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September 21, 2008
One Word To Rule Them All
(King Pen says nobody will get my LoTR pun. I disagree. He can't appreciate the broad NERD appeal of this blog the way you and I can. Heh. Anyway, on with the post.)
There is a collection of videos on Godtube about two types of Christians. The series is a parody of the Mac and PC commercials. The "PC" character is the traditional, conservative Christian. The "Mac" character is the new contemporary "Christ-Follower".
It is unflattering, of course, to the traditional Christian. Stuffy, formal, awkward-- dressed in a suit, totally uncool and uptight, basically clueless, and amazingly narrow-minded. Every bad stereotype rolled into one. The contemporary Christ Follower is much more enlightened in his casual wear, his mellow attitude, and bemusement at his counterpart. The role of the "Christ Follower" is to throw off the title "Christian" and all it's unpleasant connotations. As a matter of fact, the series is called "Christian No More", if I am reading that correctly.
I can understand the objective- to present to the world a brand of Christianity minus the hypocrisy and lack of grace and forgiveness and charity. Minus the SIN. To show the world JESUS, without all our own failings and ignorance getting in the way. But it doesn't work like that. It can't-- because we're fallen and imperfect. We can't escape our faults by changing our name from "Christian" to "Christ- Follower". T-shirts and flipflops in church won't elevate us above pride and hypocrisy. Hanging out in a sanctuary filled with couches instead of pews (yes, that's a real church in Dallas, I believe) doesn't make our worship more genuine and acceptable to God. Abandoning archiac "high-church" music and liturgy for the new, contemporary choruses and praise bands doesn't make it BETTER. It makes it different, which is a very diplomatic choice of words for me. We have watered down what could be a veritable FEAST of worship on Sundays in many contemporary services. I will not open that pandora's box on this blog, but I will say that I think much of the current worship lineup in a contemporary church is way off-base. Maybe I'll go into that later, if I'm feeling brave.
Anyway, my point is, it doesn't matter how much we redefine ourselves, it doesn't change the fact that what's wrong with Christianity isn't fixable by a name change. The church is full of sinners. It is, in fact, the very reason we gather-- our need for salvation, for forgiveness, for redemption. It is our sin that drives us to those doors, begging for entrance. Is it any wonder that you find the full spectrum of sin within it's walls?
To make Christianity more appealing to the world by saying you won't find those things with the NEW Christian, the Christ Follower... well, it's just a lie. It's false advertisement. It's nothing new, of course. . It's just that so many people are buying into the new idea of holy, so much so that anything else seems laughable, and that is a great tragedy. "Christ Followers" are separating themselves from something none of us can escape... sin.
We've been in a dozen churches in the last nine months looking for a place to move our membership. We've been to six different denominations. We've experienced the full range of services and theologies and fellowships... and I can tell you this, I've ready for a church home. It won't be perfect, it won't be filled to the brim with enlightened, self-actualized Christ Followers in jeans who all listen to U2 and have 5 o'clock shadows. It will be a body of believers united by their love for God, sharing in their desperate need for Him, seeking ways to glorify Him in their weaknesses. Christians.
And to my thinking, that's not such a bad thing to be a part of. I'll let God handle the PR.
Brotherly Love | By WonderGirl | 9:30 PM
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Comments
I lament that Web site's name: "GodTube." There is something about it that just depicts a cheap, commercial, trendy view of God. I understand that its content seeks to glorify God (or most of it, anyway). However, could not the creators of the site have come up with a better name?
By the way, your blog post touches upon so many things with which I have been wrestling in my vocation. If you think it is tough to digest all that you described as a congregant, imagine being on the other side where there is pressure from a pastor who wants to see increased numbers and from deacons who want more tithes and from church members who want to "get excited" about God and expect the music to do that for them.
Posted by: Cousin at September 22, 2008 9:37 AM
I also dislike the website's name, for the same reasons you mentioned. I left that part out of my post though, because I figured I was being confrontational enough for one day!
I feel for you, Cousin. I'm sure it seems as if you are swimming upstream many times. The problem with the "mega churches" is that they seem wildly successful if you look at numbers. But that's a faulty measurement-- because in fact, many of those churches have just found the lowest common denominator that appeals to the greatest amount of people. It is easy, almost effortless, and therefore appeals to many people, brings in lots of tithes and offerings. But the church is not a business. If it loses it's primary function of WORSHIP, then it is failing, no matter what the numbers are.
Anyway, that's just my two cents on it. Thanks for commenting.
Posted by: WonderGirl at September 22, 2008 10:04 AM
If there is any consolation in all of this, it is simply that these are not new concerns. Throughout the history of Christianity, these questions and observations have been made.
Posted by: Cousin at September 22, 2008 12:03 PM
Thank you, Wondergirl, great post! I think this is very helpful!
I would say more, but I think you get it right and I guess this comment is just to say, Amen!
Posted by: jonesey at September 22, 2008 12:25 PM
and amen!!!
Posted by: aunt vickie at September 22, 2008 12:29 PM
I got the pun right away. I guess I'm a nerd, too.
Godtube? I wish I could just not believe that such a thing could exist. But that would be grossly naive of me. *sigh*
The whole casual approach to worship frustrates me.
I once was traveling with my grandparents and we staid a few nights at a friend of their's home. He was a pastor of some charismatic church. Service was quite an experience. And not in a good way. The pastor himself (who was dressed like a tourist) was wandering down the aisles during a hymn and tried to start a friendly wrestling match with me. Seriously. He kept pushing me and then stepping back as though he wanted me to fight him. and then he tried to get me in a headlock and I pushed him back and said "I'd rather worship, thanks" and turned my back to him. He soon found some one else to play with.
Blegh.
I especially am annoyed by how many people play with their phones in church.
I think there should be some sort of box at the door where everyone has to leave their phones. Cause so help me if I see one more person playing Minesweeper during service, I'm going to cause seriously uncomfortable harm with their phone.
Posted by: Magic_voice at September 22, 2008 1:40 PM
Great post! And I dont want to cause a stir either... but this is why I became catholic... dont cringe anyone... haha.
I was raised in a nondenominational gospel church and we were taught from day one that traditional was BAD. And I swore i would NEVER become anything close to Catholic! About a year before we got married... God was seriously pressing it on my heart and I began to accept it and it has been the greatest journey yet... I dont have to worry about "finding" the right church - tried that (b/c I never really understood how someone can just 'make' a church and call it right) because every Catholic church will be the exact same no matter where you go in the WORLD. And its not dull and boring and outdated... its rich with history and significance and symbolism and meaning. And yes, alot of catholics are stuffy and dead, but that is their fault, not the church's!
No matter what church anyone chooses, as long as Christ and His trinity are at the center... I think you will be ok. :)
just my two cents!
Posted by: Betsy at September 23, 2008 9:07 AM
Yummy. Looking forward to your 'brave' posts :)
Posted by: Denise at September 24, 2008 12:59 PM
