Purely Cerebral Preaching

Geoffrey Thomas:

One of the great perils that face preachers . . . is the constant danger of lapsing into a purely cerebral form of proclamation, which falls exclusively upon the intellect. Men become obsessed with doctrine and end up as brain-oriented preachers. There is consequently a fearful impoverishment in their hearers emotionally, devotionally, and practically. Such pastors are men of books and not men of people; they know the doctrines, but they know nothing of the emotional side of religion. They set little store upon experience or upon constant fellowship and interaction with almighty God. It is one thing to explain the truth of Christianity to men and women; it is another thing to feel the overwhelming power of the sheer loveliness and enthrallment of Jesus Christ and communicate that dynamically to the whole person who listens so that there is a change of such dimensions that he loves Him with all his heart and soul and mind and strength. (“Powerful Preaching,” chapter 14 in The Preacher and Preaching, edited by Samuel T. Logan, p. 369)

You Know It is the Word of God

Woodrow Wilson:

“When you have read the Bible, you know it is the word of God, because it is the key to your heart, your own happiness, and your own duty.”

God and Air Force Standards

Michael L. Weinstein is founder of the nonprofit organization known as the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Pentagon officials reportedly met with Weinstein on April 23 to discuss an Air Force regulation promulgated in 2012 titled “Air Force Culture, Air Force Standards.” Christians should be particularly interested in this, not only because he has long advocated a religion-free military, but also because of an article that appeared in the Huffington Post Blog on April 16, 2013. The title of the article is “Fundamentalist Christian Monsters”.

In the article, Weinstein describes:

“… well-funded gangs of fundamentalist Christian monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces. . . .”

The quotation above seems to be directed at “Christian fundamentalists”, but make no mistake; Weinstein is attacking Christianity. He simply directs his attacks at one group of Christians at a time. He goes on to assert:

“… those evil, fundamentalist Christian creatures and their spiritual heirs have taken refuge behind flimsy, well-worn, gauze-like euphemistic facades such as ‘family values’ and ‘religious liberty’.”

Please note that Weinstein believes that “religious liberty” is a flimsy façade (“A false front”).

As you read more, it is clear that Weinstein’s point of view is motivated by hatred of Christianity and Christians. He goes on to call Christians:

“… monsters of human degradation, marginalization, humiliation and tyranny [who, if they] cannot broker or barter your acceptance of their putrid theology, then they crave for your universal silence in the face of their rapacious reign of theocratic terror.”

Wow! Our national leadership calls in, for advice about religion in the military, a person who hates Christianity. Our political leaders certainly have a different view from the Founding Fathers of our nation. Consider these two quotes from George Washington giving orders to the Continental Army:

“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.” (George Washington, The Writings of Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor [Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932], Vol. XI, pp. 342-343, General Orders of May 2, 1778)

The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country. (George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor [Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932], Vol. 5, p. 245, July 9, 1776 Order)

Our nation has fallen pretty far from the Christian moral standard as shown in these two quotes from General Washington. When those who hate Christianity are allowed to banish the Christian voice in one area of the public arena, you may be certain they will not rest content until they have eradicated evangelism in the name of Christ completely in our country.