Does Religion always cause Wars?

If you read some bloggers and their comments, you might begin to think that religions are the sole cause of war. Miec Pearse, in The Gods of War addresses this issue thoroughly and intelligently. I don’t know that I’ve ever read one more acquainted with world history than Pearse.  He begins chapter three with these words:

Although much of the history of Christian churches is disgraceful in that their creeds have been stained by bloodshed and spread by violence, the churches did not begin that way. For the first three centuries of its life, the faith of the Prince of Peace was spread entirely by pacific means, usually in the face of violent persecution.
~Meic Pearse in The Gods of War, Intervarsity Press, 2007. p. 58.

Get the book and take a read. You’ll find it refreshingly enlightening — especially if you’ve spent any time reading some of the anti-religious web sites or watching some of the pop-corn cable news.

Has the Church had an errant agenda in America?

I’ve prayed for revival — many times with many people. The thoughts expressed in West Branch Ramblings hit me squarely between the eyes. Rephrasing his thoughts, I see myself having made the very mistakes upon which he expound.

  1. I pray for revival so that America will be more pleasing to me. It’s really not a matter of seeing God get the honor he deserves or seeing people saved from God’s wrath…. it’s a matter of not having to hear nasty stuff on the radio or see it on TV. Whoops — George — you’re right. OUCH!
  2. I pray for revival because I assume that America is a Christian nation made up of Christian people who simply need to remember their Savior. I do this in spite of the fact that when I turn on the television for an evening the content portrayed should disabuse me of that notion. Again — George — you’re right. OUCH!
  3. I pray for those outside the church to be made like the church. Is that revival? Perhaps if I spent more time praying for those inside the church — starting with me. Doggone it, George — you’re hurting my toes! OUCH.

Thanks, George. I needed that.

You should have that published.

~Steve

The Only God-anointed Agency…

“Some of us church leaders believe to the core of our beings that the church is the only God-anointed agency in society that stewards the transforming message of the love of Christ…. into a whole new way of living and loving and serving, and can thereby transform society…. We believe this to our depths. We’d take bullets for it.” ~Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership