What is your view on the current/predicted status of Critical Race Theory and the church?

CRT has been all the rage. Christians have responded in various ways, and even state legislatures are getting involved. Some who have suggested police forces should be disbanded are moderating their views. How should we view this when it comes to church-related responses?

Poll Results

What is your view on the current/predicted status of Critical Race Theory and the church?

Discussion

Does your church pray the Lord's prayer during services?

We pray the Lord’s Prayer (the Matthew version with the long ending) on a monthly basis. We tried doing that weekly, but it seemed less meaningful. What about your church?

Poll Results

Does your church pray the Lord’s prayer during services?

Discussion

What contemporary issue do you expect to be the greatest challenge within your church family in 2022?

Every year, the Kingdom of God is challenged by a plethora of problems and issues. Some of the biggest challenges are issues of the times. They are added to the perennial challenges and generic problems like sin, ego, ignorance, selfishness, etc.

Potentially, all or a number of the choices can affect the segment of the Kingdom in which you are involved. I am looking for what you expect to be the greatest challenge in your sphere of ministry.

Please feel free to comment.

Discussion

How do you handle Santa Claus in your church and at home?

The church I now pastor had, before my time, a tradition of Santa Claus giving out candy at the church Christmas Dinner. We handled the situation by eliminating the dinner (everyone is too busy anyway). In time, we had some people who were very anti-Santa. Some people brought up their children to believe in Santa Claus, others used the Santa motif, but taught their children it was pretend, and then others, like us, were concerned that if our children found us untruthful about Santa, would they think that Jesus is also a myth?

Discussion

Should we refer to people by their preferred pronouns?

So maybe this seems to be a no-brainer to you, but I am trying to think this through. When I meet a Catholic priest, I may address him as “father,” even though he is not my spiritual father. By doing so, I am not acknowledging his superiority to me, as, perhaps, a Catholic might.

Discussion

Do you sense you are less motivated (or less ambitious) since the Pandemic?

For many, the Pandemic quarantine provided a break from the routine, a slowdown (but not for all). In the secular world, more people are retiring early since the Pandemic, and, although the worker shortage was perhaps brewing before the pandemic, the quarantine intensified it. More people are concerned about smelling the roses and less concerned about making a name for themselves.

Discussion

What is "sounding the trumpet" in Matthew 6:2

Jesus said in Matthew 6:2,

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”

What is your view as to what “sound the trumpet” means?

Poll Results

What is “sounding the trumpet” in Matthew 6:2

Discussion

What is your view of the current gift of Prophecy (main concept)?

The gift of prophecy in the modern church is interpreted in many ways in our day. Sometimes, folks beleive is several different aspects of the gift.

So please choose what you believe is the predominant aspect of the gift in our day. Then comment with your nuances and qualifying statements, please.

Poll Results

What is your view of the current gift of Prophecy (main concept)?

Discussion

Is the U.S. right to leave Afghanistan?

Note to our overseas participants: “We” below is a first person plural referring to your truly, fellow Americans, and military allies.

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We fought a war in Vietnam, pulled out, and left our allies there in the lurch, it seemed.

It seems like we entered Afghanistan uninvited to eliminate its use as a terrorist base, supported a non-Taliban government, and now are seeing slaughters and the return of leaders who will nurture terrorists.

Am I missing something?

Discussion