Christians and Halloween: Good Fun or Cahoots with the Devil?

This is an issue I would really like some input on. I don’t get in to Halloween, and prefer to celebrate Reformation Day instead. Last year Haddon dressed up like Martin Luther and we took him went to a church “Fall Festival.” I know some of the pagan traditions where “All Hallow’s Eve” began, but has the practice of kids dressing up and getting candy from friends around the neighborhood severed the present day practice from its more diabolical origins?

What do you do on Halloween? I am not suggesting that Christians participate in nightmarish ghoul. Some of what goes on depicts and glorifies evil, death and gore. That’s not what I am asking about. On the other hand, is there a place for “Trunk or Treat” at church or “Fall Festivals” where kids get the fun of dressing up like Buzz Lightyear? In the end, it may be more of a Christian conscience matter (Rom 14). Do you participate at all?

Reformation Polka: In the Spirit of Reformation Day (that’s Oct 31 for all you pagans!)

A friend of mine (thanks Taj!) just made me aware of this link. It’s a You Tube video to a song called “Reformation Polka.” Vossy, I couldn’t help thinking that you would find this funny; I found it to be hilarious.

Here are the lyrics: HERE IS THE LINK TO THE VIDEO.

[Sung to the tune of "Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious"]

When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian! Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter’s profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saints’ Bull’tin board:
“You cannot purchase merits, for we’re justified by grace!
Here’s 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!” Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

They loved my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror;
The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor.
“Are these your books? Do you recant?” King Charles did demand,
“I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!” Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,
By knighting “George” as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.
Use Brother Martin’s model if the languages you seek,
Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek! Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Let’s raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,
And spread the word that ‘catholic’ is spelled with lower case;
The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,
So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance! Oh…

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Gov. Huckabee Plays “Freebird”

I grew up in Louisiana, and knew Skynyrd before I knew the national anthem. I worked with two guys in college that grew up in the late 70’s, and the shop radio was always on the local classic rock station. Whenever “Freebird” came on the radio, all work stopped. These guys would literally stop what they were doing, take off their hats and cover their hearts. I kid you not. I was on the outside looking in, till one day I brought my guitar to work and after the shift played a little Skynyrd for them. That changed everything. From that day on, I was “in.”

With so many stories and allegations being thrown about concerning this and that presidential candidate, here’s one you might not have seen–Gov. Mike Huckabee plays Lynyrd Skynyrd. He wrapped up a rally in New Hampshire by playing “Freebird.” This is not the cheap and ugly 4 minute version that quits as soon as it gets good. No. This is the 8 1/2 minute, full on guitar solo version.

I have heard a lot of good things about the governor, but no one mentioned he plays a mean bass guitar and has a band!

Here is the YouTube link. Enjoy! As Huckabee mentioned,”Freebird” is the unofficial national anthem of the South. Those guys I worked with would certainly agree.

Sometimes Country Music Gets it Just Right

I am a big fan of good music–especially good lyrics and good music writing. I like a lot of different kinds of music, from 80’s and 90’s stuff I grew up on, to classical (especially from the Baroque period), good instrumental bluegrass, to jazz (boy how I wish I could play jazz piano). Being from the deep south, I also listen to a lot of country. Some country (like other genres) is not worth listening to, but sometimes a good country song gets it right. A good country song takes me back to a different time in life, and for those of us who grew up in the outdoors, good lyrics can take us back and remind of us of some of those most enjoyable of events–hunting, fishing, etc. Nothing beats a good day on the water. Catching fish is largely irrelevant. Being on the lake is the point.

One of my favorites is Brad Paisley. As a guitar player, he leaves me in awe; the man can flat play. Many of his songs are some of my favorites. My new favorite is a song that simply extols being a guy. In a day when guys are soft and getting softer, this song finds me laughing out loud and saying “Amen!” Where I am from, all of this is very familiar. That’s why I like it so much. Below are some of the lyrics–my favorite lines are underlined.

“I’m Still a Guy” by Brad Paisley

When you see a deer you see Bambi
And I see antlers up on the wall
When you see a lake you think picnic
And I see a large mouth up under that log
You’re probably thinking that you’re going to change me
In some ways well maybe you might
Scrub me down, dress me up but remember no matter what
I’m still a guy

You think that riding a wild bull sounds crazy
And I’d like to give it a whirl
Well love makes a man do some things he ain’t proud of
And in a weak moment I might walk your sissy dog, hold your purse at the mall
But remember, I’m still a guy

I’ll pour out my heart
Hold your hand in the car
Write a love song that makes you cry
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground
‘Cause he copped a feel as you walked by

I can hear you now talking to your friends
Saying, “Yeah girls he’s come a long way”
From dragging his knuckles and carrying a club
And building a fire in a cave

I’ll pour out my heart
Hold your hand in the car
Write a love song that makes you cry
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground
‘Cause he copped a feel as you walked by

These days there’s dudes getting facials
Manicured, waxed and botoxed
With deep spray-on tans and creamy lotiony hands
You can’t grip a tacklebox

With all of these men lining up to get neutered
It’s hip now to be feminized
I don’t highlight my hair
I’ve still got a pair
Yeah honey, I’m still a guy

Oh my eyebrows ain’t plucked
There’s a gun in my truck
Oh thank God, I’m still a guy

Preach it Brad!

Article in Baptist Press

Some may remember that I have posted a few times on my mother’s death. I wrote up a little piece and sent it to Baptist Press, and it was published there earlier this week. If you are interested, here is the link. What’s been really surprising to me is the number of emails I have gotten over the past few days in response to it. This goes to show us that though we suffer, we never suffer alone in the Church.

Props to My Home State of Louisiana

Louisiana politics has not exactly been exemplary in recent decades, and my home state has not exactly been at the top of the charts in some important areas in the past, but I am pleased to say that Louisiana has recently emerged as a leader in one important area: I am thankful to see that the legislature and governor have acted positively and responsibly regarding the limiting of abortions. The state has just become the first to outlaw partial birth abortion, known as “dilation and extraction” by the pro-abortion lobby. This makes me very happy. Any action taken (especially by the states, which is where the decision belongs) to reduce such a horrific procedure should be applauded, and I do applaud Governor Blanco and her signing this piece of legislation into law.

The AP story reads in part:

The new law allows the procedure in only one situation at any time during pregnancy: when failure to perform it would endanger the mother’s life. The procedure would be a crime in all other cases, even if the pregnancy is expected to cause health problems for the mother.

This is a positive step in the right direction, and is a demonstration of the Lord’s grace, if even in a small measure.

When the Bible is Boring

This is a great post from Abraham Piper, son of one of my favorite preachers (second only to Rex Blankenship), John Piper. It was too good not to post here. Such truth! He writes:

It would be hard to have a slow, careful, exegetical Bible study about the second half of the book of Joshua. Chapters 13 to 21 are mostly lists: what parcels of land are going to which tribe of Israel.

Much of the Old Testament is like this—genealogies, lists, rules, procedures. As lovers of the Bible, what should we make of these mundane details? Is it even appropriate to call parts of God’s word mundane? It sounds sacrilegious.

What does it matter, though, that Issachar received the territories around Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, and 13 other cities? Or that Manasseh’s land reached from Asher to Michmethah, just east of Shechem?

Joshua tells us why these obscure details are important: So that the Israelites would have specific and extensive evidence that God does what he says he will do.

Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)

The more detailed the report of God’s faithfulness, the more proof that indeed not one word of his had been false. He promised their forefathers this land, and now, because of this account in the book of Joshua, they can remember specifically how God was faithful. Faithful in concrete detail. Faithful down to the most boring of trivia.

As Joshua died, he said to the Israelites,

You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. (23:14)

It’s true that knowing Michmethah is east of Shechem ranks very low in the list of facts that are important to know from the Bible. But it matters, because the sum of all the dull details that God has accomplished proves that whatever he promises, he will do.

We have a God who keeps a tally of sparrows, who counts the hairs on our head (Luke 12:6-7), and who watches over the grass as it grows (Matthew 6:30). If that’s not boring, what is? But it is his power over the mundane and trivial details that proves his power over the universe. And because of this power, we know he can keep his promises.

Amen. Maranatha.

The Lord Jesus is Not My Girlfriend

I have figured out why so much modern Christian music gives me the willies.

Many of you know that besides Greek and Biblical Theology (and politics and travel and motorsports and fishing and now golfing), one of my chief loves is music. I have always loved music and was a music major in college. I have led worship for about 15 years now, and love to hear the saints sing the Bible back to the author of truth. We should all get weepy when we hear the lyrics to the recent hymn, “In Christ Alone” when we sing,

Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For every sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

What is better than penal substitutionary atonement put to music, and the church of God singing such rich doctrine to the Lord corporately? May we never tire of singing the gospel!

This is why I have such a difficult time singing and hearing some of the worship choruses that have been aptly titled the “Jesus is my girlfriend” songs. You know the ones I am talking about. Perhaps it was merely a blinding flash of the obvious, but as I was driving through Louisville the other day listening to (enduring?) Christian radio, it hit me. I have figured it out. I have finally put my finger on it. It was when the singer sang the lyric, “Jesus I am so in love with you.” I don’t even know who was singing, nor do I question their love for the Lord. But, I do question the lyric with which they worship the Lord.

Here it is: The language of “being in love” with Jesus Christ. It just gives me the willies (from the Greek word, willaomai). You see, the language of “being in love” is always tied to romance in our culture. I love Jesus Christ, but I am not romantically inclined towards him. He is my Sovereign King and Lord, but I am not “in love” with him. True, I am part of the bride of Christ, but the biblical affection for the Lord is one of agape, and not eros. I love Denny Burk, Al Mohler and Bill Cook, but (egad!) I would never be “in love” with them. As such, I cannot tie romance to biblical worship of the Coming King. Again, the willies.

I don’t know how you ladies think of this, but as a guy it is not worshipful in the least bit to say that I am “in love with Jesus.” “In love” is so tied to romantic love in our culture, that I would love to see it excised from Christian worship in all its shapes and forms.

That’s it. I figured out why so much modern Christian music gives me the willies.

Interview with Widow of Turkish Martyr

Many of you know the tragic story of the three Christians tortured and murdered in Turkey. For the story, click here. Fox News has released a new video where you can watch an exclusive interview with Shemza Nicati, the widow of one of the murdered believers.

When Convenience and Morality Clash

Many of you have likely heard of the NY Times’ recent chilling article concerning unborn babies with Down Syndrome. It is a sad and low point for our society, yet it is not in any way unexpected. In fact, it is merely the logical outflowing of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Convenience was the name of the game then as it is now. To be sure, there are still those who argue that what is at stake is the life of the mother, but that smoke screen has faded from view as the winds of truth have uncovered what was hiding behind it. Ours is a culture fixated on death, and the Christian worldview is becoming more and more at odds as society decays around us.

I cannot believe how a mother can choose to kill a Downs baby, yet as a theology professor do understand it given the radical depravity of the human heart. We have had friends with such children, and have seen the challenges first hand. Yet we have also seen the unspeakable joys firsthand. For a Christian parent this is not an option. Yet, there are those who have and will justify it with a twisted logic that, in the end, helps them to sleep at night. Yet such a choice is to set oneself over against God, the Creator. He is the one who weaves together the strands of DNA, and He is the one who knits them together in the womb (Ps. 139), extra chromosome and all. To abort is to attack the creatorship of God. As such, to justify such a murderous choice is to announce the truth of Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately corrupt, who can understand it?“

See also Denny Burk’s blog.