Evangelical teens rally in S.F.
- Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer

Chronicle photo by Paul Chinn
Saturday, March 25, 2006

More than 25,000 evangelical Christian youth landed Friday in San Francisco for a two-day rally at AT&T Park against "the virtue terrorism" of popular culture, and they were greeted by an official city condemnation and a clutch of protesters who said their event amounted to a "fascist mega-pep rally."

"Battle Cry for a Generation" is led by a 44-year-old Concord native, Ron Luce, who wants "God's instruction book" to guide young people away from the corrupting influence of popular culture.

Luce, whose Teen Mania organization is based in Texas, kicked off a three-city "reverse rebellion" tour Friday night intended to counter a popular culture that he says glamorizes violence and sex. The $55 advance tickets for two days of musical performances and speeches were sold out, but walk-up admission was available for $199.

After stops in Detroit and Philadelphia in the next few weeks, Luce wants to unleash a "blitz" of youth pastors into the communities to do everything from work with the homeless to find new ways to bring others to Christ. He challenged youth leaders to double the size of their groups in the next year.

And then he plans to return to San Francisco next year to chart their progress.

That's bad news to Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who told counterprotesters at City Hall on Friday that while such fundamentalists may be small in number, "they're loud, they're obnoxious, they're disgusting, and they should get out of San Francisco."

Luce didn't flinch in the face of the counterprotest. The author, host of the "Acquire the Fire TV" cable television program and a President Bush appointee to a federal anti-drug-abuse commission, wants teens to find Bible-based solutions for the spread of sexually transmitted disease, teen pregnancy, drug abuse and suicide.

The villains, Luce said, range from the promiscuity and "sexualization" of young people on MTV and the popular online meeting hub MySpace.com to a corporate culture that spends millions trying to woo the under-21 crowd.

Battle Cry will try to bring them back to God through two days of religious rockers, speakers and the debut of what Luce called a Christian alternative to My Space.com.

"This is more than a spiritual war," Luce said. "It's a culture war."

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The Da Vinci Project

The Da Vinci Project is a group of resources designed to help you respond to the spiritual interest generated by Dan Brown's book, The Da Vinci Code and the upcoming release of the Columbia Pictures/Sony movie based on the book this May 19, 2006. Seize this unprecedented opportunity to equip believers to answer the challenging questions raised by the movie about the deity of Christ and his Word. It may result in opening up one of the most positive, compelling and welcomed dialogues about the real and relevant Christ.

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Sunday Repose

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised. Ps 113:3 NIV

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Your Servant Has Killed Both the Lion and the Bear!

A word of encouragement to all who tend the flock of God!

This past Sunday, while sitting under the teaching of Pastor Willie at Calvary Temple of Christ
in Yuma, AZ, the following verses were flashed up on the screen amongst others. They nearly jumped of the page at me.

But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; 1 Sam 17:34-36 NIV

Those of you who have shepherding responsibilities now, whether as a senior pastor, a youth worker, a home group leader or as a parent, know the heartache of losing a lamb. Sometimes it is beyond our control because of job transfers or moves. Sometimes they are lured by the promise of greener pastures. But sometimes, it is the enemy carrying them off through sin and deception- addictions or anger and resentment or the result of gossip and backbiting, etc.

It is at just such a time, I would encourage you to recognize several things.

There are those who cannot be rescued or, worse, do not want to be rescued. There are others who see no problem and wander off on their own. They just made a decision to go another way.

But still there are others carried off by the enemy!

Our Lord wants His sheep cared for and protected from the enemy- the lion and the bear. Since it is His will that they be protected, then He will not only give to you, His shepherds, the wisdom(that word of wisdom) to know how to deal with each situation, but when the time comes you will have all that you need to go after that lion or that bear and strike it and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it turns on you, and it will, you will have the strength and the know-how (that word of knowledge) to seize it by its hair, strike it and kill it!

It will not matter the nature of the sin or what manner of weapon the enemy employs, with God's will comes grace which is, among other things, the divine enablement to fulfill His will!

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What makes up a church?

I would like to encourage a debate here.

What do you think qualifies as a church, not under civil law, but biblically?

Can a para-church ministry such as a television network qualify as a church?

Should it?

Leave your comments for other to read.

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TBN is now claiming to be a church!

Here is a quote from a article in USA Today.

"A ruling that means Sumner County and the city must refund the theme park-like Trinity Broadcasting Network complex here more than $300,000 in taxes ends an 11-year skirmish and gives the colorful owners much of what they’ve wanted — status as a church."

“Obviously, we were hoping for 100% across the board, because Trinity is a church, but we understood the judge’s ruling and we have no objection to it,” said TBN attorney John Casoria, speaking from the international headquarters in Tustin, Calif."

Though I realize that there is much debate over what does and does not make a "church". I would think that there are some basic, universally accepted criteria.

1. Worship God - There is a vast difference between performing worship-themed songs and worshipping God in Spirit and in truth.
2. Fellowship of the believers - This involves "growing by that which every joint supplies". It also invocommitmenttment to one another, to bearanother'sthers burdens which does not happen while taping an episode oChristianitian Variety Show" any more than it happens in the audience at the Ed Sullivan theater during "Later Night with David Letterman".
3. Discipling - This involves not just preaching The Gospel, as opposed to their particular brand of prosperity, but also raising up and nurturing these new converts through personal involvement not by proxy through taped TV programs.
4. Stewardship - Using the resources of people, talent, money, facilities, etc. to the best possible advantage for the advancing of the Kingdom of God. TBN is not a member of the Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability which callsstewardshiprdhip practices into question.

I do not doubt that there has been and can be benefit from TBN's broadcasts, however, as I stated in "The Gospel According to Nixon", pragmatism has no place in the Kingdom. The ends do not justify the means. Establishing a worldwide satellite network does not mean that one does not have to be accountable or can lack integrity. It does not give license to pervert one of the very foundations of Christianity.

The church is a living, breathing organism of responsibility - responsible for righteousness, for relationship and for reconciliation- not a means for self promotion, self absorption or self gratification. TBN has crossed the line and we must be responsible to challenge this empire to accountability, to require transparency and integrity. If we do not, we, by non-action, condone this and thereby participate for which we will one day give an account!

Have we been boiled like the proverbial frog, brethren, or shall we fulfill our responsibility as watchman on the wall to warn those in sin so that we may win them?

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The Da Vinci Code

There is a growing furor over the upcoming release of the movie "The Da Vinci Code". And rightly so! We, as Christians and leaders, must be prepared to deal with this heresy and guide the flock safely away from the confusion and even possibly doubt that may result from reading this novel or viewing this movie. Very much like the "Theory of Evolution" is an unproven theory which has very little to do with facts or science, so it is that the Da Vinci Code, though written as a novel and having no foundation in truth or history, is embraced as actual and tenable.

I point you to and article by Dr. Ted Baehr of "Movieguide" which appears in the "World Net Daily" entitled "Da Vinci Code: Compromising with Evil".

Also, Sony Pictures, which is releasing the movie, has established a website, "Da Vinci Code: The Dialogue". Below is the stated purpose of the site.

The primary focus of The Da Vinci Dialogue is to help Christians prepare for the inevitable question that will arise with the release of the film, "What do you think of The Da Vinci Code?"

These are the facts - currently, there over 40 million hardback copies of The Da Vinci Code in print. There have been thousands of column inches already written about The Da Vinci Code, and there will surely be more. It is now possible to take tours across Europe to visit historic sites referenced in the novel. On May 19, 2006, the highly-anticipated film version of the book, starring Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks, will open in theaters. There are literally millions and millions of devoted fans of The Da Vinci Code spanning the globe.

But there are also numerous people worldwide who question the theories espoused in The Da Vinci Code. Books refuting the claims of the best-selling novel have collectively sold millions of copies. Churches have held sermons and seminars to address the controversy and dispute assertions that many believe run counter to the foundations of their faith. These, too, are the facts.

The Da Vinci Dialogue offers a thoughtful and faithful response to the questions raised by The Da Vinci Code. In the weeks leading up to the release of the film, prominent scholars and experts from across the spectrum of Christianity have volunteered to tackle specific issues raised by The Da Vinci Code - cultural, historical, theological and practical. By tapping into the collective wisdom of these respected Christian men and women, The Da Vinci Dialogue hopes to present a forum where people can wrestle with the complex topics raised by the book and the film.

While Sony Pictures Entertainment has provided the means for this discussion to take place, neither the studio, the filmmakers nor Dan Brown have any editorial control over the content of this site. None of the Christian experts have been paid for their commentary or insights. This is an open forum where discussion, debate and disagreement are welcome. The Da Vinci Dialogue wholeheartedly invites you to join the conversation.

Among those contributing to this dialogue are:

Tony Campolo

Tony Campolo, Professor Emeritus at Eastern University in St. Davids, PA, is the founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, an organization that develops schools and social programs in various third world countries and in cities across North America. He is the author of many books, his most recent being Speaking My Mind.

Chuck Colson

Chuck Colson is the founder and chairman of Prison Fellowship, the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoner. A popular speaker and prolific author, he has written 23 books, which collectively have sold more than five million copies. His autobiographical book, Born Again, was one of the nation's best-selling books of all genres in 1976. Beginning in 1991 Colson launched a daily radio feature called BreakPoint, a unique and popular program that provides a distinct Christian perspective on current issues and conflicts.

Gloria Gaither

Gloria Gaither is a Grammy-winning lyricist, whose collaborative efforts with co-writer husband, Bill, have resulted in the creation of over 700 songs – a collection that expresses the faith of millions around the world. Author of many books, a dozen musicals, and countless published works, Gaither is also recognized internationally as a Steinbeck scholar and has contributed articles to the Steinbeck Quarterly and a 2005 presentation to the Sixth International Steinbeck Congress in Kyoto, Japan.

Hugh Hewitt

Hugh Hewitt is the host of a nationally syndicated radio show heard in more than 70 cities nationwide and is a professor at Chapman University Law School in Orange, CA. He is the author of Blog: Understanding the Information Reformation That’s Changing Your World, as well as The New York Times bestseller If It’s Not Close, They Can't Cheat. Hewitt is also an Emmy winner for the PBS news show Life & Times and a columnist for World Magazine.

Josh McDowell

Josh McDowell is a renowned speaker, author, and champion of the Beyond Belief Campaign. He is a representative of Campus Crusade for Christ, having spoken to more than 10 million people in over 80 countries, including 700 university and college campuses. McDowell has authored or co-authored more than 100 books and workbooks, including The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict and his latest releases, The Last Christian Generation and The Da Vinci Code – A Quest for Answers.

It might be worth your time to investigate this site as a way to prepare yourself for the questions.

As information comes my way that may be of assistance, I will forward it on. If you have more information or other resources, please feel free to leave a comment that I and others can read.

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