Today I saw the controversial film “Noah.” As my friend said “We should take it with an amount of salt the size of Lot’s wife.” And we did.
The controversy in the film stems from our false assumption that Hollywood producers will actually read the Biblical account and craft the movie accordingly. Newsflash: They won’t. They will take every opportunity to sensationalize it with fantasy and blockbuster special effects regardless of the Genesis account. Consequentially enough Noah’s director, Darren Aronofsky, is an atheist. I, like many others, am still trying to figure out why an atheist would direct a Biblical movie.
I however was unprepared for the first few minutes of the film showing the “Watchers” commissioned by the creator to watch over Cain’s decendants. These Watchers are much like the giant Rock Eater in the Neverending Story, only thinner and more like Transformers.

If you can get past the Watchers, you’ll find the film has some good positive themes to it. For example, to the chagrin of Noah’s wife, snakes were invited onto the ark by the creator. Yes, even God feels snakes are worthy of salvation.
I was under the impression that Noah lived among the people. I had always been told in Bible class that those around Noah probably made fun of him for building such a large ark with no rain in sight. However the movie portrays Noah and his family as vegetarian nomads, avoiding the violent decendants of Cain. This brings to mind the great questions, if you and your family were the only righteous ones on earth, would you still stay faithful?
Another realization was the actual flood was terrible. While inside the ark, did Noah and his family hear the cries of the doomed outside of the ark, as it was portrayed in the film? This Biblical account is much more than just a cute decoration in a nursery and perhaps we should treat it as the disaster it is.
Overall “Noah” is not a DVD I’d purchase, however I’d choose to watch it again if it were on basic cable or if I was planning for a sermon on the subject matter.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say I can’t think of any good reason why someone would wear a Notorious B.I.G. shirt to church. But more on that later.

Teenagers have a tendency to go against the grain. That’s a definite. I saw this in 1990 when I saw above footage of a camper at church camp wearing a Guns and Roses shirt. He probably shouldn’t wear a band’s shirt who’s lead singer is known for intoxication and battery either. I’m guessing he might have been a visitor to camp invited by a church going teen with ties to friends who like hair bands. I can imagine his packing scenario:

“Let’s see. I need a few shirts to wear at camp in June. I know, this black Guns and Roses shirt should do.”

Enter 2014 when I see another shirt of Biggie Smalls a.k.a. Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Christopher Wallace being worn at church. If you don’t know who he is, take a look at this quote in regards to naming a street in Brooklyn after Wallace:

“He started selling drugs at 12, he was a school dropout at 17, he was arrested for drugs and weapons charge, he was arrested for parole violations, he was arrested in North Carolina for crack cocaine, in 1996 he was again arrested for assault, he had a violent death and physically the man is not exactly a role model for youth,” she said. “I don’t see how this guy was a role model and frankly it offends me.” – Lucy Koteen, Brooklyn Community Board member on if a street should be named after Wallace.

So no doubt those who have worn Biggie and GnR shirts have been in a moral discussion whether its in a Bible class at church camp or in Sunday School. And by their own actions they have totally disregarded the discussions going as far as proclaiming their allegiance with said undesirable role models.

Why do they do this? Is it an act of rebellion?

In 2007, while on a mission trip to Pearlington, Mississippi, we met up with another church youth group. It was somewhat dueling church groups, each not wanting to step on other’s boundaries. We had come specifically to conduct the worship services that Sunday morning. They had come to help fix up the church and houses around it (the area had been hit by a hurricane a few years before).
I noticed one kid had an unusual haircut, a Mohawk. I realize that his youth minister and peers were well accustomed to it. I’m sure the kid had a servant attitude in mind, after all he had given up his fall break to volunteer to help fix up the church building in a city several hours drive away.
Still a fear inside of me made me want to say “Please don’t let this kid serve on the Lord’s Table.” After all we need a sense of dignity, in lieu of a punk style haircut. My fears became reality when during that worship service, sure enough he was on the Lord’s table passing the bread and grape juice. And everything seemed to turn out fine
I think we all have a fear and prejudiced against people who were not brought up in the church. I know I have a prejudice against these type people. You want them to quickly assimilate, gain unwavering faith, and have the same core belief values as you do. There is a certain degree of uneasiness when they start wearing shorts to church, admit they have beer in their fridge, and occasionally hang out at bars.
Certainly one has got to realize that of the 3000 souls saved in Acts 2, not all of them were just like the other. Many came from vastly different backgrounds. And certainly that is how the church should be today. After all we are told to preach the Gospel to every creature, even the ones with Mohawks.
Our stateside mission trip was this past week. I was told that all of those baptized didn’t have a ride to church and therefore could be classified as lower class, assuming they didn’t own cars. I wanted to see these new Christians assimilate quickly. But I must remain patient. No doubt some will fall away because they have no root. Some which gain Christian friendships through the church and therefore are likely to continue going. But these new Christians might be different than your typical white middle class Christians. They come from different backgrounds and we need to keep reminding ourselves that they did not have the same upbringing and instilled values as the rest of us.
The kid with the Mohawk? I have no idea where he is at. I would think that he’s ditched the Mohawk by now, after all it would be incredibly difficult to get a white collar job with that.

Maybe just maybe in another life, I could become a preacher to a struggling church of Christ in the western part of the U.S. I could be the go-to guy for spiritual leadership and counseling. It would be an honor and privilege to do so. I however have never felt like I was good enough to be a preacher. I leave preaching to those who have their lives and struggles together. I leave it up to people who do not have emotional baggage…someone who can write a sermon in a few minutes and not stress about it before actually preaching it.

Here’s a new twist for using scripture. North Carolina is one of 24 states that has a GOP controlled legislature (House and Senate) and governorship. Consequentially it has passed many conservative laws. This has made the GOP opponents very upset. Protesters are calling the rallies “Moral Mondays.” During one of the latest Moral Mondays, especially geared toward a strict abortion law, the above photo was taken. I am certain the lady who is holding up the sign probably cherry picked that verse, while completely ignoring the overwhelming number of verses in the bible which support life in the womb.

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you…”
Jeremiah 1:5

A friend and I like to trade stories about what Christian teens put on social media. It would appear that many young people do not have any type of concept of who might read their postings. Or maybe they’re aware, but don’t care.
Many of our recent converts weren’t raised in Christian homes and therefore have no filter in what they post. Smoke a joint on Saturday, then appear at church on Sundays? Yep, I’ve seen it posted on Tumblr. Cursing on their Twitter feed, and then show up on Wednesday night as if everything is find. Someone, somehow has to remind young Christians that this is not normal behavior.
I have to constantly remind myself that those most in need of a lecture are least likely to hear it. We walk a fine line.

“Lucy, prepare the secret ballots.” It’s Pope votin’ time.
Just a few weeks ago Pope Benedict XVI resigned saying it was due to poor health. Other observers say it is due to scandal. We may never know, unless some butler steals the Pope’s private papers again.
The Catholic church has always intrigued me. How can a church that claims in direct communication with God, yet be so far away from original Biblical teachings? No wonder you never hear of anyone converting to Catholicism, unless they marry into the faith or are born into a 3rd World country.
They see their leader as a direct line of communication with God. The only problem is that Catholics seem to elevate to the Pope to a god. At one time pilgrims kissed the foot of the pope which, others have pointed out, is not following the Biblical example of not worshiping God’s messengers.
They still kiss the ring of the pope, saying its a matter of respect. There are others that say it’s the worship of idols, just as the children of Israel fashioned a golden calf while Moses was on Mt. Sinai.
How can one church, who have had so many problems still claim Biblical authority and guidance. Some of these problems include:

• The selling of Indulgences
• Catholic sexual abuse
• Putting the corpse of Pope Formosus on trial

And if you’re Catholic. I’m sorry….that you’re part of a church which has moved so far from God’s original intent for the church.

Classic. Couple invites another man into their relationship and then acts surprised when one man is jealous of the other.

Pardon me while I do a face palm.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” – 2 Timothy 4:3

I have a difficult time using a band’s song in worship to my Lord when their first big hit (Little Lion Man) included a F-bomb as part of the chorus. Worship isn’t about playing the latest top 40 hit before the pastor comes to speak. Worship is a humble offering to God. Need I bring up Cain, Nadab and Abihu?
You want to feel good? Go to a concert. You want to worship our Lord? Go to a sound church. Unfortunately churches have tended to blur worship and concerts these days.

Last Sunday the sermon at the congregation I attend was a topic that always interested me. The topic? Retention of young adults within the church. The statistics were predictable, but still stunning and a bit scary.
For example when both parents attend worship regularly and have church work assignments, the retention rate for their adult children is 75-80%. Just half of adult offspring are faithful when just one parent attends. When neither parent attend, at best only a fourth attend.
Meanwhile college students who attend Christian colleges stay faithful at a rate of 85%, while half of those who attend public college stay faithful. Just 43% of those who do not go to college stay faithful.
I began to think about my own experience in my youth. I was raised in the church. My family was there for every service. By the time I was in high school, there was a core group of faithful Christians who attended most all the youth events. It was a good time. We felt we’d always stay faithful. I look back at the quaintness of one of my fellow youth group member’s message in my 9th grade yearbook:

Enter the college years. We all went our separate ways. I chose Lipscomb University, mostly because a few of my good friends were going there. Looking back on my decision it was probably a mistake. I felt I could have had a better experience at a Christian university down the road. But at that point I was not a leader; I was a follower.
It was at college I had to make the decision whether to attend church. I remember one particular Wednesday night I had a decision to make, whether to attend Wednesday night Bible study or not. On most occasions I attended. I surrounded myself with Christian friends. I could have found sin at Lipscomb, but I avoided it.
A large part the growth of my spiritual life involved being a camp counselor at a Christian camp, something I continue to do today.
Meanwhile our church youth group was scattered elsewhere. Some went to state colleges. Some went into the military. Others got jobs right out of high school. As the statistics would have it, we did not all stay faithful. I know of one other person who was in my class who still attends church at my congregation. I would like to believe that others stayed faithful, but are just in different towns. But I know this isn’t the case. Some attend denominational churches or just don’t attend at all. To my knowledge the signatory of the yearbook message above is not faithful.
So what happened exactly? Was there no one to tell us to go to church? Did the cares of the world put a backseat to religion? I think at some point we had to figure out if we were going to make what our parents brought us up to be our own. We had to chose Jesus as our own savior and not just giving into our parents.