Buy American Mention of the Week

Paul Proctor writes on the issues of Church and Faith for the American Reformation Project. Paul, a rural resident of the Volunteer state and seasoned veteran of the country music industry, retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance writer and regular columnist for News With Views, he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print. Paul may be reached at watchman@usa.com.

The Power of Money - There’s nothing in the bible about Jesus or the apostles ever soliciting money from those they preached to. Despite the fact that it’s vulgar, offensive and counterproductive to the cause of Christ, televangelists and others like them have been doing just that and more for eons. You see, it takes a lot of money to keep a face on TV and I suppose many of them see that as somehow good for God. (5/17/03)

Brotherly Bribes - It occurred to me we Christians might just be missing out on the next great opportunity for church growth. We could achieve so much more than we do today if we weren’t so stingy and inhibited by tradition. We’ve been offering a lot of things to bring in the "unchurched" over the past decade or so from food courts to tennis courts, coffee shops to gift shops and pop rock to hip-hop. The list goes on. But now, brothers and sisters, its time to rally the troops and raise that bar once again or the church will lose the next generation of "seekers" to a lifetime of secular Sundays. (5/4/03)

Night Stalkers - How confusing it must be for those outside the faith who try to connect the Jesus Christ of scripture to the people, groups and institutions of our day that call Him Lord. It’s a wonder ANYONE comes to faith in Christ anymore! Were it up to the machinations of men, clearly no one would. When I myself read Isaiah the prophet’s brief description of the coming Messiah and then view the postmodern church that bears His name, it’s often difficult to see any resemblance or relation between the humble Shepherd and the 21^st century sheep. (4/27/03)

The Kiss of Death - Most of us are familiar with the name Judas Iscariot. He of course was the fallen follower of Jesus Christ who betrayed Him into the hands of the chief priests and elders that sought His death in Jerusalem. You see, Jesus posed a significant threat to their status and standing in Jewish society, not to mention the treasured traditions that kept them in power and the Jewish people in bondage. They simply could not afford to let this miracle worker from Nazareth ride into town on a donkey and steal their thunder. So, after much conniving, they struck a deal with the disenchanted disciple that he might lead them to Jesus in the dark of night and identify Him with a kiss to the cheek. (4/19/03)

Helping God - Someone sent me an article from my local paper yesterday heralding today’s new and increasingly "necessary" high tech worship facility. You see – being one of the wealthiest counties in America affords cutting-edge churches here a credit line capable of helping God in ways that rural and underprivileged fellowships with their quaint little pews, plates and pianos simply cannot. Since we don't have that marvelous pillar of fire and smoke to draw and awe the crowds like the tribe of Israel, the more fashionable fellowships of faith and flair in and around Williamson county decided it was time to put their noggins and nickels together and pump up the jams around the old church house so us entertainment junkies wouldn't get bored and take our tithes and offerings to Las Vegas for the weekend. (4/3/03)

Remembering The Others - We’re going to war with Iraq in a few days essentially because terrorists killed almost 2800 people at the World Trade Center on September 11^th, 2001. You can argue the point that it’s really about oil, or about some new world order agenda, or about a personal vendetta against Saddam Hussein for his failed attempt on the life of George W’s father a few years back or that it’s just a preventative measure to thwart any future nuclear, chemical or biological attack from Babylon. The fact remains – we wouldn’t be preparing for what may well end up being World War III had 2792 people not died on that terrible day. (3/19/03)

Seeing Red - I suppose it won’t be long now till we all see red here in America. I’m referring, of course, to the Homeland Security Advisory System – that color coded contraption the federal government introduced last year to keep state and local officials advised on how prepared they should be against potential terrorist attacks. However, it is the Federal Media that appears to be getting the most use out of it alongside their ever-breaking news bites full of eerie music and traumatic film footage. The Homeland Security Advisory System, currently at "High Alert Orange" and only one level below "Severe Alert Red", is proving to be quite an effective tool for spreading fear and panic – which, in my estimation, is by design. (3/2/03)

The Peril of Polls - In the ongoing paradigm shift from a culture of conscience to a culture of consensus, where the word of the group rather than of the Word of God determines one’s feelings, beliefs and values, it is becoming increasingly clear that we have made polls and surveys the new measure of our morality, worth and progress here in America. (1/29/03)

Reality TV - Marketing Madness - I think we can all agree that there’s no shortage of sin in our society today. It’s been around since the Garden of Eden and will surely be taunting and tempting each of us to the very last breath. There is however, something disturbing about our growing attitude toward it. One need not travel any further than the nearest TV screen to see just how shameless we’ve become in our sins. (1/19/03)

Borrowed Blessings - Back in the late seventies, a well-meaning Christian friend and music producer of mine tried to console me one afternoon as I fretted over a rather large and burdensome credit card debt I had accumulated during the course of a gospel music recording project he and I worked on together in Dallas. (1/9/03)

Diaprax Goes To Seminary - I mentioned in a previous article that many churches and organizations not officially belonging to the Willow Creek Association were now adopting Willow Creek’s ways. It shrewdly allows them the social and financial benefits of compromise without the carnal stigma of being affiliated.

A Wordless Faith - One of the many disturbing trends I see in the 21^st century church today is an ever-increasing emphasis on “personal experience”. What makes this so dangerous is that it teaches one to trust and follow inner voices, impulses, feelings, philosophies, theories, conjecture and unexplainable “coincidences” instead of diligently searching the scriptures for explicit guidance and instruction on the issues of life. (10/30/02)

The Numbers Trap - It’s becoming increasingly clear that the world and its Wal-Mart ways of quantity over quality have all but taken over the 21^st century church. Even seemingly faithful fellowships that still claim the authority of scripture and resist affiliation with church growth institutions like Willow Creek and Saddleback... (10/10/02)

The Purpose Driven Lie - The latest in a growing list of Baptist Press articles spotlighting Rick Warren is one by Erin Curry promoting the pastor's latest book entitled, ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ - obviously a sequel to ‘The Purpose Driven Church’. My intention here is not to review Warren’s new release but rather address a poignant statement Curry attributes to Saddleback’s founder regarding the goal of the book. (10/3/02)

The Call To Unity - Unity seems to be the buzzword today not only in our politically correct culture but in the 21st century church as well. Somewhere along the way, under the guidance and influence of the seeker-sensitive, purpose-driven, promise-keeping, church-growth movement, (CGM) brought to you by Willow Creek, Saddleback and Fuller Theological Seminary, many in the Body of Christ have come to the erroneous conclusion that unity is priority one. (9/22/02)

Church Membership Covenants - Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, California recently came out with an article in the Baptist Press recommending pastors and congregations adopt church membership covenants as a way of compelling their flock to become more involved in and committed to the ministry of their church. Although, on the surface such covenants might seem practical, here’s what Jesus Christ had to say about making covenants with men. (9/9/02)

The Man Who Would Be King - He was born in an out-of-the-way place, the son of a poor mother and father whom the world would one day call blessed. He arrived challenging the establishment and literally shook the world with things that eyes and ears had never before witnessed. He offered a joy and freedom the everyday world simply could not provide. (8/23/02)

Barking Sheep - For two years now I have written much about the godless nature and direction of the seeker sensitive church growth movement conceived and birthed years ago at Fuller Theological Seminary and spread throughout the world by organizations like the Crystal Cathedral, Saddleback Community Church and Willow Creek Community Church through its associations and member churches. I have exposed and explained time and again the Hegelian Dialectic they incorporate into their teachings and practices to bring the church at large into the “ecumenical” and “interfaith” agenda of the United Nations through non-governmental organizations like World Vision. (8/15/02)

Suffer the Little Children - It has been my observation that for evil to progress it must deceive. It has to be able to appear to be what it is not in order to advance in our culture and in our own individual lives. Few of us, if any, choose evil because it is evil. We choose evil after having been seduced by charming words and images or persuaded by the lying desires of our own sinful nature. (8/15/02)

The Strength of Weakness - We live in a world that celebrates, honors and rewards its best, brightest and most beautiful. They are our heroes. Whether real or illusionary, these are the men and women whose images we lift up as icons in a world of mediocrity. We study their fame and achievements with hopes and dreams of accomplishing greatness ourselves or at least emulating a portion of theirs in our search for success. (8/15/02)

The New FBI: Federal Brainwashing Initiative - "With these sweeping changes, I think America is a lot safer today than we were yesterday," - former FBI agent Gary Aldrich. Excuse me Mr. Aldrich but the answer to politically correct roadblocks and bureaucracies is not tearing up the Constitution. Once the Constitution is gone nobody is safe...except, of course, those in charge. (6/4/02)

Fear Inc.: The Peace and Safety Company - Isn't it fascinating to hear and read all the amazing reports being heralded once again by the government's media machine regarding the latest terror threats? Do you ever wonder why they're always upping the ante each month with these alerts? (5/28/02)

Ozzy Does D.C. - Bush is Still Salt-Free - A few years ago I told a minister friend of mine over lunch, who was clearly upset over the Clinton sex scandals and issues of the day, that he should "beware of the godless conservative". After I said that, he stared at me as if I had just spoken in tongues. (5/21/02)

THE NEW JESUS AND A LOVE CALLED TOLERANCE - Have you heard? There's a new Jesus in town and he brings with him a NEW gospel message. It is a message that teaches a permissive kind of love...a love called "tolerance"...a love that hears no evil, sees no evil and frankly never brings evil up for discussion lest the offenders become the offended. Discussing the evil in our world, that is the sinful nature of man, is a risky venture nowadays, especially for any Christian or church seeking to be loved and accepted BY that world. (5/4/02)

THE TRAVESTY OF TOLERANCE: A GLOBAL GOSPEL - There is a sobering question that now begs an answer from the 21st century church. Was the cross of Christ simply a lesson in tolerance? Was that a big wooden T that Jesus hung from two thousand years ago, illustrating a "higher power's" message to: "Go ye into all the world and be tolerant"? Did Jesus say: "For God so tolerated the world, that he gave his only begotten Son"? (4/22/02)

IMAGINE (PART II) UNDERESTIMATING GOD - "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
"The Siege", a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington, Annette Bening and Bruce Willis has recently been in rotation on the USA Network. As many of you know it's not only about Islamic terrorism coming to New York City but more importantly it is about America's military being used against its own citizens under martial law. (4/12/02)

Enron: The Inverted World of Sin and Debt - Well, it seems that many beguiled investors are finally facing the facts about business as usual in America. Some learned their lesson the hard way a couple of years ago watching their dot com dreams go down in double digits on the NASDAQ as it fell from over five thousand to below two thousand. Why? Because everyone was living large on borrowed money. It was all debt and no earnings...all show and no go!

IMAGINE: PLAYING GAMES WITH GOD - Upon reading the following op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle my first inclination was to just dismiss it and move on. However, it occurred to me later that maybe this was something that needed addressing in light of our country's new infatuation with God and the growing apostasy within the post-modernist church. (4/8/02)

The Apostate Church - Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4