Saturday, November 08, 2008

The "Historical Drift" Has Begun


Within my denomination (the C&MA), one of our past Canadian presidents - Dr. Arnold Cook - wrote an interesting book entitled "Historical Drift." Needless to say, the book addresses the issue of losing the anchors of biblical doctrine and the results of the shift that occur in the aftermath. Though Dr. Cook had a prophetic word to share, I believe that "drift" has already begun. Here are perhaps a few (bright men to say the least) who may be a sign of the things to come:

David Fitch (pastor/author, "The Great Giveaway" book endorsed by Brian McLaren)
Skye Jethani (pastor/author, "The Divine Commodity" book also endorsed by Brian McLaren)
David Collins (third culture kid turned social concern advocate)
William Young (C&MA dropout turned pomo fiction author, "The Shack" book endorsed by Bart Campolo)

Does "social concern" or the "social gospel" really stand on par with the proclamation of the gospel? Does Christocentric belong in the metaphor/allegorical category or perhaps the type/example category? Is any of this a throwback to liberal theology? Is the C&MA a "friend of emergent" or a "friend of missional" or maybe just "friend of sinners"? Obviously can't be the last one since "pyromaniacs" are freaking Calvinists - prevenient grace won't be out boxed by saving grace in the C&MA. I wonder if anytime soon there will be a need to start a "confessing movement" within the C&MA?

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

The Dawn of a New Age


"Divided we stand, united we fall." The privilege of living in a democratic capitalist society is that liberalism thrives . . . alongside with conservatism (those who are not in the industrialized elite tend to be autocratic, totalitarian, or authoritarian). Tonight was memorable, the first African-American man to be elected president ~ one who repeatedly stated that race was not an issue . . . but then again every other liberal American media outlet is quoting the now infamous "Booker T." invite to the White House. C'mon, would America cared if Obama was a white man? If some young, liberal, urban, social activist, white politician from Chicago with the same credentials ran . . . I don't think anything would have happened. Just to remind us of his stunning credentials of color, Obama (in probably the "dryest" Obama-cliched speech I've ever heard from him up to date) just had to tell the story about Ann Nixon Cooper. Yes, let's not play the race card now. It's one thing to attack the establishment and an entirely different thing to be the establishment. I pray that "president elect" Barack Hussein Obama will consider doing some McLaren-esque "deep shifting" soon . . . because contrary to what the TVoid is telling us, the country has not made some definitive statement on their choice for Congress or President tonight . . . the country is deeply divided.