DISQUS

We have great liberty in Christ and who am I to say what forms of expression are acceptable or not...I guess I was just commenting that in a public forum your humor could be misinterpreted by non-Christians or surly, oversensitive types like me who stumble across it.

Anyway, it seems like the Lord is doing great things in Minneapolis...I hope to visit ther some day. God Bless.

We have great liberty in Christ and who am I to say what forms of expression are acceptable or not...I guess I was just commenting that in a public forum your humor could be misinterpreted by non-Christians or surly, oversensitive types like me who stumble across it.

Anyway, it seems like the Lord is doing great things in Minneapolis...I hope to visit ther some day. God Bless.

We have great liberty in Christ and who am I to say what forms of expression are acceptable or not...I guess I was just commenting that in a public forum your humor could be misinterpreted by non-Christians or surly, oversensitive types like me who stumble across it.


Anyway, it seems like the Lord is doing great things in Minneapolis...I hope to visit ther some day. God Bless.

The main thing that caused me to react so strongly to your post, initially, was how I got there. I was just randomly cruising through blogs and I came across an entry/title to the effect "Just when you thought Evangelicals couldn't get more ridiculous." This blogger linked to your entry and seemed to take it seriously. From his entry he seemed to have had all his preconceptions about Christians confirmed by reading your post. Although your entry was obviously an attempt at humor, you paint "Evangelicals" with the same broad brush that is used by our culture. One cannot help but conclude that the type of Christians you describe are dumb,insincere, shallow, etc. Yes, you point to trends in the church that are disturbing, but how can one not be offended/pained by your characterization if we are all members of the body of Christ. I have trouble getting a hearty guffaw out of your observations.

Admittedly, having been an member of a church based upon one of the mega-church models (Willow Creek), your comments hit a little close to home. I fully recognize that there are numerous flaws with the mega-church trend - particularly as it relates to a marketing aproach to the gospel; however, is it possible that God is still working through these churches despite their flaws? Are there persons of faith (even if weak or immature) in these churches? If so, aren't they bretheren that we are commanded to love, encourage and even rebuke? I think that is in the Bible, but I don't think there is a command to mock. Isn't it elitist to denegrate another group of people because we percieve ourselves to have a deeper understanding?

I have been a consumer Christian who is: more concerned with being entertained than worhiping; more interested in being comfortable than living sacrificially; more interested in being fed than ministering; more influenced by the culture than an influence for Christ within it. I am so grateful that I have a merciful God who did not leave me there, but has called me to know Him more fully and to make Him known.
Using the jargon of the times - as a recovering consumer Christian - what do I do with what you posted? Am I supposed to encouraged by the salt you poor into the wound that I look to Christ to heal?

You're right I do not and should not have called you an elitist seminary student...it was knee-jerk response to your post. I do not know you to question your intergrity, but I do challenge what you wrote in this instance and whether it is an effective method of cutting through cultural baggage.

Lastly, I do not find fault with your site. In fact much of what I have read in your other posts I find very interesting/encouraging. I have bookmarked your site and plan to read it periodically.

The main thing that caused me to react so strongly to your post, initially, was how I got there. I was just randomly cruising through blogs and I came across an entry/title to the effect "Just when you thought Evangelicals couldn't get more ridiculous." This blogger linked to your entry and seemed to take it seriously. From his entry he seemed to have had all his preconceptions about Christians confirmed by reading your post. Although your entry was obviously an attempt at humor, you paint "Evangelicals" with the same broad brush that is used by our culture. One cannot help but conclude that the type of Christians you describe are dumb,insincere, shallow, etc. Yes, you point to trends in the church that are disturbing, but how can one not be offended/pained by your characterization if we are all members of the body of Christ. I have trouble getting a hearty guffaw out of your observations.

Admittedly, having been an member of a church based upon one of the mega-church models (Willow Creek), your comments hit a little close to home. I fully recognize that there are numerous flaws with the mega-church trend - particularly as it relates to a marketing aproach to the gospel; however, is it possible that God is still working through these churches despite their flaws? Are there persons of faith (even if weak or immature) in these churches? If so, aren't they bretheren that we are commanded to love, encourage and even rebuke? I think that is in the Bible, but I don't think there is a command to mock. Isn't it elitist to denegrate another group of people because we percieve ourselves to have a deeper understanding?

I have been a consumer Christian who is: more concerned with being entertained than worhiping; more interested in being comfortable than living sacrificially; more interested in being fed than ministering; more influenced by the culture than an influence for Christ within it. I am so grateful that I have a merciful God who did not leave me there, but has called me to know Him more fully and to make Him known.
Using the jargon of the times - as a recovering consumer Christian - what do I do with what you posted? Am I supposed to encouraged by the salt you poor into the wound that I look to Christ to heal?

You're right I do not and should not have called you an elitist seminary student...it was knee-jerk response to your post. I do not know you to question your intergrity, but I do challenge what you wrote in this instance and whether it is an effective method of cutting through cultural baggage.

Lastly, I do not find fault with your site. In fact much of what I have read in your other posts I find very interesting/encouraging. I have bookmarked your site and plan to read it periodically.

The main thing that caused me to react so strongly to your post, initially, was how I got there. I was just randomly cruising through blogs and I came across an entry/title to the effect "Just when you thought Evangelicals couldn't get more ridiculous." This blogger linked to your entry and seemed to take it seriously. From his entry he seemed to have had all his preconceptions about Christians confirmed by reading your post. Although your entry was obviously an attempt at humor, you paint "Evangelicals" with the same broad brush that is used by our culture. One cannot help but conclude that the type of Christians you describe are dumb,insincere, shallow, etc. Yes, you point to trends in the church that are disturbing, but how can one not be offended/pained by your characterization if we are all members of the body of Christ. I have trouble getting a hearty guffaw out of your observations.


Admittedly, having been an member of a church based upon one of the mega-church models (Willow Creek), your comments hit a little close to home. I fully recognize that there are numerous flaws with the mega-church trend - particularly as it relates to a marketing aproach to the gospel; however, is it possible that God is still working through these churches despite their flaws? Are there persons of faith (even if weak or immature) in these churches? If so, aren't they bretheren that we are commanded to love, encourage and even rebuke? I think that is in the Bible, but I don't think there is a command to mock. Isn't it elitist to denegrate another group of people because we percieve ourselves to have a deeper understanding?



I have been a consumer Christian who is: more concerned with being entertained than worhiping; more interested in being comfortable than living sacrificially; more interested in being fed than ministering; more influenced by the culture than an influence for Christ within it. I am so grateful that I have a merciful God who did not leave me there, but has called me to know Him more fully and to make Him known.

Using the jargon of the times - as a recovering consumer Christian - what do I do with what you posted? Am I supposed to encouraged by the salt you poor into the wound that I look to Christ to heal?



You're right I do not and should not have called you an elitist seminary student...it was knee-jerk response to your post. I do not know you to question your intergrity, but I do challenge what you wrote in this instance and whether it is an effective method of cutting through cultural baggage.



Lastly, I do not find fault with your site. In fact much of what I have read in your other posts I find very interesting/encouraging. I have bookmarked your site and plan to read it periodically.

That's more like it. Your tuition monies have not been completely misspent.

That's more like it. Your tuition monies have not been completely misspent.

So witty and clever...I think. I'm not sure because I'm just one of the dim schlubs that Christ loved and died for. I guess that is what you are trying to communicate? Could you dumb it down for me a bit because I'm not sure if this is just how elitist seminary students communicate the love of God. You might want to add one of the gospels to your own personal reading lists.

So witty and clever...I think. I'm not sure because I'm just one of the dim schlubs that Christ loved and died for. I guess that is what you are trying to communicate? Could you dumb it down for me a bit because I'm not sure if this is just how elitist seminary students communicate the love of God. You might want to add one of the gospels to your own personal reading lists.

That's more like it. Your tuition monies have not been completely misspent.

So witty and clever...I think. I'm not sure because I'm just one of the dim schlubs that Christ loved and died for. I guess that is what you are trying to communicate? Could you dumb it down for me a bit because I'm not sure if this is just how elitist seminary students communicate the love of God. You might want to add one of the gospels to your own personal reading lists.