November 18, 2006
Evangelical News
Ted Haggard, the deposed, but wildly successful, Colorado evangelist said, in an interview with Richard Dawkins, that he modeled his church service after a rock concert. Lord knows, the big congregations have all the flashing lights and electronic equipment to produce them. This ought to appeal to adolescents (chronological and otherwise), and it does to some -- then they enroll at Liberty U.
However, this week there are two adolescent proselytization backfire stories in news -- the preacher teacher saving souls in a New Jersey classroom, and the horrifying story of a Polish exchange student who found that his host family were evangelical Christians, with high hopes for a Krakow mission
Although there is a yearning for social connection in contemporary society that evangelical congregations seem to be satisfying, the question remains whether social connection through organized religion is a positive influence on society in general.
On to more evangelical news.
Bush, showing his sincere interest in working across party lines, having lost 30% of evangelical votes in the midterms, has tempted them back into the fold with the person of Dr. Eric Keroack. The abstinence-only fanatic will be our new chief of family planning programs for the Department of Health and Human Services. Small consolation for losing James Inhofe.
So much for heterosexual evangelism. Evangelicals have been working on the primary prevention of homosexuality. [be sure to scroll]Jon Stewart, of course, has other ideas. Then there's the model of Christian compromise as practiced at the Cathedral of God in Dallas.
Had enough? Not quite? Me too.
Photo note: A distorted, truncated church