But against this backdrop I’ve become more disheartened by the willingness of most Christians to overlook the undoubtedly pagan origins of this day, merely for the sake of not disappointing their children’s appetite for treats and their own reluctance to be separate themselves.  Why is that?  What is so compelling about a ritual that has its roots in a tradition meant to ward off spirits by wearing costumes and masks as disguises.  And, unlike every other holiday, has never been truly “Christianized” for the sake of Church acceptance.  Rather, the same people who would raise their hands and praise God on Sundays will dress themselves and their children up and parade down street dressed as all manor of evil.

Myself, I grew up in a family that stopped recognizing Halloween while I was 11 or 12 years old.  While the first few years were difficult in explaining to friends and relatives, it was no more so than our choices regarding music or movies, book choices or anything else.  It was a price we were willing to pay in order to make a distinction between what was of reasonable fun and what was clearly pandering to the secular for the sake of acceptance.

When I see Churches having “Fall Festivals” or “Holy-ween” activities, where dressing up is ok, but the emphasis is on biblical figures, I laugh.  Seriously?  Who do you think you’re fooling?  It’s like going to a bar with your secular friends and drinking non-alcoholic beer.  Your message is getting lost by your actions.

I’ll not bore my readers with a dissertation on Halloween’s origins, but do encourage you to read what has been contributed to Wikipedia on the subject.  It’s time Christians because a little more thoughtful as to the message it sends when participating in Halloween traditions.

1.  Mississippi

2.  Alabama

3.  Arkansas

4.  Louisiana

5.  Tennessee

6.  South Carolina

7.  Oklahoma

8.  North Carolina

9.  Georgia

10.  Kentucky

And in case you were wondering (I know you were), New Hampshire and Vermont tied for last place, followed closely by Alaska (enter Sarah Palin joke here).

You can read the entire article here

My first reaction after listening to Paul’s album was that this is how it will sound when we’re all gathered in heaven to praise God!  These are songs of worship, and while I listen to most albums for a few days before reviewing them, it was all I could do to stop after a month to write this – whether shoveling snow, working or driving to see family during the holidays it has been a real blessing to listen to and participate with.

And that’s probably the highest praise I can give to a creative work – Glorious really pulls you in with every song, and you will find yourself being spiritually fed by the clearly evoked ministry that each song provides.

My favorite songs on the album are “How Great Is The Love”, which spoke to me of how our salvation comes from the love of Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins.  A song of thanks, for the way he showed his love for us.  And “To The Cross”, which proclaims that “Chains are broken, shame has fallen, all my sins are gone!”  This song is such an encouragement,  you might find yourself raising your hands in praise in the most awkward places!

I could imagine many congregations adding several of Paul’s tracks to their worship service, as they are that lyrically deep.  God is truly evident in this album.
B+

The songs themselves are fairly standard fare, in terms of message, with a pop/soft rock feel to them.  There are tracks with ambiguous lyrics, typical of today’s Christian popular music, wherein the artist could be speaking about a relationship with a loved one just as easily as one with Christ.  I have mixed feelings about those songs, but don’t fault the artist for that.  Additional standout tracks include “One”, which exhorts the listener to acts of kindness, and my personal favorite, “With All My Heart”, a soaring song of worship and praise. 

“Old Glory” is the last track, a patriotic song that was released as a single in 2008.  Not sure why it’s on this album, other than to perhaps increase awareness of a number that is likely to become a staple of July 4th celebrations.

Overall, I was very impressed with the album, and highly recommend it.

   A-

A recent USAtoday article refers to a just-completed survey conducted by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life that the majority of Americans have adopted syncretism as the foundation for how they practice religion.  Of the 4,000 surveyed, they found that “…large numbers of Americans engage in multiple religious practices, mixing elements of diverse traditions. Many say they attend worship services of more than one faith or denomination — even when they are not traveling or going to special events like weddings and funerals.”

While this co-mingling of religious beliefs and practices is heralded as a positive in terms of tolerance and understanding, it was also pointed out that there are clearly situations of confusion and/or disrespect occurring, with the example of the pop singer Madonna who flaunts loose morals yet is known for both her Catholic and Kabbalah religious practices.  Or, those of the Jewish faith that also celebrate Christmas, some out of mixed marriages, others for the sake of their children.

The article and survey are worth reading, as it’s eye-opening to see how much religion is becoming a vessel in which individuals freely mix beliefs and practices rather than being based on the Bible.  And while we can argue whether Baptists and Pentecostals will ever sit side-by-side in a pew, there are clear signs that Christianity is being diluted in order to find acceptance with the masses.

The best analogy I can come up with is one we’ve all seen before, usually in the context of marriage and the risks of being “unequally yoked” by marrying an unbeliever.  It’s not a watering down of the Bible and everything it represents so much as a dilution through the adding of other beliefs and practices.  Like taking a glass of water and adding Kool-Aid and sugar – the water is still there, but the nutritional benefits have been  marginalized, to the point that it can be unhealthy.

We as Christians have to find that balance between embracing and evangelizing.  Acceptance versus admonishment.  Recalling that the Bible speaks of us as being lights to the world, of the Word of God as being water.  Both of these elements represent purity, don’t they?  Today, yoga, horoscopes, and other Eastern mysticisms and cultural practices have become mainstream, summarily creeping into churches as well.  It used to be just Halloween we had to concern ourselves about.  Now it’s “every wind of doctrine”.

Our faith obligates us to not allow the Word of God, our beliefs or practices to be compromised.  While we may not agree corporately on every theological topic, the church must have a foundation that is scriptural and leadership that is steadfast in its responsibility to lead the flock on the straight and narrow way.

Ryan Pann shot this video at the Encounter Generation Conference, as a way to chuckle at the craze most of us have recently experienced that advocates the “side hug” between opposite sexes. 

 It’s become a viral phenomenon, largely to an audience unfamiliar with the background and thus thinking it makes fun of Christians.

Anyways, I think it is a good bookend to the forthcoming book from Jonathan Acuff, Stuff Christians Like, where the side hug is #106.

Enjoy