The current problems

Everyone should take a look at Steve Camp's post "You're so vain, you probably think this post is about you, don't you? Don't you?"

He's right on about much of the evangelical world. What hits close to home is how much I have done the very things he condemns, and called it discernment and discipleship. But what I'm talking about is not just our group, but American evangelicalism in general. Take this quote for example:

There are no “Protestant Popes” (despite the supercilious stature of some evangelical leaders) who think that when they speak, we must obey with unquestioned "amens" and blind loyalty.

Now couple that with this:

What’s very disappointing, is that when you do question some of "them", they will not just disagree with you, but they want to hurt you.

I'm actually surprised that Steve Camp shares my feelings on this. I'm guessing that the critical spirit of this age has caught up with him and his friends. It really is sad. The way that I've lived out this sinful, critical lifestyle is by seeking to undermine those with whom I disagreee. Somehow, if my audience will think less of my opponent via my speaking evil of him/her, then I gain credibility in comparison to them. What pride! Can we not see that this strife is sown by still comparing ourselves with other people? (thanks to Ryan Wayson for this insight)

I'll just remind everyone to go re-read what my friend Michael said in one of his lists at Missions Blog. It's not okay to:

1. When you share something and people think it is strange and don’t like it, call it conviction. When someone shares something you think is strange and don’t like, call it discernment.

2. Assume that someone’s lust/gluttony/cursing problem is worse than your unlovingness/unkindness/just generally being a jerk. God is willing to overlook your sin because you hand out tracts, the good kind.

3. If something bad is happening to someone else assume it is because of sin. If something bad is happening in your life assume it is spiritual attack or persecution.

4. If you ever disagree with anything someone says, make sure to write off the 90% of good stuff they are saying. After all, a little leaven leavens the whole loaf. I don’t care if their book did point out a bunch of stuff I needed to hear.

5. Use the word heretic all the time. Don’t worry about whether it is true or appropriate. People need to know you are serious. Get really mad at people that call you one.

6. Establish a million extra-biblical rules. Make sure that everyone serves Jesus out of fear and “responsibility” and never cheerfully with grateful heart. You may be robbing people of their joy, but they can suck it up.

7. Preach the Bible as completely inspired and authoritative, but make sure to never talk about the verses that people “abuse”. Verses like “my burden is easy, my yoke is light” and “learn from Me because I am gentle and humble of heart” turn people into slackers. Don’t even get me started on Jer. 29:11.

8. Always believe the person that speaks the loudest and with the most certainty about their views. Become this person.

9. Always preach about the sins your not involved in. That way you can be really ungracious about it and not feel like a total hypocrite.

10. Preach a standard even you can’t keep. Preaching a standard twice as hard as you actually want people to keep will produce the results you’re looking for. People typically compromise and will only come halfway. Don’t worry about the condemnation they feel for the other half.

11. Never let people see you aren’t as spiritual as you portray. Don’t let on that you are feeling sad/depressed/stuggling with sin. This could cause people to stop esteeming what you have to say. You can suck it up and hold it together until Jesus comes.

So, everyone, just STOP IT! (HT: Nick Terry @ Shaking the Gates) Let's get back to Biblical, New Testament Christianity.

"Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations - 'Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch,' (referring to things that all perish as they are used) - according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." (Colossians 2:16-23)

I'm going to write a expositional sermon in the next few weeks about this passage. When it's done, I'll post it. In the meantime, more concerning this stuff is coming down the pipeline. The very things condemned in this passage are the very things killing the SBC today, especially in my community.