75. Idolatry in the Church

Well it happened again, another Mega-Church Pastor self-imploded.  This time it was like watching a slow motion train wreck.  And although most of the damage has already been done, there will be repercussions yet to come and debris flying for some time.  In my original attempt to write this piece I talked about who he is, and what he has done, but my issue is not with him. To be honest, the details about who he is and what he is done is not important, and I have the sneaking suspicion that I wanted to write about him cause I have always thought he was an asshole and was somewhat gloating with what has happened.  If you just have to know who he was start googling.

          Who I am really annoyed with are the members of his church.  It is not enough to sit back and listen to crap being spilled forth from the pulpit, and be complicit in that message, and they have been.  I have heard enough of this pastor’s messages that I feel confident to refer to his preaching as crap being spilled forth.  He has always struck me as being angry, and hostile.  But to be clear, my issue is not with him.

          Could he have done this in an environment where Christ was put first?  I think not.  It took several thousand people, willing to surrender their spiritual welfare into the hands of this man.  It was us Christians, and our desire for our superstars, that allowed this man to do what he has done.

          I wonder if the members of his congregation, his fan club, will engage in the same soul searching that I assume this man is now doing?  Will those that supported him, and I think worshiped him, realize that they have lifted up a golden calf?  Will those people willing to sit in the pews of his church feel even the slightest bit of remorse for what they have done?  I think not.

          I get that our faith is often belittled and maligned.  I get that it would feel refreshing to have someone who is charismatic, who seems like he doesn’t take any shit from people, stand up and lead us.  However, at what point do people compare the message they are hearing to the message given by scripture?  At what point do people stop listening to the angry man at the front of the church and listen to the still small voice of God in their hearts?    

         

So I have a question, actually many of them, for all of us.  When we will stop creating superstars for ourselves?  When?  When will we realize that we are called to follow Christ, not – insert name of the cool pastor?  When will we stop practicing idolatry?

          Yes, there is room for obedience to our leaders. 

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17

          But we need to take responsibility for our own spiritual health.  We need to discern who to follow, and it best be based on the attributes of our leaders laid out in scripture.  We need always guard against following the leader instead of following the vision and passion given to him or her.  We must remain mindful that we are stewards of our life, time, energy and resources, and be deliberate of what we choose to do with them.  For whom we follow, what we do with our time and energy, declares clearly what our faith is about.

          I believe we are called to have a relationship with the living God.  We are called to read scripture, which many of us don’t.  We are called to pray.  We are called to follow the leading of his spirit in our lives.  We are not called to be in the “cool kids club.”

This is what bothers me most about this situation.  This man as being the head of a church is held forth as an illustration of Christ. If not that, then he is held forth as what we are called to be in Christ.  The fact that he had several thousand followers seems to only add legitimacy to that expression.  It is now our role to explain that this is not the Christianity we are called to follow. 

Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to be handed an “Open Letter” to this pastor.  The author recalled the earlier days of his ministry, of how he inspired people to be missionaries here at home.  His message that we are often the only opportunity people may come across Christ’s message.

          It gave me a glimpse of this man that I written off that I had never seen, a man passionate about Christ, passionate about the world, and clearly wanting to be of service to Christ.  I hope this minister finds his way back to that man, I really do.

And on an even stranger note, I have found yet again another article in Charisma Magazine that I agree with.  I have left the link for it below.  I am not sure who is moving, me or the magazine, but it is odd that I find myself in agreement with them.

http://www.charismamag.com/life/women/21046-are-we-teaching-people-to-fall-in-love-with-jesus-or-conform-to-religion

74. The Errancy of the Bible

2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

This week the leader of a Christian musical group Gungor, Michael Gungor, stated that he does not believe in the inerrancy of the bible.  In particular, he does not believe in a literal view of the story of the flood.  Later, he attempted to sort things out by giving some perspective on this issue.  Mostly he pointed out that he is not questioning the tenants of our faith, but calls into question some of the stories.  He added, “"NO REASONABLE PERSON takes the entire Bible completely literally.”  (emphasis is his)  And the fight was on!!

I have included a link to an article that gives a rather favourable view of the story.

http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/52157/20140809/christian-band-gungor-no-reasonable-person-take-the-bible-literally.htm

His critics were quick to point out that bible scholars much smarter than he insist the bible has to be read literally, including the story of flood.  Equally, as vehement was the calling to question the faith of this man.  And a not-so-subtle hint that one best be a creationist or one is not a Christian.

          They did not point out that there are biblical scholars that are much smarter that he is, that insist that it be read with a different perspective, more of an illustrative view.  Nor did they point out that there are other stories of the flood. 

          I find, and this is only my opinion, the entire “Inerrancy of Scripture” argument is a thin disguise for a rather repugnant agenda.  Generally the insistence that the bible is without error is an insistence that the person making such a claim has the right interpretation.  The attempt to gain “biblical authority” is nothing more than attempt to usurp the other person’s relationship with God.  In short, it is a how dare you believe differently than I?

          It is this emphasis on getting things correct that is concerning.  It is game that I see my atheist, evangelical atheist, friends play, and it is an odd game.  There currently is a debate about whether Nazareth actually ever existed.  In a review of Archeological literature, Rene Salm, concluded that Nazareth did not exist during the time of Christ.  This review was used to prove that Jesus did not exist.

          The thinking behind this is that if Nazareth did not exist, then Jesus of Nazareth could not have existed.  Thus, many atheists used this man’s article to refute the existence of Christ.  It is also atheists that often engage in biblical literalism in order to argue against our faith.  They do not recognize that the bible often uses allegory, hyperbole, and parables, that it requires a different kind of reading.   

          I see us Christians playing just as dangerous a game in claiming the inerrancy of the bible.  This emphasis on the accuracy most often extends into issues of doctrine.  Thus, if I am right about the bible, then I am right about my doctrine, and if you do not agree with me you are wrong.  I have had people claim that the bible clearly states some doctrine and my insistence of believing otherwise calls into question my faith. It is a game I do not truly understand nor will I play.

          For me, and this is the only perspective that I offer here, there are essential truths to the Christian faith.  Beyond those central beliefs, it seems that it is just a distraction.  Is it important for me to believe that God created the earth in six days?  And that the earth is only 6,500 years old?  Will I be more compassionate with this belief?  Will I be more Christ like?  As for the flood, will this make me a better Christian?  I know that there are other accounts of the flood, but does having this assurance make my faith better?

          What seems to be clear are the commandments about love.  Yes, I will admit that I am cherry picking verses, love occurs only about 800 times in the bible.  What seems to be clear in scripture is that I be of service to others.  I often wonder why those are not the verses that us Christians are adamant that people take literally?

Let me steal the thoughts of another put more eloquently than I could.

         

In my view, inerrancy regularly functions to short-circuit rather than spark our knowledge of the Bible. Contrary to its intention to preserve the truthfulness of Scripture and the truth-telling God behind it, inerrancy prematurely shuts down rigorous inquiry into what the Bible’s “truthfulness” means, and so interrupts rather than fosters careful reading of Scripture.

Peter Enns The Inerrancy Debate

This is the link to that article

https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/12/the-inerrancy-debate-part-2-peter-enns-on-biblical-inerrancy/

My experience in my life of faith is that it is full of contradiction, and inconsistencies, and requires an ability to live with that tension.  A life of faith often means we wrestle with great questions.  And often, we come up with different answers during different times of our lives.

          Those who insist that the bible is inerrant, I believe not only seek to claim an authority that is not theirs to claim, but also are attempting to provide certainty for themselves, they are trying to avoid this part of faith.  Faith demands that we be able to live with uncertainty.

          Although there is much more that I could say, I will stop here.  I realize that I have been somewhat long winded, and not sure if I really made a point.  Thanks for your indulgence.

Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

73. Complicated

Matt 10:32 & 33 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

It is a simple game a friend of mine involved me in.  For five days state five things in your life that cause you gratitude.  The first day, although a quick knee jerk reaction, was easy.  The second day there was the God predicament.  I am truly grateful for the relationship that I have with Jesus Christ.  As with all my relationships I have made it more complicated than it needs to be.  Listing my relationship with Jesus as something I am grateful for was suddenly challenging.

          “I am grateful for my relationship with Jesus Christ.”  Became the most challenging thing I wrote this week.  My hesitancy was not due to my faith, my love and dedication to Jesus.  My reluctance was what all I could be associated with as I claimed my faith.

          Yes, there were lingering concerns of being ridiculed, but honestly those who would do so, would not matter, as they do not know me.  It was the concern over the association with those with whom I find myself at odds with at times.  As Pastor Dan has pointed out I am the anti-christian Christian.

           

I mean, after all, I do want people to know some of what I have to come to know of God.  Not that Used-Car-Seller-Person-Who-Will-Throw-In-A-Rifle-With-Every-Salvation kind of God.  But the “I give you a new commandment; love each other” kind of God.  The God that loves us, and wants us to love each other, who desires mercy over sacrifice, that journeys with us through our lives.  I want them to know that God, not that I think there are other gods monotheism doesn’t lend well to polytheism, but it is a matter of perception.

          I have heard some truly repugnant things come from the mouths of Christians. Since beginning this blog I have heard even more.  Honestly, I feel like my mission field is the gathering of souls who in seeing the religious have decided they want nothing to do with God. 

But there was another part of that resistance.  I wondered about the example I set.  Will those people who know me, see my declaration and be disappointed that I am not what they think a good Christian should be? 

          God knows how many of my other brethren and sistren pray that I may come to a full maturity of faith and agree with their perspectives on how a life of faith should be lived.  I know that many of my beliefs conflict with those of others, and while I think I am right, I know the best I can hope for is to be not wrong.

So, I posted ‘I am grateful for the relationship with Jesus Christ’ anyway just to see what came of it.  Not much, and if you haven’t paid attention to me then my faith would be a surprise.  If you haven’t been paying attention to me I feel a challenge to make you do so. 

          The reluctance I felt has been a good teacher for me this week.  After all it has made me mindful of what I declare in my Christianity, and if I am presenting Christ in the manner I have been called to do?

I also wonder if Jesus had the same reluctance?  “Hey God, I know he is rather odd, and cantankerous, and his theology is a little troubling, but he is amusing.”