Editor’s Note: Rick Patrick is a frequent commenter here. He sometimes commits the unpardonable sin of disagreeing with me, but he always writes well and makes a clear point. I’m dying to see which of his five points is going to get the most discussion here today.
These random opinions jump around. Fortunately, like the best things in life, they are free. If you don’t like one of them, don’t buy it. Or better yet, tell me why I’m an idiot, or as we say in our Christian vocabulary, “Share the truth in love.”
1. Church hoppers should be forced to wear a “Scarlet H” on their clothing.
Yes, occasionally there are grounds for a Christian to switch churches locally. I’ve done it once myself. But usually they are hurting their own process of Christian maturity by blowing a petty matter out of proportion. It’s not good for them personally. It’s not good for area churches as it only fosters a sense of competition. And it’s not good for pastors who invest themselves in equipping believers as it drains them emotionally.
2. The NFL rule change has eliminated the kickoff return from football.
Granted, I only watched one preseason game, but this is unbearable. Kicking from the 35 results in touchbacks 90% of the time. As boring and perfunctory a routine as an intentional walk in baseball, if this is going to be the rule, just give them the ball on the 20 yard line and cut out the commercial.
3. Rick Perry is going to be the next President of the United States.
His message is uncompromising, which is another way of saying that he possesses the courage of his convictions. I will watch with great interest to see if conservative Christian voters, who were less than energized by the candidacy of John McCain, will once again step up and be willing to confront the secular culture of the blue states rather than continuing the unwise tactic of “accommodationism.” Surely we don’t have to become lost liberals in order to reach lost liberals. For all the talk about Christians needing to stay out of politics, Michele Bachmann has done more to bring to Secular America a clear and balanced perspective of wifely submission than all the TV preachers and seminary professors put together! What an opportunity to speak to the culture and become the salt and light Scripture encourages us to be.
4. Local Baptist associations should reconsider their office buildings.
When I’ve traveled internationally to Mexico and Ukraine, the IMB missionary had living quarters for his family, but no other office headquarters. He went from church to church supporting the work, meeting with pastors and equipping the saints. If the average association is comprised of thirty or forty churches, that’s at least 200,000 square feet of building space. Find an office for the associational missionary there. Why purchase even more real estate and force the association’s budget to pay overhead like utilities and maintenance? Less money to power companies means more to missions.
5. NAMB is once again creating bureaucracy and not eliminating it.
When I read about Al Gilbert’s new “Love Loud” post, all I could think about was Ken Hemphill’s “Empowering Kingdom Growth” job and Bobby Welch’s “Global Evangelical Relations” organization. I guess streamlining NAMB was so 2010. Does it interest no one else that every SBC post (Page, Eliff, Gilbert, etc.) now goes to someone who served on the Committee That Must Not Be Named With the Box That Must Not Be Opened?