The national uproar resulting from an at-best poorly executed plan for President Obama to address government school children today escalated even more rapidly than the slow-burn-to- raging-inferno of the health-care debacle. Regardless of one's views on the Department of Education, it should be highly disconcerting that such a national initiative was launched by the highest level of educational authority – and facilitated a divisive, contentious, politically charged public-relations disaster.

When first alerted by a local principal about the letter from Education Secretary Arne Duncan, I immediately went to the website and read both letter and lesson plans, highlighting a number of "red flag" issues. I was incensed but not surprised; upset but not shocked. However, not all agree.

A black pastor on one of our local pastor councils stated, "… an all out frontal attack against President Obama is vile and racist and reflects a putrid thread of racism and racial oppression. Different is not better or worse over the short haul unless you are black and occupying the highest office in the land."...

What is the vision of the Church? That was the sermon topic one Sunday a dozen years ago or so when I visited a friend’s church. But as I listened, I found my mind wandering. I had just signed a contract to write a book on Christian worldview, and I was experiencing writer’s remorse. Did this book really need to be written?

Suddenly the pastor’s words caught my attention. The mission of the Church, he said, is to prepare for Christ’s return in five ways: prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship, and evangelism. In that instant, all doubts about writing the book vanished. Of course, these five spiritual exercises are central to the Church’s life, but we can never overlook our responsibility to redeem all of culture as well. Though well-intentioned, the pastor’s words were a prescription for the continued marginalization of the Church.

Just like this pastor, many evangelicals define faith strictly in terms of personal salvation. Yet soul-winning is not an end in itself. We are not only saved from sin, we are also saved to something—to the task of cultivating God’s creation. Genesis teaches that on the first five days, God did the work of creating. But on the sixth day, He made human beings in His image to carry on His work—to develop the raw materials of the world He had created...

 
2009 Faithful Citizenship Gala


Friday, November 6
6:15pm - VIP/General Reception
7:00pm - Dinner

Westin Galleria Hotel
5060 W. Alabama, Houston



Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt
Faith in Action Honoree

Gordon James Klingenschmitt is a former U.S. Navy Chaplain who made national headlines by standing up for the rights of military chaplains to pray publicly "in Jesus' name."   By sacrificing his 16 year career and a million dollar pension and demanding his own court martial, he inspired 300,000 petitioners, 35 pro-family groups, and 75 Congressmen who mobilized to overturn the national military "non-sectarian prayer" policy, restoring the rights of chaplains of all faiths to pray publicly, in uniform, according to the dictates of their conscience. 


More information coming soon!

To reserve your tickets or table, please call 832-688-9166 or email us at info@uspastorcouncil.org

Pastor to Pastor, with Rev. Ed Young

Tuesday, September 22nd
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

"A Day with Ed Young: Church Growth for Every Church"

Lunch provided courtesy of Second Baptist Church.

Get Directions

Registration: Contact Sharon Cain at 713.957.2000 or email.

Staff Contact: Tom Billings, Executive Director, Union Baptist Association