On The Belhar Confession

The latest issue of our denominational newsletter, [The Banner](http://thebanner.org/template/index.cfm), just came out. There’s an article about how the [CRC](http://www.crcna.org) is looking at adopting [The Belhar Confession](http://www.vgksa.org.za/who.asp?id=106&sinid=1). And this got me curious and then to thinking about this serious undertaking.

[Wikipedia has a good explanation and summary of The Belhar Confession.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belhar_Confession) It has an interesting history and I think that this confession is necessary from [churches that institutionalized segregation in South Africa.](http://www.warc.ch/dcw/bs25/08.html) But as the CRC and our sister denomination, the [RCA](http://www.rca.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=2225&srcid=-2), look at it, we have to decide whether is it necessary for us Americans, too.

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YouTube’s

Here are two YouTube videos I would like to share.

First, here is Steve Harvey making a fantastic introduction of Jesus Christ when He comes back.  Courtesy of ThinkChristian.net

Second, from BoingBoing, a rare TV appear of the Beatles . . . on Doctor Who!

Beer and Outreach

There is an interesting article running in the St. Louis Dispatch about an outreach program they call  Beer and the Bible:

It was a conversation perfectly suited to the setting. Beer-stained wooden tables and the smell of hops complemented a free-flowing, spirited debate among hip young people in scruffy beards and T-shirts.

In 2007, this is church.

The article goes on to say that The Journey got a loan from the Southern Baptist Convention and that the Baptists are angry that gasp they drink beer during an outreach event.

I think that the idea is wonderful.  Why is The Church so afraid to reach out to people different than they are?

The Blasphemy Challenge

ABC News: The Blasphemy Challenge

What’s wrong with God?

“What’s wrong with the tooth fairy?” asks Brian. “There’s nothing wrong with something that most likely doesn’t exist.”

Gina had seen the Nightline story and was telling me about it last night.  It goes with my thoughts on The New Atheism — they are urging people to come out and take a stand.  They want to be right and want to make sure the Christians know that they are wrong.

But where’s the hope?  Where’s the comfort? What if they are “most likely” wrong?  And, since they are committing the one unforgivable sin, what if they have eternity to think about how wrong they were?

The New Atheism

I sent this post to Denny since is audience is different than mine, but this needs more attention.

On Think Christian this week I found a link to a one-sided Wired article about the New Atheism, mainly about how atheist leaders are no longer debating Christians, but evangelizing to the agnostics and “in the closest” atheists to come out and make a stand.  They admit they are copying from the success from the gay movement from the past twenty years — and we know how successful they have been.

The thing I’m alarmed about is that I hadn’t heard of Richard Dawkins[1] until a few months ago, and now I’ve seen his name mentioned three or four times since then.  I think that means they are gaining momentum.

So what Christians to do?  Stand by and watch more and more of our faith erode away?

[1]Ironically, I remember seeing his wife on Dr. Who growing up.