AN UPDATE FROM TURKEY
All is going very well on my travels through Turkey, the land of the Bible. I am in the city of Antalya right now. It has a great museum.
Below is the link (yes, a long link) to a radio interview I gave on my new book Mormonism Explained a few days ago. The station called me in Turkey. Just download to listen to it.
https://secure.logmein.com/f?3.n6GI1ilyBou-8cAn7LZZG1RsbqVYcFTdrRneuiTlL
I was contacted by the Christian Research Institute today to write an article for their Journal. They asked me to write an article based on my recent post “How To Engage in Politics Without Losing Your Soul.” So, I started it today and I will send it in the next few days.
More soon …
REVIEW OF MORMONISM EXPLAINED
Calvin Moore at The Christian Manifesto (a great new site) wrote the following review on my book Mormonism Explained: What Latter-Day Saints Teach and Practice.
Dr. Andrew Jackson’s Mormonism Explained: What Latter-Day Saints Teach & Practice is an excellent resource for Christians and non-Christians alike who are attempting to understand the Mormon religion. Meticulously investigated, yet accessible, this book presents the Mormonism as is, with very little commentary.
The first half of the book spends its time looking at the inception of the Mormon faith. It is a bit dry, but will likely appeal to history buffs out there. In order to understand the beliefs of the Mormon faith, one must understand where it came from and the primary players. Jackson does a great job of condensing Mormonism’s storied past and keeping it accessible enough for the novice historian.
The second half of the book is likely what will appeal to most people who pick up the title. This is where Jackson lays out what it is that Mormons actually believe. There has been no end to the confusion on this matter. It did not help matters that Jackson is an evangelical Christian writing about a faith he is not part of. But, as any thoughtful person would do, Jackson set aside his differences and consulted several Mormon scholars and organizations to help him systematically explain Mormon beliefs. And, of course, Jackson also uses Mormon scripture and writings in his explanations, also. Here, readers will find discussions about the Mormon understanding of being “the one true Church” on earth, continual revelation, and how salvation is understood and attained in Mormonism. The most interesting of the chapters, in my opinion, is the chapter titled, “The Worldview of Mormonism.” It is in this chapter that Jackson best explains the Mormon mindset that so many Christians tend to misunderstand as they begin conversations with or have debates about Mormons and their faith. From the outset, Jackson is clear that, “Mormonism and Christianity advocate two deeply contrasting and conflicting worldviews.” And he is also clear that Mormonism is a full-fledge worldview, one that many people take for granted in the conversation. Mormonism Explained is actually the best resource I’ve read about Mormonism.
Rather than taking a point/counterpoint approach, Jackson has offered thoughtful Christians a chance to see into the mind and world of people who believe differently than Christians. While I am convinced that Mormons are deceived as any other sinner is deceived by Satan, this book helps me to better understand where they are coming from in order to better engage the conversation and offer spiritual truth.
A VISIONARY CALL FOR A “CHRISTIAN INDEPENDENT PARTY”
Unfortunately, over the last several years, Christians have allowed ourselves to simply become another “voting block” within the Democratic or Republican parties. We have allowed partisan politics to divide the Church into Red (conservative Republican) Christians and Blue (progressive Democratic) Christians, with each condemning and mistrusting the other. Sadly, many Christians have allowed their political allegiance to take precedence over their allegiance to the transcendant Kingdom of God and the unity of the Body of Christ.
In many ways, the leaders of both political parties have comfortably, and often smugly, believed that they have had Christians in their political “back pockets,” appeasing them with token Christian-talk, special visits to the White House, and even hiring Christians to be their partisan political hacks. Even biblically powerful terms like compassion, justice, and peace have been co-opted and reengineered by the political parties, making them into mere slogans or catch phrases. I believe it is time for Christians to regain our freedom from both the Democratic and Republican party machines by declaring our independence from the “ownership” of either political party. How?
By launching the Christian Independent Party!
I know this sounds bold, and some will simply laugh when they read this. Others will accuse me of visionary dreaming. But why not? I don’t have all the answers, but if Christians do not reposition ourselves in the political public square, our voices will soon be lost into the partison fog of irrelevancy.
I am not calling for a naive disgruntled separatist movement, but one that proactively demonstrates our independence by engaging both political parties from a more nonpartisan position, and praying that the Kingdom of God come, and God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
What Would the Christian Independent Party Look Like?
Again, this is only somewhat of a prophetic call, but I would envision that the Christian Independent Party (CIP) would be an independent political advocacy network made-up of self-confessing Christians within the Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox historic traditions. Although independent, we would value diversity of opinion, and encourage members to vote for whatever political party candidates they chose. Our mission would be to constructively engage within both the Democratic and Republic parties, and not to become an alterative political party to the Democratic or Republican parties. The CIP would have no candidates, just independent biblical worldview activists.
Would You Join a Christian Independent Party?
I would like to hear your thoughts, and hear how we might go about launching a Christian Independent Party. Email me at AndrewJackson@SmartChristian.com.
Memorial Service in Turkey for Christian Martyrs
Hundreds of Evangelical Protestants gather in Turkey for an one year memorial service for Christian Martyrs. Unfortunately, there remains deep disappointment concerning the lack of Christian freedom in the Turkic Republic.
ALL ABOUT LARRY NORMAN
There is a very informative website on Larry Norman - the father of Christian rock music - at LarryNorman.com.
A MAJOR SHIFT AT WILLOWCREEK CHURCH
Many copycat churches are saying “now you tell us,” as Willowcreek shifts its vision away from seekers to mature Christians. How refreshing.
IS SAN ANGELO ANOTHER WACO?
When I read about the abrupt raid on the the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ ranch compound in Angelo, Texas, the barbaric burning raid of the David Koresh Waco compound came immediately to my mind. The burning of women and children. Sounds strong I know, and I guess it is meant too.
Although I am against polygamy, this governmental raid smells of another tragic event full of unproved child abuse allegations, and inhumane treatment of women and children. Now, 416 children ranging in age from 6 months to 17 years have been ripped from their mother’s arms and crowded in cold isolation, with approximately 130 of these children being under 4 years old. Why? What is the government attempting to accomplish? The state wants to obtain these children is isolated custody, and likely move them to foster homes. Tragic!
San Agelo yells of another Waco, and our government must be called to act with compassion and wisdom, especially toward women and children. And, this event simply cries of neither.
THE FEDERAL BUDGET CRISIS EXPLAINED
Before anyone votes for a presidential candidate in 2008 they must first read the book Where Does The Money Go? Your Guided Tour To The Federal Budget Crisis by Scott Bittle & Jean Johnson of the Public Agenda.
With all the tantalizing sound-bite spending and new program promises being thrown around like red meat to hungry lions by the present presidential candidates, it is crucial that all voters become informed voters concerning the real facts about the federal budget crisis, and how realistic and honest these dime-a-dozen promises really are.
Before I left for Turkey - I am writing this post from Ephesus - I began reading Where Does The Money Go? and I was so impressed with its concise explanation of the federal budget crisis that I decided to provide some of the FACTS in a question and answer format:
What do we mean by the words deficit and debt?
The deficit reveals whether the government has balanced the budget in any year. Our federal government is addicted to deficits. The federal government has spent more on programs and services than it has collected in taxes thirty-one out of the last thirty-five years. But, don’t be fooled by any news headlines boasting about balance the budget. Simply balancing the budget, although it helps not to add to the overall debt, will not solve the long-term financial problems of Social Security and Medicare.
The debt of the federal government reveals how much money the government has borrowed in total.
What are the federal government’s primary sources of revenue?
The federal government’s four primary sources of revenue are (1) Individual income taxes at 43.4% (2) Social insurance and retirement receipts at 34.8% (3) Corporation - big & small - income taxes at 14.7% (4) Excise - alcohol, tobacco, gas - taxes at 3.1% and (4) other at 4.1%. The federal government receives approximately $2.4 trillion each year in revenue. Since individual income taxes is the largest source of federal revenue, approximately 50%, it is important to know what “individuals” are really paying income taxes. Well, approximately 52 million Americans pay little or no income taxes at all because of their income level.
What does the federal government spend its money on?
The federal government spends its money in six primary areas (2006): (1) Non-Defense Discretionary at 31.9% (2) Security Security at 20.7% (3) Defense at 19.7% (4) Medicare at 12.4% (5) Medicaid at 6.8% (6) Interest on Debt at 8.5%. To clarify things even more, the federal government spends approximately 68% of its revenue on five things: Social Security, national defense, Medicare, Medicaid, and interest on the money borrowed.
What percentage of federal spending goes to programs for the retirees/elderly?
It is estimated that about 46% of the domestic federal spending goes for programs for the elderly (Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid).
Are all federal government programs equal in nature?
No. Not all federal government programs are equal in nature, there is a big difference between discretionary and entitlement programs. Some are “discretionary,” meaning the government can give and take away (education, defense, veteran’s programs, space program etc.), and others are “entitlements,” meaning that government has no choice but to pay (for example, Social Security, Medicare, and also, in a sense, the interest on the national debt since it is off limits). Entitlements are on autopilot and Congress has no responsibility to review them as part of the budget process and make any spending decisions.
What is America’s present debt percentage to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?
America’s debt percentage to its GDP is approximately 65%. The present national debt is approximately $9 trillion, and the federal government adds to the debt each year as it continues to borrow more money each year. In 2006, the debt percentage to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 37%, but when the government’s debt to the Social Security/Medicare funds are also included, then the debt percentage to the GDP is really about 65%. When the government borrows more and more money, it makes it harder for American citizens to borrow because it drives up interest rates. High interest rates jeopardize nearly every part of the economy. IMPORTANT FACT: The federal government has no strategic plan to lower the government’s debt. None! Have you heard any of the presidential candidates speaking about how to lower America’s debt?
Why is the federal government in debt to the Social Security trust fund?
Social Security is set up as a “pay-as-you-go” program. It is not a saving or investment program. Although we would expect the government to bank the extra money in a Social Security trust fund, it has actually been borrowing this money for its ongoing program operations. In fact, today, the Social Security trust fund is running a surplus, but only on paper. The government has borrowed from it, and has indebted itself to pay the money back in the back. The fact is, if the government had been putting Social Security and Medicare taxes in a secure trust fund (remember that lockbox) then there would be no problem meeting the costs of retiring Boomers. But again, that is not what they have done, they have spent it all. When the government will have to start paying for retired Boomers they will have to cut expenses, raise taxes, or borrow more money to do it. It is estimated that the government will begin to pay out more than it collects in Social Security taxes in the year 2017.
How much does the federal government owe to foreign nations, banks, and investors?
Approximately a quarter (25%) of America’s $9 trillion debt is held by foreign governments, banks, and investors. Including China and major Arab oil producing nations. No one really knows what would happen if suddenly these foreign debt holders wanted their money back right away. But if they considered markets like Europe more stable than the United States, then it is a real possibility, and America’s economy would be in a major crisis.
What is the biggest crisis scare for the federal government’s budget?
The biggest crisis scare for the federal budget is Medicare. Medicare, which has “multiple” parts, is the government’s health insurance program for the elderly (for those over sixty-five). And, the sobering fact is that the Medicare’s trust fund is being emptied even faster than Social Security. The very troubling reality of future Medicare costs is that it is essentially linked to America’s overall health care system. And, since the cost of health care is skyrocketing, there is no way to really estimate or plan for the cost of Medicare for retiring Boomers.
Is the Iraq war one of the primary reasons for the federal government’s budget crisis?
No. Although the cost of the Iraq war is significant and damaging, it is not one of the primary long-term problems in our federal budget crisis. The Iraq war cannot be single-handedly blamed for America’s economic problems. Ending the Iraq war is not a major solution for our economic crisis. For example, the Iraq war has cost approximately $400 billion over the last four years or so, but our debt has gone up $2.3 trillion over the same four years. So, even if the Iraq war was taken out of the present budget, it would not come close to dealing with the deficit or the long-term Social Security/Medicare costs of retiring Boomers.
Are the Bush tax cuts one of the primary reasons for the federal government’s budget crisis?
No. Ending the Bush tax cuts alone will not solve the primary problems of the U.S. economy. Most of the tax cuts are set to expire at the end of 2010, but the explosive costs of the retirement of Baby Boomers will never be addressed simply by ending the Bush tax cuts.
What will happen if the federal government does nothing to address the present budget crisis?
If the United States federal government does nothing concerning the federal budget crisis, around the year 2040 almost every tax dollar collected will be needed to pay for retirement and health care for the elderly, and the interest on the debt. There will be no money for anything else, except possibly a basic national defense.
The book Where Does The Money Go? presents some of the perspectives and solutions being presented by the Democratic and Republican parties. This eye-opening book is one every voter in this presidential election should read before they vote. Without sounding over dramatic, all I hear is promises of more spending while the ship is sinking. To put it another way, the real issues of the federal budget crisis is not being addressed by any of the presidential candidates. I truly hope this changes in the general election.
EVANGELICAL BUSH AND A QUOTE FROM ORHAN PAMUK
I am traveling through Turkey for the next several months, and I have not had internet access for the last few weeks so I have not been able to post. As I travel and interact with the Turkish people, I am attempting to do a lot of listening about their lives, and especially about their present views concerning America, its foreign policy, and American Evangelicals. These are presently “one” in the Turkish media, and in the Turkish collective mind. Yes, a recent article in the Turkish press I read was titled, “Evangelical Bush.” I will write more about this later. But, let me just say that America needs so very badly a Christian Independent movement, we do not need Blue Christians who want to be Jeremiah Wright prophets to the Republican Party or Red Christians who want to be James Dobson prophets toward the Democratic Party. What is needed are RedBlue Christian prophetic voices that equally interact and speak to both political parties. Biblical Christians should not be in any political party’s back pocket. Back pockets are too narrow for the Kingdom of God.
I am reading the novel The White Castle by the Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006. It is my view, that Americans must begin to read foreign writers. Why? Because Americans - especially Christians - need to understand how others see us and the world. Remember, America does not live on an secluded island, but in a vast world made up of people who have the same dreams and visions of freedom and peace.
I found the following statement by Pamuk quite powerful:
“Even whips could not make the slaves obey once they had been aroused by the passion for freedom.”
Mormonism Explained Arrives
As I am running wild to leave for Turkey on Sunday, it was a pleasant surprise to receive a copy of my new book Mormonism Explained: What Latter-Day Saints Teach and Practice from Crossway. It is being released on April 30th so please pick up a few copies and pass them around. Also, in the next few days the website www.MormonismExplained.com will go live.
HOW TO ENGAGE IN POLITICS WITHOUT LOSING YOUR SOUL
I titled this post based on Jesus’ statement found in Mark 8:36, What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” The reason that I chose this convicting passage is because over the years I have watched many Christians who became zealously active in partisan politics actually “lose their souls.”
That is, they lost their unique public witness as a Christian; they began to act contrary to the character of Christ and the fruit of the Holy Spirit; and they became agents of division within the church itself.
Below I offer 10 biblical guidelines on how Christians can engage in politics without “losing their souls.”
1 - Christians must never allow ourselves to equate the biblical Kingdom of God with any human political party or nation (John 18:36; Isaiah 9:7; Matthew 6:33, Philippians 3:20, Revelation 11:15). As Christians we must be diligent in maintaining and perserving the distinctiveness between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. We must never fuse the two. The great “utopian illusion” that easily enters our politics is that peace, harmony, and prosperity for all can be brought about in the world through human political means.
2 - Christians must never allow ourselves to elevate a specific politician to a messianic or savior status (1 Peter 3:15). In our entertainment and celebrity culture, it is becoming more common for people to infuse politicians with almost a messianic or savior status. In other words, people begin to believe a politician’s extrordinary promises and that they actually can single-handlely produce almost supernatural social results. As Christians, we have one Lord, and we must resist all attempts to exalt any human politician to unrealisitic heights.
3 - Christians must not just vote, but more importantly, we must pray for our government and the leaders of all political parties (Matthew 5:44, 1 Timothy 2:1-2). In our polarized political society, many Christians are tempted to bless the politician or political party they support, and curse the other one they don’t. How unbiblical! The Bible is clear, we are to pray for all political and government leaders, even our political enemies.
4 - Christians must always remember that our ultimate security is in Christ and in the unshakeable kingdom of God, no matter what presidential candidate or party wins (Hebrews 12:26-29). One of the dangers that many Christians seem to often fall into is that we begin to elevate the outcome of presidential elections to an apocalyptic status. In other words, if our presidential candidate or party does not win, we begin to see it as the end of the world. This is what I call the “Y2K complex.” When we allow ourselves to understand politics in apocalyptic terms, we at the same time express an unbelief in the sovereignty and Lordship of God over his creation and human history. Yes, elections have real consequences for people, but in the larger scheme of history, don’t worry, no matter who becomes our president, God is in contril and will take care of things.
5 - Christians must never allow ourselves to bring the divisiveness and polarization of political parties into the church, the family of God (Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 1:11-12). We cannot allow partisan politics to divide the body of Christ. Invidual Christians have freedom of conscience before God and the Bible, and as a result, we must accept the fact that there will be diversity of political opinions in the church. We must never allow diverse political perspectives cause conflict and divisions in the church.
6 - Christians must never allow ourselves to demonize or dehumaize another person - no matter what politician it is - because every single human has been created in the image of God (Colossians 3:8, Matthew 7:1, James 4:12). Christians must not engage in demeaning and judging other people, no matter whether we agree with them politically or not.
7 - Christians must never engage in angry confrontational arguments, instead of being open to learn through civil debate and dialogue (James 1:20, Philippians 2:14-16, 2 Timothy 2:14). When we interact with other people with hard-core dogmatic positions, we demonstrate an ugly pride that demeans the character of Christ. As Christians we must humble ourselves, understand that as humans we are limited in our understanding, and that we all can learn more about the very complex issues that face our nation. Christians must always engage in politics through a path of reason and civility.
8 - Christians must never allow ourselves to become so intertwined so closely with one political party that we forfeit our independent identity as followers of Christ. When we do, we lose the prophetic voice to speak and clarify biblical truth to all politicians and political parties (1 Timothy 3:15, Ephesians 4:15, Romans 3:4).
9 - Christians must never allow ourselves to engage in partisan politics by supporting divisiveness between races, between male and female, between rich and poor, and between the young and old (Matthew 5:9, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Electorial politics is all about dividing society into specific voting blocks. And as a result, politics usually divides our society, instead of uniting it. Christians must always function as peacemakers and reconcilers in the public square, and resist every temptation to join the political tactics of dividing people for political gain.
10 - Christians must not allow ourselves to fall into the trap of simply cursing the darkness through negativity, instead of constructively engaging our world as perserving salt and illuminating light (Matthew 5:13-16). The cultural and missional mandate of kingdom Christians requires us to stop cursing the darkness and start lighting more candles that reflects God’s truth, compassion, and love.
Political Lingo
If you are falling behind on your political lingo, check out the glossary at CitizenJanePolitics. By the way, CitizenJane is a impressive independent, non-partisan political site that is quite informative.
How To Engage in Politics Without Losing Your Soul
If you are in the Phoenix Valley next Sunday (March 30th) I will be speaking at Wonderful Mercy Church. The title of my message will be “How To Engage in Politics Without Losing Your Soul.“ I hope to see you there. On April 6th, the following Sunday, I will be flying to Turkey where I will be spending the next four months, although I will return for a few weeks when my book “Mormonism Explained: What Latter-Day Saints Teach & Practice” will be released on April 30th by Crossway Books (pre-order on Amazon or at WorldChristian.com.
Deepak Chopa’s Buddhist Jesus
Ben Witherington has a review of Chopra’s Buddhist Jesus.
A Few Thoughts on Obama, Wright, and the Race Speech
I waited a day before posting some of my thoughts on the race speech of Obama, which I watched live. Here they are:
1 - A friend who disagrees with you goes to you in private to share his/her concerns, and does not go on national television and denounce you. Based on Obama’s own words, that is exactly what he did to Jeremiah Wright. He said he never privately discussed with Wright his concerns over his domestic/foreign political views, again, something you would expect from a friend or family member would do. Instead, he went on national television and denounced his views.
2 - Obama revealed his willingness to politically lie when it seemed necessary, showing he is like all other politicians. He initially denied that he was ever in the church when Wright made bizarre political declarations, but in his speech he admits he was. So much for being a politician like no other.
3 - Obama’s race speech does not actually lead to a constructive solution to race problems in America, it will actually unleash its ugliness. The speech has now setup a predictable situation that if Obama loses the election either to Clinton or McCain, the election results will be blamed on the “white conservative racist” conspiracy, and I predict will launch public black protests. If Obama loses, he will be made out to be a victim of unjust race hate.
4 - Obama’s sinking poll numbers can be solved very easily. All it would take is for Jeremiah Wright to go on television and say that what he preached was a mistake and that they were not really his true views. However, he will not do that because those were his real views, and Obama has known it for 20 years.
5 - Since Obama wants to move quickly beyond Wright and his race speech, he is being flushed out and he will have to start to speak about his specific liberal viewpoints and policies. This will pop his transcend messianic balloon, and it will start to answer the key question, “who is Obama?” In my view, the answer to this question will be warmly embraced by hard-core liberal democrats, but independents will begin to flock to McCain.
Did a Liberal White Dude Write Obama’s Race Speech?
Are Evangelicals Finding the Center?
Read the Christian Science Monitor’s article, “Evangelicals Find the Center.” Evangelicals are definitely in a historical time of identity crisis in many ways. This article attempts to feature some of the conversation that is going on in the Evangelical movement.
Listen to My BlogTalkRadio Interview
If you missed my interview on Rick Moore’s BlogTalkRadio program last night, you can listen to it by clicking on this link http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Rick-Moore/blog/2008/03/18/HolyCoastcom-ON-THE-AIR. Let me know your thoughts.
SmartChristian’s Political Group Blog RedBlueChristian.com
Several months ago I launched the political group blog RedBlueChristian.com. The idea behind the blog was to allow both Red Christians and Blue Christians to find a common blog space to present their views and interact with others. We have added several new bloggers recently. As the presidential race heats up please visit RedBlueChristian.com for diverse Christian opinions.
If you are interested in becoming a regular blog contributor at RedBlueChristian.com please email me.
I Will Be On BlogTalkRadio Tonight
I will be on Rick Moore’s BlogTalkRadio program tonight (Monday) at 7pm PT. We will be talking about my new book Mormonism Explained and the political race, including the whole Obama saga.
You can hear the program online by clicking here. You can also call-in at (347) 347-5547 and join the conversation. I hope you will listen in.
The First Muhammad Museum
Dubai plans to build the first museum in the world dedicated to Muhammad.
2nd Muslim Elected to Congress
Details here.
God Damn America
The clips of Jeremiah Wright (Obama’s pastor) preaching “God damn America” is very similar to what I have seen preached in many mosques or shouted on the streets of Iran. You have to ask yourself why Obama would attend such a church for some twenty years. A lots of questions still need to be asked and answered. Take a look for yourself. By the way, Obama is both black (father) and white (mother).
My Stroll Through Barnes & Noble
I strolled through Barnes & Noble bookstore this afternoon and passed the stand alone table with a large sign that read “The New Christians.” It was filled with books by Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, Rob Bell and Doug Pagitt. Down the aisle I took a look at Deepak Chopra’s book The Third Jesus in which he asks the question “Is Jesus really all about enlightenment?” and of course his answer was yes. Further down the isle I thumbed through Barak Obama’s book The Audacity of Hope (20% off) with the dedication given to his mother (she was white you know) in which he wrote “whose loving spirit sustains me still.” No mention of his controversial and bizarre pastor JW. Walking toward the door I ran into the big display of Joel Osteen’s best-seller Become a Better You. Not sure how much Gospel is found inside. As I was about to walk out the door I glanced to my right and my eyes majestically fell on The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I stopped and took a deep breath. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters reminded me once again about the conflict of Kingdoms in which we as Christians live. I walked out the door to meet my friend at Pei Wei for lunch, and ordered Mongolian Beef with extra vegatables, of course very spicy.
Looking for New Contributors at RedBlueChristian.com
As we move into the general election, I am looking for new contributors for RedBlueChristian.com. RedBlueChristian.com was launched as a place that Christians of any political identity or party could post their thoughts, and cross-post to their own blogs. RBC is a blog space where political discourse could take place without name-calling or demonizing. If you are interested in becoming a contributor please email me.
What Is the Secret of Obama’s Popular Appeal?
I find it interesting that news commentators keep describing Barack Obama as being black or African-America. This is not true. Obama is both black (father) and white (mother). He is actually bi-cultural when it comes to race identity. This I believe is the non-tangible appeal of Obama that people feel. I believe it would be a strategic and attractive move for Obama to begin communicating to America that he is not simply black, but he is a black/white American. This is why he can bridge our historic racial division.
ANATOLIA’S UNDERWORLD: The Spiritual History Behind the New Testament & Modern Turkey
Adventurers in Turkey soon discover it to be a spectacular “open museum.” Past civilizations have left behind a rich treasure of ancient remains: pottery, marble columns, old aqueducts, and countless artifacts. Some of these physical treasures have been collected and stored in museums. Most however, remain buried under the dirt and debris accumulated over the centuries. The remnants on the earth’s surface are only the tip of the iceberg—a mere fraction of what lies beneath the surface. What can be seen with human eyes provides but a small glimpse of the real significance of Anatolia.
The average tourist in Turkey subjectively feels the extraordinary convergence of the spiritual realm, but rarely acknowledges or understands it. Indeed, even long-time residents are often unaware of the active spiritual underworld nurtured throughout millennia due to fervent acts of devotion, festivals, and occult rituals. So what is the real meaning beneath the numerous mosques, loud calls to prayer, and the official line that Turkey is an Islamic land? The purpose of this chapter is to scratch beneath the surface in order to discover the deep realities of Anatolia’s spiritual underworld.
When the Goddess Ruled
A revolution in human development emerged in Anatolia during the Neolithic Age (8,000-3,500 B.C.). Thousands of years ago, prehistoric groups wandered throughout the land—hunting, gathering food, and leaving their signature in the form of ritual cave paintings and animal cult figurines. Eventually these wanderers settled in agricultural villages. Some of these villages grew into fortified towns in centralized states and even into extensive empires. It was through this growing settlement process that the land came to possess such an extraordinary concentration of active demonic powers.
The world’s most impressive example of prehistoric civilization is found in the ruins of Çatal Hüyük, located approximately thirty miles southeast of the modern city of Konya in central Turkey. Çatal Hüyük was founded in the ninth millennium B.C. and lasted a thousand years or more. Like most of prehistoric Anatolia, Çatal Hüyük’s religion was goddess worship. Their great mother goddess was portrayed through numerous shrines and statuettes. The goddess was often heavyset and usually in the process of giving birth. She represented the primary source of life—fertility, seasonal renewal, and everything having to do with life and death.
It is believed that priestesses, rather than male priests, performed the diverse rituals of this prehistoric town of some seven thousand residents. Of the 139 buildings excavated so far, nearly a third seem to have been used for ritual purposes. The goddess figurines were often half-human and half-animal. They were sometimes shown seated between leopards, which served as arm rests while the goddess gave birth to an animal. Throughout the rest of Anatolian history goddess worship continued under various names. But the goddess always symbolized Anatolia’s earliest devotion to the spirits of nature and fertility.
A Land of Gods and Goddesses
In the middle of the third millennium B.C., a progressive people group called the Hatti entered Anatolia from the east. They established their capital at Kanesh, which is located between the modern cities of Kayseri and Sivas. Eventually the Hatti culture (2,600-1,900 B.C.) spread so broadly that Anatolia itself became known as the “land of the Hatti.”
Through written records left behind by Assyrian merchants living and working in Anatolia, we learn that the land of the Hatti was covered from one end to the other with gods and goddesses. Everything that seemed beyond human control–wild animals, fire, planets, storms, and mountains–was turned into a god or goddess to be worshiped and appeased. Each town and region had its own special deity, religious center, and multiple ritual practices. Anatolia became well populated—indeed, thoroughly polluted—with major and minor gods of every form, shape, and origin, ranging from the mother goddess Hepat to the weather god Teshub.
Deity Saturation and Abraham
In the midst of this deity saturation in Anatolia, Abraham’s family migrated from the city of Ur to Harran. Harran is located in today’s southeastern Turkey and was a center for the worship of the moon-god Sin. From here, God called Abraham to leave Harran and go to the land of Israel. He gave him the redemptive promise that through him “all peoples on earth would be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). God’s promise to Abraham is being fulfilled today as local churches are being planted among every people group of the world.
The Great Pantheon of the Gods
As larger towns and cities were being built at the beginning of the second millennium B.C., Anatolia’s spiritual realm became more entrenched and concentrated through the Indo-European Hittites (2,000-1,200 B.C.). The Hittites are mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 15:20. After establishing their initial capital at Kanesh, the Hittites began to expand their influence throughout Anatolia. The Hittite kingdom eventually moved its capital to the elaborate city of Hattusa (modern Boğazkale). It emerged, along with Egypt, as one of the great powers in the Middle East. The Hittites flourished in Anatolia during the period of the Patriarchs, Israel’s exodus from Egypt, and the journey to the Promised Land.
The primary reason for the increasing concentration of spiritual powers within Hittite civilization was their practice of absorbing and unifying the numerous Anatolian gods and goddesses rather than destroying them. The Hittite civilization was polytheistic to the core. One unearthed document speaks about the “thousand gods” of the Hittite kingdom. In fact, the Hittites were not satisfied with Anatolian deities only. They also captured the cult images of foreign gods and transferred them to their capital for continued worship.
The Hittites allowed local communities to continue to worship their local deities. However, their kings actively grouped these numerous gods and goddesses into a national pantheon located in the capital city of Hattusa in central Anatolia. In so doing, the kings assumed that they could guarantee divine protection and prosperity for their kingdom. The national Hittite pantheon of gods is portrayed in its final form today at the rock-sanctuary of Yazılıkaya, located about two miles from Boğazkale. The mother goddess Hebat leads the procession of deities. The Hittite kings were deified after death and, during their reigns, served as high priests. They were responsible for preserving the religious devotion and fervency of the temples and worship centers throughout the kingdom. The kings were also expected to attend the many religious festivals held in honor of the gods throughout the year.
The Hittites had thousands of temples and places of worship. Each temple was often the home to several gods. They were presided over by servant priests whose daily task it was to wash the gods, provide them with food and drink, and entertain them with dancing and music. It was believed that through this daily routine, the gods could be appeased and flattered. If this routine was interrupted, the Hittites feared the
wrath of the deities upon their kingdom.
The lives of the Hittite people were absorbed in magic. Their documents are devoted to the many methods and rituals used to drive out disease, bring physical healing, dispel evil spirits from houses, overcome failing crops, and curse enemies. An abundance of amulets (objects worn or carried for magical purposes) have also been discovered at Hittite sites. The practice of magic has continued up to the present day in the spiritual practices of many Turkish people.
Kingdoms from the Rubble
The Hittite kingdom was invaded and scattered around 1,200 B.C. As a result, the next few centuries in Anatolia were a time of dispersion and reconfiguration. Out of this rubble, several smaller independent kingdoms emerged. They continued the Hittite spiritual culture of various gods and goddesses from 1,200 to 547 B.C. In eastern Anatolia a people from diverse origins established the Urartian kingdom on the shores of Lake Van. In western Anatolia, the Lydian kingdom was founded at the city of Sardis. The Phrygian people ruled Anatolia’s western central plateau. During this historic upheaval, the Phrygian’s worship of the goddess Cybele spread throughout the land. Eventually, Rome championed Cybele as the Great Mother of the gods.
The Greek Adaptation
In the sixth century B.C., Cyrus the Great led the Persians (547-334 B.C.) to victory over the Assyrians before sweeping westward and taking control of the land of Anatolia. When Alexander the Great defeated the Persians, the spiritual heritage of Anatolia was absorbed and adapted by Hellenistic culture coming from the west. The Greek gods–including Zeus, Aretemis, Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, Athena, Hermes, Ares, Aphrodite, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, and others—ultimately held full sway throughout the Anatolia. Adapting to Anatolia’s spiritual realm, Greek temples were built atop the many holy sites that covered the land. As the Romans entered Anatolia in the second century B.C., they creatively adopted and perpetuated the spiritual legacy of the Greeks.
Ephesians’ Artemis and Magic Galore
One of the best sources concerning the spiritual realm of Anatolia during the Greco-Roman period is the Bible, particularly the book of Acts and the letter of Ephesians. The Bible makes it clear that the land of Anatolia bubbled with demonic activity during the first century A.D. Demonic principalities and powers introduced at Çatal Hüyük were still spreading their fear and bondage through the worship of the Ephesian goddess Artemis. Believing Artemis had descended from heaven, countless enthusiasts idolized the goddess as Savior, Lord, and Queen of Heaven. The blatant ornamentation of her elaborate design boasted that she alone possessed cosmic ascendancy and power. The signs of the zodiac circling her neck declared her command over man’s astrological fate. Her chest, blanketed with apparent protruding breasts, accentuated her proposed ability to bestow fertility. The columns of animals adorning her skirt announced her dominance over the menacing spirits of nature. Identified closely with the goddess Hecate, Artemis’ designation as a goddess of the underworld also reveals that her worship included overt practices of magic and sorcery. She was recognized as possessing control over the demons of the dead by holding the key of Hades. It was common practice to invoke the name of Artemis during magical rituals to ward off feared demons. As Acts 19 and the letter of Ephesians reveal, nothing short of active spiritual warfare could liberate the masses of people entangled in the spiritual underworld of Anatolia.
Turkish Folk Islam
The guidebooks and encyclopedias tell us that Turkey is ninety-nine percent Muslim. This official statistic requires clarification however. Initially the Central Asian Turks were shamanists, i.e., active worshipers of the spirits of nature. Although some Turks became Christians through the missionary activity of the Nestorians, they absorbed Islam into their shamanistic practices when they came into contact with Arab Muslims. The result was a hybrid spiritism, “Turkish Islam.” As the Turks settled in Anatolia, their popular culture was held together by the mystical practices of numerous spiritual brotherhoods and associations, such as the Whirling Dervishes religious order.
Today many travelers to Turkey are surprised that a very small percentage of Turks go to the mosques when the high minarets broadcast the call to prayer. The explanation is quite simple. Most of the Turkish people do not practice the traditional religion of Islam. At the practical level of daily living, most practice a Islamic form of spiritism or occultism that includes performing rituals on special mountain tops and at ancient trees and holy graves. Many of these holy sites have been places of worship for thousands of years. Dr. Rick Love, in his well-researched book Muslims, Magic and the Kingdom of God, states that approximately eighty percent of today’s billion or so Muslims practice an animistic form of Islam. Animistic Islam has six primary spiritual power components:
Powers: belief in many spirit beings.
Power people: practitioners of magic and the occult.
Power objects: the wearing of charms, amulets, fetishes or talismans with the belief that they contain supernatural power to protect or bless.
Power places: locations or centers of spiritual power, where people can go to seek blessings and powers.
Power times: special religious feasts and festivals.
Clearly, in today’s Turkey, as in the days of the Apostle Paul, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
A Photographer for the Glory of God
Bill Walsh provides the following 9 insightful reasons he is a photographer:
1 - Creation is a gift from God (and by creation, I mean all that God has made, not just mountains, birds, and trees). It is meant to display and communicate his glory.
2 - God hides himself in creation. Unbelievers seldom see him in it, but believers are given eyes to see, so they can glorify God through it.
3 - In order to glimpse of the glory of God in creation, we actually have to engage with it.
4 - All art has one source: God’s universe. We create nothing, but only imitate the creator.
5 - Cultural and artistic expressions are gifts from God which we should not neglect.
6 - Culture that glorifies God is a foretaste of what we will experience in the new heavens and new earth.
7 - Christians should avoid quickly judging cultural expression as sacred or secular. God also reveals himself through his common grace.
8 - Christian cultural expression should not solely focus on the beautiful and the romantic, but should include the flawed.
9 - The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of fusing heaven and earth, and serves as the ultimate source of inspiration for those engaged in artistic pursuits.
Will Jim Wallis Denounce the Huffington Post?
Allan Bevere has a thought-provoking post at RedBlueChristian.com concerning Jim Wallis, God Politics, and the Huffington Post.
Greg Boyd’s Review of Colson’s God & Government
Greg Boyd posts a rather detailed review of Chuck Colson’s book God & Government.
Dr. Andrew Jackson's New Book on Mormonism