Question of the Day, 8/31/09

(The following is just an experiment - don't know if I want to commit to doing this, but I'm toying with the idea.)

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Romans 14.

http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Rom&chapter=14

Second, read Romans 14:13-23.

Third, click play on the following video to get the question of the day. (If you're looking at this through Facebook, there will be no video - instead, click here to go to the full blog.)

"What is the benefit of doubt in Romans 14:23?"

Question of the Day, 8/27/09

(The following is just an experiment - don't know if I want to commit to doing this, but I'm toying with the idea.)

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Matthew 4.

http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Mat&chapter=4

Second, do the same thing to also bring up Deuteronomy 6.

http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Deu&chapter=6

Third, click play on the following video to get the question of the day. (If you're looking at this through Facebook, there will be no video - instead, click here to go to the full blog.)

Question of the Day, 8/26/09

(The following is just an experiment - don't know if I want to commit to doing this, but I'm toying with the idea.)

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Exodus 20.

http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Exo&chapter=20

Second, look at verse 20.

Third, click play on the following video to get the question of the day. (If you're looking at this through Facebook, there will be no video - instead, click here to go to the full blog.)

An Experiment for You to be Involved with Sermon Preparation

I'm just toying with an idea, and I welcome your feedback.

The idea is simple. Three or four times a week, I would post a video question on this blog related to passages and topics that have to do with the upcoming sermon. You can click on the passage to get the relevant Scripture handy, then click "Play," and then get a question that will be addressed in the sermon coming up on Sunday.

There is a place for you to add your own comments and thoughts on the blog, and discuss together online what you think the answer to the question might be.

I will not give the answer on the blog! I don't want to pre-empt your discussion.

There are a few questions posted already for you to check out and experiment with along with me. Just look at other recent posts on this blog. (Sadly, the thumbnail picture that the blog randomly chooses from the video feed is not always a flattering shot of me!)

If you are reading this blog through Facebook, the video won't carry over into the Facebook blog mirror. So, just go to http://colbykinser.blogspot.com and help yourself.

Again, this is just an idea I'm toying with. I'm curious to see what happens if you have a running dialog with my sermon preparation process.

As always, I'm open to constructive criticism.

Question of the Day, 8/25/09

(The following is just an experiment - don't know if I want to commit to doing this, but I'm toying with the idea.)

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Matthew 10.

http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Mat&chapter=10

Second, look at verse 28.

Third, click play on the following video to get the question of the day. (If you're looking at this through Facebook, there will be no video - instead, click here to go to the full blog.)

Question of the Day, 8/24/09

(The following is just an experiment - don't know if I want to commit to doing this, but I'm toying with the idea.)

First, open the following link in a new window to get to 1 John 4.

http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=1Jo&chapter=4

Second, look at verse 14.

Third, click play on the following video to get the question of the day.

Health Plan

I think it's official. I believe I have now received more emails about the healthcare plan that's being debated across the nation than about any other topic. I receive emails for this and against that, fearful of this, reassuring of that - a non-stop parade of emails. What's a person to think about the whole mess?

By no means will I suggest to you how you should feel about the plan itself. I would not take away the responsibility from you to learn about this and think it through for yourself. But there are some thoughts about the manner in which we should consider this whole mess.

• God does not belong to a particular political party. He is not partisan in that regard. He does not reveal to us any directive on whether the government should be big or small, should deal with healthcare or not, hold the power at the federal level or at the state level. There are no biblical directives on these questions per se.
• God does reveal that governments do have specific responsibilities and should operate in certain ways. Governments should promote the good and deter the bad. They should treat citizens with fairness, and especially protect the vulnerable. They should protect civil order. Basic guidelines, but nothing specific along the political spectrum. Theoretically, those basic goals could be achieved by government doing something or getting out of the way (not to suggest that either is better than the other).
• God's people have successfully served under the worse kinds of governments. See Joseph, Daniel, and Paul for prime examples. No matter what government does, Christians can serve faithfully.
• God wants us to be salt and light for our communities and societies.
• God wants us to always act in a Christlike manner as we go about this business. He wants us to always speak in a Christlike manner. Some of the emails I've seen from Christians have been very un-Christlike.
• There is a tremendous amount of misinformation coming out from both sides of this debate. No side is vastly more accurate than the other, based on my observation. Therefore, in order for us to hold Christ-honoring opinions, we must do the best we can to sift through the misinformation, to examine the source of each piece information we get (whether or not it reflects our own opinion), and to hear both sides in order to try to discern where the truth is. You can even read the text of the bill yourself (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text).
• The Church has a biblical responsibility to help the poor and vulnerable, especially those who are willing to work. Now, this may or may not include providing healthcare insurance through business or government, but it is a truth that we must deal with before forming our opinions. The position that we each hold must in all honesty consider our biblical obligations.
• We should let our congressmen know what we think and why. If a Christian does not communicate his or her views to the ones who are charged with representing them, then he or she is forfeiting one of the best tools available to have the law reflect the will of the people.
• There are other ways to make your views known: letters to the editor, blogs, call-in shows, public meetings, and so on. But, whenever we take these public avenues, our words and actions should reflect Christ in content and in manner. In other words, what we say and how we say it must be Christlike.
• We must separate what parts of our views are based on biblical standards and which are political preferences. It's OK to have political preferences, but they must be consistent with Scripture and they must not be confused with Scripture.
  

I have good, respectable, Christian friends who differ widely on this issue. Each of them has some good reasons for the view that he or she holds. I have my opinions, but I do want to sort through and make sure my views are formed by biblical truth, and I want to sift out the portions of my views that are just political preference.