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Shane spoke with a passion that seemed to come from deep inside.  I found myself drawn into the story.

Him and his friend did a wonderful job presenting a picture of Jesus that today’s youth could really get their “brain around”.

They make a great point that we serve the kingdom of God and not America and that our hope is in the King of Kings and not in any president.  It was inspirational how they communicated that it is the church’s responsibility to care for the less fortunate- and that we shouldn’t rely on the governement for that (though their help is welcomed). 

However, the second half of the event seemed to “take a turn”.  After the event, our Senior High Youth Minster, Greg Reckinger communicated to me that he felt ambivalent about continueing in his plans to use the book as a curricullum for our senior highers.  Freshman Zack Fowler (pic on left) said: “I left there feeling confused because in the beginning of night it was all about Jesus and then it ended up being about passivism.”

I also, wasn’t sure how I felt about the night.  I felt inspired about Jesus and yet angry that the other side of the “conversation” wasn’t presented at all.  I was frustrated that I couldn’t respond publicly to the crowd. 

Here is what I would have liked to say: 

1) I found their comparision of Rome and America offensive.  I have been reading an autobiography of George Washington and watching the HBO series called John Adams.  This whole country was founded on premises that people would be free from the control of a dictator- especially in the name of God.   Yes, I agree, America is not meant to be a “new Jerusalem” or a Christian country.  However, to live here is a great gift and a responsibility- not a reason to be passive.  After the event, I heard one youth talk about whether he should vote or not. 

 I believe they left out that the United States of America is a gift from God and we are so fortunate to live here.

2) Why don’t you come out and say it- your teaching dogmatic Christian passivism.  While they used Hitler to make the point that Christianity was used for an evil war, they didn’t continue to talk about what it would be like to passively resist Hitler.   Iinterpreting scripture in its context was lacking: Jesus’ words to: “Turn the cheek” and go the second “mile” were used to support their belief that we shouldn’t bare arms- even to defend our women and children. 

3) Scripture was used out of context.  If memory serves, Galatians 1:6-7 was used to communicate that the “other gospel” was a gospel that didn’t embrace passivism, whereas the context of the writing has to do with legalism.

Since I am patriotic, much of the second half of the “conversation” was difficult for me.  However, I tried to not let reactivity get the better of me. 

I left there thinking about something C.S. Lewis wrote in his essay on learning in war time.  He wrote something to the effect that to die for one’s country may be a noble duty, but no country on this earth is worth living for. 

There is only one cause worth living for- Jesus.