Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Christianity and Culture One Year Publication Anniversary
One year ago, my first book Christianity and Culture: A Christian Perspective on Worldview Development was released for the public. To God be the glory! Since the publication of this book thousands of souls have been touched by its content. I have had the privilege of speaking on the topic of worldview development at various churches and institutions of higher learning across America. Several Christian leaders and professors in seminaries and universities have endorsed the book. The book is being used as a supplemental text for a variety of advanced undergraduate and graduate courses such as Foundations to Ministry, Christian Ethics, Psychology of Religion, Philosophy and Christian Education courses. By God’s grace and His divine favor, a revised and updated version is due to be released through Creation House Publishers in 2011. So look for the revised edition of Christianity and Culture as well as other publications in your local bookstores! In the meantime if you desire to purchase your copy of Christianity and Culture, you can log on to our secure websites at: http://www.christianityandculturetoday.com/ and http://www.highercallministriesintl.org/
Monday, July 5, 2010
Fourth of July Celebrations and American Freedom
Disclaimer: No part of this note is in any way the endorsement of a political party and does not reflect any of my writings in my latest book, Christianity and Culture: A Christian Perspective on Worldview Development. This is simply my thoughts on the meaning of the Fourth of July in American history.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Thomas Jefferson
This weekend, Americans everywhere took the time to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It has been 234 years since our forefathers declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and for that we thank God for His many blessings upon this country. And on goes the celebration! Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. It is said that this nation spends billions of dollars during the July 4th weekend celebration each year, but unfortunately very few Americans know the meaning of freedom and the documents that were drafted to secure such freedom.
American Democracy and Freedom
In Democracy in America, Frenchman Alex de Tocqueville (1835) captured an idea that has since become known as the American liberal tradition.[1] When describing the emergence of American democracy, Tocqueville wrote, “The revolution in the United States was produced by a mature and reflective taste for freedom, and not by a vague and indefinite instinct of independence. It was not supported by passions of disorder; but, on the contrary, it advanced with a love of order and of legality.”[2] Tocqueville understands American democracy as a democratic regime at rest (stasis) because of its potency to bring liberty, particularly the personal freedom to do what is right. He also believes that Christianity “has rendered all men equal before God” (11). Louise Cowan and Os Guinness (1998) write that Democracy in America analyzes the workings of a free society and religion’s critical role in ensuring that it remains free.[3]
The Documents
No two documents in American history have been more vehemently debated or interpreted than the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address. Ironically they both respectively make up the fundamental artifacts of the American Republic apart from the United States Constitution. Based on the premise that “… all men are created equal, [and] that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness),” these documents share common truths concerning the founding of the American Republic as a political community.
Another Primer on Freedom
The Republic of Plato is the greatest work written on the political community and the power to rule. The Republic begins with the question “what is justice?”[4] In light of the concepts of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address both tackle the philosopher’s quest to define justice and equality. Justice or the good of the many is the goal of a democratic regime. The writers of the Declaration of Independence express the people’s desire to be free from the Tyranny of English colonization. Its premise is that freedom is for the good of the people, thus deliberating a verdict for justice. The same can be said of the Gettysburg Address, perhaps the greatest propaganda for war in world history; Abraham Lincoln’s public address is indeed one of justice’s greatest credence.
As we celebrate freedom, I pray that we remember that “all men are created equal” and that we have been endowed such freedom from our Creator God. God gave America freedom from the cruelty of British tyranny but God never gave America independence from our dependence from His sovereign authority! This is my prayer for all Americans and human beings across the world!
_____________________________________________________
[1] Smith, Rogers M. “Beyond Tocqueville, Myrdal, and Hartz: The Multiple Traditions in America.” The American Political Science Review 87.3 (1993): 549-556.
[2] Tocqueville, Alexis De (author), Harvey C. Mansfield and Delba Winthrop (Translators), (2000). Democracy in America. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 67.
[3]Cowan, Louise and Os Guinness (1998). Invitation to the Classics: A Guide to Books You’ve Always wanted to Read. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 228
[4] Bloom, Allan (1991). The Republic of Plato. New York, NY: Basic Books/Perseus Books, 7-34 (330d-354c).
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Thomas Jefferson
This weekend, Americans everywhere took the time to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It has been 234 years since our forefathers declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and for that we thank God for His many blessings upon this country. And on goes the celebration! Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. It is said that this nation spends billions of dollars during the July 4th weekend celebration each year, but unfortunately very few Americans know the meaning of freedom and the documents that were drafted to secure such freedom.
American Democracy and Freedom
In Democracy in America, Frenchman Alex de Tocqueville (1835) captured an idea that has since become known as the American liberal tradition.[1] When describing the emergence of American democracy, Tocqueville wrote, “The revolution in the United States was produced by a mature and reflective taste for freedom, and not by a vague and indefinite instinct of independence. It was not supported by passions of disorder; but, on the contrary, it advanced with a love of order and of legality.”[2] Tocqueville understands American democracy as a democratic regime at rest (stasis) because of its potency to bring liberty, particularly the personal freedom to do what is right. He also believes that Christianity “has rendered all men equal before God” (11). Louise Cowan and Os Guinness (1998) write that Democracy in America analyzes the workings of a free society and religion’s critical role in ensuring that it remains free.[3]
The Documents
No two documents in American history have been more vehemently debated or interpreted than the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address. Ironically they both respectively make up the fundamental artifacts of the American Republic apart from the United States Constitution. Based on the premise that “… all men are created equal, [and] that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness),” these documents share common truths concerning the founding of the American Republic as a political community.
Another Primer on Freedom
The Republic of Plato is the greatest work written on the political community and the power to rule. The Republic begins with the question “what is justice?”[4] In light of the concepts of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address both tackle the philosopher’s quest to define justice and equality. Justice or the good of the many is the goal of a democratic regime. The writers of the Declaration of Independence express the people’s desire to be free from the Tyranny of English colonization. Its premise is that freedom is for the good of the people, thus deliberating a verdict for justice. The same can be said of the Gettysburg Address, perhaps the greatest propaganda for war in world history; Abraham Lincoln’s public address is indeed one of justice’s greatest credence.
As we celebrate freedom, I pray that we remember that “all men are created equal” and that we have been endowed such freedom from our Creator God. God gave America freedom from the cruelty of British tyranny but God never gave America independence from our dependence from His sovereign authority! This is my prayer for all Americans and human beings across the world!
_____________________________________________________
[1] Smith, Rogers M. “Beyond Tocqueville, Myrdal, and Hartz: The Multiple Traditions in America.” The American Political Science Review 87.3 (1993): 549-556.
[2] Tocqueville, Alexis De (author), Harvey C. Mansfield and Delba Winthrop (Translators), (2000). Democracy in America. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 67.
[3]Cowan, Louise and Os Guinness (1998). Invitation to the Classics: A Guide to Books You’ve Always wanted to Read. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 228
[4] Bloom, Allan (1991). The Republic of Plato. New York, NY: Basic Books/Perseus Books, 7-34 (330d-354c).
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Your Spiritual Freedom Matters to God
“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
Today, I would like to take the opportunity to draw your attention to a freedom that is greater than human freedom. As we honor those who have died for human freedom, let us treasure the freedom that was brought by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Do not get me wrong, I am all for freedom from any form of dictatorship or tyranny but I am even more for freedom from the tyrannical rule of Satan. God says that He not only desires to give us human freedom, His ultimate goal is for us to live in the freedom that Christ offers.
Human/ Political Freedom
This weekend, Americans everywhere took the time to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It has been 234 years since our forefathers declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and for that we thank God for His many blessings upon this country. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. It is said that this nation spends billions of dollars during the July 4th weekend each year, but it breaks my heart to know that that many have ignored the price that was paid for their spiritual freedom and independence from Satan.
Spiritual Freedom
What is the cost of Spiritual freedom? I was reminded again and again that spiritual freedom isn’t free. Christ paid the price with His precious blood. I fear that an increasing number of Christians have lost the art of living in the freedom that Christ offers.
As part of our covenant relationship with Almighty God, we have received the promises and provisions made through the dispensation of grace. This is God’s appointed time and season of total victory over the powers of darkness. The Word of God gives the promise that “Whatever is born of God overcome the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (I John 5:4).
Let us not steep down to living in sin and allow ourselves to be enslaved by the enemy of our souls. I exhort you and beseech you in the compassion of Christ, faint not, weary not. There is a great necessity of heaven; you must have it. We have spiritual freedom from sin, death, hell and the grave. Dear friend in the name of Christ I urge you not to seek freedom from your dependence upon Almighty God. May we all embrace our freedom in Christ, the grace of the Lord be with you!
Today, I would like to take the opportunity to draw your attention to a freedom that is greater than human freedom. As we honor those who have died for human freedom, let us treasure the freedom that was brought by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Do not get me wrong, I am all for freedom from any form of dictatorship or tyranny but I am even more for freedom from the tyrannical rule of Satan. God says that He not only desires to give us human freedom, His ultimate goal is for us to live in the freedom that Christ offers.
Human/ Political Freedom
This weekend, Americans everywhere took the time to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It has been 234 years since our forefathers declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and for that we thank God for His many blessings upon this country. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. It is said that this nation spends billions of dollars during the July 4th weekend each year, but it breaks my heart to know that that many have ignored the price that was paid for their spiritual freedom and independence from Satan.
Spiritual Freedom
What is the cost of Spiritual freedom? I was reminded again and again that spiritual freedom isn’t free. Christ paid the price with His precious blood. I fear that an increasing number of Christians have lost the art of living in the freedom that Christ offers.
As part of our covenant relationship with Almighty God, we have received the promises and provisions made through the dispensation of grace. This is God’s appointed time and season of total victory over the powers of darkness. The Word of God gives the promise that “Whatever is born of God overcome the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (I John 5:4).
Let us not steep down to living in sin and allow ourselves to be enslaved by the enemy of our souls. I exhort you and beseech you in the compassion of Christ, faint not, weary not. There is a great necessity of heaven; you must have it. We have spiritual freedom from sin, death, hell and the grave. Dear friend in the name of Christ I urge you not to seek freedom from your dependence upon Almighty God. May we all embrace our freedom in Christ, the grace of the Lord be with you!
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