This article from the Wall Street Journal is worth reading. It describes exactly why the voice of the Church ought to be raised up in the public forum, speaking with moral clarity.
If not the Church, then who?
Here are a few of my thoughts after reading the article:
I recently saw the movie Valkyrie which tells the story of a attempt to assassinate Adolph Hitler. Although not depicted in the movie (with the possible exception in one of the final scenes of the hanging bodies), theologian Pastor Detrick Bonhoeffer, was among the conspirators who was executed for his role in the failed plot to eliminate Hitler.
Earlier in his career, Bonhoeffer found it hard to justify his resistance against the German government but eventually realized that he ought to take a stand, even at the risk of his own life. He was among very few pastors willing to speak out and go against the prevailing winds among most church leaders who supported Hitler.
I feel that every means possible to wake up more Christian leaders to speak out about the evil nature of Islam is wise. I’d like to urge you to speak out in your circle of influence today.
A few weeks ago I spoke with a friend who was organizing Christians to participate in a pro-life rally at the Mall in Washington, DC on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. She told me that over the past 5 years or so, fewer and fewer Protestant, evangelical church leaders allow announcements from the pulpit on Sunday mornings about the annual pro-life event. The result is that now mostly Catholics participate (I’ve also heard that a fairly large contingent of Anglicans attend as well).
I see a common theme: our leaders are reluctant to speak out about moral issues of our day with clarity in order to avoid giving offense the their congregations. We have packed our churches with people who have not considered the cost of discipleship. Many of these are now in positions of leadership, they are decision makers in our churches.
I wonder about the quality of discipleship we are giving to our converts. Have we raised up a generation of leaders who in turn make converts like themselves? Consider the words of Jesus, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
Over the past several months I’ve had the privilege to meet with number of young professionals (in their 20s and 30s) from various churches. With few exceptions, I’m finding that their church leaders don’t inspire them. One young guy, a real estate agent, told me that he was not living a life of significance until he met some Christian business leaders who are living their faith boldly in their business and family lives. He found a life of significance outside his church and he’s getting rock solid discipleship apart from his church.
By the way, I’m talking about young Christians who are in our churches. These are not people who have turned their back on their faith, they are simply uninspired by their church leaders.
Do you see what I’m seeing? I see our church leaders giving us a version of Christianity that’s not worth dying for. As a result, Christianity Lite is reigning supreme in our churches.
Please pass this message on to your pastor and tell him to inspire his congregation. I’m looking for uninspired Christians and if I find any from his church I’m going to give them a faith that’s worth dying for and then send them back to the into the church where he will have to deal with them.
John Marion
Project Director
Truth For Muslims
http://www.truthformuslims.com