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A La Carte (08/03)
- 08/03/06
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Thursday August 3, 2006
Church: Lisa links to an article about “Days of the Dead” at Cornerstone “Christian” Youth Camp. While the article is perhaps a little dramatic, it contains some rather startling information.
Humor: Nathan Busenitz, Personal Assistant to John MacArthur, began my Wednesday with a “LOL” moment by sending me this link to a cover of “Preaching Illustrated” covering the big Piper-MacArthur trade.
Theology: Mark at “A Spot of Blogger” is writing a series on the subject of universalism.
Mormons: John DiVito has an interesting link to an article discussing Mormon missions (and those white-shirted guys who knock on your door every year or two). “While many missionaries have friends who are enjoying college life, young elders and sisters are asked to knock on strangers’ doors teaching church doctrine or volunteer in the community 62 to 64 hours a week.”
Abortion: This rates as one of the most disturbing things I’ve seen in a long time. “Ms. Magazine” is asking American women to sign a petition proudly proclaiming they have had an abortion. They are also looking for money for their “Reproductive Freedom Fund.” Since when is abortion reproduction?
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Comments (10)
Re: Cornerstone Christian, here’s an extensive rebuttal of Ms. Litz’s claims.
I attended Cornerstone, all six days, and I attended it for two days last year. Yeah, there’s some stuff that is not traditional Reformed theology-based, like labrynths. But the rebuttal pointed to by diablaazul and the rebuttal from Lint Hatcher (pointed to in the Dwayna Litz article) are much more close to reality than the alarmist posting from Litz. This is not an event for Puritan-esque radical conservative theology-oriented people - they will probably feel very uncomfortable hanging out with Christians who are tattooed and pierced! It is a much more diverse collection of Christians (and MANY non-Christians) who gather to attend concerts. The Imaginarium is a very small part of the festival. The vast majority of the attendees never set foot in that tent.
I attended to take my 16-yr-old. He knows that some of that stuff is wacky. But he just goes to hear the music. I go to hear the less hard-core concerts (I enjoyed the Lost Dogs, Over the Rhine, and Leigh Nash), and I attend the seminars - for example, I heard talks on Soren Kierkegaard, “Freud for Christians”, and “Nietzche for Christians”. Fascinating stuff that takes a conservative fundamentalist like me a little off my normal agenda.
The JPUSA bunch is an organization that is steeped in social justice and Christian Left causes. Some of what they do to help the poor/needy is excellent (my very conservative PCA church goes up there every year or two to help them in their ministry!). Some of what they do is a little off the wall. But they sure do put on a good concert!
——bill
I have done my homework. No, the entire camp is not about the “Day of the Dead”… but, as I added a commentary to the original post, I wrote “The article link about the camp and their covert mission did seem dramatic… but then why would a Christian camp allow such teaching? It seems like such a HUGE compromise of truth.”There really is way too much to weed through there. This is not about legalism and the holier than thou mentality. It is about Biblical discernment for the sake of my children.
Lisa
I have done my homework. No, the entire camp is not about the “Day of the Dead”… but, as I added an updated comment to the original post, I wrote “The article link about the camp and their covert mission did seem dramatic… but then why would a Christian camp allow such teaching? It seems like such a HUGE compromise of truth.”There really is way too much to weed through there. This is not about legalism and the holier than thou mentality. It is about Biblical discernment for the sake of my children.I tried to link the update here, but it would not work.
Lisa
Lisa, since you have apparently never attended the festival, you would not be aware of the significance (or actually the lack thereof) of the Imaginarium. First off, Cornerstone is not a “camp”. It is a music festival - the focus is overwhelmingly on music concerts, not on the tents such as the Imaginarium. The Festival is held on over 500 acres of farmland, and that tent is about 100x100 feet. Why would a Christian camp allow such teaching? I believe my other post answers that question - JPUSA is not a Reformed Christian organization, and their theology and social principles reflect that. They are liberals, both in politics and in theology. The events such as the Imaginarium reflect that.
I attend a PCA church. I am a strict Calvinist. My primary influences are John Piper, R.C. Sproul and related. I’ve studed Calvin, Luther, the Westminister Confession and other such topics this year. I am by no means a lefty Christian. But I see very little harm in what occurs at Cornerstone. Yeah, there are people with off-the-wall politics and theology there. That’s the way the world is. But I can assure you that there is no Satan worship or anything remotely related going on there, unless you count what goes on in someone’s private tent, which neither JPUSA nor anyone else controls. It is actually quite fascinating and reassuring to see the rather oddly-dressed Christian kids and know that they are believers and that Christ’s kingdom includes people like that as well as people like me who dress in khaki shorts and polo shirts.
——bill
Thank you Bill. I appreciate sincerely your desire to inform me of your personal experience there. However, I am still not convinced because I have received numerous e-mails from people that have attended and found there to be more red flags than the imaginarium. These are people that have also informed me that this is heavily advertised for youth and thus why it may have been considered a “youth camp”.Still, way too much to weed through for our family. You wrote: “It is actually quite fascinating and reassuring to see the rather oddly-dressed Christian kids and know that they are believers and that Christ’s kingdom includes people like that as well as people like me who dress in khaki shorts and polo shirts.”Could you elaborate on how you know that they or anyone there that you do not really know are believers? Also, I never said I had a problem with their attire as long as their heart is to sincerely honor and glorify the Lord. I could go into a long and tiresome battle as to what kind of attire would best do that, how long a woman’s skirt should be, etc. But… that would be a long and tiresome battle I have already seen people go around in circles over. I am not a Pharisee. Just a woman longing to honor the Lord in all areas of my life… even in the darkest corners.
By the grace of God alone… His servant for His glory,Lisa
While I have reservations about how C-stone has evolved over the years, I’ve got to echo what Bill said about Cornerstone being misrepresented in the article Tim originally linked.
JPUSA and C-stone are not perfect. There are areas of concern with each of them that could be brought up in a legitimate, constructive way. But the article linked with its “secret agent man” attitude of infiltrating enemy territory neither accurately portrayed Cornerstone’s strengths and weaknesses, nor truly confronted JPUSA with real concerns.
(Written as someone who has been aware of JPUSA and CStone from the late 80s, was on the fringes observing those very involved with both, and attended festivals in the mid 90s. . .)
Tim,
My assessment of the controversy surrounding the Imaginarium at Cornerstone 2006 is here:
Controversy at Cornerstone 2006
There are many different sides to this issue - I’ve tried to be fair and charitable to them all while also stating my own thoughts and assessments as one who attended the seminars in question. This has not been an easy task as there is a lot of tension, defensiveness, and personal attacks going on from across the spectrum. I’m still amazed at how effective Christians are at fighting with each other rather than trying to recconcile conflict and correct misunderstandings.
Yes the “secret agent” thing was rather odd and dramatic. I do appreciate your insight here Tulip Girl.
You wrote that they “neither accurately portrayed Cornerstone’s strengths and weaknesses, nor truly confronted JPUSA with real concerns.”
I have no idea what they were passing out and posting… but apparently they felt that was their way of addressing those issues. But I agree, there is a better way.
It is still not for our family, but perhaps those who like to attend can play an active role in communicating those concerns more constructively and in a more God honoring way. I do not have answers. But I am greatly concerned. Those things of concern really are disturbing and I am not basing those concerns solely on that article. I do not want to be someone who sits back and points fingers. I really sincerely appreciate the insight given by both you and Bill.
But since I did make this post about Cornerstone, perhaps someone could give me even more details about what they experienced there that was God honoring, because I have unexpectedly gotten a flood of e-mails that have addressed other areas of concern that are disturbing and I have encouraged those people to prayerfully communicate those concerns with the people that put this festival together.
His servant for His glory,Lisa ( lisa4given@hotmail.com )
“Since when is abortion reproduction?”
I think they mean freedom from reproduction obligations. Sad.