Remember God loves and forgives the person who trusts Christ for salvation and supports Bono as much as God loves the person who trusts Christ and is skeptical or denounces Bono as much as God loves Bono as a person who has professed his trust in Christ (check out the new book U2 by U2 a huge book of just them talking about their life, or Walk On, The Spiritual Jouney of U2)

We have to show grace for people who’s expression of their christianity is more unorthodox (expression wise or maybe even theologically) than ours, trusting that even though we may not be comfortable with how they are expressing their Christianity that we can trust that he who began a good work in them will be faithful to complete it.

On the flip side those who have unorthodox approaches to Christianity have to have grace for those who they might see as “judgmental” or “pharsaic”, understanding the exact same thing, that as a person who has placed their trust in Christ both people are in the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. The key word there is process. What seems to be difficult for all of us is accepting that your process may look different from mine. That the things God is growing, changing, purging in your life will be on a different timetable from what’s going on in mine. Granted they are all ruled by the same God and the same character of Christ, and the same scripture. We all believe in this conversation here that there is one absolute truth revealed through scripture, but we have to be willing to accept that there are inumerable applications of that truth dependant upon our spiritual, familial, theological, social etc… contexts. In the same way there is one way to God through Christ (I am the way, the truth and the life), but there are a billion ways to Christ as different as each person who places faith in Christ.

I apologize for being long winded and preachy (a weakness of mine) and really I just wanted to contribute 2 cents to the conversation (vanity, another weakness), but I pray we remember the grace that’s been extended to us.

Well stated brother Dave.

My spirit cried as I read this blog.
Such divisive commentary should not occur between brothers. It’s no wonder we are so ineffective as a “church”, we set such a poor example to the “world”.

If our Lord and Savoir could fellowship with harlots and publicans to save those, which are lost, I see no reason to censure Mike Lee or the leadership at Hope Community Church, for following the example of the Lord they so urgently love.

I have been a member of Hope Community for over 7 seven years. During that period I have seen Mike use contemporary medium, in unorthodox and at times controversial (case in point) ways to drive home the core message of our faith. That we are all sinners and that without the saving grace of Christ we are all lost.

I can assure you the leadership of Hope did not consider presenting this event without a great deal of prayer and discernment.

I need not defend them; the Lord himself honors their ministry, with the fruit being born. I must though close with the comment that as a Christian of 30 years, of all the pastors and churches I have had opportunity to know, I’ve yet to encounter any one person or “body” who mirrors Christ and His love as Mike Lee and Hope Community Church.

David Brenchley
hisheirs@bellsouth.net

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/frontpagepdfs/2006/14467.pdf

Telling quote: “Little or no information about U2’s global operation is in the public domain but they are known to employ some of the world’s top tax experts to enable them to maximise their income.”

If you cannot attend, you can download, for a very reasonable price his talk during Stand to Reason’s Masters Series last winter. I heard the talk live and I cannot recommend it highly enough. STR’s website is http://www.str.org. You can also click on radio, register and listen to one of his talks on this topic in the radio section.

I think Greg’s talk will be a good starting point.

Let’s have a good and free flowing discussion. It’s just not helpful to have the Pharisee and childish cards trotted out so early in the discussion. The fact that someone questions the wisdom of using Bono (I’ve heard the interview and I think it’s neutral: I don’t think it does a lot to advance the gospel, but that’s my take) is not a personal attack. It’s a legitimate question.

And, Nate, just for the record: Bono actually praised President Bush for at last year’s National Prayer Breakfast. And Bono is not without his problems. It was reported last year that U2 laid off a bunch of employees and moved some operations to another country where, guess what, taxes were lower.

The issues of politics and AIDS are very complex and just throwing money at the problem will not solve anything. Ultimately, if 6500 Africans who die of AIDS each day are spared the ravages of AIDS, there are still issues to address.

Being thinking about the concept of calling folks “Pharisees.” Seems to me that the spirit of a Pharisee is that of “standing on the street corner” and proudly declaring that “my sin isn’t as great as your sin.” Our sin, whether it is not loving my neighbor as myself or any unwholesome word that proceeds out of my mouth, is what sent Jesus to the cross. I suspect each of us can be found possessing the spirit of a Pharisee in ourselves. Father, forgives us!

My $0.02