Is Mr. Obama A Christian?

The furor is raging in America and the world about Mr. Obama's faith. Some believe that he is a Muslim and others believe that since he claims to be a Christian and that he attended a Christian Church for 22 years he is of the Christian faith.

I can see how people are confused about it because the Muslim faith has some rules and traditions that are very different from Christianity, Judaism and Eastern religions. In this story from The New York Times, a paper very friendly to Mr. Obama, wrote a very learned and in depth article about this issue. It follows below.

May 12, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
President Apostate?
By EDWARD N. LUTTWAK

Chevy Chase, Md.

BARACK OBAMA has emerged as a classic example of charismatic leadership — a figure upon whom others project their own hopes and desires. The resulting emotional intensity adds greatly to the more conventional strengths of the well-organized Obama campaign, and it has certainly sufficed to overcome the formidable initial advantages of Senator Hillary Clinton.

One danger of such charisma, however, is that it can evoke unrealistic hopes of what a candidate could actually accomplish in office regardless of his own personal abilities. Case in point is the oft-made claim that an Obama presidency would be welcomed by the Muslim world.

This idea often goes hand in hand with the altogether more plausible argument that Mr. Obama’s election would raise America’s esteem in Africa — indeed, he already arouses much enthusiasm in his father’s native Kenya and to a degree elsewhere on the continent.

But it is a mistake to conflate his African identity with his Muslim heritage. Senator Obama is half African by birth and Africans can understandably identify with him. In Islam, however, there is no such thing as a half-Muslim. Like all monotheistic religions, Islam is an exclusive faith.

As the son of the Muslim father, Senator Obama was born a Muslim under Muslim law as it is universally understood. It makes no difference that, as Senator Obama has written, his father said he renounced his religion. Likewise, under Muslim law based on the Koran his mother’s Christian background is irrelevant.

Of course, as most Americans understand it, Senator Obama is not a Muslim. He chose to become a Christian, and indeed has written convincingly to explain how he arrived at his choice and how important his Christian faith is to him.

His conversion, however, was a crime in Muslim eyes; it is “irtidad” or “ridda,” usually translated from the Arabic as “apostasy,” but with connotations of rebellion and treason. Indeed, it is the worst of all crimes that a Muslim can commit, worse than murder (which the victim’s family may choose to forgive).

With few exceptions, the jurists of all Sunni and Shiite schools prescribe execution for all adults who leave the faith not under duress; the recommended punishment is beheading at the hands of a cleric, although in recent years there have been both stonings and hangings. (Some may point to cases in which lesser punishments were ordered — as with some Egyptian intellectuals who have been punished for writings that were construed as apostasy — but those were really instances of supposed heresy, not explicitly declared apostasy as in Senator Obama’s case.)

It is true that the criminal codes in most Muslim countries do not mandate execution for apostasy (although a law doing exactly that is pending before Iran’s Parliament and in two Malaysian states). But as a practical matter, in very few Islamic countries do the governments have sufficient authority to resist demands for the punishment of apostates at the hands of religious authorities.

For example, in Iran in 1994 the intervention of Pope John Paul II and others won a Christian convert a last-minute reprieve, but the man was abducted and killed shortly after his release. Likewise, in 2006 in Afghanistan, a Christian convert had to be declared insane to prevent his execution, and he was still forced to flee to Italy.

Because no government is likely to allow the prosecution of a President Obama — not even those of Iran and Saudi Arabia, the only two countries where Islamic religious courts dominate over secular law — another provision of Muslim law is perhaps more relevant: it prohibits punishment for any Muslim who kills any apostate, and effectively prohibits interference with such a killing.

At the very least, that would complicate the security planning of state visits by President Obama to Muslim countries, because the very act of protecting him would be sinful for Islamic security guards. More broadly, most citizens of the Islamic world would be horrified by the fact of Senator Obama’s conversion to Christianity once it became widely known — as it would, no doubt, should he win the White House. This would compromise the ability of governments in Muslim nations to cooperate with the United States in the fight against terrorism, as well as American efforts to export democracy and human rights abroad.

That an Obama presidency would cause such complications in our dealings with the Islamic world is not likely to be a major factor with American voters, and the implication is not that it should be. But of all the well-meaning desires projected on Senator Obama, the hope that he would decisively improve relations with the world’s Muslims is the least realistic.

Edward N. Luttwak, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, is the author of “Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace.”

Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

Remember, I did not say this or claim he is a Muslim. I take him at his word that he is a Christian. But Mr. Luttwak shows why many people are confused.

Danes Place Obama Higher than Jesus

Here we go again. A Danish newspaper has printed a story that attempts to make Mr. Obama a contemporary Saint and Jesus a very common man. Will it work to cause Believers to rise up and protest? Will it work to get atheists and their friends stand up and shout because they think they have won the battle? Probably, but does it matter?

These kinds of things matter little to real spiritual life. It will not change when, and how many people find eternal life in Jesus Christ. Back in the Seventies when sex, drugs and rock music were rampant, many preachers practically mad ea living by preaching against all three plus beards and lack of bra's. But we saw the greatest revival in history fall from heaven despite the earthly appearances of widespread evil. Maybe we pray harder in hard times.

It is easy to think that God acts on what He reads in the papers and sees on TV. When a confessing Christian becomes President we all cheer and sing the National Anthem as though God was finally going to run the rascals out of Washington, D.C. But, it did not happen that way when George W. was in the Oval Office.

Today is the day of salvation. No need to wait for a better day. There has never been a better time to preach the good news, teach God's word and witness to God's love. We are in the days of great harvest. I know that the prophets of doom will disagree because they are often caught up in news headlines not God's headlights.

There are most Christians alive today than ever before. There are most Spirit filled Seasoned Believers who know God's word and have maturity and experience in leading than in all history. I wish I could live another 100 years.

I am not a Baptist, at least not formally, but I like the Baptist sign above. (My Baptist Church gave me the "left foot of fellowship" way back in 1969. I was too innovative back then too.) I am still an entrepreneur who wants to see new, exciting and cutting edge ideas prevail in the Kingdom of God. Why should Procter and Gamble have all the creativity?

Let's face it. Most churches and most of its leaders are stuck in a village church mentality that leads them to desire to be the best church in the first Reformation. They are still trying to be Luther and Calvin instead of God's leader in the current Reformation.

The model is that of professional football: 22 exhausted professional men who desperately need rest entertaining 20,000 non professional men who desperately need exercise.

See my web page sweetenlife.com for more exciting ideas about Christian growth and influence.

Put Christ in Christmas

I intentionally say, "Merry Christmas" to people and I also try to remember to emphasize the fact that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world not just a time to promote retail sales. I recently heard a reporter say that in past years many retailers were changing from promoting a "Merry Christmas" by saying "Happy Holidays" but that has changed with the economic downturn.

This shows us that economic realities put Christians in the driver's seat on this issue. And, according to the polls, we are in the majority.

Amidst all the holiday shopping craziness, most Americans at this time of year want to see holiday signs that wish them a "Merry Christmas." A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of adults prefer "Merry Christmas," while 22% like "Happy Holidays" instead.

Marketers would be crazy to insult Christians and those of us who like the traditions of our childhood. Some 72% of us want to stay with the traditional greetings. So, let us all make sure we remember the focus of Christmas and keep our greetings warm, loving and Christ centered.

It might not be a bad idea to remind the current resident of the White House that his constituency wants us to have a Christmas Tree not a Holiday Tree.

World Views

In my last post I wrote about the four major ways to view the world. Some of my readers found it confusing. Poor writing always confuses so let me try to explain my interest in writing about these things.

I am trained as an Educator and Clinical Counselor. The foundational world views that underlie form the foundation of my life will always come out in the ways I treat people. For example, Secular Humanism does not believe that humans are any more important than a beetle or a worm. This is why some persons can argue that unborn babies have no intrinsic value and can be offed without any guilt or remorse.

On the other hand, I am convinced that God created the world and gave humans a special spark of Himself. Since all humans carry "the imago Dei" or image of God they are intrinsically of worth and value. To kill any person is fraught with danger and to kill innocent persons is especially odious.

This does not mean that all Secular Humanists are killers and have no conscience. But it does mean that a different world view informs their conscience. The philosophy that guided the most virulent pro abortionists was based on the idea that certain races were inferior and should be eliminated or at least reduced in number. Hitlers' "Final Solution" also arose from a world view that held some to be less worthy than others.

Think about it.

If you have a high view of all humans then your philosophy probably comes either consciously or unconsciously fro Judeo Christian ideals. Almost every charity hospital in the world arose from Judeo Christian thought. As C.S. Lewis said, "Nothing proves Christianity better than a hospital."

What about racist, slave owning Christians? They separated their daily behavior from their faith. The had to change the biblical story. The people in South Africa who treated Black Africans so terribly actually had to alter their basic theology to agree with their sinful actions.

This happens all the time, of course, for humans are quite creative in their application of biblical principles. Just look at how we have altered the Bible's teachings on sex, financial ethics and family life. But being inconsistent with a biblical world view does not make that view wrong. However, applying a Judeo Christian world view consistently can be challenging and lead to a lot of mercy toward those of us who fail.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and most other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement were Christian Ministers. They were building on the shoulders of the Christian men and women who led the Second Great Awakening. These people provided the motivation, energy and demand that slavery be ended in America.

Christianity always leads to change.


Gary Sweeten

Free Speech is Theatened

The advent of what is being called, "Hate Speech" is a threat to all of us who enjoy freedom and liberty. The last post I mentioned the rise of Climate Fundamentalists whose fears and anxieties are forcing citizens to adopt "Carbon Free" activities even if it destroys our way of life.

We are also seeing fears and anxieties about expressing ideas about religion and its leaders. Go to the Washington Post for an interesting article about what is being proposed in the U.N. and is actually happening in Europe.

Who Loves You?

From an anonymous source:
While watching TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I saw a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 and I wondered why they bothered to ask the gentleman to preach.

After a warm welcome and introduction, the applause quieted down he rose from his chair and walked slowly with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....

When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all My trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... The only thing that would comfort was this verse.........

Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
We are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me...
The Bible tells me so.'

When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.

A pastor once stated, 'I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' during a hymn sing it was the adults who sang the loudest because they knew it the best.'

Senior version of Jesus Loves Me

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all.

JESUS LOVES ME:

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS)

YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
Have no fear, for I am near.

(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.

God Bless Us All!!!

Anonymous

Darwin or Moses?

The Washington Post has an interesting article on Darwin and his faith in God. Are you surprised? did you assume he was an atheist who lost his childhood faith after realizing it was childish?

Many atheists hold him up as a god because they assume he was one of them. And, many church folk hold him up as a false god or a straw man to scare their members away from the study of science. My Sunday school teacher said that my decision to study psychology and counseling was a mistake because it was from the devil.

Take a look for yourselves in the Wash Post and see what you think of Charley.

Gary Sweeten

Those Controversial Gifts of God

I am of the conviction that those who fail to exercise their God given spiritual gifts will get spiritually, emotionally and physically sick. Not as a punishment from God but as result of failing to fully utilize the spiritual energy that resides within them.

It is a mystery to me why so few ministers, ministries and churches teach about or encourage their people to discover and use the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

It is clear that the Bible teaches that every Christian has the Holy Spirit within them and that every Christian has spiritual gifts, yet George Barna, who is a top researcher on all things religious, has a report out on the confusion of Christians about the gifts. Here are a few of his conclusions.

Awareness of spiritual gifts was most common among self-described Christians who live in the South (75%) and West (71%), and least common among those living in the Midwest (63%) and Northeast (58%).

Such awareness also varied within the various segments of the self-described Christian population. For instance, 99% of evangelicals have heard of spiritual gifts, far more than the 74% among non-evangelical born again Christians and 58% among notional Christians. Similarly, there was a large gap between Protestants (75%) and Catholics (54%) in awareness.

Even within the Protestant community there was a noteworthy gap between those who attend a mainline church (68% awareness) and those who attend a Protestant congregation not associated with a mainline denomination (78%).

What do you think about the gifts? Do you believe in the gifts as outlined in I CO 12? Hit the comment button and let it fly.

Gary Sweeten

How to Win and Influence People

In June of 1958 I had a fearful and wonderful encounter with God's Spirit. It changed my life and I Ford I heard the still small voice of the Spirit say, "Go to college." That was amazing because I was not really "college material" nor did my family and friends encourage such flights of irresponsible fancy. (Working in a factory was responsible and practical.)

So, I quit my factory job and applied to Mt. Vernon Community College. I had to learn to study and learn how to interact with educated students and teachers. I loved it and discovered that I was not as dumb as I seemed. I was newly motivated and newly interested in studying.

I studied to be a teacher and that led me to what were back then called, "Teachers' Education Classes" at Southern Illinois University. Those classes helped me a lot because they focused on how to not only understand math and reading but also how to transmit it to the kids. In other words, how to see to it that the kids learned from me.

I was a pretty good student in Elementary School. I read well and remembered a lot of it. So, I thought it was all about remembering the data that was put in front of me. I was wrong. I found that it was important to get the pupils engaged in the materials in such a way that they WANTED to remember it. How could I motivate the pupils to be learners.

You can lead the horse to water but you cannot make him drink.

This old saw was right. I knew it but I had never studied how to make the horse thirsty before I took those classes in Educational Psychology. Now here is my point. How do we help people outside the church desire the living water?

This is an issue of great importance to us. People will not come to faith in Christ or attend worship, read the Bible or practice the charitable activities of the Christian life unless they are attracted to those things. So, how do we become more attractive while holding to the foundations of our faith?

What do you think? What has helped you draw others to Christ and His life?

Gary Sweeten

http://www.sweetenlife.com/

Go to Panera for Fellowship

Panera Bread is a great place to meet and have fellowship around the fireplace as we drink some tea or coffee and eat a sweet roll. This afternoon Karen and I went out to Milford to get the kids from school while Julie and Dave celebrated Dave's birthday.

I needed to download a patch from the Internet but I did not have the password for Dave's WI FI and I was stuck. What could I do? I was frustrated for a few minutes before I remembered that there is a new Panera Bread in Milford and I jumped into my car and drove up to seek their free WI FI connection.

I stopped in front of the store and opened up my browser and was immediately rewarded with a connection. because it took so long I had to leave and pick up Lily from school but I returned to Panera and did my computing. while there I overheard two mature males discussing the Bible and Jesus. They carried on their chatting for thirty minutes and got up to leave, when I said, "sitting by the fire and discussing the Lord is pretty sweet isn't it?"

The two men stopped and we had a great little chat although we had never met before. With believers no formal introduction is needed and we exchanged cards, blog information and web addresses. The address for the leader's church is one I suggest you look up. http://www.prodigal180.com/ tells all about their vision and it seems very good to me.

Both of these men are Seasoned Believers who have served and followed God for many years. But now they are interested in getting off the "padded pews" and into some meaningful ministry.

I am fascinated by the numerous fellowships, groups and chatting societies that gather at Panera. Maybe we need to learn from the Bread Company how to develop an attractive space for people to gather.

Gary Sweeten

http://www.sweetenlife.com/

Faith Based Voters for Obama

The Old Way to Communicate

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article about the ways the Obama campaign wooed and won religious voters. The article says that:

Reversing his party's poor showing among faith-based voters in the 2004 presidential election, Mr. Obama won among Catholics, 54% to 45%, made gains among regular churchgoers and eroded a bit of the evangelical support that has been a fixture of Republican electoral success for years, exit polls showed.

It is hard to believe that Roman Catholic and Evangelical voters would elect to the Presidency one of the most rabid supporters of abortion that we have ever seen in America. Yet, they did. Catholics voted for Obama 54% to 45% for McCain. This is shocking.

Perhaps the real answers can be found on the blog by my friend Ron Tate. (Click the Boomer Wave link.) We are in a Post Modern era when single issues are not seen as key to a person's life. Young men and women tend to be Post Modern thinkers who see dismiss Obama's radical abortion policies while being strongly pro family and pro life themselves. Post Modern thinking somehow equates poverty with abortion. Obama was able to communicate the notion, wrongly I think, that he is for helping the poor so many Christians voted for him.

We are certainly in a time of transition in America. If we who are older in years and faith want to have influence over the future we need to understand how our kids think. Ron's blog offers some great insights for us. We need to learn how to communicate God's Word in the Post Modern world.

Gary Sweeten

http://www.sweetenlife.com/

Watching History Occur in Real Time

I just finished watching President Bush deliver a fifteen minute speech on the banking crisis that was designed to educate us and calm us and move us so we will support the buy out of bad mortgages worth some $700 Billion Dollars. It is amazing to watch history books being written before our eyes.

I received an email from Linda Prince, a long time friend and a strong supporter of McCain-Palin. She is, however, first and foremost a Believer. Here is her message.
TEN ABSOLUTES NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION:
1. The Bible will still have all the answers. 2. Prayer will still work. 3. The Holy Spirit will still move. 4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people. 5. There will still be God-anointed preaching. 6. There will still be singing of praise to God. 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people. 8. There will still be room at the Cross. 9. Jesus will still love you. 10. Jesus will still save the lost. ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS STILL IN CONTROL?

'I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.' Ps 121:1-2

Evangelism in the U.S. Congress

I was surprised to read that one of the members of Congress made a very provocative statement when speaking as a government official. However, there has been no outrage by the ACLU or People for the American Way who normally protest any kind of religious remarks by government officials. Where is the ACLU when we need them.

I suppose I ought to be happy when a Democrat Congressman, especially one who is also Jewish, makes a statement promoting the policies and activities of Jesus Christ. But, I am not at all sure he was being serious because it is rare for folks from his background to so strongly evangelize on the floor of Congress.
However, you must judge for yourself so here is the statement he made.

Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen compared Barack Obama to Jesus Christ and suggested Sarah Palin is akin to Pontius Pilate. The Tennessee Democrat, who supports Obama, was on the House floor giving a one-minute speech when he offered the comparisons.

“If you want change, you want the Democratic Party,” Cohen said. “Barack Obama was a community organizer like Jesus, who our minister prayed about. Pontius Pilate was a governor.”

What do you think?

Love and Relationships

Let me tell you a story. Karen and I just returned from lunch at "The Chef's Deli" that is located down the road from us in Sharonville. On the way back we spotted a light truck hauling a long trailer with a long sign painted on the side. It was in large bold letters and announced the evangelistic intentions of the driver. Would you like to guess what it said?


I have been all over the world and talked with Believers of every kind and description from almost every tribe and tongue. I love to hear their stories about how God touched them despite all manner of cultural, mental, theological and religious barriers. In almost every case the barrier busting approach that was most effective had a similar theme: Some kind of caring relationship.


In some cases the story was about how God broke through and showed His mercy, grace and love to an unsuspecting unbeliever. At other times it was a friend or family member who showed the love of God through kindness. In many cases God broke in through a dream, vision or miracle and shocked the unbeliever into his senses.


Of all the cases I know, however, none came as a result of reading a slogan on the side of a truck or trailer. In fact, many people see slogans as offensive rather than loving. I remember a time when some organization was promoting the "I Found It Campaign" and placed "I Found It" signs and bumper stickers all over town. In response, a group of Jewish adherents made signs that said, "We Never Lost It".


The Bible is clear that loving relationships are the greatest way to bring people to faith in Christ. Jesus told the Disciples in Luke 9 and 10 to go out and bless the people around them with love and peace. This is the best way to preach good news. Jesus did not not paint impersonal slogans on wagons and ox carts. Instead he touched people with love and care and healing power.

What is your approach?

Want to know the painted slogan?





Heaven or Hell?





It is your choice!





If people driving next to that truck had read and started to confess and repent of their sins we would have seen massive traffic tie ups and accidents. I don't ever remember hearing stories about that happening at bill boards or bumper stickers. Do you?

What do I do?

I must admit it is hard for me to give simple "elevator speech" about what my ministry is all about. Part of my problem is a genetic defect. I am a big picture person who loves to cover all my bases and I do mean ALL.

I am, therefore, constantly trying to be holistic and make sure I not only know everything about a topic but also teaching others everything I know. Here is an example. I entered Graduate School at Southern Illinois to study Student Personnel Administration and Counseling college age students. I learned all the various theories of counseling and influence and change and told by the professors that I had to choose one of them. But, I saw that each theory had some validity and each would work with a different person or group.

As a result I learned all of them and decided to use the one that works best with each person or group. When I am asked to clearly identify the theory I use in counseling I answer with several different ones. That is OK for me but confusing for others.

My mother died without being able to tell people what I do. She said, "I just tell people you are a preacher." I just agree and go on.

I am a person that is heavily invested in helping people develop better relationship skills. I want to see healthy individuals, healthy families and healthy work places. I am a person who tries to foster growth, healing and love, especially with Christians. That is hard to pidgeon hole too narrowly.

Preaching Today

I had the privilege of speaking today at Horizon Community Church. I spoke at the 10:30 service that is focused on those Seeking a better understanding of God in a practical sense.

The series is taken from The God Father trilogy and contrasts the rules, roles and relationships contained in that film series with what God The Father has to say about His family in the Bible. My topic was, "The Hidden Rules of Family Life" and it was a ball. I did a short introduction about genograms and family maps and told stories about the way God treats us versus that which happens in the God Father.

If you want to hear my talk and others click on The Horizon Community Church link next to this post.

The Pastor is Chad Hovind and he is doing a series of sermon/teachings on some very provocative topics at the 9:15 service. He just finished a very interesting series on The Song of Solomon and was able to do a lot on God's approach to marital intimacy. This is one series that I never heard in my Baptist Sunday school.

Learned Optimism

Photo of a Pessimist

I realize that I am an optimist. I tend to see the upside of things while many folks, if not most, tend to see the downside.

I have not always been as optimistic as I am now.

I grew up in a family that was dominated by pessimistic thoughts. My Maternal Grand Father was a "Worry Wart" of the first order. He was, in fact, so filled with worry and pessimism that it led him to deep hopelessness and depression.

I nursed my Grand Father for several years and that developed a strong resistance to pessimism. However, I found my own thoughts wandering in that direction with great frequency. And, since I had no training in how to renew my mind, I would often end up angry, distressed and behaving like a "Wounded Water Buffalo". (Now all you "Friends of the Wounded Water Buffaloes" do not need to email me cause I apologise in advance.)

Then I learned how to renew my mind and take pessimistic thought prisoner to rational, positive thinking. Wow! What a relief. Thank God for His wonderful words of comfort and growth.

I began this post with some reflections on the unemployment figures for Ohio and the USA. However, my introduction became so long I am going to close this post and do another one on the malaise in America.

Barna's New Research on "Holy Books"

George Barna and his group of researchers ask a lot of questions about the personal and spiritual lives of Americans. Many of the answers given to those questions seems to indicate that we are not very well educated about God or faith. In most, the answers folks offer to even the most simple questions indicates that any of us slept through Sunday school.

The most recent study released by Barna and his group, however, may be a bit more positive. The one American "Thoughts about Views on Holy Books" says:
People’s responses demonstrate America’s singular connection to Christianity, according to George Barna, the researcher of faith trends who directed the study.
"Most Americans consider the Bible to be the word of God - and do not believe any other document fits that description. People associated with other faiths are much more likely to view the Bible as sacred literature than Christians are to view any other document to be holy," Barna noted.

What do you think about this research? Hit Comments and leave your ideas about ways to educate Christians about the Bible or reasons why we Yanks are so illiterate.

Contact Barna at:
The Barna Group, Ltd.1957 Eastman Ave. Ste BVentura, California 93003United StatesVoice: (805) 639-0000Fax: (805) 658-7298

A Great Article in the Enquirer

Peter Bronson, the scrappy writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer, has posted a great article about the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in today's paper.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080420/COL05/804200358/1009/LETT

I wrote a letter to Peter in response.
Peter,
Thanks for the insights into the Pope’s visit and sermons. Yours is the best article I have read on it and I have looked at quite a few.

As a retired therapist with training and experience in family counseling I strongly echo the Pope’s focus on basics. In our “Post Modern” world some people, like Bill Maher, would like to change the rules of life but, like gravity, some rules are designed to deal with our spiritual nature.

When the news hounds focus on his apologies they miss the central theme for all Christians of confession, forgiveness and repentance. It is too bad that many reporters are so ignorant of the Christian message that they replace it with Political Correctness. However, PC will never replace JC, Jesus Christ, as the path to healing, peace and growth. Thank God the Pope is helping us all remember.

Shalom,

Gary Sweeten

The Pope is Here! PTL

Pope Benedict is here in the USA and his visit is making quite a splash. I am happy to see him and I wish him the very best success in igniting a revival of spiritual life in his church.

I am not a Roman Catholic, of course, but we Evangelicals need many good friends in the battle to bring light into the darkness. The current Pope, as was the last, is a good man who preaches many aspects of the Bible that are helpful and healthy. His theology, while imperfect, is better than the nihilism and materialism most often seen in our public life.

One comment caught my eye about the strength of spiritual life in America. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, notes that "religion is deeply rooted in American life despite the separation of church and state."

I would correct his statement to be, "Religion is deeply rooted in American life BECAUSE of the separation of church and state." When Christians came across the sea from Europe and left the state churches in Germany, Ireland, England and Scandinavia they wanted to be free to worship as they wished. It was the Believers who insisted on the separation of church and state and that has not changed since the colonial days.

Free people in free churches led to a competition for converts and members. This meant that lazy ministers and cold, dead congregations did not fare well. People vote with their feet in America. In Europe churches are still funded by tax monies and that has led to large buildings with small congregations.

Lord send revivals and awakenings to America. We need everything you have. And, bless the Pope and his people.