How To Be More Open-Minded

RELIGION IN THE NEWS

A report and comment on religious trends and events being covered by the media.This week’s item is from the Contra-Costa Times October 27, 2007, with a headline:“Church Delights In Choosing Its Own Way.” The following are excerpts:Sometimes controversial topics relating to religion such as homosexuality, science and tolerance toward other faiths are anything but taboo at PeaceLutheranChurch.We don’t fit inside some sort of category and have no interest in doing that, said Reverend Steve Harms, senior pastor.Peace Lutheran, which is celebrating its 50^th year is a Reconciling in Christ Congregation.This designation means they have a firm participation of gay and lesbian people, something not sanctioned by the Lutheran church as an organization but allowed by individual churches.The deeper we go in the practice, the greater the need becomes to welcome others, said Harms, who has been the church’s pastor for 18 years.This openness has received a mixed response in the community and is not automatically welcomed, Harms said.But Peace Lutheran’s congregation of more than 100 families has a willingness to adapt to change he said.Peace Lutheran also installed Danville’s first labyrinth, a walking meditation tool.It is amazing to see how the congregation has grown in spiritual wisdom and depth, Harms said, it’s filled with people who really care.For its 50^th anniversary the church has undertaken a commemorative art mosaic project in conjunction with other faith traditions, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and others.The 13X14 foot mosaic is expected to be finished next month and features spiritual symbols, such as a dove, a yin yang, a lotus flower and a feather.It will hang on the outer wall of the sanctuary facing the labyrinth.”

Tom:

We are asked from time to time, and more often in these days than in the past, what exactly is ecumenism, or however you want to pronounce it, and Dave, here is a classic example.Ecumenism is really getting into everything, as this pastor says, a willingness to adapt to change, and then involving, supposedly, growing in spiritual wisdom and depth.So they are going to add prayer labyrinths, mystical techniques, mosaic that includes yin yang and a lotus flower feather, the labyrinth, and then of course, it’s going to demonstrate that we are brothers and sisters involved in Judaism, Buddhism and Islam.This is ecumenism, this is really the apostate church being formed, I think, Dave.

Dave:

Well, in other words, anything goes. There is no truth, there is no right or wrong.

Tom:

But we’re getting spiritual, Dave, so what difference does it make?

Dave:

I’ve mentioned it a number of times, but I think it could be mentioned again.You remember Allen Blum, up to that point an obscure, unknown university of Chicago philosophy professor, and he wrote the book, The Closing of the American Mind.Brilliant idea!He said the one virtue in America is openness, openness to everything.You wouldn’t say anything is wrong, you wouldn’t put somebody down and say they have a wrong idea.

Tom:

Or be intolerant.

Dave:

No, that’s right.He says we have become so open minded that our minds have become closed to the possibility that something might be right and something else wrong.Now, this idea of change, you know, they are open to change—Tom, I love the Bible, you can’t escape it, God says to Israel:I the Lord change not!Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed!If I change because of your behavior, you’re gone!But God is love, and you know the Scripture that says, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever!But that all is thrown out, now we’re searching for:Oh new ideas!It’s like, you remember, on Mars Hill, when Paul went to Mars Hill, they wanted to listen, wanted to hear what he had to say.Well, what will this guy say, I mean, this new guy in town?And it says, They spent their time doing nothing but to hear and to speak some new thing.The Bible is God’s Word, settled forever in heaven, and it does not change, but these people, they don’t like the Bible.

Tom:

Dave, it’s amazing they keep their title.Why would you call yourself, Peace Lutheran, certainly these are not things that Luther would stand for.But even beyond that, why would you call yourself Christian?This is not Christianity and it certainly—well, when I say Christianity, what am I talking about?There are all kinds of practices and ideas and teachings under the label Christianity.But this is not biblical Christianity and Christianity is not Christianity unless it’s biblical!

Dave:

Amen!We get it from the Bible.

Tom:

Right. How else would you, well, you know, this is things that—Dave, we’ve been talking about mysticism, and there’s a mystery about the Bible, but it has content that can be understood.God said, Come, let us reason together.

Dave:

The mystery in the Bible is not mysticism or mystical practices, it is a revelation of truth that was formerly unknown, that were hidden, and now they are being revealed.But it has nothing to do with mystical practices like these men are promoting.

Tom:

Dave, what about the idea that a pastor, he’s been a pastor of this church for 18 years, but now he sees to be, he says so anyway, that his people are growing in spiritual wisdom and depth.What? On what basis?

Dave:

Well, if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not, the entrance of thy Word giveth a light.We’re going to get our wisdom and understanding from the Bible, not from mystical practices, not from going within to find some silence within ourselves.Tom, it is so incredible that rational people, let alone Christians, would go for this stuff.