Posted by John on August 16, 2001 at 07:53:49:
In Reply to: Tabloids at Lost & Found posted by Pastor DisasterS on August 15, 2001 at 12:08:00:
: Thank you, John. I could not agree with you more in your expose of this paranoid and vulnerable false Christianity that believes we are in jeopardy at every moment if we do not recognize, announce, and renounce the hidden evil all around us. My one exception would be with your comment:
: "...maybe there are some people who feel like this at our present church too."
:
: I don't think that is the case. But that is not my point. Much more importantly, I think that this assumption that some of our own church body fits this pretentious mold is unhealthy. We naturally begin looking to identify these people. This attitude then perpetuates a division between those of us who who think we are more correct in our faith and those who we suspect may be inferior. This situation does indeed exist, and it evidenced by the number of times WE get offended and look down on a "suspect" because of the overly-happy smiles or the frequent glory-hallelujahs or the over-loving greetings at the front door or the overly-expressive prayers over us. I have SEEN this attitude of annoyance from our ex-Crossover people and it disturbs me. A lot of what we see as suspect (and offensive) is nothing more than flawed people really trying the only way they know how to reach out in love. Even if the outward action should seems pretentious, dare we question the sincerity of their intent? If members of our own church family are trying to reach out to us in "flawed" love, can't we at least respond with our brand of "flawed" love in return? I think the Dutchman said it well:
: "If Jesus really did all of that for his followers, and God is love, it would eminate out of every pore of those who believe in Him."
: How are your pores looking toward those you think are "Tabloid"? Beware lest any of us start feeling it is our job to recognize, announce, and renounce "Tabloid" Christianity at every turn. Then we have just become Tabloid.
: This post is for ALL OF US who sometimes think we are so right-on in our modern and mature faith, and it is NOT directed at any one person. John just very nicely opened the door for me to say something I've wanted to say for weeks. Thanks, John.
No problem. Glad I could be of service. What bothers me most is my own reaction to these very things you mentioned. Regardless of the intent or the pretention, my reaction should not be offense or anger... and I admit, I am one of the very people who often feels this way. It's not that I feel superior, or more right per se, but I feel disrespected, or indignant I guess. Which in reality is all the same thing. I get upset when I see people misrepresenting God. Even myself. The thing that bothers me is that because of this I remain cautious of overzealousness because I know that is the fastest way to turn off someone who is just opening. When I see people without this caution I get upset. Like, "Aren't you aware that others may be offended by you and associate this with God?" I know that shouldn't matter if we are truly representing God, but are we so sure of our own understanding that we can risk offending others and justify it as Godly? I think of that incident at the Crossover punk show... you know the famous "prophet band" incident? They were just as certain that they were right... but I don't think any of us would excuse that as just flawed people being overzealous. Their actions were damaging. I don't hate the people, but their actions were wrong. This is where I am coming from. I know it's flawed and I recognize how my own points can be turned directly back against my own arguments. But I post this by way of opening discussion, if no one is honest enough to admit it and discuss it, it never gets worked out. So feel free to respond and tear it apart, anyone really.