Blog - Page 292 of 318 - John H Armstrong

The Vatican Offers Helpful Insights on Culture

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:12-05:00August 24th, 2006|Categories: Missional Church|

The secularized West is experiencing a growing disaffection with both militant atheism and traditional Christian faith. The Vatican recently addressed this issue in a study published by the Pontifical Council for Culture. It is more than interesting to me to see how this document begins to address this problem. It suggests that any effective pastoral strategy must begin with seeing “the importance of witnessing the beauty of being a person loved by God.”

This document, titled “The Christian Faith at the Dawn of the New Millennium and the Challenge of Unbelief and Religious Indifference” draws several key conclusions, besides the one stated above, that are worth thinking about by all Christians in the West. These conclusions are:

1. The church needs “To renew Christian apology to give an account with gentleness and respect of the hope that animates us (1 Peter 3:15).”
2. We must “Reach ‘homo urbanus’ (urban man) through public presence in the debates of society and put the gospel in contact with the forces that shape culture.”
3. There is an “urgency of learning to think, from school […]

What Should Be Done with Saddam Hussein?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:12-05:00August 23rd, 2006|Categories: Current Affairs|

I dislike the use of labels when they are intended for pejorative reasons. They are used to degrade and destroy. I am liberal in some areas of my thought but a conservative in others. If forced to identify myself politically I would have to use the label conservative, though with real reservations about much that flies under that label today.

For the sake of serious conversation I must use these labels when I refer to the development and direction of America’s foreign policy. Liberals in this country are continually telling us that we should not have invaded Iraq. Some of these liberals are serious Christian pacifists who question the moral grounds of such pre-emptive action. I can respect this view and thus hold thinkers like Stanley Hauerwas in very high esteem. I deeply respect his point of view but humbly take a different stance. Most liberals, however, think the way that they do about human nature and the world for very different reasons. And they seem to think that conservatives like me are stupid war-mongering morons. Listening to progressive (the new/old name […]

World Trade Center: Can We Survive More Graphic Reflection?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:12-05:00August 22nd, 2006|Categories: Film|

The recently released movie “World Trade Center” centers on the lives of two New York policemen trapped in the rubble of the Trade Center on 9/11, thus it is a true story. The acting is generally good, especially that of Mario Bello, who demonstrates both anger and fear in a powerfully done real life portrayal. And Oliver Stone avoids both sensationalism and crass ideological nonsense, so often present in his “big” movies like JFK and Nixon.

Though the movie feels like it unfolds in a bit of a vacuum, focusing almost entirely on the trials of two families whose loved ones survived, it delivers a powerful image of a fateful day in world history. (Only 20 people were rescued from the Trade Center rubble!) The fact, however, is that this approach works precisely because no movie could carry the whole story of 9/11 in a powerful way.

The question many ask is “Why a movie on 9/11 so soon after the event?” The same question was asked when “Flight 93” came out a few months ago. Having seen both of […]

Can Rick Warren Save the World?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:12-05:00August 21st, 2006|Categories: American Evangelicalism|

Fox News broadcast a one hour special last evening titled: “The Purpose Driven Life: Can Rick Warren Save the World?” Accidentally, while channel surfing from the Red Sox vs. Yankees baseball game on ESPN to various news channels, I got in on the opening segment of the Warren special and was hooked for the whole.

Much of the Rick Warren story is widely known but some things came together in this brisk, but largely focused, video presentation. My admiration for Warren soared as a result of this broadcast. If “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God” is “to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27) then Rick Warren is practicing the faith of true religion. There can be no doubt that Warren’s faith produces Christ-centered works (James 2:14-26). And, to his great credit, he listens to his wife Kay’s counsel, who is plainly a major reason for his clarity in this and other areas. It is a wise man who listens to such a thoughtful and insightful wife!

Frankly, […]

Check Your Motives if You Preach

By John Armstrong|2006-08-19T12:57:15-05:00August 19th, 2006|Categories: Homiletics/Preaching|

William Willimon is a Methodist bishop who can preach. In fact, he is quite frankly one of my favorite preachers today. He tells an important story about preaching and the motives that those who preach often bring to the process of homiletics.

Willimon once heard a preacher begin a sermon, with great drama and more than a trace of theatrics, by saying to the congregation, “It is very hard for me to say what I feel I must say to you today in my sermon.” An elderly woman, sitting in the pew in front of Willimon, whispered loud enough to be heard by many, and said, “I’ll bet it’s not that hard for him to say this.”

If you preach ask yourself, “Why am I saying this and what do I hope to accomplish by saying it?” Don’t use humility to cover up your own opinions, which are often more related to what you really want to say rather than to what God wants you to say. Know the difference and you will be a true servant of the Lord of […]

Why Do We Find Prayer So Unimportant to Our Meetings?

By John Armstrong|2006-08-18T22:58:11-05:00August 18th, 2006|Categories: American Evangelicalism|

A friend wrote me today and shared the following account in his letter. His comments, and the question that he poses, are worth both worth consideration by anyone who professes love for Christ and his kingdom. Here is what my friend wrote:

The other evening I opened our board meeting with a heartfelt prayer, something that I haven’t done in a while in a board meeting context. I have shared with the other board members the passion that God has been giving me for more prayer, and that we need to set aside as much time as we can and as often as we can to pray, so as to see the hand of God move in our lives, and in the lives of those we serve. Anyhow, as our evening ended (and on time) one of the executive staff members leaned over to our director as he was about to close in prayer and stated “Hey, just make sure you don’t pull one of those ‘preacher prayers’ like our friend over here, because it’s been a long night and I am ready to go.” […]

On Death & Dying

By John Armstrong|2006-08-17T06:25:13-05:00August 17th, 2006|Categories: Death|

Death defines us and reveals what we really live for day-to-day. Most people think very little about their death unless they are forced to face it very directly. This was brought home to me by two front page stories in our suburban Daily Herald newspaper on Tuesday, August 15.

The first story that caught my attention was about Carol Bugh, the wife of Rob Bugh, the senior pastor of Wheaton Bible Church. Rob has been a friend from almost the day he arrived in Wheaton. We have shared a number of meals and I preached for him several years ago at Wheaton Bible Church. Not too long after the Rob arrived in Wheaton my wife and I shared a dinner with a group of pastor friends and their wives and thus we also met Carol that evening. We have followed very prayerfully her struggle, over the last ten months, with a rare melanoma. On Friday, August 11, Carol passed away. The story of her struggle and her faith in Christ is well told in the Daily Herald front-page story.

Here is […]

Willow Creek: Blessings and Blindspots

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:12-05:00August 14th, 2006|Categories: American Evangelicalism|

I have never hidden some of my concerns about certain aspects of the strategy employed by Willow Creek Community Church. In short, I believe Willow is strong on evangelism and cultural exegesis but weak on expressing the biblical, historical and theological concerns expressed by a robust confessional and spirit-filled Christianity. To be perfectly fair Willow Creek’s weaknesses are not that different from those encountered in mainstream American evangelicalism in general.

More recently I have tried to give Willow its due whenever I have the opportunity to do so. Such an opportunity struck me today as I went through my mail. I received an invitation from the Willow Creek Association to attend a huge A2 event to be staged at Willow Creek Church, October 25-27. You can check this out at www.willowcreek.com/A2.

A2 is a new format and brand name for Willow Creek’s attempt to engage a wider group of progressive and innovative outreach leaders from across a broad evangelical spectrum, both generationally and ethnically. The whole program strikes me as Willow’s newest attempt (there have […]

A Great Day at Turner Field

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:12-05:00August 12th, 2006|Categories: Baseball|

It is widely known by my friends that I realy love baseball. My dad gave me this deep love in 1956-57. I have used every reasonable opportunity since then to nurture it. Now my granddaughter is a huge fan and even keeps a good score card at the games. Some friends tease me mercilessly about this passion. This is why yesterday was an especially great day for me. I attended my second annual Atlanta Braves Hall-of-Fame Luncheon at the 755 Club at Turner Field. The two inductees were the late Bill Lucas, the first African-American general manager in MLB history, and Ralph Garr, the speedy "road-runner" who was a rookie-of-the-year in Atlanta. Garr still has Atlanta’s all time best batting average, at .317. Lucas’ wife accepted his award with real class. Ralph Garr rambled a bit in his comments but entertained us with humor and some gracious reflections. All in all it was a fun day. I sat with Brian Jordan and enjoyed a wonderful conversation with this truly classy man. Jordan was once a star in the NFL and is now at the […]

Why the Turn in the Democratic Party Hurts the Nation

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:24:12-05:00August 12th, 2006|Categories: Politics|

My posts this week have expressed profound concerns about recent developments in the Democratic Party. I am not a partisan when it comes to politics. I do not faithfully and consistently support either party. I also believe politics is important, but not most important, not even in changing public policy. It is even less important in changing culture in truly important ways. I have voted for candidates from both parties, though I think I am best described as a moderate conservative with an openness to some progressive ideas that promote corporate compassion. In my own state, for example, the Republican Party is weak and scandal ridden. Our former Republican governor is going to jail soon, and deservedly so.

My deepest concern here is that the nation will suffer without two strong parties. Though the framers did not envision the two-party system I shudder to think what will happen if we are left with two parties like the present configuration of things. Both are so terribly flawed that it is not a healthy time for us. I think we need two parties that […]