Today I woke up and decided to send out a little tweet (which quickly goes to my Facebook page) and I’m told this little tweet was a bit cryptic. So, since I’m not limited here to 140 characters, I thought I’d explain myself. But first, here’s the tweet:
WAS thinkin Urbana w/caleb insteada Onething cause KH/I, KHs dad went 80s/60s. Not goin aftr seein religusleft influence
And, here’s my explanation which I also dropped on my Facebook:
Urbana is the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship sponsored missions conference for college students that has been held every three years since 1946. It’s held in Urbana IL, thus the name. Kristen/I went there in 1984 and 1987 (Billy Graham spoke) and we were powerfully impacted. Kristen’s dad, now a retired pastor, went as a college student in 1962ish. So I thought to break from our norm (going to OneThing in KC) and take Caleb (age 19) to Urbana – figured it would be a three generation family tradition and a good way to add fuel to his fire to reach the world.
Urbana has always been about reaching the lost, aka evangelism, and the call to go into all the world with the Gospel. And I can see from the materials that is still the central thrust of Urbana. But now there is a mixture in the message. Now the gospel includes “the Mission of Healthcare” both domestic and international. And, “environmental stewardship.” Shane Claiborne is speaking.
Don’t misunderstand, creation care is vital and Biblical. And medical missions is too. But I’m not dumb, this is a chance to further hype the global warming hoax. And domestic health care? You can be sure the religious-left friends of Jim Wallis will be waxing eloquent about our “moral duty” to pass Obamacare and there will be no tolerance (or platform time) for anyone who points out the evil “details” of letting the elderly die and funding the unbridled slaughter of the unborn.
A missionary to mother nature is more welcome at Urbana now than a missionary to the unborn.
The hand of God is on OneThing. I’m not sure what has gotten hold of Urbana.
24 comments
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September 1, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Travis
It is sad to see the influx of Churches / Christian Events / Christian’s turn their back on the scripture.
It breaks my heart.
September 2, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Ed
Well, Steve, as someone who is quite close to the planning involved in Urbana, I have to say that you’ve made a couple of (unjustified) leaps in logic here…
1)Urbana is now located in St Louis, not Urbana IL (though it is true that that’s where the name comes from…
2)Missions has always included Medical Missions – going back to the days of Paul the apostle himself. There’s nothing new here, and certainly no connection to the domestic healthcare debate! [Have we slid so far that even a mention of healthcare in, say, Sudan, requires an explanation... ????? That breaks MY heart, Travis]
3)Environmental stewardship is, perhaps, one of the most important and effective ways we can ‘love our neighbor’ today. To attempt to ‘preach the gospel’ without caring about God’s creation is not preaching the gospel at all…
Cheers!
September 2, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Travis
Ed -
First of all, I do not have any issues at all with Medical Missions. My statement is based on the flurry of anti-scriptural activity going on inside the church today. From Churches allowing active Homosexuals to Pastors the flock, to Barrack Obama conference calling pastors to shame them into supporting an evil National Health Care Plan, to the promotion of Hate and Death-Wishes on people within the walls of the church, to pastors preaching that abortion is okay because God hates poverty; do you believe that those activities are backed by God’s Word?
Secondly, the Federal Government is so in-bed with Mammon and Molech that it is not even funny. Most of the ideas and actions that come from DC are polluted by an inefficient bureaucracy that defiles everything that rolls off the Hill (I should say Slithers Off), even the ideas that start off with good intentions. Barrack Obama himself said we are not a Christian Nation, his actions along with the junk that comes out of Congress definitely backs up his assertion.
Since you are involved in planning Urbana, is there going to be anything in the agenda to support the current plan that is being ramrodded through congress and stuffed down our throat? Do you believe that Nationalized Health Care is in the best interest of the people in our country? Do you believe that Nationalized Health Care is scriptural?
I am all for Missions of all sorts. The good news needs to be spread and us Christians should show compassion for all the needs of humanity, including medical. But our Government is not an entity that we should be putting our faith into, only our Heavenly Father is deserving of that honor. Frankly our Government hasn’t even proven to be remotely trustworthy, especially over the past 40-50 years.
If you are looking for a silver lining in National Health Care, being that you support medical missions, if Obama and the rest of the Socialists get their way, you will not have to send people to Sudan to do your mission work. There will be plenty of people here in need of health care.
On the flip side of the silver lining, what are those who do not know the Lord going to do in places like the Sudan?
That should break your heart, it does mine…
September 2, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Ed
My only point, Travis is this: Urbana has nothing to do with any of this. How Steve, or you, or anyone got the idea into your heads that because Urbana features seminars of medical missions they are participating in any way in the current debate on health care is beyond me. To quote a recent politician, “What planet are you living on?”
September 2, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Travis
Ed -
I apologize that my broken heart offended you. I have to admit that I do not know a lot about Urbana. My comment was about the general movement of Liberal Christianity, especially in regards to ignoring entire sections of the scripture to conform to the current “Politically Correct” World View.
I cannot answer for Steve, but my guess is that Steve came to his thoughts based on the following, from his post. “But now there is a mixture in the message. Now the gospel includes “the Mission of Healthcare” both domestic and international. And, “environmental stewardship.” Shane Claiborne is speaking.”
I followed the links provided by Urbana on Shane. I could definitely see where Steve came up with his concerns, with all of the talk about redistribution and social justice, etc… Scary stuff, especially when it is handled by the morally void black hole we call the Government, which from my posts you should get the drift that I do not trust our idolatrous power hungry bureaucrats in any way shape or form and my distrust in them is not without merit.
I also have to admit that I do not know anything at all about Shane Claiborne, and it definitely looks like he loves the Lord and it appears that he does good works, which I admire and am thankful for, but if his ideology involves putting faith, or even trust for that matter, in our Federal Government for social justice, environmental stewardship, and wealth redistribution, then I believe he is misguided.
I was especially taken back by the statement on his website that says we where created in the image of Community. My version of the Bible says that we are created in His, (Gods), Image. Don’t get me wrong, I believe the Bible teaches us that it is very important for us to be in Communion with one another, and that type of God Centered Community is a wonderful thing, but it first calls us to be in Communion with God, and he provided that way through Jesus Christ.
I think you should read Steve’s post again, I think you may have missed a lot out of your first reading. Like the following statements.
”Urbana has always been about reaching the lost, aka evangelism, and the call to go into all the world with the Gospel. And I can see from the materials that is still the central thrust of Urbana. But now there is a mixture in the message. Now the gospel includes “the Mission of Healthcare” both domestic and international. And, “environmental stewardship.” Shane Claiborne is speaking.
May God continue to bless you in your missions!
September 2, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Steve Hickey
Ed – Thanks for your comments! I’ve been following closely the division in the NAE on these issues these past few years and I stand by my post as it relates to my concerns about a mixture in the message at Urbana. Evangelical leaders have met this month with Obama to talk about the “moral duty” to pass Obamacare which kills the old and the unborn. Just what will be talked about at Urbana when the brochure and website talk about domestic healthcare in a year when this is THE national debate?? Domestic healthcare isn’t medical missions. You and I both know this is more than medical missions which I acknowledge in my post as both essential and Biblical.
And do you really expect me to believe the junk science of the Al Gore community regarding man-made global warming hype is not behind the push within evangelicalism these past few years, and now at Urbana, to save the planet? Read this two part post of mine if you want to know what’s fueling my rejection of all of these things.
http://stevehickey.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/killing-people-to-save-the-planet-part-one/
http://stevehickey.wordpress.com/2008/04/23/killing-people-to-save-the-planet-part-two/
You may or may not know my role in the pro-life movement in America. Am I wrong to say a missionary to mother nature would be more welcome (on the platform of Urbana) than a missionary to the unborn? What I have found is that evangelicals consider abortion too “political” but now I’m watching them say “health care” and “environmentalism” is a central part of the gospel. The number one thing keeping God’s blessing from pouring out on this nation is blood pollution on the land from the shedding of innocent blood. On the list of priorities, that is at the top, not the debatable role of man’s C02 emissions.
I didn’t know Urbana moved to St. Louis. As I said, I went in the 80′s.
I’ll look forward to getting the CD’s from Urbana this year but my son and I are going to OneThing!
Blessings! SH
September 2, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Steve Hickey
http://www.urbana.org/who-is-my-neighbor/what-is-a-neighbor-free-to-do
Global warming is a hoax and I’m bummed that evangelicals/Urbana are caught up in it. The priority is people on the planet and the solutions proposed by the apostles of global warming will result in millions/billions of dead human beings.
September 28, 2009 at 8:35 am
mirele
You know, there won’t be any unborn to save if you kill the planet. Global warming is NOT a hoax and you do nobody, least of all yourself, any favors by deliberately lying. I’m not even going to give you the courtesy of thinking you’ve been misled.
(And my mother wonders why I’m no longer a Christian. Here’s Exhibit 9745941*****, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.)
September 28, 2009 at 10:44 am
Travis
mirele -
Unlike Al Gore and his Kool-Aid drinking followers, I don’t believe the debate on Global Warming is over. I also think that over 17,000 scientists have come out in agreement that most of the Hype is false and or misleading.
What brings you to the belief that Global Warming is as you think it is?
Don’t get me wrong, I know that we are called to be stewards of this planet, and in allot of regards we completely fail. We should do what is right, and not be destructive to either the planet or human life (especially human life).
Unfortunately most of the Global Warming crazies believe we need to sacrifice the people in order to save the planet. That is not only wrong, but it is nothing less than pure evil, regardless of your faith or lack of.
September 28, 2009 at 11:16 am
Ed
Steve, in order to counter Mirele’s accusation that you are lying, would you please substantiate this statement?
>>Unfortunately most of the Global Warming crazies believe we need to sacrifice the people in order to save the planet.<<
I would like to see a single quote that backs this up.
September 28, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Steve Hickey
Ed – looks like you pulled that line from Travis’ comment. But, it’s not difficult to substantiate. Population Control (aka, forced sterilization, abortion, etc) and Global Warming wed years ago. Google the two terms. I recommend familiarizing yourself with Stephen Mosher and the Population Research Institute. http://catholicexchange.com/2009/09/28/122189/
My favorite little example of a Global Warming Crazy (who controls much in terms on media) calling for the elimination of billions of people is this Ted Turner clip
I’m guessing from you question you haven’t taken the time to read the links I posted a few comments back, or listened to the podcasts where I talked about those who want to kill people to save the planet.
I’m figuring you and I share many things in common in terms of beliefs including the mandate to take care of the planet and the humanity of the unborn.
September 29, 2009 at 8:05 am
Travis
Ed -
First my name is not Steve…
Second here are some articles as well as quotes. These people do exist and their ideology is evil.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5950442.ece
http://www.optimumpopulation.org/
http://www.optimumpopulation.org/releases/opt.release11Jul08.htm
http://www.populationconnection.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issues_protectingtheplanet
http://www.nwf.org/popandenvironment/globalwarming.cfm
http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Read-the-Charter.html
Ted Turner -
” One way to combat global warming, Turner said, is to stabilize the population.”
“We’re too many people; that’s why we have global warming,” he said. “Too many people are using too much stuff.”
Here are a slew of quotes from John Holdren -
“Indeed, it has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society.”
“Involuntary fertility control”
…
“A program of sterilizing women after their second or third child, despite the relatively greater difficulty of the operation than vasectomy, might be easier to implement than trying to sterilize men.”
“The development of a long-term sterilizing capsule that could be implanted under the skin and removed when pregnancy is desired opens additional possibilities for coercive fertility control. The capsule could be implanted at puberty and might be removable, with official permission, for a limited number of births.”
“If some individuals contribute to general social deterioration by overproducing children, and if the need is compelling, they can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility—just as they can be required to exercise responsibility in their resource-consumption patterns—providing they are not denied equal protection.”
“In today’s world, however, the number of children in a family is a matter of profound public concern. The law regulates other highly personal matters. For example, no one may lawfully have more than one spouse at a time. Why should the law not be able to prevent a person from having more than two children?”
Toward a Planetary Regime
“Perhaps those agencies, combined with UNEP and the United Nations population agencies, might eventually be developed into a Planetary Regime—sort of an international superagency for population, resources, and environment. Such a comprehensive Planetary Regime could control the development, administration, conservation, and distribution of all natural resources, renewable or nonrenewable, at least insofar as international implications exist. Thus the Regime could have the power to control pollution not only in the atmosphere and oceans, but also in such freshwater bodies as rivers and lakes that cross international boundaries or that discharge into the oceans. The Regime might also be a logical central agency for regulating all international trade, perhaps including assistance from DCs to LDCs, and including all food on the international market.”
“The Planetary Regime might be given responsibility for determining the optimum population for the world and for each region and for arbitrating various countries’ shares within their regional limits. Control of population size might remain the responsibility of each government, but the Regime would have some power to enforce the agreed limits.”
“Humanity cannot afford to muddle through the rest of the twentieth century; the risks are too great, and the stakes are too high. This may be the last opportunity to choose our own and our descendants’ destiny. Failing to choose or making the wrong choices may lead to catastrophe. But it must never be forgotten that the right choices could lead to a much better world.”
How many times have you heard Al Gore, or any other Global Warming Expert throw out population numbers and or probable future population numbers?
What do you think they are getting at?
September 29, 2009 at 10:16 am
Travis
Ed –
First my name is not Steve…
How many times have you heard Al Gore, or any other Global Warming Expert throw out population numbers and or projected future population numbers?
What do you think they are getting at, what seeds are they planting?
Second here are some articles as well as quotes. These people / organizations do exist, and their ideology is evil.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5950442.ece
http://www.optimumpopulation.org/
http://www.optimumpopulation.org/releases/opt.release11Jul08.htm
http://www.populationconnection.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issues_protectingtheplanet
http://www.nwf.org/popandenvironment/globalwarming.cfm
http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Read-the-Charter.html
Ted Turner -
” One way to combat global warming, Turner said, is to stabilize the population.”
“We’re too many people; that’s why we have global warming,” he said. “Too many people are using too much stuff.”
Here are a slew of quotes from John Holdren -
“Indeed, it has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society.”
“Involuntary fertility control”
…
“A program of sterilizing women after their second or third child, despite the relatively greater difficulty of the operation than vasectomy, might be easier to implement than trying to sterilize men.”
“The development of a long-term sterilizing capsule that could be implanted under the skin and removed when pregnancy is desired opens additional possibilities for coercive fertility control. The capsule could be implanted at puberty and might be removable, with official permission, for a limited number of births.”
“If some individuals contribute to general social deterioration by overproducing children, and if the need is compelling, they can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility—just as they can be required to exercise responsibility in their resource-consumption patterns—providing they are not denied equal protection.”
“In today’s world, however, the number of children in a family is a matter of profound public concern. The law regulates other highly personal matters. For example, no one may lawfully have more than one spouse at a time. Why should the law not be able to prevent a person from having more than two children?”
Toward a Planetary Regime
“Perhaps those agencies, combined with UNEP and the United Nations population agencies, might eventually be developed into a Planetary Regime—sort of an international superagency for population, resources, and environment. Such a comprehensive Planetary Regime could control the development, administration, conservation, and distribution of all natural resources, renewable or nonrenewable, at least insofar as international implications exist. Thus the Regime could have the power to control pollution not only in the atmosphere and oceans, but also in such freshwater bodies as rivers and lakes that cross international boundaries or that discharge into the oceans. The Regime might also be a logical central agency for regulating all international trade, perhaps including assistance from DCs to LDCs, and including all food on the international market.”
“The Planetary Regime might be given responsibility for determining the optimum population for the world and for each region and for arbitrating various countries’ shares within their regional limits. Control of population size might remain the responsibility of each government, but the Regime would have some power to enforce the agreed limits.”
“Humanity cannot afford to muddle through the rest of the twentieth century; the risks are too great, and the stakes are too high. This may be the last opportunity to choose our own and our descendants’ destiny. Failing to choose or making the wrong choices may lead to catastrophe. But it must never be forgotten that the right choices could lead to a much better world.”
October 8, 2009 at 5:19 pm
elderj
As one who is deeply connected to InterVarsity, I am grateful to hear that your experience at Urbana was formative in your development as a believer. The ongoing challenge for a campus focused ministry is to effectively reach, empower, and challenge each generation of students to be fully engaged in God’s mission of reconciling the world to himself through Jesus Christ. That mission remains core to InterVarsity, and you can be sure that highlighting issues of creation care, or global justice concerns, or any of a number of other seemingly hot button issues is but one way InterVarsity desires to help students see these things in light of the gospel rather than opposed to or external to God’s concern for the world.
It is an unfortunate reality that many of today’s generation of students view Christians as being unaware and unconcerned, and even more believe that God himself is unconcerned. We know this is not the case, and so Urbana will challenge students to think Christianly about these things rather than simply accepting the world’s assessment.
My hope and desire as you have chosen to refrain from active participation in the Urbana conference is that you will pray earnestly for those who are involved in planning; that they would hear well from the Lord, that if there are things that needed to be corrected or changed, they would be open and obedient, and that those students who come would be challenged to commit themselves to obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ whatever is their ultimate vocational choice. Urbana and InterVarsity needs your prayer, for guidance and the presence of the Holy Spirit in and through all that is done.
November 24, 2009 at 11:26 am
onething’09- What is the Spirit saying to the Church? « Gate Post
[...] Mike Bickle, Onething 09, Urbana 09 A few months ago I stirred the pot with a post called “Why we aren’t going to Urbana 09.” I needed to hear the honest responses I got from leaders at Urbana. Even so, here is a [...]
November 28, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Lori
I have a few thoughts/questions in the”Global Warming” debate. It just seems to me that us humans (especially Christians) thinking that we can actually “save the planet” is the most comical thing ever! Here’s what I don’t get…
Doesn’t the Word say that God himself will “destroy” the earth and make it anew in the end of days? But in order for God to destroy the earth…obviously there will BE an earth in existance to destroy. And if God is going to destroy it…then obviously there is nothing that we humans can do to save it! Why really is it even a concept then that we humans need to save it? I understand that it is ours to take care of, but the idea of having to “save it” just seems contradictory to the Word. Just a layman’s thought….but if any Christian reading this really believes that we need to “save the planet”, I’d really appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks!
Blessings!
January 18, 2010 at 12:01 am
Patrick
I attended Urbana 09 as a rep of an agency. I attended in1987. Although Steve certainly made some jumps in logic ( there was nothing about health care). I was concerned about the lack of emphasis on reaching the unreached. Also I felt that some of the speakers were there just for Star power ( Shane Claiborne for one). What about more missionaries who just serve humbling and don’t make a name for themselves. Also there were some crazy comments like “What about being true to yourself?” in one skit.
Still, I was excited to see a lot of young people there who really wanted to sell-out to serve Christ on the Mission field. It is too early to abandon Urbana, but I do wish Urbana would abandon the Emergent village guys.
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September 2, 2012 at 8:17 pm
saveurbana
Because of the concerns raised on this site and others, we have set up the site http://saveurbana.org We plan to show up at the conference and distribute literature. We love input and comments from anyone on this thread.
February 11, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Caroline
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