JANUARY 9, 2008



Game theory continues on today... today's focus: evolutionary stable strategies.



Anyhoo, there's a big problem with the American Church today, and that problem is that they've kept the "fun stuff" to themselves, and the "hard stuff" is left to the government.



We don't mind singing songs of praise. It's fun-- who can argue? We don't mind personal spirituality. It's not always fun and games, but drawing close to God-- can't complain about that. Serving the church internally is quite fun if you're not the only one doing it. But what about evangelism, social justice, and the pursuit of corporate righteousness? Well, why don't we leave that to the government?



For one, a Christian president does not imply a Christian government. Even if everyone in Washington were born-again Christians, we still cannot ensure a Christian government. Secondly, since when did God appoint the government to do what the Church is supposed to do? Example: we want laws against abortion. Fine-- I can't argue against that... except there's a problem. There are Christians who don't mind aborting babies. I can see a non-Christian seeing abortion as perfectly acceptable, but a Christian?! Furthermore, in quite a few instances, abortion comes from biblically unsanctioned sexual lifestyles (e.g. sex before marriage, unhealthy views of sexuality, etc.). Instituting a law against abortion does not stop it. We end up just exporting it to Mexico or Canada. We can't allow that either! So our solution is not political, but rather, ecclesiological. We need to make sure that all Christians understand what abortion is-- the termination of a voiceless life.



Another example: homosexual rights. Now, I make it clear that homosexuality is nowhere sanctioned in the Bible. Furthermore, it is clearly and unmistakeably condemned. But how can we mount a successful barring of homosexual rights laws when even more Christians practice homosexuality and find it perfectly acceptable? Our voice is useless in government because our house is not clean at all! We need to make sure that all Christians understand that homosexuality, at best, is a contradiction of theology, completely inconsistent with orthodox Christianity. Furthermore, homosexuality is oftentimes the result of troubled households. Ask any psychologist out there-- they have the statistics. Do we Christians have troubled households (including divorces, abuses, etc.)? In honesty, there are Christians with very scary family situations. How can that be? How can Christians separate from marriage? How can Christians be part of abuse? I don't understand, but fact is, this is part of the world we live in.



So I argue that Christianity needs to clean its house first and foremost. We can't fight against abortion when some find it fine and dandy in our House. That's like being anti-smoking with your sister lighting one behind you. We need to get off the couch and make sure our house is in order. And while I'm at it, I don't know why the Catholics should be the only ones having the power to excommunicate members who refuse to leave sin behind. Why are we so "oooh, that's so mean..." when our God takes discipline so seriously (say hello to Ananias and Sapphira)?



Couch potatoes of the Cross, get up and go!