In complete contradiction to my post from Wednesday, and in response to my blogging friends Helen and Bullet, I decided to post the following article. I wrote it several months ago, and have wavered about posting it, but never have, for fear of being too critical of those who are critical. So you be the judge: Does the following type of criticism need to be said, or are such things better left unsaid? Notice I don’t name any names…but I easily could. Maybe if I said it with more humor? Maybe I should just go back to bed.
The biggest church fad of all time is carried out by those Christians who take it upon themselves to warn others about all the church fads going around. Every time a new Christian book comes out, these self-proclaimed prophets of discernment send out a newsletter slamming the book and the author. Every time someone preaches something a little questionable, or does something a little edgy in their service, you can be sure this discernment ministry will condemn such practices in their newsletter or next book.
Such “discernment ministries” have criticized the seeker-sensitive movement, the purpose-driven church, the emerging church, and every other attempt that some Christians make to reach this world with the love of Jesus. Meanwhile, they’re not really doing much evangelism and ministry themselves. They talk a lot about grace, but don’t actually live or show it. But they are expert finger pointers.
And I am always amazed at the following that such “truth at all cost” teachers amass!
On the other hand, I shouldn’t be too amazed at how many people follow along. After all, in the 1980’s millions of us spiked our hair, wore fluorescent green shirts, and tight-rolled our pants. And when we emerged from that fad, most of us scratched our heads and said to ourselves, “What were we thinking?” That is happening today as well, as people come to their senses about such “ministries” whose primary purpose seems to bash every other ministry. We’ve had enough. We want ministries and ministers of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness, who don’t just talk about such things, but actually live them.
So there I go, bashing other ministries and Christians. I know, I know…Jesus did it (see Matt 23), and Paul (in almost every letter he wrote), and John (see every letter he wrote), and all the prophets (all the Prophetical books), but I’m not Jesus or an apostle.
So I’m torn. I’ve spent so much of my life being critical of others and I want to stop, but at the same time, some things need to be said. I suppose it’s an issue of balance. Anyway, thanks for joining me on this schizophrenic post!
There is a vast difference between believing something and being brainwashed, but on the outside, both look exactly the same. Both types of people hold to certain views tenaciously and use similar terminology to state their views. But someone who believes, does so because of the evidence. Someone who is brainwashed does so in spite of the evidence, and even shuts down (or should I say “shouts down”) anybody who raises questions that might challenge their convictions.