May 25, 2004
Volume 2: Issue 5
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with Brent Crowe
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The Last
Marker on the Road to Destruction
It seems of late that
nothing, with maybe the exception of the war in Iraq, gets more news
coverage and strikes more controversy in the lives of Americans than the
homosexual agenda. Make no mistake, the outcome of this issue is not
yet decided although conservative Christians have been slow to respond. As
a matter of fact, it is the fourth quarter and high time we step up our
game. How important is the issue of legalized gay marriages and the
slippery slope of other laws that will follow if the agenda is pushed
through? Many evangelical scholars and ethicists predict the severity of
this issue weighs as heavily as Roe v. Wade. The reason being is
that the acceptance and celebration of homosexuality in a culture has
historically proven to be the last marker on the road to destruction and,
in many cases, non-existence. Make no mistake this is the key issue before
the church today. In fact, just today, MTV unveiled plans to launch a gay
and lesbian channel.
So what is the response of young Christian leaders? There are two extremes
that must be avoided. The first is a response based solely on bumper
sticker theology that can be characterized by militant phrases like, “God
didn’t create Adam and Steve!” True homosexuality goes against God’s
design and purpose but if this is the extent of our worldview then it is
incomplete. Second, we should not take a pacifist approach and stand idly
by allowing our silence to be all that is heard as this would be an even
greater tragedy. Most evangelicals agree that homosexuality is wrong but
have no clear understanding of what the scriptures teach concerning why
this sin is considered especially heinous by our Lord and therefore never
truly engage the issue. Romans 1:18-32 is probably the most vital in
gaining a big picture understanding of the process a culture undergoes
before homosexuality is approved and celebrated.
Framing the issue: A
Biblical Worldview on homosexuality (Romans 1:18-32)
Step 1: Men stop glorifying God and start
suppressing His truth (18-21)
Step 2: Man’s moral thinking becomes futile (21)
Step 3: Men’s hearts are darkened (21)
Step 4: Man claims a new wisdom (22)
Step 5: Men exchange God’s truth for a lie (25)
Step 6: Man begins to worship creation including his own body (23-25)
Step 7: God gives them over to their sinful desires (26)
Step 8: Humanity engages in homosexual activity (26-27)
Step 9: Humanity receives just penalties for their activity (27b)
Step 10: Homosexuality is approved and celebrated by the culture (32)
A leader's response
We
must fight for legislation:
Persecution may be just around the corner for many conservative
evangelicals. The Canadian Government recently passed a bill making it a
hate crime to speak out against homosexuals. There is much debate now
over what will be done with pro-family organizations, such as Focus on the
Family, who have radio programs and put out written publications in
Canada. There is an obvious and desperate need to fight for legislation.
We must
fight for education:
Imagine for a moment
third and fourth graders all across this country being taught about the
homosexual lifestyle as part of their curriculum. Imagine homosexuals in
high schools taking a stand for their sexuality and demanding an annual
recognized day of celebration (which recently happened in Wilson, NC). We
must fight for the education of our young people.
We must
fight for their salvation:
Leaders know
there is only one hope for true change in the homosexual agenda or any
life for that matter. While we are to engage our culture in fighting for
legislation and education we must not neglect the fact that the work of
Christ is the only thing that can break the chains and shackles that
enslave an individual in a lifestyle that leads to eternal destruction. In
fact, we must support legislation which protects the biblical definition
of a family. This does not mean attacking anyone with a gay lifestyle but
instead being obedient to the call on our lives to be salt and light. As leaders we must not shout at the homosexuals ignorant slogans from a
distance that only invoke emotional responses and drive an even deeper
wedge between them and the church. No, we must realize that we were born
for such a time as this and such a task as carrying the gospel in boldness
and love even to the homosexual.
Several
things you can do to protect the biblical definition of marriage:
1. Learn all you can about these current issues by reading news
reports.
2. Contact your congressional representatives. On the For Faith and Family
website, you can enter your zip code to
obtain the e-mail addresses of your senators.
3. Tell your friends to get involved also. Together, we can make a
difference! |
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with
Luke Lin
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One of the news items that has
probably caught your attention over the past month has been the death of
Pat Tillman while serving our country in Afghanistan. However, unless you
are an avid football fan or happen to live in Arizona, you probably had no
clue who Pat Tillman was before his death elicited national media
attention. His death would probably
have gone unnoticed by many, but as the news reports highlighted, Tillman
gave up a lucrative football career with the Arizona Cardinals valued at
$3.6 million in order to join the Army and serve as part of the elite
Ranger forces, an extremely high-risk responsibility that would only earn
a comparatively meager $18,000 per year.
Pat Tillman certainly deserves
extensive respect for his sacrifices which embody the heart of
patriotism. His death, however, speaks volumes about our country and what
we value. We are shocked as a nation that someone would turn down such an
enormous amount of money to serve in a profession that might, and did,
cost him his life. Tillman knew the risks of going to war and fighting for
his country - he had counted the cost. He knew he would be leaving a
position of stardom, along with family, friends, and the comforts of life
that many around the globe dream of every day! Tillman knew the cost, yet he committed unreservedly to
the causes of our country and served admirably, eventually making the
ultimate sacrifice of his life.
Christians can and should
learn much from Tillman's death. All too often, when God calls us to
action, we scrupulously weigh out our efforts and the perceived
benefits we may receive. If we are pleased with our projected profit, we
proceed with the plan, but it is uncommon to see those who willingly
sacrifice gains and actually take enormous losses to do what is right or
to follow God's calling upon their lives. Our culture
and world are crying out desperately for leaders who will rise up, take
charge, and take action. My prayer is that especially Christians would not
continue to echo the question of "Who will go?" but would begin to
resonate the response of "Send me." May we commit to actively following
the Lord in whatever He calls us to do, regardless of the sacrifices we
make along the way. It's worth it all. |
featuring Beth Landry
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John Maxwell once
said, “It’s lonely at the top so you better know why you’re
there.” One of my greatest struggles throughout life has
always been loneliness and obtaining the ability to balance
the high calling that Christ has placed on my life. Because of
the tight line I choose to walk, the time spent alone
“friendless” was unfortunately quite often. I spent years
becoming quite discouraged and questioning why God would ask
me to sacrifice so much without any tangible reward. I found
myself praying for Him to provide me with some real
encouragement to “press on.” I never found myself questioning
my faith in the midst of this trying time, but did, however,
spend many hours with a broken and hurt heart debating if it
was worth it.
Not long after I
had been praying for some sort of encouragement, my youth
pastor gave me an invitation to attend Student Leadership
University. Prior to this invitation, I had never heard of
SLU. The thought of spending a week in intense leadership
training around serious students and adults seemed
overwhelming. The week was rigorous, but I can honestly say
that the impact it has made on my life has been unforgettable.
At one of
the first SLU sessions, I vividly recall Dr. Bob Reccord
speaking to us about the role of a leader, and how leaders
have ultimately been called to be servants. He pointed out
that if our sights are set on Christ and Christ alone,
therefore causing us to look for ways to serve and minister to
others, we will in turn truly become leaders that others will
want to follow. This concept of “servanthood” was not new to
me, but the application was one that transformed my view of
leadership. We were each asked to kneel before someone sitting
at our table and to wash their feet. What a humbling
experience it was to not only wash someone else’s feet, but
also to have them wash my own.
My heart
was broken because it was then that I realized why Christ had
called me to live a life of character, integrity, and
humility, and why it was so imperative for me to stand strong
regardless of the costs that I felt I had to pay. Something I
learned that night, and was reminded throughout all of SLU,
was that leadership does not come without sacrifice, and it
certainly never comes to anyone with a prideful
heart. Leadership only comes to those who choose to live a
life that is focused primarily on being steady, sacrificial,
and above all else, a servant. The people I’ve met, the places
I’ve been, and the books I’ve read because of SLU have
completely revamped the way I think and function daily, and
SLU has instilled in my heart a desire to rise above
mediocrity. Philippians 3:13-14 says, “Forgetting what is
behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward
the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.” I know
that I am nowhere near the place where God desires that I be,
but I am confident in saying that SLU has provided me with the
advice and tools necessary to “press on” and one day take hold
of my “prize!”
Beth is a student at Palm
Beach Atlantic University and will be serving as an intern
this summer at SLU 101. |
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Our summer season
is only a few weeks away!! We are VERY excited here at SLU, as
we have broken all attendance records and have
the highest enrollment in our ten-year history! Our SLU
301 and 401 programs reached capacity a few months ago, and
spaces are limited for our SLU 101 and 201 programs! Don't
forget - our special Early Bird discount is almost over
and expires on June 1 - be sure to
register
before then to secure your spot for an extraordinary summer of
leadership training!
Check out SLU's
newest program - our Creative Outbreak Workshop (COW)!
Designed for those interested in the creative arts, COW gives
students unparalleled hands-on training in all aspects of
technical and creative ministries. Visit the COW
website for more
information and to register!
SLU is proud to
sponsor Leadership
Rocks for your church or school group this fall at
Universal Studios in Orlando. This event is a 2-day leadership
training event for students that will inspire and motivate
students to take their lives to the next level, combined with
some of the hottest bands in Christian music paving the path!
Be sure to check out the
website for more
details.
If you have any
questions about any of our programs, please don't hesitate to
call us! Our toll-free number is 1-888-260-2900. We would be
glad to answer any of your questions or send you any of our
program information. See you this summer!
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This month's funny
link: The Oxymoron Record,
a pretty inclusive list of the oxymorons we use in our
culture. Some of our favorite include "airline food,"
"educational television," and "new and improved."
*Please note: Student Leadership University is not responsible
for content or links of third-party websites.
Have a weird,
funny, crazy, or wacky link?
E-mail it to us!
To view past
editions of The Edge, check out our archive
here.
Questions or comments are always welcome. E-mail us at
edge@studentleadership.net |
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May 2004
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On the
Edge
Brent Crowe,
Dean of Students for SLU, outlines the evangelical
worldview on homosexuality and defines the response
of leaders to the rising crisis in America. |
Edge Ledge
Your section
for culture and Christianity takes a look at the
death of Pat Tillman, the NFL player and Army Ranger,
and the role of sacrifice. How should Christians respond? |
Life on the Edge
Read the story
of an SLU alum who journeyed through tough times
and sacrificed much as she learned the true
meaning of leadership. Have a
story? Send your story to us at
edge@studentleadership.net
This month, we feature Beth Landry. |
Cutting Edge
What's up at SLU? Get the latest scoop on
what's happening here at Student Leadership University. |
Featured Articles
Check out the
featured articles of the month, including articles about
the new Canadian law, the same-sex marriage
debate, and other critical issues that
have been recently raised in our culture. By being
informed of these critical events, we can begin to shape
an effective response to culture. Stay informed by reading
this month's featured articles. |
Over the Edge
In this new section of The
Edge, we will feature a crazy, funny, usual, or just plain
wacky link for your viewing pleasure. Check out this
month's wacky link! |
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Follow the links for the
full article. |
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Canada's New Law
The Canadian
Senate passed a bill that adds homosexuals to the list of
people protected by Canada's hate crimes legislation. Read
on how this new law will affect free speech and freedom of
religion...
Read full article |
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Same-Sex Marriage
The same-sex
marriage epidemic has become quite widespread, affecting
virtually all arenas of life. Not only does it affect the
status of marriage, but also...
Read full article |
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Troubled Times
We are living in troubled times. The scandal over the abuse of Iraqi
prisoners seems to grow worse every day. A friend of mine at the Pentagon
who has seen all of the photos said they were...
Read full article |
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Redefining Marriage
With the
beginning of same-sex marriages in the United States, one
of our nation's most basic and fundamental institutions
may be forever damaged as it is redefined...
Read full article |
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Seminary Presidents Affirm
Biblical Marriage
The presidents
of several major seminaries across the country joined
together in affirming their support of a biblical
definition of marriage...
Read full article |
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Sex-Ed Programs Under Fire
Taxpayer funds
are being used for school sexuality education programs
that subvert the idea of abstinence for teens and targets
children as young as nine years old with lessons on...
Read full article |
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"The man
who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of
it."
Woodrow Wilson
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"All that is
necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Edmund Burke |
"You shall not
lie with a male as with woman. It is an abomination."
Leviticus 18:22, NASB |
"There is
always hope. Our responsibility, however, is not to stem the
tide. Our responsibility is to bear faithful witness to God and
His ways and never, never, never give up laboring for
righteousness."
Dr. Charles Kelley |
"The sacred
institution of marriage should not be redefined by a few
activist judges. All Americans have a right to be heard in this
debate. I called on the Congress to pass, and to send to the
states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution
defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and a woman
as husband and wife. The need for that amendment is still
urgent, and I repeat that call today."
President George W. Bush, May 17, 2004 |
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We want to hear from you! Do you
have a thoughtful response to the articles here? Have you
written a paper on one of the issues we're discussing this month
or have discussed? Send it to us at
edge@studentleadership.net |
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Established in 1994, Student Leadership University's
purpose is to empower students to conquer the future!
Combining hands-on experimental learning with a dynamic
classroom setting, students are equipped to influence
their generation for Christ with confidence.
For more information, visit us at
www.studentleadership.net or call us toll-free at
888-260-2900.
Edge Executive Editor:
Chris Crowe
Edge Associate Editor:
Luke Lin
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