Crazy Pastors and What I Wont Be Doing On 9/11

Well, simply put, today I am frustrated. The day started off well enough, work is going well, Mary is happy and healthy, we won a great soccer game last night, but the frustration began when I read an article titled "Pastor declares 9/11 International burn the Koran Day"

The picture above is of Dr. Terry Jones, the pastor mentioned in this article, now that picture may clue you in on the fact that he may not be the happiest man ever...that is actually him smiling! But upon reading the article this morning I decided to do a bit of research on what this guy was all about so I went to his "church's website (http://www.doveworld.org/) and here is what I found on their main page:

- A 10 minute video where Dr. Terry Jones blasts Obama, homosexuals, and Muslims. Nowhere in this video is the gospel presented, forgiveness offered, love displayed...only anger, violence, and hate

- A book authored by Dr. Terry Jones titled "Islam is of the Devil" - creative title!

- You could purchase coffee mugs, shirts, and hats all featuring "Islam is of the Devil" in bold lettering

- A blog...all of the posts speaking to why Islam is evil and why we need to burn the Koran to save America

- A sign stating "Islam is of the Devil"

- And don't forget...a way to give money to the ministry

The most enraging thing about their website was the video where he promotes his views on the Church, Islam, and culture. When watching this video it is impossible to see anything other than an angry man whose heart has not been penetrated by the gospel. He does not love Jesus, he does not desire to make disciples of Jesus, all he cares about is seeing conservative America unite, bear arms, and make actual war (i think) on Islam and our culture. He is using the fears that Christians and conservatives have to promote himself and he is walking an incredibly dangerous line. My fear this man is the living embodiment of Matthew 7:21-23. I understand the soberness of my previous statement, but this man is a wolf in sheep's clothing and after going to his website and seeing his own videos there is no other conclusion to make.

Here are quick reasons why i think making September 11 "Burn a Koran day is a bad idea"

1. It is offensive to those who lost people during the 9/11 attack to make that day a holiday to promote hatred

2. It is this crusader-like mentality that has brought the great harm to the Church and the name of Jesus

3. This plan has already caused riots in Kabul, Afghanistan and could have real bloody consequences

4. What does this accomplish other than angry people getting to throw a fit?

5. Stunts like this distance Americans from the gospel and make reaching people for Christ more difficult

6. It is extremely anti-gospel

7. Participating in this empowers a lunatic and gives him a platform to do more harm

8. This is the danger in tying too tightly the gospel and American politics.


Is Islam something that churches need to think about and consider? Absolutely!
Do we live in a dark world that is lost? Yes!
Does the church need to be active in the community? Of course!

Here is what I want you to get. The only source of change, hope and love that will penetrate not only the muslim community but any community is the gospel of Jesus Christ, not militaristic anger or hate. The reason I am so passionate about church planting because we need less churches like Dove World (great name for a church...Not) and more churches who are committed to lifting high the name of Christ and committed to penetrating their communities not with hate, but with the gospel of Jesus Christ! That is are call, our purpose, and our joy! Lets get after that calling and not this nonsense!

So needless to say, I will NOT be burning any Koran's this 9/11 and I hope you won't either.

as always, your thoughts and questions are welcomed.


~ cal

Babies in Heaven, Justice, and consistency

Good-morning Blogosphere!

Something has been on my mind and heart lately that I hope will valuable to at least one of the 5 of you that read my monthly posts ;)

One of the greatest questions and debates amongst Christianity and people in the Church is "where do babies go when they die?"
People have argued vehemently and passionately on both sides of this topic. I have talked with people who argue from Romans 3:23 saying that the "all" in all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God means "all" and we cant make an exception based on age, even if the baby hasn't been born yet. I have also spoken with people who argue from Luke 12:48 and say if "to whom much is given, much will be required" how can God require anything from someone who has been giving nothing?

Theologians whom I greatly respect and have more scriptural knowledge in their fingertip than anything I could hope for have written books arguing one side of the debate, only to completely flip-flop later in life. This debate has caused certain denominations to make theological statements regarding the "age of accountability" (as if on your 5th birthday magically something happens to you and you can choose to trust Jesus as your savior...not the most brilliant or biblical idea)

After reading about this issue, studying God's Word, talking with a ton of people on both sides I have come to a conclusion:

I have absolutely NO IDEA the eternal ramifications of a miscarriage or when a young baby dies. The Bible absolutely does not speak to that issue specifically and I do not believe God's Word absolutely prohibit either view...and you know what... I am totally cool with not knowing!

6 months ago my wife and I had a miscarriage. And amid the sorrow and grief that both Mary and I felt, we were both comforted not by knowing what the eternal ramifications of the miscarriage were, but we found so much comfort in knowing that God is unquestionably good and that God is my refuge (Psalm 34:8), that God had an unquenchable love for me (John 3:16), and that God was in absolute control of this situation and working on my behalf (Romans 8:28).

It was the truths that I already knew about God that brought comfort and joy rather than trying to wrap my mind around what I did not know.

This is a very emotional topic and my goal is not to say you cant fall on one side of the debate. If God has laid on your heart a conviction regarding the eternal destinations hold on to those by all means. But I want to remind everyone that our true hope, joy, and passion is what Jesus Christ has already done for us on the cross! I want to hold on to that way more than anything else!

One danger this debate lends itself to is people making these statements:

"if God is just than..." or " How could a loving God...." "I refuse to accept that God could"

Whether it be the issue of babies in heaven, or social justice, or any issue, it is always dangerous to box God in by what our sinful minds view as just or good.

A great example of this is that we would scream injustice if someone would be allowed to sacrifice themselves in order to free someone on death row. We would never allow that! It is not just that God would spare us from our DESERVED punishment through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. So if God acts outside of our view of justice and goodness on our behalf, how can we demand that God be boxed in by our fallen view of justice or goodness in this issue or any other.

The only things we can hold God to is the promises he has made to us in scripture because we know God cannot lie!

I want to leave you with Deuteronomy 29:29, a passage that has been a great encouragement to me and a passage that speaks directly to this whole issu:

"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever"


hope that was a blessing

Cal