Dr. Russell Moore has summarized in a powerful brief article what I was intending to slave over today at my keyboard.  Now I can just simply link to his article!  The emphasis of this article is not to downplay the importance of Christians being concerned about their country.  On the contrary, we are commanded to pray for our national leaders - including President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and the rest (not that we can't question them or poke fun at them, like my post below)!  However, Dr. Moore correctly assess the confidence we are to place in God on matters such as health care and refocus our abundance of zeal into directions that have eternal significance.  Take a look:

http://www.russellmoore.com/2010/03/22/dont-be-afraid/ 

I do not typically write about issues that are politically driven.  There are many reasons why I refrain from doing so, but at times something will come along that at least deserves a quick note of address.

A couple of days ago Nancy Pelosi, in a speech supporting President Obama's health reform, brought her faith into the mix.  She said:

"Today is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.  It’s a day where we remember and pray to St.
Joseph to benefit the workers of America, and that’s exactly what our
health care bill will do." 

Two quick points of observation.  I will leave the commentary to your own minds.

1.  If a Republican had said this, I wonder what the response would have been.  Where is the outrage of bringing prayer into the business of government health reform?

2. Friday the 19th wasn't the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.  That particular feast occurs on May 1st.  Oops. 

Here you can see me and hear me give commentary over a recent Team match on the game Call of Duty for the Wii.  If you actually watch this, it means you have way too much time on your hands.

Here is a quote from a Facebook comment made today concerning a divisive and difficult point of theological application:

"We all have our own interpretation of what's right for us, and we're all correct!"

This is not only rationally ignorant, but it smacks in the face of Scripture's most basic teaching and 2000 years of church history.  Did Jesus believe every interpretation that "worked for us" was valid?  Did Paul or any of the apostles?  Should Athanasius have simply let Arian move forward with his interpretation of Christ as a created being?  Should Augustine have allowed the views of Pelagius to go unchallenged because it was a good interpretation for him?

I know that this side of glory we will always have theological differences of interpretation.  There will at times be inappropriate attitudes and judging against those with whom we disagree.  It can at times make the whole process seem pointless, so why not just let everyone believe what they want and call it "all correct."  Because it isn't responsible.  Biblical interpretation is not something to which we want to step back and punt.  We should approach it with humility and respect, but still make up our minds about what the Bible is saying and how it is applicable today.  Interpretive ambiguity is of no help to ourselves or our hearers.  Sure, there are times when we must admit "I don't know the answer."  But we should be diligent in our study, in our prayer life, and in our thinking as to have a solid understanding of what the Bible says and means.  It doesn't matter what we think the Bible says.  All that matters is what the Bible says.  So let's work hard on determining what that is and not violate the very basic laws of non-contradiction by asserting "it's all correct."  As an old professor of mine used to say, "it's hard work.  But it's important work."

Today is St. Patrick's Day and no doubt tonight as I am leading Bible study I will be chided for the blatant lack of green on my person.  For most of us, St. Patrick's Day is characterized by parades, leprechauns, and not getting pinched.  There is, of course, much more to the story than our trivial Americanization of it. 

Today actually commemorates the death of Patrick in 460 AD.  Much of what we know about the man is written from his own hand in one of two letters that have survived from him.  He experienced many things, from war, slavery, and imprisonment to visions of God, conversion, and a heart for missions in Ireland.  There are also many stories of legend concerning the Irish missionary.  Typically, legends have some root in truth that get expanded and exaggerated over time.  One of these legends in particular stands out to me.

It is said that St. Patrick, during his mission in Ireland, boldly took his place on a hilltop and using his wooden staff banished all snakes from the island.  We now know that there were never any snakes there to begin with, but that the language of "snakes" was probably used as a metaphor to represent the large pagan worship that was accepted in Ireland as well as popular heresies at the time, including Pelagianism (original sin did not destroy man's ability to do moral and spiritual good).  The concept of "banishing" these snakes is a good one and in a culture today where we are more interested in engaging in "conversation" about matters that are in opposition to Scripture, St. Patrick was more interested in having them eliminated as to not pollute the minds of those who desperately needed Christ.  As we engage in sharing our faith, one of our tasks is to "keep the snakes away" and keep bringing the conversation back to Christ.  This is exactly what Jesus himself did in John 4.  The woman at the well was interested in all kinds of different things, but Jesus kept bringing it back to himself.  Not that we should be afraid to intelligently discuss questions and concerns, but we are to discuss them in light of Scripture, making clear affirmations of what is true and right.

Patrick did some other things that would be debated in today's church.  The Emerging church folk would probably love Patrick's opinion of winning the lost to Christ as he would regularly use what they already knew and worshiped in a way that directed their attention to Christ.  For example, Patrick would light a bonfire on Easter because the Celts were used to worshiping pagan gods with bonfires.  He added an image of the sun on the cross (today known as a Celtic cross) because the Celts venerated the sun which would make worship of the cross easier for them.  To be sure, Patrick was an interesting figure.

So, there is more to the tradition of St. Patrick's Day than getting pinched.  Oh, it still might be a good idea to wear green.  Especially if you work with children or teenagers.  :)