This post is in response to the Relevant Magazine article about the movie Brokeback Mountain. You’ll find a link to the story as well as comments people made here.

Special thanks to those of you who replied to the article below. After much deliberation I’ve found the words.

My major concern with the article is that it carries the usual Relevant theme and progressive tone. There’s this trend to be “cutting edge”, to slice and dice the truth of Christ in order to massage, prod and package the Gospel. It’s all done in an effort to appeal to as many people as possible. I’ve been involved with ministry for the last five years and at times have been guilty of the crusade towards progressivism.

My fear is that as Christians try harder and harder to fit in, to find God in an unGodly world, we’ll lose the purity of His truth. We’ll bend and buckle under the weight of progressivism and lose sight of the simple, black and white, beckoning call to be obedient to God.

Verse after verse God calls us to live in this world, but not of this world. Did God create Brokeback Mountain? I don’t think He ordained it, much like I don’t believe He ordained messages we see everyday that tell us we should be disobedient to God. Will He use it? Absolutely and this conversation is evidence of the extent of His power.

My point…don’t get caught up in the latest trend, fad, book, movie, ministry approach, bible study or worship “experience”. Hold tight to the simple, consistent, truth of Christ. His truth is the same yesterday as it is today, as it will be tomorrow and forever.

See, I think we’ve just been re-gifting His truth over and over again. Hoping if we constantly change the wrapping paper, someone might open the box. The most powerful and precious gift isn’t the wrapping, the presentation or our “progressive approach”, it’s what’s inside the box.

Hold tight…

While I’m still formulating a well thought out, biblically sound response, I wanted to post an article to this link and get feedback.

What do you think?

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/beta/pc_article.php?id=7101

More later after your thoughts…

-D

It’s just a two-day trip to Florida. It’s for FCA.
What could I possibly see during my brief trip to the Sunshine State?

1. Location: Orlando International Airport
   Date: January 5, 2006
   Time: 11:35 AM
   When traveling to Orlando with your small child, don’t bother to parent little Johnny or Susy. Abandon all nurturing and parenting responsibilities. Instead, simply tether your child to an upper body harness, attach a leash to it and your kid will never leave your side. When you get home, the harness can double as a leash for Fido.

   Note: Little Johnny was sitting in the security checkpoint line with his dad. As he scooted across the floor, on his butt, his dad pulled the leash along. Yeah, I was in disbelief too.
   

2. Location: Florida Highway 95 North
   Date: January 5, 2006
   Time: 1:04 PM
   After leaving the airport and traveling to our conference, my co-worker and I saw a large, bright yellow road side. No commentary is needed, I’ll let the sign speak for itself.
   LIGHTS AND WIPERS REQUIRED DURING RAIN

3. Location: Orlando International Airport
   Date: January 6, 2006
   Time: 5:30 PM
   While waiting for my flight, the Southwest plane that was going to take us to Kansas City pulled up to the gate. I expected the doors to open and tired travelers to funnel out into the waiting area. What came out of the big metal door was a sobering sight…literally.

   Apparently it’s against the law to get drunk on any U.S. flight, disobey direct orders from flight attendants and disrupt the normal operating procedures of a domestic flight.

   Jack Daniels had a little bit too much to drink and was being belligerent in the air. As soon as the plane parked, police escorted him off the plane. He got a little mouthy as police detained him infront of everyone. But after the police officer pulled out his taser gun, pointed it at Jack’s chest and said “Do you want me to use this?” Jack settled right down.

   One last note…it was a slow day for Orlando Airport Police as 10 officers from two different departments eventually made their way to our gate. Most stood, watched, joked with each other, then puffed up their chests and looked “official”. Thankfully Jack was outnumbered and outgunned. He had 2 pieces of carry on luggage, 1 plastic bag and a really bad headache. He was up against 10 taser guns, 10 Glock handguns, 160 9MM bullets, 10 cans of pepper spray, 10 nightsticks, 20 sets of handcuffs and 10 pair of black black boots just itch’n to be used. I’ve never felt so safe.