Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Sometimes We Get What We Deserve
Mel Gibson is, like or not, Roman Catholic or not, a public spokesperson for Christianity, and we're in trouble, though I must confess to thinking his apology is spot-on. However, that his behavior - lack of decorum, sobriety, taste and commonsense - will be used as a club with which to beat on Christianity is neither surprizing, or unwarranted.
Now comes news, via Instapundt, who got it from Outside the Beltway who in turn read it in the Seattle paper, that the Seattle shooter recently converted to Christianity. And thus, we hand another club to those that wish to beat us.
Under such circumstances, I am not surprized to find things like this (HT:Purgatorio) in the world.
Has it ever occurred to anyone that waves the banner of individualistic Evangelicalism, that such is the inevitable result of that viewpoint? As faith becomes "personal expression" and salvation a completely individualistic experience, we're going to be joined by a number of very wacky individuals. In fact, I'm betting there are a few in your local congregation. I know I could make a list from mine!
From simple poor taste, to genuinely offensive remarks, to downright evil, Christianity is rife with things and behaviors most assuredly not of Christ. And each time they happen, they do not just besmirch the individual involved, they besmirch, they do real harm, to the very name of Christ.
The strongest witness we have to Jesus Christ is not our theology, it's not our architecture, it's not our worship styles - it's us. This means two very important things.
Firstly, it means we should endeavor in our own lives to present Christ. We need to be as pure and upright and all the other positive adjectives you can thing of as we can be.
But secondly, it means we need to be judicious about those that we allow to bear Christ's witness to the world. That is a vitally important function of the Church. And yes, that function must be balanced with grace, but it is possible to keep someone in the graceful company of fellowship, while at the same time denying them public opportunities to soil the name of our Lord.
As Christians, persecution is our lot in life, I think scripture makes this clear. But I also think it makes a difference what we are persecuted for. We should be persecuted for Christ's sake, not for failure to be even decent human beings. we do not need to hand our persecutors ammunition, save the ammunition of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit.
I love my Lord and will defend Him to the death, but I grow weary of having to defend Him from attacks that result from those that call on His name. We need to demand more of ourselves. We need to set the bar higher. We need to honor Christ more than we honor image or institution.
Related Tags: persecution, ammunition, faith Christianity, the church
Now comes news, via Instapundt, who got it from Outside the Beltway who in turn read it in the Seattle paper, that the Seattle shooter recently converted to Christianity. And thus, we hand another club to those that wish to beat us.
Under such circumstances, I am not surprized to find things like this (HT:Purgatorio) in the world.Has it ever occurred to anyone that waves the banner of individualistic Evangelicalism, that such is the inevitable result of that viewpoint? As faith becomes "personal expression" and salvation a completely individualistic experience, we're going to be joined by a number of very wacky individuals. In fact, I'm betting there are a few in your local congregation. I know I could make a list from mine!
From simple poor taste, to genuinely offensive remarks, to downright evil, Christianity is rife with things and behaviors most assuredly not of Christ. And each time they happen, they do not just besmirch the individual involved, they besmirch, they do real harm, to the very name of Christ.
The strongest witness we have to Jesus Christ is not our theology, it's not our architecture, it's not our worship styles - it's us. This means two very important things.
Firstly, it means we should endeavor in our own lives to present Christ. We need to be as pure and upright and all the other positive adjectives you can thing of as we can be.
But secondly, it means we need to be judicious about those that we allow to bear Christ's witness to the world. That is a vitally important function of the Church. And yes, that function must be balanced with grace, but it is possible to keep someone in the graceful company of fellowship, while at the same time denying them public opportunities to soil the name of our Lord.
As Christians, persecution is our lot in life, I think scripture makes this clear. But I also think it makes a difference what we are persecuted for. We should be persecuted for Christ's sake, not for failure to be even decent human beings. we do not need to hand our persecutors ammunition, save the ammunition of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit.
I love my Lord and will defend Him to the death, but I grow weary of having to defend Him from attacks that result from those that call on His name. We need to demand more of ourselves. We need to set the bar higher. We need to honor Christ more than we honor image or institution.
Related Tags: persecution, ammunition, faith Christianity, the church
