we love him, we hate him
I find it funny that when Barna’s research fits the wathcdoggie’s agenda, he is their best freind. However, when the research swings the other way, the research organization is no good. I don’t have alot to say on this article; it fits so well with my last one. However, there is yet another example of bad logic in the piece
the editor writes
Rick Warren seems to equate the Biblical admonition against homosexuality as crippling: “For some time now, the hands and feet of the body of Christ have been amputated, and we’ve been pretty much reduced to a big mouth,” Warren wrote. “We talk more than we do. It’s time to reattach the limbs and let the church be the church in the 21st century.”
There is no source given for this, so I could not see the context. Regardless, where did Warren say that biblical admonition against homosexuality was crippling here? Sounds to me like he is saying our methods used to share with homosexuals has left the church crippled and unable to do anything else. These guys really need to take a course in research theory and methods. Come on, this is basic logic.
October 11th, 2007 at 10:09 am
That’s because he didn’t say that Nathan - classic creation of a straw man by an ODM.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Chris,
Perhaps the USA Today article could help eliminate the confusion of the context…
Study: Youth see Christians as judgmental, anti-gay
By Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service
Majorities of young people in America describe modern-day Christianity as judgmental, hypocritical and anti-gay. What’s more, many Christians don’t even want to call themselves “Christian” because of the baggage that accompanies the label.
A new book based on research by the California-based research firm The Barna Group found that church attitudes about people in general and gays in particular are driving a negative image of the Christian faith among people ages 16-29.
“The Christian community’s ability to take the high road and help to deal with some of the challenges that this (anti-gay) perception represents may be the … defining response of the Christian church in the next decade,” said David Kinnaman, Barna Group president and author of the book, UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity….
…Megachurch pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., used the book to say he hopes the church will become “known more by what it is for than what it is against.
“For some time now, the hands and feet of the body of Christ have been amputated, and we’ve been pretty much reduced to a big mouth,” Warren wrote. “We talk more than we do. It’s time to reattach the limbs and let the church be the church in the 21st century.”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-10-10-christians-young_N.htm
Hope that helps
jim
October 11th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Jim,
That doesn’t answer the question - Warren made no comment about declaring homosexual practice an acceptable lifestyle.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:50 am
it does help. It helps to show even more that Warren was not talking about biblical admonition against homosexuals, but the methods we have used. It has nothing to do with biblical admonition, but historical abuse of the scriptures.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:57 am
But Nathan…
Acknowledging “how” you communicate “the what” is important is emergent.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
So we’re not allowed to take or use only the research that fits our views???
Darn. Back to the drawing board…..