Heated Discussions

The Mind-Altering Church

Recently, I was teaching a Bible study in another local church about issues of security and the war on terrorism. In these settings, I always try to challenge the participants assumptions, regardless of what side of the political fence they call home. Many people presumed that my views were the same as theirs.

As the dialogue progressed, we continually moved beyond the positions with which we came in. Through the study of particular Bible verses, those against the war and those for it, were challenged to broaden their understanding and positions, even when it was unpleasant.

If there is to be any future relevance for the church, it lies here. Whenever we walk out a church door thinking the same way we did when we walked in, the church has failed.

Podcast update

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Aren't There Other Christians Besides Pat?

I came across this article last night about Pat Robertson's comments on Ariel Sharon's stroke.  Hate to tell you this Pat, but strokes are caused by ruptured blood vessels in the brain - not by a God who is upset about real estate.  Pat must live a tortured existence.  His God is the God of punishment and retribution - sending hurricanes to gay-friendly resorts and looming threatingly over school boards that embrace any post 19th-century idea.  Fortunately for Pat, this God never seems to be angry at him.

Why is it the media is always reporting on Pat Robertson?  I've never met anyone who watches him.  Why doest the American media consider him to be a spokesperson for Christians?  I think it's because the they want him to be.  Pat fits the stereotype of an ill-informed stupid Christian.  His moronic statements make it easy for one to dismiss Christianity as irrelevant.

Ever notice that progressive churches are rarely reported on in the news?  Did you know that polls show that a sizeable number of Christians have no problem accepting evolution as God's creative method?  Hardly the impression one gets from watching the recent Intelligent Design debate.

Other than stories on churches that close, my local paper seems to only cover churches that are fairly fundamentalist in theology.  Certainly the editorial staff of the paper doesn't share these views.  So why cover churches that do?  I don't think it's some "liberal media" conspiracy.  There's just a subtle subcurrent in our culture that is uncomfortable with the radically subversive message of Jesus.  Why?  I don't know.  Maybe it's fear of dealing  with the issues that Jesus' teachings force us to confront - consumerism, dysfuntional relationships, violence, and fear.  In other words, all the things from which the media profits.