God’s Whistle Blowers
This article is refreshing. For several years now, after leaving “the bubble”, that was my old church, I have had a radical change in thinking. Luckily, my husband shares my same views and we are able to rant and share ideas together. If you have to be living outside this fish bowl, it is nice to have some company.
The church needs a face lift. It needs to change. And it took me stepping outside of it and looking in to see it. If you know me at all, or occasionally read my blog, you know that I have several opinions about it. I think the ancient days of door-to-door evangelizing are over. I think the days of acting religious and being religious for the sake of being religious should be over. I think the days of acting like as a Christian you are so far above everyone else should have never of been an issue. I think the “I am right, you are wrong” mentality is never going to win over nonbelievers to your side. It doesn’t work in any kind of debate. What does work is being kind and loving others regardless of what they believe, what color their skin is, what their sexual orientation is, if they have addictions… whatever the “problem” may be, love is always the answer. Always.
If you haven’t already clicked that link in the beginning sentence, I encourage you to do so. Read it. With a open heart and mind.
Here are some highlights that I find insightful:
What do Christians learn when they start listening to atheists? Henderson, author of the forthcoming book The Outsider Interviews, has found that the “I’m right/you’re wrong” model is a conversation-killer par excellence. So is speaking of non-converts as “lost.” “Nothing sets off an atheist more than hearing a Christian say, ‘I know Jesus is God and that I’m going to heaven when I die,’ ” Henderson says. “They also notice that we often say it loudly and arrogantly, which only serves to reinforce their negative opinion of our certainty.”
Atheists are also wary of being seen as “projects.” Does continued contact and eventual friendship with the Christian in their life depend on them converting?
As Christian pastor Samir Selmanovic has written, two-way conversations with the not-like-minded are vital for a devout person’s spiritual growth. Selmanovic, author of the 2009 book It’s Really All about God, wrote in aHuffington Post article that friendly atheists are “desirable and necessary interlocutors in our human conversation. … To us religious people, atheists are not only precious neighbors but also strangers who see what we cannot see and ask questions that we don’t know how to ask. … Atheists are God’s whistle-blowers.”
Benefits flow in both directions when Christian-atheist conversations break out. Matt Casper, the atheist co-author with Henderson of Jim and Casper Go to Church, and Henderson’s partner in the ChurchRater.com venture, says his engaging with Christians is motivated by his desire to get them to question their certitude and to see that atheists don’t have tails and horns. Being around Christians, Casper adds, “has made me a better person.”
Conventional evangelism is often accused, and rightly so, of “bait and switch” tactics; think attractive social gathering or sports outing that, unbeknownst to invitees, is really designed to segue into a Gospel pitch. Henderson has a fascinating alternative to propose: all bait, no switch.
Call it promotion by non-promotion, evangelism by attraction, goodwill mongering, or letting one’s life speak for itself, but this is what will best represent the faith among the many Americans who do not share the evangelical faith. Henderson and his fellow travelers are right in urging would-be evangelists simply to get to know people, become their friends and let the spiritual chips fall where they may.
The problem with evangelizing the majority of the time is arrogance. The idea that we as Christians have all the right answers to world and how to live life. And arrogance is always off putting. There is absolutely no love in arrogance. And how can you show Christ’s love with arrogance?
The revolution that needs to happen in the Church and among Christians is simply to love. Love freely. Love unconditionally.
One of the recent examples of the Church showing love and being what the Church needs to be was from a local church here in Nashville. Crosspoint church is lead by Pete Wilson. I feel like out of the churches that I have attended in my life, this church is on the right track. I feel like Pete is extremely authentic and has a good understanding about what the church means and how that applies to the local community. During the flood in May, they stopped everything that they were doing and went out into the community to help others. They helped clean up flood damaged homes and started the rebuilding process. They were out there in the community when the people needed help. They were out there extending the love of Christ to people they did not know. To people who were and were not believers. And in doing that selfless act of helping, they showed God’s love. I am not sure if a “talk” about Jesus ever came up… but even if it had not they still did more just by showing up.
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burn, baby, burn.
If you have ever been driving on Interstate 74 through Ohio, there’s a slight chance you would have seen this:
[you really can't miss a huge Jesus statue on the side of the interstate]
I thought it was ridiculous the first time I saw it. I laughed for a good 10 minutes of the sight of this statue of Jesus. Not that I think Jesus is ridiculous, but spending $250,000+ on a statue in His likeness? That I think is ridiculous.
And in a bit of irony Monday night, lightning stuck the statue. And the statue burned leaving only an ashy frame.
[above photos AP]
Now, I certainly hate that the church had to deal with a fire… and the damage it caused. but, let’s be honest. This is funny.
and adding to the ironically funny situation is this 911 call:
Caller: Reports a “bolt of lightning” has hit the statue.
Dispatcher: “Jesus is on fire”
Caller: “I swear to God, this not a prank … I am serious. I just saw it get struck by lightning.”
Dispatcher: “I believe you.”
Caller: “I know it’s not funny, but literally his one hand is on fire.”
Another Caller: “Lightning hit the touchdown Jesus monument, it’s flaming.”
[You can even watch the "Touchdown Jesus" burn to cheesy music]
Filed under i am random., life., religion b/c its a off topic topic. | Comment (0)the reason…
i know i talk about how i don’t think it is right to judge one another a lot. i may be in the minority for thinking that way and if any of you care, here’s why:
it started when i was younger. 8 or 9. i saw injustice all around me. i saw family members being treated unfairly. my dad has MS. he is in a wheel chair. his side of the family is a typical southern family that grew up in the bible belt. truth be told, they can be slightly prejudice and judgmental. as my dad’s health began to deteriorate further, he became wheel chair bound. this was a difficult time for him and understandably so. but some of my family members did not like the choices he made out of loneliness and despair at this time in his life. he had a few girlfriends. none of them the family approved of. i was only a child, but i could see he was happy. and the women may not have been perfect, but as family, we need to stick together. i struggled each holiday about spending time with the family as a whole or down at my dad’s— who was all alone. the family had turned their backs on him during his time of need. when he needed love the most. it was painful. i hated it. “how could you judge someone you love like that?” i would think. and no one could see it. no one wanted to see it.
i also did not live the ideal childhood of the rest of my family. my mom’s side of the family did not like my dad. his family turned their backs on him. i grew up with an alcoholic mother. they judged her, they judged him and ultimately they judged me because i was different. i didn’t stand by and put up with their hatred towards either one of them. i may not like what they do, but i love them. i always will.
my dad later married a woman who the family honestly despised. she made bad choices. but she was good to him. and to me. a few years later, she died. i will never forget the look on my dad’s face at her funeral. he was completely devastated. and my family… they had the nerve to talk about her. judge her even though she was dead and my father was in pain. years later he found another woman. she is very kind. but, they still don’t approve. no matter what they always have to find something wrong with him and with his lifestyle. it is heartbreaking.
i also have family members that are gay. and even if my religious beliefs teach me one thing about that, i love them with all my heart anyway. who am i to judge their lifestyles? they are wonderfully beautiful people inside and out. they need love and respect just like anyone else.
my cousin was accidentally killed in january 2007. a gun went off that was held by her very own boyfriend. by accident, he killed her. some of my family members chose to hate this hurting boy. some chose to love him. if there was a time to judge and hate someone, this would be the case. but regardless of what happened, there is always room for love. always.
going back a few decades ago, my family members were killed in the holocaust. i don’t say this to be trite and dramatic, but to point out something that is relevant to history. history that you learned sitting in school. because of hatred and judgement thousands of innocent people were murdered in horrendous ways. my own family members were killed. because they were different. because they were Jewish.
so you see, i have seen injustice. i have seen hatred. i have seen judgement. i know what it leads to. it leads to people being broken in spirit or even worse. wars are started over people judging a group of people and the hatred building up. i have always been passionate about not judging others. i think is terribly wrong.
as a Believer, i believe it is my job to love. love everyone. regardless of their skin color, what they believe, or how they choose to live their lives. who am i to judge? i am merely a sinner like they are. i am no better.
Filed under rants: cause i'm opinionated., religion b/c its a off topic topic. | Comment (0)love. always.
If your a Christian and you put down a person’s religious beliefs people aren’t seeing Jesus when they look at you. Always pushing your beliefs onto other people may make you seem super religious, but they are not going to see Jesus through you. Thankfully in our country people can practice their own religion whether or not you agree with it. But as Christians it is not our job to judge their beliefs so ruthlessly. If the desire of your heart is for people to know Jesus like you do, love them. Jesus always loved people first. Once you show that love to people the rest can come naturally.
[and this is not going to sound all profound or whatever 
, but.... the way I believe in Jesus to my core is the same way other people believe in their religions to the core. I personally don't want someone telling me my beliefs are wrong and pushing their faith on me. They may pray one day I have some awakening deep in my soul that an alien is god or a rabbit even... and I may pray they realize Jesus is their Savior. But at the end of the day people can believe what they want. Even if I don't personally agree...]
ok. i think i got it out of my system now…
all your beauty is hard to explain
i have always been quite a feminist. i was even told that i was by my grandfather at a young age. i never understood asking a man for permission to do something or wearing a certain thing to please a man. in my opinion, marriage is an equal partnership. there was a time where i would get extremely frustrated with the “rules” women had to follow that were laid out in the Bible. from maturing spiritually and emotionally, i realize that what i was frustrated with was mainly people’s interpretations of these said “rules”… which really aren’t rules at all, but guidelines.
the word “submit” never sat well with me. i always said that no man was going to tell me what to do… only God could do that. in a small group one day, we were going over ephesians 5:22-33. this particular passage discusses husbands and wives and the roles they play in the relationship. very first verse says, “wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord”. there’s that word. submit. just reading it before would make me shudder. my small group leader explained it as respecting your husband. and that i could accept. i can respect my husband. and i can respect his wishes and desires. and when i do that, i am submitting because of my reverence for God. now, does that mean i would do something i did not feel comfortable with? no way. does that mean i am going to ask permission to do something? nope. if my husband wants us to spend less money, i should respect that. it took me a long time to grasp that concept. there is a difference between respecting someone and being disrespected by someone expecting you to always do what they want.
in other christian denominations and other religions, some women are not permitted to wear certain things. some women must cover their faces, wear skirts and dresses, wear no makeup and keep there hair long… pretty much stripped of all things to add to outward beauty. i personally do not find any issues with cutting hair short, dying it crazy colors or trying out a unique way to style it. i for one have had short hair, crazy colors and dreadlocks. i also wear makeup daily. i also love a great pair of jeans. do i find my self worth in these things? absolutely not. i just so happen like to style my hair by my moods. i love to define my eyes with eyeshadow. and a great pair of jeans never hurt anybody. i like to have my own personal style and not be dictated on what to wear or what not to wear. there is a verse in deuteronomy that says, “a woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this”. this verse is the basis on why some pentecostal women only wear skirts and dresses. here’s the thing… God does not judge you on your outward appearance. your clothes do not define you. your outward appearance does not define you. thankfully, God looks at the heart. would i suggest wearing revealing clothing? probably not. i think you should respect your brothers because we all know men are visual creatures… and also… if a man dresses like a girl or a girl dresses like a guy, who are we to judge them for there clothing or lifestyle choices? there is a great verse in 1 peter that puts it all into perspective i think: “your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothing. instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. for this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.” now, lets not take the braided hair, gold jewelry and fine clothing literally. it just means that our true beauty does not come from outward things. it comes from within. from our faith.
and of course we can’t talk about women and the bible without mentioning ‘the wife of noble character’… “she is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. she speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue…. charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised”.
i don’t feel like we should interpret things so literally. the point is that we should not focus on outward beauty; but be concerned with the heart instead. we should love and respect others. wives should respect their husbands and husbands should love their wives. it is all pretty simple. and there is no sense in complicating it.
and if you are a feminist like myself, then you must be wondering why there are so many guidelines for women. the answer: sexist men, of course 
[3 days!]
Filed under NaBloPoMo, i am random., religion b/c its a off topic topic. | Comment (0)i don’t need a telescope to see that there’s hope
and that makes me feel brave.
lately, i have been broken and suffering. broken from the present and past hurts…. suffering from the present pain and past lies that i have believed. after desperately trying to make things better and looking for the glimmer of hope ahead, i have become increasingly discouraged. life just never seems to get better… and looking back, it seems as though that is pattern that is never ending.
living with an alcoholic parent and having a parent that has a serious illness is hard. never fully understanding a parent child relationship because as a child you were forced to be the parent is not easy. experiencing the death of two close people because of drug overdoses is ridiculous for a child to experience. growing up believing you are not worthy because you have no one to call you worthy is devastating. having lies like that built into your foundation makes for a broken individual. and truth be told, i cling to my past. it is so tangled up in who i am that it has been excruciating trying to be free from it.
but i need to break free from it. i have to in order to survive.
God has revealed to me that holding on to my past if hindering me becoming who i can be… who i am called to be. i can’t let past lies and past hurts define who i am today… where i want to go… and who i want to be.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated.” -Isaiah 61:1-4
Filed under life., religion b/c its a off topic topic. | Comment (1)i would like to call this segment, “REALLY?!, really?”
with the inauguration just hours away, there are of course going to be mixed emotions about the event. i for one, am going to be sad to see bush leave the office. i would rather obama not be president, but, at the same time, i am an american citizen. and i feel that i should be supportive of our president, even if i don’t always agree with what he does. who knows. maybe he will exceed my expectations.
i read this article about obama’s inauguration. i was disappointed to read just how far some christians read into things. why does accepting a homosexual automatically equal damnation? why can’t it be about love? i think it is really sad that so many christians miss the point. the point isn’t about pointing out every single sin that everyone has committed. it is about loving those people in spite of what they may have done or are doing. you didn’t see Jesus just hanging out with people who didn’t sin (and HELLO! EVERYBODY sins!). He got in there with the ones most people would just ignore or look down upon. and why does homosexuality always seem to be on the top of the “worst” sin list in christians’ eyes? aren’t all sins equal in the eyes of God?
and how does he (mr. piper) know that the church accepts his behavior blindly? he doesn’t know if people have tried to talk to him. and he doesn’t know if this man is repentant or not. he does not know his heart. the man may really struggle in trying to lead a godly lifestyle. and that may be his biggest weakness. so who is mr. piper to judge him? or the catholic church for accepting him? isn’t that what we are supposed to do? love one another? that is what it all comes back to. i don’t think Jesus would want us to turn our backs on our brothers and sisters when they are sinning. because again, WE ALL sin. we ALL fall short of the glory of God. and what makes us so righteous that we can judge someone?
it is just so ridiculous. and THIS is the kind of thing that keeps people from desiring to be a christian.
yeah, i may not like obama. but i’m not going to go as far to say that he is making Christ a minister of condemnation. that is a ridiculous claim.
but in other news… LOST comes on WEDNESDAY! and i CANNOT wait!!!!
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