I recently was visiting with an Episcopal Priest (Ph.D. from Oxford no less), and he mentioned the concept of the “third place”. It has nothing to do with the position one might achieve in an athletic competition, but rather the sociological identification of the space we humans occupy as a priority in our life. For example, the first place would probably our home. The second place might be the workplace. But what occupies the third place and beyond that, what SHOULD occupy the third place?
New Years Check List
This is an edited repost from a previous year but I think it’s worthy of consideration…
January 1st has no inherent magical quality which transforms you into the person you always wanted to be…
It does, however, provide a starting line for you to begin the important, often times arduous journey, of implementing important change and prioritization in your life…
Seven areas to consider (at least I do):
Addressing Church Closures
I’ve run across a couple research articles which are concerning…
Somewhere between 6,000 to 10,000 local churches nationwide close every year…
Between 1,000 to 3,000 churches nationwide are being planted yearly. (Not sure how “church” is defined or what structure might apply.)
Our nation grows by a net gain of 1.6 million people yearly.
You can do the math…
Frustrating the Grace of God
“I do not frustrate the grace of God…”
Galatians 2:21a
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9a
When it comes to the grace of God there is both a resistibility and irresistibility component…
Christian Nationalism
It appears the new “bogeyman” to be on the alert for is Christian Nationalism. The very phrase is proclaiming warning that if accepted or embraced will lead you down the path of heresy or a “false Gospel”.
I certainly want to avoid a counterfeit Christianity and in no way wish to create a politically partisan Gospel, but before we denounce this monster of CN, let’s be sure we are parsing carefully what we are and are not advocating. I would simply remind the reader that there are numerous labels which, at various times in history, have been both beneficial and detrimental in their usage. Labels like conservative and liberal have vastly different applications depending on the century. The words mystic, fundamentalist, enthusiast, Methodist, Baptist, and even “Christian” have been used as both epithets and proud banners of those adherent’s participating in those movements. I personally am convinced the label “Christian Nationalist” (CN) may be one of those convenient labels.