Pastor Mark Driscoll responds to the Newsweek article on Christianity declining in America by distinguishing between Christian America and Christendom America. (And he does it on the Fox News website?!)

Christian America is comprised of those people who have had a truly transforming experience with Jesus Christ and are living new lives as practicing Christians. Experts such as sociologist Bradford Wilcox at the University of Virginia have well documented the fact that those who practice Christian faith by reading their Bibles regularly, attending church, praying, and so forth are far less likely to engage in acts such as adultery, divorce, substance abuse, and the like.

Christendom America is comprised of those people who have not had a truly transforming experience with Jesus Christ and are living lives virtually indistinguishable from those who are non-Christians. The confusion is that it was common in Christendom for people who did not practice Christianity to profess Christianity. This was often done for social reasons, such as living in a culture that expected church affiliation, being born into a religious tradition and assuming it was simply part of one’s identity (like a cultural or racial connection), or personally, socially, and vocationally benefitting from being connected, even loosely, to a church or denomination. Researchers such as George Barna have documented the fact that, as Jesus himself said, not everyone who says he or she is a Christian is in fact one.

Subsequently, the Newsweek report simply confirms the fact that, just as Christendom has died in Europe and the major American cities, it is now dying in the suburban and rural areas of America as well. With the social benefits of professing to be a Christian no longer in place and the social stigma of not professing to be a Christian now lifted, those who were part of Christendom America are simply no longer pretending to be part of Christian America.

Since those who professed faith but did not practice faith were confusing to account for, this is actually a good thing. Now, it is more likely that if someone is a Christian or non-Christian, he or she will state so plainly. Therefore, the number of Christians has likely not diminished as much as has been reported, but rather we are seeing an increasingly accurate accounting of actual Christian America.

Jon Meacham wrote the original Newsweek article on The End of Christian America. He defines his terms a little differently, and you can read his follow-up on the difference between Christian America and Christianity here.

HT: Between Two Worlds

I found this news story out of New Hampshire disturbing. I do not believe the definition of marriage should be changed to include same-sex couples, so I should be glad that the New Hampshire House of Representatives did not pass this bill. However, I am disturbed because of the reason why it did not pass.

Reuters:

A bill that would have made New Hampshire the sixth state in the United States to authorize gay marriage stalled unexpectedly Wednesday over concessions to religious groups opposed to such unions.

The state’s House of Representatives objected to language in the bill that would have allowed religious groups to decline to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies or to offer gay couples other services …

A version of the bill with more limited religious protections passed the state’s House of Representatives on March 26.

So as I understand it, the New Hampshire House of Representatives would have voted to pass the bill if it did not contain language protecting the right of conscience for religious groups. This would imply that they want to use the bill in the future to require religious groups to participate in same-sex ceremonies — even if such participation were to violate their conscience and religious beliefs. That would be a dangerous precedent as well as a violation of First Amendment rights. (“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”)

HT: Stand to Reason

In this video Pastor Matt Carter from Austin Stone Community Church in Texas shares what they learned as a church about how to form authentic, Biblical, missional small groups. Matt planted Austin Stone Community several years back along with Christian artist Chris Tomlin, and he talks frankly about some of the mistakes they made in their first years as a church. Here is the money quote on small groups:

What we found is when we aimed simply for community, we got neither community nor mission. But when we aimed for mission, we got mission and community almost every single time.

(Video length: 16:09)

HT: MMI

STRANGE CRIME EDITION.

Hungry. An Indiana man was arrested following a 90-mph car chase when he suddenly stopped at a Taco Bell restaurant. The 36-year-old man told police he “knew he was going to jail for a while” and wanted to get one last burrito.

Deathbed Confession. A man who thought he was dying confessed to a murder he committed 38 years ago. Then he got better. He has now been arrested and charged with the murder.

Hungry 2. A 17-year-old attempted to rob a store while holding a banana under his shirt like a gun. Overpowered by the store owner, he ate the banana before the police could arrive. However, he didn’t eat all the evidence, and the deputies took pictures of the peel.

I enjoyed the following story from Dan Phillips of how he used a teachable moment to impress upon his children the importance of respecting their mother.

Once upon an undatable-by-you time, an unidentifiable-by-you pair of my four kids showed my dear wife a degree of disrespect that appalled me. I learned of this while at work.

On the way home, I bought some food for a meal such as my wife loves. I got home, set Valerie’s place with care, called us all to dinner. Made my children stand with me as I seated Valerie with particular honor, and served her. We prayed.

Then I talked with them and explained what was about to happen. I reminded them of what I’d taught them since the cradle about respecting their mother. I told them how appalled and shamed I was by what they’d done (don’t let your imagination go nuts; you’d probably think it a small thing — I think it related to homeschooling), and that I would never tolerate such treatment of their mother — ever.

And so, I told them that we would all keep Mom good company as she enjoyed her dinner. I told them they could have water — and that was it.*

And I told them I’d do the same.

Why? I told them that I must somehow have failed to communicate how deadly serious I was in what I’d taught them. So we’d all just let it growl a bit, together.

*Note: No Phillips children were starved (or ever have been) in the teaching of this (or any) lesson. Trust me on this.

What kinds of creative discipline have you used in training your kids? If you have some good examples, share them in the comments.

Related posts:

• 8 Great Family Rules to Help Any Home
• To Spank or Not To Spank

William Castleman captured this stunning time-lapse video of the Milky Way rising over a Texas Star Party in April. This is absolutely gorgeous. (It takes just a minute to load, but it is well worth the wait.)

(Video length: 0:48)

Details:
- Texas Star Party; Night Sky Time-Lapse Video
- 9:20 PM to 6:43 AM CDT; April 21-22, 2009
- Canon EOS-5D (modified) and EF 15mm Fisheye Lens @ f/2.8
- Camera on Tripod facing East South East
- 20 second exposure each minute per frame; 15 frames per second

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)

Click here for more Space related posts.

Are you looking for Bible-based materials to teach children? Ministry-to-Children.com has some great free materials for children’s church or Sunday School. The following materials include lesson plans that correspond with the excellent Big Picture Story Bible. Here are links to the first seven lessons:

1. The Very Good Beginning (Creation Bible Lesson)
2. A Very Sad Day (Fall Bible Lesson)
3. Life Outside The Garden (Noah’s Flood Bible Lesson)
4. God’s Big Promise (God’s Promise To Abraham Lesson)
5. God’s People Grow (Story of Joseph Lesson)
6. God’s People Become Great (Exodus Bible Lesson)
7. God’s Great Sign (Exodus / Passover Story)

Related post: Recommended Children’s Story Bibles

Yesterday’s message in the Gospel of Mark series was called Ordinary People; Extraordinary God, taken from Mark 3:7-19. The main idea of the message was that God is an extraordinary God who uses ordinary people to accomplish his work in this world. Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Jesus draws great crowds (verses 7-12)
    A. The people came from everywhere.
    B. There were so many they pushed forward to touch him.
    C. Jesus ordered the demons not to tell who he was.

II. Jesus calls the twelve apostles (verses 13-19)
    A. He called those he wanted.
    B. He appointed twelve as apostles.
        1) That they might be with him, and
        2) That he might send them out
            – to preach, and
            – to have authority to drive out demons
    C. “These are the twelve he appointed.”
        1) They were twelve ordinary men.
        2) They came from a variety of backgrounds.
        3) They would change the world forever.

Note: Click on the Sermons tab at the top of the blog for this and other messages.

Rachel Barkey shares her hope in Christ despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer. “Cancer does not define me. Neither does being a wife or a mother. All these things are part of who I am but they do not define me. What defines me is my relationship with Jesus.” (Rachel is 37 years old, married, and a mother of two.)

Alfred D’Souza reflects on obstacles in life: “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin — real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”

Thomas Brooks argues that the believer’s last day is his best day. “The best of Christians are able to take in but little of God; their hearts are like the widow’s vessel, which could receive but a little oil. Sin, the world, and creatures do take up so much room in the best hearts, that God gives out himself little by little, as parents give sweets to their children. But in heaven God will communicate himself fully at once to the soul! Grace shall then be swallowed up of glory!”

(This is the final section of my Personal Theology of Ministry. Click here for all the posts from the Personal Theology of Ministry series.)

The pastor must care for his family and personal self:

Therefore I will balance ministry with personal and family life. A healthy self, a healthy family and a healthy church are all part of God’s kingdom which I am commanded to seek (Matthew 6:33). One of the qualifications for ministry is to manage my own family well (1 Timothy 3:4). I must set appropriate boundaries for myself and for my family so as not to let church ministry overrun my life. Christ has promised to build his church (Matthew 16:18), and I must trust him to do it rather than my own human efforts multiplied to the damage of family or self.

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Related post: Church Search

Author and pastor Francis Schaeffer died 25 years ago today. Schaeffer’s books had a big impact on my own Christian growth and development. Schaeffer’s main strength was his ability to grasp the big picture and show you how it all fit together. He was an engaging thinker who helped you to think about the whole of life from a Christian point of view.

Here is an interesting interview with author Os Guinness on Francis Schaeffer that points out some of Schaeffer’s strengths and limitations. If you are interested in reading some Schaeffer for yourself, these are the books that I would most recommend:

• Francis Schaeffer Trilogy — Contains Schaeffer’s three foundational works: The God Who Is There, Escape from Reason, and He Is There and He Is Not Silent.
• True Spirituality — This was Schaeffer’s favorite of his own books.
• How Should We Then Live? — Schaeffer’s analysis of Western civilization from ancient Rome to the Atomic Age.
• The Mark of the Christian — A convicting reflection on John 13:35: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (The Mark of the Christian originally appeared in earlier editions of The Church at the End of the Twentieth Century. You can read it online for free here: The Mark of the Christian.)

(Last week and this I am sharing my Personal Theology of Ministry. Click here for more posts from the Personal Theology of Ministry series.)

The pastor is responsible to God and the church:

Therefore I will be accountable for my ministry. Those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). Those who have been faithful with little things will be trusted with much (Luke 16:10-12). Therefore I will endeavor to set the example by following the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). I will watch over the church as one who must give an account (Hebrews 13:17). I will be careful to teach God’s word accurately (James 3:1). I will pray for those under my spiritual leadership and care (1 Samuel 12:23). I will be accountable to the church that I serve (1 Timothy 5:17-20).

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Related post: Church Search