Enough about Friday the 13th

OK, so here’s the deal, all day long and all weekend long most of the cable networks and pay per view channels will be emphasizing every Friday the 13^th movie ever made as well as all the Jason, Alien and Psycho franchise movies as well. The whole emphasis will be about evil, murder, mayhem and people becoming psychotic. In so many ways and on so many levels this is both sad and wrong.

I for one as a pastor, theologian, counselor and psychologist absolutely resent this whole evil emphasis about a very important religious and historical event as well as the associated negative mental health connotations.

Now that doesn’t mean I dislike the occasional walk on the dark side or the good horror movie from time to time. I saw all of the Alien movies, loved Attack of the Killer Tomatoes as well as The Birds and original Psycho; so don’t think I’m simply seeking out the proverbial “rainbows and unicorn”  genre for everyone.

Just because it's Friday the 13^th however, does not mean the day is bad, evil or that you're more likely to have a major accident.

For those who are extremely paranoid, they do have a more significant chance of minor to large accidents happening throughout the day. Their chances for impending doom are greater personally because they’ll be so busy trying to avoid calamity that they’ll walk right into it.

Authorities tell us that just like a full moon, due to this paranoia of Friday the 13^th mentality, emergency rooms are fuller, emergency response teams and first responders are busier, DUIs and DWIs increase and violence as a whole is more prevalent due to Friday the 13^th parties, bar and pub specials,etc.

In other words, these increases have nothing to do with the date and yet everything to do with the date simply because of the fear and anxiety of people over the day itself. Most of the fear however in recent years is the result of movies on impressionable young minds.

Historically and religiously Friday the 13^th is a very sad and serious day which many tend to forget. Although the facts were a bit distorted and exaggerated, most wouldn’t even be aware of the historical side apart from the movie, “The DaVinci Code” based on the book of the same name by Dan Brown. It was on Friday, October 13^th, 1307 that Politics and Christianity had one of the greatest confrontations ever.

Although the historicity is often unclear, the basic facts are these:

King Phillip IV of France set his sights on the fabled riches of the Knights Templar (by all accounts the first bankers of the western world) who were constantly traveling back and forth to the mid-east, Holy Land and some think possibly even North America near Nova Scotia.

The Templar’s, although often at odds with the church were also loyal to their belief in Christ and as such (at least to some degree) their allegiance to the Pope.

King Phillip IV of France set a trap for the Templar’s issuing warrants for their arrest on Friday, October 13^th, 1307 in which the original plan was to torture them, get confessions out of them forcing Pope Clement the V to issue more arrest for others and ultimately find the Templar treasure and King Phillip and France to become the ruling bank throughout Europe.

The Templar’s true to their faith refused, accepted torture and only acknowledged partial facts never leading to the location to this day where the treasure was.

Here is where the history gets somewhat unclear.  Although apparently 625 Knights Templar were arrested, by many accounts, not all were imprisoned, many escaped and some were even freed.

In a second attempt to get hold of the treasure, King Phillip ordered the slow and agonizing execution by burning at the stake of fifty four of the Templar. Some historians state this did not happen until 1310 while others want to put the event within the Friday, October 13^th, 1307 date.

Regardless, of what or how things went down for the Knights Templar, Politics and the Christian church it was a very bad and sad day.

So that's the “skinny” as they say on Friday the 13^th.  Have a safe and wonderful day.

©Copyright 2012 Dr. Lee W. Outlaw III

The Polity of the Church - Part 3

Part 3

of 

A 3- Part Series on Church Organizational Government and Politics

What the church should know 

In the past two articles we have discussed what Church Polity is, its definition and how Southern Baptist in particular are less aware than most of the role and ultimate effect Church Polity plays in the local church.

But Southern Baptist and their current controversy over a name change is not the only matter of concern. There is far more at stake here.

The current “Occupy Wall Street Protest” are just an example.  Our nation (as one radio talk show continually and correctly states) is rapidly changing and unfortunately not necessarily for the better. The “Occupy Wall Street Protestors” have next on their agenda, the Christian Church.

Those in charge of these protestors have stated so boldly and unapologetically. They believe that Christians and the church is a virus and detriment to society.  We are standing in their way of changing America into a totally socialistic society and nation.

Unfortunately, there are even Christians who believe they are right.

So how does this involve Church Polity and the local church? The church must protect itself via its own constitution and bylaws insuring their rights under the constitution. The church and its leaders must not assume anything.

As a church attorney friend of this pastor says, “assumption in law is the road to destruction”.

One of the keys here is making sure your church constitution incorporates the 1^st amendment into its own constitution.

Another matter of importance is the church making sure they have a church attorney knowledgeable in church law and advising the church into a careful review of its constitution including membership provisions and requirements.

We say “who so ever will may come” but today is NOT the time of naivety. Not everyone wanting to join your church today may be genuine. Again, don’t assume. Make sure you have a plan for screening thoroughly your membership applicants.

We know this happens as stated in my first article. Please read Part 1 of Church Polity for further clarity.

Remember, you can lead people to Christ making them a part of the universal church without necessarily making them a member of your church.

This is not to say the church should be paranoid. But the church must be cautious. 

With churches struggling and dying, every church both large and small must be aware of their legal rights and responsibility.

If a church does not review its legal rights and understand confidently Church Polity, it will not be long before the church’s freedom will be lost and ultimately the church destroyed.

Let each of us as believers in Christ Jesus take the time to understand Church Polity and lead our churches to utilize it in the protection and survival of the local church.