Dirty Laundry Day

Currently Reading When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where We Have Failed Each Other and How to Reverse the Damage By Dave Burchett see related

Welcome to my dirty laundry day. I thought today should be the day I take a theraputic look at some of the major mistakes I and the church at large have made while representing a loving God.



*Breathes deeply*

Okay, let's get on with it.




Turn or Burn




I have an ever growing disdain for the arm of Christianity that continues to represent Jesus in this light. I can not find ONE biblical example of where he used this type of evangelism with people. Yet over the years 'many' Christian groups have used this in order to frighten people into the kingdom of God.

I myself have been guilty of it as well.

I now understand a little bit of Why I did this.

Many of us Christians have been brought up hearing this kind of thing over and over again. Because those that have gone before us have not properly understood the love and grace of God, they too have not been able to represent Him in that light either.

It is a bit like the child of an alcoholic becoming an alcoholic. You become what you hate, and you become what you know.

Of course this is not not an excuse for it happening nor the misbehaviors or consequences that ensue, but it may explain a little of why it does.

It is only when you begin to KNOW God as grace and love and experience it, can you really begin to be His representative of it. Otherwise it just becomes another far off 'characteristic' of God that glimmers somewhere behind the legalism and religiosity.
If you had been brought up in the type of church that focused on rules, 'laws, appearances and behavior then you get the distorted view that this must be how God operates.

Unfortunately this point of view usually keeps people wrapped up in fear and not really able to experience true freedom in Christ Jesus.

Does this mean that you can just become a follower of Christ and just 'do' whatever you like?
Ahh we will deal with that another day.



The Marketing of God





After all aren't Christians His sale's reps on earth? Well yes in someways they are. When you look at a Christian we consciously or unconsciously start to measure them up, to see if they are worthy of the label, almost like suddenly God reached down from heaven and gave the job he had reserved for Jesus to us to do on his behalf.

We have all done it. Often we can make the decision to investigate Christianity on the behavior of the Christians that we know. Likewise we may decide to stay away for the same reasons.

But this is not really what I am talking about. Some churches have become mega corporations that 'sell' God very well. Unfortunately they don't always sell an accurate view of God or the Christian life. Often taking a soft sell approach to make and keep converts.

What happens usually in this scenario, is when your life does not turn out as perfectly as you are told it will, you become disenchanted with it. This may leave you feeling a couple of ways.

a. That God has failed you
b. Maybe you are just not good enough for God and therefore not worthy of the kind of blessing you have been promised.
c. You simply don't have enough faith.

God doesn't need His people to market Him, it wasn't what He asked them to do and He certainly never asked anyone to distort the truth of His message in order to do so.

If you want to know exactly what Jesus did ask us to do you can read it here...


Disciple making is very different, it requires mentoring, a deeper level of relationship and committing to journey with someone towards authenticity. It is NOT becoming the voice of conscience in someone's life. God already gave that job to the Holy Spirit. But it 'may be' offering advice and wisdom appropriate to the relationship.

Because becoming a true follower of Christ starts with a personal revelation of Jesus, and because it is a relationship, God really can't be marketed. People can explain to you how to enter into that relationship with God, but at the end of the day a relationship is just that- a relationship. Something YOU do with someone YOU love (or at least care about) and something YOU are responsible for. No church or other individual can do that for you.

The church is not some multi-million dollar marketing machine (or at least it shouldn't be) the Church = the Body of people that have a relationship with God through the son Jesus Christ.

I know I certainly have been guilty of treating God as a product to be marketed before, and for this I greatly apologize.


Emotional drive by shootings





You know the type I mean. Those sharp shooting accusations by well meaning people just 'speaking the truth' that end up being more like bullets in our heart and soul.

You may have heard, or experienced some of the following bullets:

'Look at those tattoo's and you call yourself a Christian'

'Well, I could have told him it would end that way, she was a bad seed to begin with. It's his own fault'.

'You're pregnant? We just can't have you here any more imagine the example you are setting for our daughters'

'Dear, you simply CAN NOT come in here dressed like that'

'Young man tuck your shirt in, don't you know you are in the house of God and where is your tie?'

'My son Johnny saw your Bruce smoking behind the sheds at school the other day. And you call your son a Christian? I have spoken to the pastor and he can't come back to Youth until he has quit that evil habit'

'AIDS? You do realize that is the judgement of God don't you?'

'You like to raise your hands in worship? I just don't think you are going to fit in here'.

'You never really had any hope did you, alcoholic father, loose mother, it's no wonder you turned out this way'.

And even worse, tragically there are those that found themselves mistreated by people in positions of authority and power within the church. Abused sexually, emotionally, mentally and spiritually by shepherds who are supposed to care gently and tenderly for those under their care.

These are the kind of emotional drive by shootings the world and the church can do without.

In fact if we are honest with ourselves we all have done it to someone else at some point in our lives in a similar way. And we have all had these happen to us at some pointing our lives. Christianity doesn't have a monopoly on these kind of behaviors but it certainly has it's fair share of participants.

Asssumptions, critical statements, or accusations without ever a shred of empathy, compassion or a deeper understanding of the whys behind behavior.

Jesus did not operate in this manner with people. In fact from what I have read of the gospels, the only people he ever did react too was the religious of his day who set themselves up as being judge and jury on people's behavior. Make no mistake, Jesus sees what goes on in the church in His name, and He will deal with it, in this life or the next. Thankfully though we have the ability to change our behaviors before it is all too late. That is the wonderful thing about Jesus and the power of the Cross.

I have certainly been guilty of participating in drive by shootings.
And again I sincerely apologize.

Before I go I just want to leave you with one of my favorite bible passages from the Message bible.

1 John 4

17-18God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

19We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

20-21If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.