Week Five: The Revolutionary Age

This past week's group was a good one. Great to have a couple new people. Regrettable to miss a few regulars.

We looked at the impact of the Reformation on the foundations of several governments, the revolutions in Great Britain, France, the U.S. and Russia, and the church's involvement or lack of involvement in the abolitionist movement. I don't know about anyone else, but this was a departure from what I learned in school. Very eye-opening.

As we looked at the different forms of government, the discussion segued into our upcoming election on November 7th. As I said from my brief soapbox, please don't cast an uneducated vote this election. It's our responsibility as citizen Christians to be active in the political sphere, at least to the extent that we can. Because a couple of people asked about resources for getting educated, I've started a list. This is very basic, but once you know who the candidates are (Blagojevich vs. Topinka, for instance) you can do a little research on where they stand on issues of importance. If others have good links, please drop me a comment.

• www.culturecampaign.com - Check out the MyBallot feature on here. You enter your address and it shows you who the candidates are you'll be choosing between. Then, you can pick two of the candidates in each race and compare them on a number of issues. I don't know too much about this group, but it's done well and is an effort by Christians to impact their culture. Always a good thing.
• www.voterinfonet.com - This is a Cook County site. You should be able to see a sample ballot and find your polling place, though I didn't have any luck seeing the ballot. It does list the candidates running in various areas and, if the candidates have chosen, includes a brief quote on what they stand for. This is also a list of referendums (referenda?) that you may be voting on. These are often non-binding but may lay the groundwork for real legislation. Pay attention to them.
• www.chicagoelections.com - If you live in Chicago, this will show you if you're registered and will give you your ward, district, etc. This will help you figure out who's running against whom. Some redundancy between this one and the County one.
• www.ontheissues.org - This is a good place for finding info on incumbents. There's a ton of info here, but you have to dig through a little. One item of interest not directly related to the election is the PoliticsMatch Quiz. This is a brief quiz that gives you an idea of where you fall on their Grid of liberal vs. conservative on one axis and populist vs. libertarian on the other.

Beyond this, you can look at groups that are interested in issues of importance to you. Many publish voter guides and can give you insight into candidates' voting records or media statements.

A Mighty Fortress...

Do you ever miss the old hymns? I do sometimes. Since we've been covering Martin Luther recently, I thought it would be good to share one of his most well-known hymns. You know the tune, I suspect, but have you ever pondered the words?

A Mighty Fortress is Our God
By Martin Luther, Translation by Frederic Hedge

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

Week Four: The Reformation

Great discussion this week! The Reformation is particularly interesting to me and others, it seems. Schaeffer spends two chapters on it in his book but only devoted one episode in the DVD series. Too bad.

The Reformation was a movement in northern Europe running nearly parallel to the Renaissance in southern Europe. It addressed many of the doctrinal errors that had been embraced by the Roman Catholic Church over the centuries and resulted in a split between the Catholic Church and what we now refer to as the Protestant Church. (The Orthodox Church resulted from a split several centuries earlier, if I'm not mistaken.)

Included among the reformers were John Huss, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli and Martin Luther. The latter is probably the most famous (or infamous) of these and the posting of his 95 Theses was a pivotal moment in the Reformation. The "95 Theses" were primarily critiques of the Roman Catholic Church regarding the selling of indulgences (forgiveness of sins for monetary gifts). He believed in the "priesthood of all Believers," that is that people can go directly to God through faith in Jesus Christ and do not need a priest as a mediator. He also believed that people should have the Bible in their own language and translated the Bible into German to that end.

While the reformers' ideas may have seemed new or radical at the time (many were martyred for their work), this movement was really a reclamation of true Christianity. Though Schaeffer does not go into them explicitly in the video, there are five pillars that sum up well the Reformation. (There is an excellent expansion on these here.)

• Sola Scriptura: The Scripture Alone is the Standard
• Soli Deo Gloria! For the Glory of God Alone
• Solo Christo! By Christ's Work Alone are We Saved
• Sola Gratia: Salvation by Grace Alone
• Sola Fide: Justification by Faith Alone

We wrapped up our discussion this week with a lengthy and friendly debate over the question of whether devout Roman Catholics can be "saved." Some thought "yes" and others "no." I won't cover that whole debate here but will share my inclination on this question. I believe that the institution of the Catholic Church can be more of a stumbling block than a stepping stone to true faith in Jesus Christ and that there is much manmade doctrine there that is just plain wrong when held up to the light of Scripture. However, faith in Jesus Christ is the key to salvation, and I believe that someone could come to that faith through sincere study, prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit, even in the context of the Catholic Church. Thoughts are welcome.

Next week we will study the Revolutionary Age. Berets are optional.

Week Three: The Rennaissance

This past week we looked at the Renaissance. Especially in light of the recently renewed interest in the Renaissance as a result of The DaVinci Code, it was interesting to see that this period wasn’t just a quantum leap in the “evolution of Man.” Yes, there were amazing advances in art, music and literature. The names of Dante, Michelangelo and DaVinci rightly evoke a sense of an “age of genius,” but a culture which could’ve given the glory to God for these achievements moved more and more towards a hybrid of Christianity and humanism or bought into humanism entirely. DaVinci himself, searched the sciences and the arts for truth, but in the end did not find the answer in humanism and may well have embraced the Truth of God.

Several have mentioned that this group is stretching them and causing them to consider things they hadn’t. Me too. As I mentioned in the group, I’m continuing to grapple with art and how it does or doesn’t honor God. Schaeffer has some ideas I’m still trying to get my mind around, both to understand them and to hold them up to the Light of Scripture.

This week and next we'll be looking at the Reformation. I'm excited about this period and look forward to digging in with all of you.

Pastor Appreciation Month

This month is Pastor Appreciation Month. Though we should always show our appreciation to these good folks, this is an opportunity to be intentional about it. You could drop Pastor Mark or Pastor Kevin a note or small gift, or you could bless them and their families in some special way. Christianity Today has a good article on some other ways to show your thanks and support.

The Power of Confession

Regarding the recent spate of school shootings, I have many thoughts and feelings. And some very specific political suggestions. But this most recent incident, that in the Amish schoolhouse, got me thinking more than the others, and not because the victims were Amish.

Now, there are folks who'll say, "If only we had better gun control this wouldn't have happened." Nonsense--these were unarmed pacifists and this was pre-meditated. He could have killed these kids with anything. Or, "If only our mental health system were better-funded and more proactive to adddress problems before they start..." Such things only help if individuals willingly seek them out. Even court-ordered treatment is often ineffective, because the individual is not doing it out of a desire for help. I think what this really boils down to is something that will never get coverage in the news.

The power of confession.

Now, this man did confess in a suicide note, but that doesn't count. He'd committed this sin (molesting children) twenty years ago and had allowed that sin to fester. He apparently had never confessed that to anyone, and the guilt and shame and obsession only grew as the years went on. The secret apparently grew to the point where he could no longer control his lust and hated himself and the objects of his lust so much that he killed both.

We are told in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Now, this squares us with God eternally, but we still have to live with ourselves down here. God knew this and knew what a prison Satan could make out of our "dirty little secrets." So in James 5:16, we're told to "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." Confessing our sins to others doesn't wash or sin away; it brings healing and freedom.

I know in my own life I have carried secrets that I knew God had forgiven but that I could not bring to the light of day with anyone else. I let Satan use those secrets as bludgeons to beat me and as bricks to wall me in. I was astonished at the outpouring of grace I finally received when I confessed those things to trusted brothers and sisters in Christ. Satan can only use secrets against you when you keep them secret.

What do you need to confess today? To God, yes, but also to another. Don't let your secrets keep you a slave.

Week Two: The Middle Ages

Thanks to the two new people who came out this past week! We learned about the Middle Ages. Very interesting stuff. Most of us learned in school that the Middle Ages were the "Dark Ages" about which little is known.

Not true.

In fact, there was much scholarly work done, particularly by the church. The church and state were very closely tied during these times which turned out to be both good and bad. Good because Christianity was at the forefront of culture and promoted by even the government. Bad because the great power and wealth of the church and the blurring of earthly and heavenly kingdoms led to many abuses, including the exclusion of the un-baptized (Jews and others) from civic life.

Because of the prominence of "religion," the humanists who dominated the so-called Enlightenment viewed the Middle Ages as being backwards because the focus was not on Man and his importance. Ironically, it was during the Middle Ages that the church began to wander away from universal truth and began looking to man as a source of truth. Scripture was important, but it was not the only truth. Man's ideas and traditions began playing a larger role in the workings of the church.

Tune in this week for the Renaissance. Schaeffer looks extensively at art, and I'll be curious to hear your thoughts.

May God bless you this week and give you the courage to seek His truth and speak it to others.