Culture

Christianity had suffered greatly under Rome’s persecution, but the Church had advanced remarkably in influence and size composing ten to fifteen percent of the Roman population early in the fourth century.  In A.D. 312, Emperor Constantine waged war with his rival for the throne, Maxentius.  Emperor Constantine prayed to the “Unconquered Son,” the Roman patron deity, for assistance in battle.  Supposedly, Constantine and his army witnessed a cross ablaze in the sky on which they read the words, “In this sign conquer.”  In his sleep that night, Constantine claimed that he was commanded to distinguish his soldiers with the monogram of Christ to ensure victory.  Upon applying the monogram, Constantine won the battle at the Milvian Bridge due to Maxentius’s drowning before the battle was even underway.

After this impressive victory, Constantine claimed that he was “under the tutelage of the God of Christianity.”

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“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12).

In his last recorded epistle, Paul attempted to prepare Timothy and other Church leaders for the coming persecution that they would face as Christians.  Nearing the imminent culmination of Paul’s ministry and life, Paul instructed his son in the faith, Timothy, to continue “fighting the good fight” (2 Tim. 4:7), relinquishing the mantle of Paul’s ministry of spreading the gospel to Timothy.

During the time when Jesus lived on earth, He frequently admonished His unbelieving disciples of the coming persecution that He would endure and the persecution that the disciples themselves would soon face in the wake of Christ’s absence.  Luke recorded numerous events in the Book of Acts concerning Christianity’s opponents administering beatings, imprisonments, and executions to Jesus’ disciples.  Evangelicals and historians have written volumes of literature describing the accounts of Christians who have been persecuted for their faith in Jesus.

As God built on the foundation of His Church with men and women who were aware of their possible and probable death by their association with Christ, disciples boldly witnessed to all people concerning the grace of God, and many people were being saved (Acts 2:47).  In countries where persecution of Christians is still prevalent, the Church is bold in witnessing and dynamic in growth; in countries where Christianity is allowed or even encouraged, the Church is often stagnate and declining.

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I am not debating in the presidential debate tonight.  I am not running for office.  But you have to give credit to two men who desire the job of POTUS given the status of our country.  Whether you believe one or both of these men to be egotistical maniacs, gluttons for punishment, or eager ambassadors, they both want this job badly.

So badly that the 2nd debate was unnerving for many Americans.  The constant interruptions.  The disregard for boundaries.  The snide comments.

And now, we arrive at the 3rd debate tonight.  I already have my mind made up concerning how I am voting.  And so have you.  And so has the rest of America.  Tonight’s debate is likely not to change many minds as much as it will fire up both camps to blitz Facebook and Twitter with everyone’s biased review of the men’s performances.

I tried to imagine how I would respond if I was being portrayed by my opponent as a liar to millions of people.  Sure, I would want to interrupt and set the record straight.  I wouldn’t want to be characterized by something I am not.

And so, it made me wonder: “If I was in the presidential debate tonight, how would I close out my argument?”  Here’s a shot:

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Since reposting Mark Driscoll’s article on redeeming Santa Claus, I’ve had a lot of good conversations.  I was also sent the following article from Dr. James Parker.  I had the privilege to sit under his teaching in a Philosophy of Religion course at Southern Seminary.  In addition to being brilliant, he just might well be the funniest person I have ever listened to in my life.  This article has been posted in a couple of different places, and I thought it was a fantastic, enlightening read.  Enjoy:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) — In reflecting on this season of the year, I have often wondered how a Martian reporter would write a story about Christmas in the United States. If one only had the dominant cultural icons of TV, movies, news media and retail stores, my guess is that the Martian-viewing audience wouldn’t have a clue as to what Christmas is about.

They might think it has something to do with snowmen or reindeer or retail store sales. And if any particular person rose to the top in the public’s awareness, it would be a jolly secular guy at risk for stroke or cardiac arrest who likes to dress in red and let his beard grow.

Rather than just bemoan this fact, I assert that we need to reimage the myth of the modern-day Santa Claus.

Most people simply do not realize the rich ancient heritage behind the Santa Claus story. The secularized and sanitized contemporary version pales in comparison with the deeply Christian ethos and content of the original.

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