some friends and I took up a collection of blankets, and delivered them to the homeless on Skid Row (downtown Los Angeles). We’re doing it again on December 6th, so if you live nearby and want to contribute, we’ll accept your used or new blankets. I’ll probably pick up a couple cases of water bottles to hand out as well, and maybe even hot chocolate to serve as we did before. Clothes are a little complicated for us to hand out, unless its a warm hat or scarf. One of my coworkers mentioned that she wanted to join us in handing these out, and she actually has an organization called Solemate Collective, which accepts your donated single socks from the sock drawer, pairs them with a mate, and gives them out to someone in need. So if you want to help with the blankets talk to me in person, or contact me through the blog.

Event to Help With

The Children’s Hunger Fund is having a “Holiday Pak Day” on December 5th, where we’re packing and wrapping presents for children in need. If you live near Chatsworth CA, Homewood IL, or San Antonio TX, then they’d love to have you join (sign up required). Link to CHF.

Hope you were able to get SOMETHING out of that list. That’s all for now…

I can point out plenty of different reasons how someone ended up living on the streets, and I can easily think of reasons why I wouldn’t take the time to go down there and help out in some small way, but it’s often a bunch of excuses I have when I really think about it. Because if I’m sitting here on my couch judging how that homeless lady or man ended up stuck on the streets after the choices they made in their past (which is a stereotype in itself and often not so simple as you expect), and I refuse to go in and help, doesn’t that say I’m just better than them? I’m too important to do something that low? As a Christian… so much for Jesus’ words, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink…”

Something that I found really amusing and so true because of the irony was what Francis Chan said one week at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley. He was talking about the responses we have when we hear about needs of the poor, and saying that some people are waiting for this call from God that they should go care for the needy. And you have to ask those people (including myself), did God call you to watch TV today? Then… what were you doing? In other words, it’s silly that we think some Christians have this special light from Heaven come down and pick them to go serve. To actually do what Jesus said. And the other Christians don’t have to because they didn’t get this calling from God. What are we thinking? And I’ll let this be a challenge to myself for the countless times I ignore the poor, saying I don’t have time (more accurately: I don’t make time. It’s all in my priorities). Yeah, putting it in writing brings out the truth of how weak that argument is. I don’t know about you but that’s convicting. Now I didn’t say “Go move to another country,” or “Sell your house tomorrow,” although that might be what some should seriously do. And neither would I tell you to go do this specific activity in this specific location; just look around you. Secondly, I’m addressing those who wear the name “Christian,” because I wouldn’t expect others to care for the poor when they don’t have a real reason to do it. Actually quite the opposite with Darwin’s concept of natural selection, from Herbert Spencer’s “survival of the fittest,” and the whole idea of  human life coming about by chance, therefore why waste time and effort trying to prevent the natural dying out of those who are weak? A very sad and prideful way of thinking. Instead, I’m talking about the basic Christian response to what Jesus constantly talked about and lived out in regards to the hurting and needy people around him.

(based on: Matthew 25:31-46)

   Back to the topic…  many of us have what we need here in our life, such as food, shelter, clothes…a car for most of us… probably some friends, and usually a little extra spending money. So… what was it we needed God for?

   Not only is there the disadvantage of thinking we’re doing just fine without God in our life; there’s the second part of actually living for those things. I find it too ironic that we even die for those things; I read a news article this week of a world famous skier (which happens to be my favorite sport) that was filming for one of his videos where he did base jumping on skis, but things didn’t go as planned when he went off the cliff, and Shane McConkey ended up dying. Completely tragic. Left behind a wife and 3-year old daughter. But I’m not singling this one guy out; there’s example after example of tragedies in extreme sports. You could even use me as an example if I get run over by a semi on my motorcycle tomorrow, because I could’ve used a safer form of transportation but wanted the enjoyment of riding.

   So I think the problem is that these thrills, new things, even casual and serious relationships fill up the hole inside of us. It’s a temporary fix to the longing within when these right here and right now are all we have. They’re not true peace. You won’t get that from them. You’ll get some happy memories, sure. Excitement for the time being; of course! But look again in a few years. Or even the end of your life. It’ll be an interesting death-bed conversation, wondering what happens next, if all the thrills and stuff doesn’t matter anymore.

   I guess that just takes me to my disagreement with the whole idea of just adding a little Jesus to your life. I’ve even seen the bumper sticker “Give Jesus a try!” and it saddened me. Maybe my mind took me straight to the account of the Old Testament times of the Israelites becoming like their neighboring countries that worshipped various things and put God in there as one of those things. As if giving Jesus a try were like joining his facebook fan group, or supporting him like our favorite sports team. That’s pretty far from what Jesus actually talked about in his teachings, when he spoke of taking up a cross the same way someone would write their own death sentence, because following him was that serious.

   One of the best examples I’ve seen of someone purposefully choosing to not let himself get caught up in being rich is Francis Chan. This guy leads a church over in Simi Valley that I used to go to, but here’s a quick example of what he does. Last year he published a book called “Crazy Love” (let me know if you want it but can’t afford it; I bought a bunch of them to hand out because it’s one of the best books I’ve read, otherwise you can order here), and the book actually shot up the charts, bringing a lot of money in for him in royalties. When he was informed that he’d be getting a couple hundred thousand dollars from this book, he was excited but immediately considered what would happen if he put his security in this money instead of in God. He decided the right choice was to give all the money away; simple as that. Set up a fund for charities called the Isaiah 58 fund, and he could direct where the money should go. His friends assured him that it would be fine to keep a little for himself to set aside for emergencies, and his reply was just to point at these other needs across the world of hurting and dying people: what do you mean set aside for emergencies? So he and his wife started praying for a specific need to come up that the first royalty check should go to. Within a couple days of creating the “Isaiah 58 Fund,” a lawyer and pastor were sitting in Chan’s office explaining how they needed help over in Thailand to fight the sex trafficking going on. Get this: they told Chan that they had just started the “Isaiah 58 Project” and were wondering if there was anything he could do to help them. There was his answer, so that’s who the first check is going to.

   Well now that I’ve typed this out, it’s time for me to go think about it all some more. Serious implications for those of us who call ourselves Christians. I hope my words are not taken as “Don’t be rich,” but instead a warning at how much harder true Christianity is for us as Americans, or even Southern Californians if you’re here near my area. You could argue with me that it’s the love of money that gets condemned rather than money itself, which I agree with, but that wasn’t the point. It’s a lot easier to love money and the things it buys when you actually have it (and plenty of it, as I feel like I do).

(inspired by: matthew 19:23-26)