Forerunners of the Future
The Biggest Thing Since Jesus - THREAD OF THE WEEK
Os Guinness points out in Fit Bodies, Fat Minds: Why Evangelicals Don’t Think and What to do about It, “thinking Christianly should not be confused with adopting a ‘Christian line’ on every issue.” When I first read this statement I was blow away, not to mention by the book. It seems, that as a believer we should have all the answers and be able to pin point all those right and wrong issues floating around out there. I can except gray areas but it is hard to say I just don't don't know. After all we are the morality police. With the bible as our rule book we can tell you what is sin and what is not sin. Right?
Aren't we spending too much time on issues like the ten commandments in the court house and gay marriages? I cannot find where Jesus deals with these issues. Yet not only does it take up much of the churches time to protest at the abortion clinic, we have reduced the gospel to nothing more then a mere label. I refer to the largest church of our day as "Church of the Adjective";Christian movies, music, bookstores and resturants. We are the biggest thing since Jesus himself. What more could you ask for?
Instead of being people of influence and change we people of rules and regulations. Even after we let go some of legalism within the church, we go outside the church and oppress rules and regulations the world. Where are we at when Bono is more widely known for his work with poverty and the disinfranchised then the church? Jerod has spoken of the Phenix rising from the ashes, do we need to be the one to light the match just to get have ashes? How do we overcome such a huge black cloud and effectively change our communities?
Aren't we spending too much time on issues like the ten commandments in the court house and gay marriages? I cannot find where Jesus deals with these issues. Yet not only does it take up much of the churches time to protest at the abortion clinic, we have reduced the gospel to nothing more then a mere label. I refer to the largest church of our day as "Church of the Adjective";Christian movies, music, bookstores and resturants. We are the biggest thing since Jesus himself. What more could you ask for?
Instead of being people of influence and change we people of rules and regulations. Even after we let go some of legalism within the church, we go outside the church and oppress rules and regulations the world. Where are we at when Bono is more widely known for his work with poverty and the disinfranchised then the church? Jerod has spoken of the Phenix rising from the ashes, do we need to be the one to light the match just to get have ashes? How do we overcome such a huge black cloud and effectively change our communities?
posted by Anonymous at 5:21 AM
6 Comments:
Bryan,
You have touched on a subject that I think all of us can relate to. The thought that Christiandom has become a marketing tool to make a buck. When I think of the story of Christ telling his disciples to go out and make other disciples, He never told them how or what to do. It was almost as if he left it to them to make up all of the "rules". Did we get of track from the very beginning? Didn't priests sell blessings and offer people ways to purchase loved ones out of purgatory. That was viewed as an abomination and many would agree that it still is. Does a cross necklace bring comfort to a Christian nowdays? Should it matter what helps a Christian think about God? Is the problem with what is being sold or that someone is making a buck off of it? I will not share my personal thoughts at this moment, because you brought up several overlapping subjects, it would be difficult in a comment section.
Bryan, echoing Daniel, you have really hit on a few things that are near to my heart. (So get off my soapbox for a few moments and let me rant for a while). Christian Movies, I guess, are my worst repeat offenders, followed by the utter business empire 'worship' music has become, followed then by Christian leadership principle books, followed lastly by bumper stickers, jewelry, and the myriad of 'veggie-tales'-like Christian children's videos. (All of which I have consumed at one point or another <---big hypocrite)
My absolute favorite though would have to be testamints. I mean how cool is that, instead of hearing the proverbial, "Sir, ya bref stank." You instead are enabled to boldly share your faith with others. Pretty amazing if you asked me. I've been prayed for by a few people that I wished would have had some testamints or something.
The church of the adjective is a great way to describe it. Bryan, Did you coin that?
As to the Pheonix church, I am working on a little post discussing what I think rising from the ashes means. But as we talked about the other day at our little lunch, there may be a need for some to be fire starters. (I am not exactly sure what that means or looks like.)
Mark, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it Wesley who said, (albeit with a slightly different meaning) "If the preacher is full of the fire of God, then people will gather just to watch him burn." Could someone be fiery enough to burn down the structures of religion in their sphere of influence? Could a group of people be lighting flames that would destroy church life in 21st century America, and then in time lead to the lighting of the fuse of the phoenix church on fire? (Don't really even know what I am saying yet, but there is a metaphor in this phoenix thing that needs to be explored.) Grab John 12:2 once again and see if it the metaphor of Jesus' own life can be paired with this same idea.
O.K. I know that last post was long, but immediately after I was done, I stumbled across this...Christian Movie Theaters. Tell me what you guys think.
My friend, how could I disagree with you more. As I read your post I am left with wonder. I am even questioning if you are serious or not. But just in case. Let me "soap box" a minute.
Jesus wants us to be known by our love not our label. A Christian is a follower of Christ, not a bookstore, band or "mint". The gospel is not a marketing tool with salvation the "Big Sunday Only Sale". My hope is that many people would come to a deep lasting relationship with Jesus when a follower of Christ handed him a "testamint", but do you really think it happens.
"Christ's blood was shed for you. Here have a mint."
Pardon the sarcasim, but we cannot reduce his love for us to fresh breath. Yet, that is what we do everytime we open up another bookstore or coffee house with it's only intent is to serve ourselves. It is our safe place away from a dirty word and coffee poured by sinful people. Think about it, we are no longer counter-culture but now sub-culture. Not because we are wanting to be in the world but not of it; it is because we are trying to make the word what we want it to be so we can be in it. I appriciate your heart and passion against sin. Your desire to see your kids grow up in a world free of vulgarity and violence is the same I have for my son and my nephews; yet, I must disagree with forcing the Bible and morality on people. We only have the right to judge Christ followers not unbelievers.
In closing, I agree with you in that, Jesus was a radical. I challenge you, however, to ever think Jesus would use a marker and poster board to show people he loved them.
A few other questions:
Do you think Jesus wants us to be part of changing hearts or legistration?
How many peoples lives are changed for the better at a anti-gay rally?(you should know, my nephew says it just makes him and his boyfriend angry.)
PS. When I go to a Kiss concert (I prefer weezer)I expect to see a rock concert and when I go to a party I better hear Aeromith (again weezer but you get my point)cranking up. Likewise, when I go to a "christian" concert, I know what to expect. So I don't go.
Bryan, Thanks for your candidness. How can we ever think by sanctifying our environment that we ultimately will change hearts. Changed lives change culture, not the opposite. The only thing that I have not seen Christians do, but I am sure it happens, is create their own Christian subdivisions free from the sin of others. I am not sure what is on the applications, but I am sure I would not be accepted. I agree that we have created a sub-culture, one that I try very hard not to be a part of. I started a new job about 4 months ago. To date I have told no one that I am a pastor. I dont want them to heep the weight of this sub-culture atop me. I could never support it. They, for the most part, do know that I am a follower of Christ that views the world much differently than they, and often want to hear what I have to say. I am glad God still talks through asses.
Jeff,
These are intense issues. These are the issues shaping the future of the church. I do not see you as a "sign-toting-bible-thumping activist". I see you as a passionate Christ-follower, standing up for what you believe in. We see things differently and that is okay.
Here are the issues. Morality should not be legislated. If it is it will become oppressive. History reveals this to us. We also have to be careful not to construe the Bible Americanly. The "religious right" sees the need for individual piety fused with imperial conformity, I believe, Jesus advocated a resistance to this type of thinking. Love God before everything and then love other people more then yourself. This is not a characteristic of this world and this is not something we can put police in charge of controlling. We are aliens in a strange land. The Pharisees put themselves in charge of the law and enforcing it and Jesus fought them. He showed more resistance toward them then toward Rome. Likewise, it is to Rome the Pharisees aligned themselves. (Don’t read into this. I am not calling you a Pharisee).
Christian’s role in today’s society in terms of social issues and politics should be the same as Christ taught and the same as we see in Acts. I don’t get the religious right and I am sure I will never get them. More monety and time is spent on re-electing Bush then on the poor. There is something moraly wrong with this. I think politics are a great American pastime. If you get into it. Cool. I don't.
I will try and address more of your questions later.
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