OrionMonitor.com-Budget Wars

The budget wars of Central L.A. Japanese church appear to be the result of differing assumptions about the nature of God and church. The basic division is between the rationalists and the irrationalists. The label "irrationalist" is not pejorative, but descriptive. The fact that it seems insulting merely shows how thoroughly the culture of reason permeates society. Both sides have legitimate points that cannot be easily dismissed. People on both sides of the aisle may deny the positions I have attributed to them by inference. I do not claim the individuals are intellectually consistent or honest.

Faction

Assumptions about Church Program

The Primary Virtue

The Primary Fear

Explanation for Decreasing Church Dedication and Donations

The Solution

Irrationalists

Man must serve church programs.

Church participation is ultimately an irrational response of faith. ("Rice" Christians are denigrated.)

Holy Spirit makes us more obedient and generous

God values obedience above all else. God's wisdom may appear to be foolish to man.

"Obedience is better than sacrifice. . . "

I Sam. 15:22)

Temptation in the Garden (Gen 3)

Secularism and loss of certainty by rationalizing and relativizing the gospel rather than obeying it.

Rationalizing begins the slide down the slippery slope toward moral chaos and social anarchy.

God's program is a constant; So man is to blame;

People are too worldly and spoiled.

Not enough dedication; Not enough sacrifice.

More Sacrifice; spend less; demand more;

Human nature must be changed; not the program.

More prayer and more invoking of Holy Spirit to transform people's nature.

Rationalists

Church programs must serve man

Sabbath was made for man; not vice versa

( Mk. 2: 2 7 )

Church participation is a rational response to a good deal.

Holy Spirit makes us more reasonable.

God values compassion and service to humanity.

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these..."

(Matt. 25:40)

Reason must precede obedience because discerning God's will is the issue; not obeying it.

Loss of credibility and relevance by absolutizing that which should be dynamic and progressive.

The church would already be dead if rationalizations had not been used to prevent God from appearing foolish, unfair, or cruel.

Human nature is a constant. So if members spend greater % of time and money elsewhere than in former times, our programs must no longer serve people's needs.

Spend differently; adapt program to meet man's current needs.

when needs are met, the dedication and money will return.

Holy Spirit will provide wisdom to make right program changes.

1. This was an attachment (p. 15) to the 14 page letter to the editor of Orion Chronicles.