When you’re desperate for money, anything goes

Posted on March 14, 2009 by Tim Farley

The economic situation has impacted us all.  We have become creative in our attempts to cut our spending and increase our income.  Well, the State of California is becoming creative too.  They are discussing a way to bring more income to the state, which is strapped with a huge revenue shortfall.  Their new plan?  Legalize marijuana.

Here is a quote from Tom Ammiano, who is the Democrat who introduced legislation to legalize marijuana:

“The state of California is in a very, very precipitous economic plight. It’s in the toilet,” says Ammiano. “It looks very, very bleak, with layoffs and foreclosures, and schools closing or trying to operate four days a week. We have one of the highest rates of unemployment we’ve ever had. With any revenue ideas, people say you have to think outside the box, you have to be creative, and I feel that the issue of the decriminalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana fits that bill. It’s not new, the idea has been around, and the political will may in fact be there to make something happen.”

Get that?  Economic times are hard.  It’s time to think outside the box when it comes to raising more revenue.  Those are his reasons.  Here is a reply by John Lovell to this new idea:

“The last thing we need is yet another mind-altering substance to be legalized,” says John Lovell, lobbyist for the California Peace Officers’ Association. “We have enough problems with alcohol and abuse of pharmaceutical products. Do we really need to add yet another mind-altering substance to the array?”

And a last one from USC professor Joel Hay:

“Marijuana is a drug that clouds people’s judgment. It affects their ability to concentrate and react, and it certainly has impacts on third parties,” says Hay, who has written on the societal costs of drug abuse. “It’s one more drug that will add to the toll on society. All we have to do is look at the two legalized drugs, tobacco and alcohol, and look at the carnage that they’ve caused. [Marijuana] is a dangerous drug, and it causes bad outcomes for both the people who use it and for the people who are in their way at work or other activities.” He adds, “There are probably some responsible people who can handle marijuana, but there are lots of people who can’t, and it has an enormous negative impact on them, their family and loved ones.”

Exactly what are we willing to do or sacrifice when it comes to money?  Is money the sole reason that this issue is even being considered?  Yes, these are hard times, but do we operate based upon our convictions of right and wrong, or are we motivated only by the bottom line on the balance sheet?

What are your thoughts on this issue?

By the way, my quotes come from an article written by Alison Stateman.  You can read it in its entirety here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090313/us_time/08599188495600

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fewer Americans Say They are “Religious”

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Tim Farley

An American Religious Identification Survey has found that fewer Americans claim religious affiliation today than in 2001.  The survey found that 15% of respondents said they had no religion.  This is an increase from 14.2% in 2001 and from 8.2% in 1990.  So, the trend seems to be that religious affiliation is decreasing.

Those who identified themselves as Christians decreased from 77% in 2001 to 76% today.  The percentage who identified themselves as Christian in 1990 was 86%.

The survey also reports numbers on other religious groups, but since this is a blog discussing Christianity, I will not mention them here.  They are available at the link provided to the study (mentioned above) if you are interested in them.

As a Christian church leader, this is concerning to me.  However, I have to admit that I am not surprised by the findings.  I think I would have predicted similar findings if asked prior to the study.

What are the reasons for the decline?  I have a few theories.  Let me know what you think about these or if you have other thoughts.

  1. There is a greater acceptance of atheistic and agnostic views in our culture today.
  2. Atheist authors such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris are having success in their attacks on Christianity.
  3. Proclaiming oneself as non-religious is not seen as taboo, as it has been in the past, so respondents have become more honest in their answers.
  4. Christians in the U.S. have become so focused on self that they fail to proclaim the word, which has led to a drop in numbers.
  5. The word “religion” is understood negatively and people do not want to be associated with it.  Therefore, they claim no religious affiliation even thought they may still be Christian in their beliefs.

What are your thoughts?  I am focusing on Christianity here, but if you have thoughts on religion in general, I would be interested in reading them.  Why are more people saying they are non-religious?

Posted in Culture, Worldview | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Morality and God

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Tim Farley

I have been conversing with two young self-proclaimed atheists about the relationship between belief in God and morality.  I thought some of you might be interested in this conversation.  The article is found on their blog at http://livingthemystery.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/morality-and-religion-inseparable/ .

This post is a follow-up to a previous discussion that we had concerning the question “Is America a Christian Nation.”  I agreed that it was not, but that belief in a creator or designer was foundational to the principle of unalienable rights that we as Americans hold so dearly.  You can find this discussion on their blog as well at http://livingthemystery.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/is-america-a-christian-nation/ .

Please have a look at these articles, especially the one on morality and leave your comments on their site.

Posted in Culture, Worldview | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Passages Taken Out of Context, Part III: Exodus 20:7 “Using the Lord’s name in vain”

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Tim Farley

Exodus 20:7 reads:

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

According to our current thinking on this passage, this means I am not to utter curse words that incorporate the use of God’s name.  Is this what it originally meant?  I do not think so.

It seems better to understand this passage as prohibiting the use of God’s name in a deceptive promise or using God’s name to justify an act even when God has not sanctioned the act.  To “take the name” of God is to speak it, as in an oath.  And “in vanity” means in emptiness, or for a worthless cause.  Leviticus 19:12 seems to make this clear when it rewords this command as: “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.”  Again, “swear” in this verse refers to the act of making a promise, it is not addressing “swear words” as we currently understand swear words.

The primary meaning of this command is to not enter into an oath or promise that invokes the authority of God unless one is serious about fulfilling the promise.  It also is a warning to those who promise to speak the truth using God’s name as a pledge and then lie (what we refer to as perjury).

So this is a verse that addresses fulfillment of promises made in God’s name or intentional dishonesty using God’s name.  It is not about curse words.  If you want a verse that tells us to not use foul language, look at Ephesians 4:29 and Ephesians 5:4 instead.

Posted in Bible Study | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Passages Taken Out of Context, Part III: Exodus 20:7 “Using the Lord’s name in vain”

When Gay Rights and Religious Liberty Collide

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Tim Farley

In a blog posted on Christianity Today’s website, Mollie Ziegler Hemingway discusses the methods being used by gay rights activists to make their point.  She argues that “obnoxious, bigoted mobs that won’t tolerate any disagreement don’t usually win supporters.”  Her article goes on to say that the actions of gay rights activists are turning people away from their movement and helping to unite those who support traditional marriage, including groups that historically have not worked together.

I am not interested in discussing the main theme of her article, but you can read it in its entirety here.

My interest lies in a realted topic that Ms. Hemingway touches on in her blog post.  She writes:

Chai Feldblum, a Georgetown University law professor and gay activist who drafts federal legislation related to sexual orientation, has publicly said that when religious liberty conflicts with gay rights, “I’m having a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win.”

Indeed, religious liberty almost always loses. A lesbian couple in Albuquerque successfully sued a Christian photographer because she declined to shoot their commitment ceremony. When Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage, Catholic organizations had no option but to shut down their adoption services.

The California Supreme Court ruled that doctors must provide reproductive services to lesbians despite religious objections. A Methodist camp in New Jersey lost its tax exemption after it told a lesbian couple they could have their commitment ceremony anywhere except in buildings that are used for religious services. The list goes on.

As a pastor, I have thought a great deal about this issue.  If I do not feel that I can perform a wedding ceremony, based on religious convictions, will I / should I be in danger of losing my legal rights to perform weddings?  Will churches be in danger of losing their tax-exempt status if they refuse to allow gay weddings in their facilities?  What rights will Christians and other religious groups have in determining how to address this issue based upon their own convictions?

When religious liberty and gay rights intersect, how do we determine which road to take?

Posted in Culture, Gay Marriage, Human Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

What role should Church History play in our understanding of the Bible?

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Tim Farley

Please select your answer below.  Take the time to share in the comments section why you answered the way you did.

Posted in Church History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Hey L.A. County, No Cussing This Week!

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Tim Farley

The first week of March is No Cussing Week in Los Angeles County.  I know what many of you are thinking:  “Those ridiculous Christians have gotten their way again!  Will they ever stop?”

Well, I am not sure if the person behind this is Christian or not, but religion does not seem to be the main motivator for the initiative.  It seems like the primary reason for “No Cussing Week” is to remind people to be respectful to one another in the words we use.  Is that such a bad thing?  I hope it is not only a religious idea.

I am sure many will use the argument that it is a violation of free speech, but it is not mandatory so you can calm down a bit.  It is only meant to bring awareness, not force compliance.  If you must swear, you are still able.  If you do not care what others think or how your words influence others (especially children who hear you), go ahead and do your thing.  It is your right after all.

What do you think about this initiative?  Is it a good one?  Do you think it will accomplish what it intends?

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Who Is Your Hero?

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Tim Farley

Apparently, for most Americans, Barack Obama is their hero.  Obama is followed by Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Abraham Lincoln, John McCain, John F. Kennedy, Chesley Sullenberger, and Mother Teresa.

This list is based on a study done by the Harris Poll.

I have to admit that, given current events, I am not surprised that President Obama came in first place.  I am more surprised that Jesus came in second.  I am surprised because Jesus is such a controversial figure and so many either flat-out reject that he ever existed (or that he is the same person the Bible presents) or they totally reject his teaching.  Why would he be so popular?  Even if every Christian polled chose Jesus as their hero, which I doubt happened, I do not think that would give Jesus enough votes to be number two on this list.  Some outside of Christianity must have voted for Jesus as well.

Which leads me to ask two questions: Does it make any sense for someone who does not believe in the Jesus of Christianity and the Bible to think highly of Jesus at all?  Would it make sense for a non-believer to have Jesus as their hero?

I tend to side with C. S. Lewis on this issue when he says:

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.  He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil from Hell.  You must make your choice.  Either this man was or is the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit on him and kill him as a demon: or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God.  But let us not come to any patronizing nonsense about him being a great human teacher.  He has not left that open to us. (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

A Christian Perspective on Mortgage Bailout

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Tim Farley

As talk of more government spending to help bail out struggling homeowners spreads, I have to admit I am pondering what it is going to mean for me, my children and even my grandchildren.  I know the money has to come from somewhere and that “somewhere” is current and future tax revenue.  So, when the government decides to “bail out” the economy and help troubled homeowners, I know that they are doing it with my money (and yours).

I have been struggling to come up with a biblical way of thinking about this.  Should I be angry?  Many of the people I have talked with about this topic seem to be.  Their mindset seems to be that it should not be our responsibility to bail out those who have not managed their money wisely.  Why is the burden falling on us?  They made their bed by taking out loans they could not afford, now they have to lay in it.  Here is an example.

A friend and former professor of mine posted an entry on his blog the other day that really struck me.  His words were not only honest and from the heart, but they seemed to bring a new, and I believe important perspective to this issue for those who want to think about it biblically.  He points out that if we are thinking only about how this issue impacts us and how it is unfair for us to have to share the burden, then we are thinking about it in a selfish manner.  Our Christian faith is based on the principle of putting others first and making sacrifices for others.  Is this not what Jesus did for us when He took our sins upon Himself?  He did not complain about how it was unfair for Him to have to take the burden when it was not His sin.  He did it out of love and to set an example of how we are to love one another.

Here are a few verses that I believe are relevant to this discussion:

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14 ESV)
 
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11 ESV)

 If we are to think about this issue biblically, we must at least consider those who need help and not just ourselves.  We may conclude that it is still not a good thing or that there is a better way, but we cannot think of it solely on how it impacts us personally.

 You can read my friend’s post here.  It is much better than mine!

Posted in Consumerism, Culture, Worldview | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“It’s Just A Song.”

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Tim Farley

You have heard the words before.  When questioning a teen about their musical preferences, they reply, “It’s just a song.”  They argue that they like the beat or the melody.  They say that the content of the lyrics does not really matter.

Well, a recent study shows that the content of the lyrics really does matter.  Teens who listen to songs with sexually explicit lyrics tend to be more actively involved sexually.  It may not mean that the music caused it, but it is definitely an indication that your teen may be sexually active.

Do you know what your kids are listening to?  Do you ever even think about it?  I used to tell my friends that I could tell you a person’s personality profile if I knew who their favorite bands were.  I still think this is fairly true.  Want to know more about your kids?  Find out what they listen to.

I find it amazing that many parents do not make an effort to find out what is being taught to their children through song lyrics.  Do you want your children gaining their understanding of politics, religion, and social issues from strangers who can sing and play an instrument?  That is exactly what they are doing.

What are your thoughts about how music influences us?  How should parents monitor what their children listen to?  Teens, how do you think parents should be involved in your music choices?

Posted in Culture, Family | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments