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Politics, Religion, & Your Vote

April 26, 2012 in Religion with 25 Comments

I read THIS article in The Christian Post last night regarding the religious and where their votes are going. Not too many surprises here, but still interesting information. The article stated…

Voters with high levels of religiosity favor Mitt Romney, while voters who are moderately religious or nonreligious favor President Barack Obama, according to a new Gallup poll.

Fifty-four percent of registered voters categorized as “very religious” said they are currently supporting Romney, while 37 percent said they would vote for Obama, in the presidential race. Among the “moderately religious,” 54 percent support Obama and 40 percent support Romney. Among the “nonreligious” Obama’s support is even greater, 61 percent, while Romney gets only 30 percent.

Voters are more closely split when comparing Catholics and Protestants. Protestants favor Romney, a Latter-day Saint, 48 to 43 percent. Catholics favor Obama, a Protestant, 51 to 45 percent.

Among “very religious” Catholics, though, the advantage tilts to Romney, 50 to 46 percent. The gap is even wider among “very religious” Protestants, who favor Romney 54 to 35 percent. When factoring in race and ethnicity, the gap becomes wider still. Romney has a 41 percentage point advantage (64 to 23 percent) among very religious non-Hispanic white Protestants.

Religiosity has been a reliable predictor of vote choice in presidential elections at least since the 2000 election. Those with high levels of religiosity have favored Republicans while those with low levels of religiosity have favored Democrats. This “God gap” has been a stronger predictor of vote choice than the much ballyhooed “gender gap,” in which females favor Democrats and males favor Republicans.

So what do you say? Will your faith have a big impact on who you’re voting for in the upcoming election?

The Real Housewives of…

July 8, 2011 in Religion with 40 Comments

According to CNN…

Ty Adams, a web-based evangelist and author, is producing “The Real Housewives of the Bible,” a two-part DVD series that tracks six women dealing with the ups and downs of marriage as they strive to be good wives.

Adams said that “outrageous reality shows” like Bravo’s “The Real Housewives” series and VH1’s “Basketball Wives” inspired her to create a more wholesome version of the franchise.

“I was frustrated with what I was seeing,” she said. “A lot of society is looking towards programming to educate them on relationships and these shows haven’t effectively done that.”

Interesting, huh?

It seems to me Christians tend to have a thing for taking cultural phenomenons and releasing their own “Christian” version of it. I don’t know if there’s a thing inherently wrong with it, but I know people tend to be pretty opinionated about it.

So what do you think?

Is it a lack of creativity or just smart evangelism?

Mixed Emotions

May 3, 2011 in Religion, Spiritual Growth with 127 Comments

Like everyone else I was glued to the news late Sunday night. I was shocked at the news that Bin Laden was finally dead. At first I felt such a great feeling of relief. I was so happy for the families who have lost loved ones from the terror he’s spread around the world. But the longer I thought about it the more confused I felt emotionally.

Don’t read into this post. I’m not writing this as a pastor trying to convince you how you should feel. In fact, honestly, I don’t know how you should feel. I don’t know how I feel.

I read verses like Proverbs 24:17 which says,

Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice

And I think to myself: “Pete, I know you’re glad justice has been served, but you shouldn’t be so inwardly excited about the fact that this man finally got what he deserves.”

Then I read verses like Proverbs 21:15 which says,

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

And I think: “Pete, you’re spot on. You should be happy. You should be elated this man no longer walks the face of this earth.”

I think the hardest thing for me is this… I wonder if I would have been as excited if the news had reported that Bin Laden had repented and accepted Christ as I was when I heard he had been killed?

Would we have jumped up and down over that?

I want you to know I’m proud of our troops, our former President, our current President and the host of people who have defended our country, our freedoms, and the American way. I can’t tell you how glad I am that a symbol of such long standing terrorism and the death of thousands no longer has power.

I’m just still torn about how I feel.

Anyone else struggling with this weird dichotomy?

Christian Marketing

April 13, 2011 in Religion, Spiritual Growth with 76 Comments

One of my favorite things about twitter is seeing little comments that make me stop and think. Yesterday I saw Derek Webb twitter…

The word “christian,” when applied to anything other than a human being, is just a marketing term.

I don’t know if I totally agree, but just think how often we do that.

Christian music.

Christian books.

Interfaith Marriage

August 2, 2010 in God, Relationships, Religion with 78 Comments

This weekend’s huge wedding between Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezinsky has brought quite the spotlight on interfaith relationships. It’s reported that Clinton a Methodist, and Mezvinsky, who is Jewish, began their new lives together with the blessing of clergy from both faiths.

Now I don’t want to make this post about this particular couple because quite frankly we don’t have a clue what they believe or don’t believe. All we know is the religious traditions they chose to incorporate into their ceremony.

I’m wondering how important you think it is for a couple to be on the same page spiritually before they tie the knot.

Can a Christian marry an atheist?
Can a Jew marry a Christian?
Can a Calvinist marry an Arminian?

Go ahead, the can has been opened.

This Book Ticks Me Off

July 13, 2010 in Leadership, Religion with 82 Comments

I’m currently reading one of the most controversial books I’ve read in a while, it’s called Mere Churchianity. This book has ticked me off so many times as I’ve read through it, but it’s also convicting me along the way. While I disagree with some of what the author says I’ve also found myself at other times wanting to stand up and cheer.

I wish the author, Michael Spencer, was still living (he died this past April right before the book was released) because I think I would have enjoyed sitting down with him over dinner and discussing his ideas on Jesus, community, and the Church. It’s been a while since I’ve found someone I so passionately disagree with at times and yet somehow still understand where he’s coming from. I might be wrong, but I think we would have been good friends.

Anyway, I thought I would pull a little section of something he wrote for us to chat about today. Try this on…

We have a culture-war spirituality that produces Christians who might never share their faith but are ready at a moment’s notice to debate politics, abortion and civil union for gay couples. It is a spirituality that calls down fire on its enemies and shapes its followers into intolerant soldiers waging a morality crusade. Its kingdom is the eventual triumph of moral conservatism, and its spirituality is conflict and argument.

Can we honestly say that Jesus was a culture warrior? Can we say that the spirituality of Jesus is geared to turning you into a noisy talk-radio pundit? Is our anger at the decline of culture really a dependable guide toward the experience of God?

Your thoughts?

The Ugly Truth About My Prayer Life

September 29, 2009 in God, Religion with 95 Comments

I’ll be the first to say I stink at prayer. I know, I know… you’re going to say “How can you stink at prayer, you’re a pastor?” I understand. I know it seems weird and trust me when I say I’m not proud of this fact.

Now I’m not saying I don’t pray or I don’t enjoy prayer. I’m not saying I don’t understand it or I need help understanding why we pray. I’m just saying I stink at prayer and my prayer life is not where I want it to be.

The painful thing is what my weak prayer life says about me. Here’s the ugly truth. My lack of prayer proves…

I underestimate the power of prayer and overestimate my own ability.

I’m not really as hungry for the intimacy with God I so regularly publicly declare as a desire of my heart.

While I would like to know God’s will for my life I’m clearly more committed to my will, my plans and my agenda.

I’ve bought into the illusion that there are more important things to do than spending time with the creator of the universe.

I’ve reduced prayer to a list of things I think I want or need and I currently don’t need to “use” God for anything.

So how’s your prayer life? What does your prayer life or lack of prayer life say about you?

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