We conservatives have been so distracted that we think that the New England Patriots victory in the Super Bowl was some kind of win for America....as if Tom Brady winning the MVP equates to a message from God or Roger Goodell getting booed redeems our national soul. According to the Smithsonian Magazine..."On the morning of February 2, 2017, more than 3,500 political leaders, military chiefs and corporate moguls met for eggs, sausage, muffins-and prayer." This was the 65th such prayer breakfast. I would imagine that God would take more pleasure in five elderly souls meeting for prayer on a snowy Wednesday evening in Muskrat Hollow Bible Church than this political show. My last post referenced the film Bridge On The River Kwai and the last words of that film apply today ...."Madness ...madness!" The following post is from January 2010:
National Prayer Breakfast...January 2010:
I have been to quite a few church sponsored men's breakfasts over the years. They were enjoyable as Christian men gather, usually on a Saturday morning for pancakes or eggs while one of the brothers shares a testimony or another conducts a bible study. I have also been to larger gatherings where men are part of a denominational or theological fellowship with the same agenda of a meal and devotions. The first Thursday in February will bring us news reports of the yearly National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington D. C., originally called the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, that every United States President since Ike has attended. Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet Ministers, business leaders and leaders from around the world will be in the audience of well over 3000 people in what has been described as a gala event. Actually, the whole week will see events organized by a group of Evangelicals who are known as The Fellowship or more informally The Family. The original intent of the Breakfasts may have been to invite influential leaders in government and business, enjoy some food along with a gospel message and hope to introduce some to Jesus Christ who may then become Christians and effect our nation because of their new beliefs but it has evolved...and is problematic....to put it mildly.
Jeff Sharlet is the author of a book called The Family, The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, published in 2008. He took the Family to task as he described a network that works behind the scenes in the affairs of our government and other governments around the world. One of its criticisms would be that we (the United States), in many cases because of the influence of the Family or the Fellowship, support murderous dictatorships that would later, hopefully, support our agendas. The response from the Fellowship is that these dictators were murderers before they became our friends. The book describes an ideology, or theology, that promotes a muscular Jesus whose followers are going to take the reins of our own government for Jesus. The author did extensive research but his conclusion was tainted by a lack of understanding of the gospel itself.
Sharlet gained the trust of a member who recommended him to stay at an Arlington property of the Fellowship called Ivanwald. Much of his information came from conversations with the brothers who were trying, in their way, to help him. I've had an interest in a few of the topics Mr. Sharlet spent extensive time on. One would be the 18th century theologian/pastor Jonathon Edwards, and another would be Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. Sharlet obviously did his biographical homework but he never came close to the essence of these men. Both are used as examples of this Fellowship ideology in previous times, but both men, in my opinion, would have rejected these gospel expanding strategies and the gospel contained within them. Edwards was lumped with 19th century revivalist Charles Finney who deserved the critical review he received. Sharlet used personal conversations and documents that he viewed to describe a Christianity that seems unnecessary compared to Jesus as a King.
I've seen no responses from Fellowship members on the 2008 book and realize that Jeff Sharlet's criticism would be expected on most Christian ministries today, and his take on that of Jonathon Edwards was proof of this, but he does understand a "political action fellowship" when he sees one. My question to the Fellowship would be what god is prayed to at a "National Prayer Breakfast" that is so ecumenical that many of its speakers are there for any reason except the gospel? I had this concern long before the book. Another question is whether or not they know that the gospel cannot be legislated. Many things that emanate from the Bible can, but not faith in Christ, which can be distorted, and is distorted here.
A genuine reformation or awakening must come from a people who were moved upon by God's Spirit, where Christian leaders in government or business would be summoned by a Christian people, not recruited by a well-meaning fellowship because of their political potential. Some of the ministries closely associated with the group are sound endeavors and not all of the individuals involved interpret the Evangel the same way but the clandestine agenda of the Fellowship obscures as much as it promotes. The National Prayer Breakfast may have had a proper place at one time, but no more.
National Prayer Breakfast...January 2010:
I have been to quite a few church sponsored men's breakfasts over the years. They were enjoyable as Christian men gather, usually on a Saturday morning for pancakes or eggs while one of the brothers shares a testimony or another conducts a bible study. I have also been to larger gatherings where men are part of a denominational or theological fellowship with the same agenda of a meal and devotions. The first Thursday in February will bring us news reports of the yearly National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington D. C., originally called the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, that every United States President since Ike has attended. Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet Ministers, business leaders and leaders from around the world will be in the audience of well over 3000 people in what has been described as a gala event. Actually, the whole week will see events organized by a group of Evangelicals who are known as The Fellowship or more informally The Family. The original intent of the Breakfasts may have been to invite influential leaders in government and business, enjoy some food along with a gospel message and hope to introduce some to Jesus Christ who may then become Christians and effect our nation because of their new beliefs but it has evolved...and is problematic....to put it mildly.
Jeff Sharlet is the author of a book called The Family, The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, published in 2008. He took the Family to task as he described a network that works behind the scenes in the affairs of our government and other governments around the world. One of its criticisms would be that we (the United States), in many cases because of the influence of the Family or the Fellowship, support murderous dictatorships that would later, hopefully, support our agendas. The response from the Fellowship is that these dictators were murderers before they became our friends. The book describes an ideology, or theology, that promotes a muscular Jesus whose followers are going to take the reins of our own government for Jesus. The author did extensive research but his conclusion was tainted by a lack of understanding of the gospel itself.
Sharlet gained the trust of a member who recommended him to stay at an Arlington property of the Fellowship called Ivanwald. Much of his information came from conversations with the brothers who were trying, in their way, to help him. I've had an interest in a few of the topics Mr. Sharlet spent extensive time on. One would be the 18th century theologian/pastor Jonathon Edwards, and another would be Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. Sharlet obviously did his biographical homework but he never came close to the essence of these men. Both are used as examples of this Fellowship ideology in previous times, but both men, in my opinion, would have rejected these gospel expanding strategies and the gospel contained within them. Edwards was lumped with 19th century revivalist Charles Finney who deserved the critical review he received. Sharlet used personal conversations and documents that he viewed to describe a Christianity that seems unnecessary compared to Jesus as a King.
I've seen no responses from Fellowship members on the 2008 book and realize that Jeff Sharlet's criticism would be expected on most Christian ministries today, and his take on that of Jonathon Edwards was proof of this, but he does understand a "political action fellowship" when he sees one. My question to the Fellowship would be what god is prayed to at a "National Prayer Breakfast" that is so ecumenical that many of its speakers are there for any reason except the gospel? I had this concern long before the book. Another question is whether or not they know that the gospel cannot be legislated. Many things that emanate from the Bible can, but not faith in Christ, which can be distorted, and is distorted here.
A genuine reformation or awakening must come from a people who were moved upon by God's Spirit, where Christian leaders in government or business would be summoned by a Christian people, not recruited by a well-meaning fellowship because of their political potential. Some of the ministries closely associated with the group are sound endeavors and not all of the individuals involved interpret the Evangel the same way but the clandestine agenda of the Fellowship obscures as much as it promotes. The National Prayer Breakfast may have had a proper place at one time, but no more.
