CNN.com has an interesting article profiling Christian author Donald Miller. The article leads to this comparison of Christianity:
Some experts say Miller and authors like him are in sync with a generation of young adults who very much believes in God, Jesus and the basics of Christianity, but are struggling to balance their conservative Christian upbringings with a culture that embraces a go-along-to get-along philosophy.
"People like Donald Miller are speaking almost like a prophet of a new age and describing the landscape in a way people who feel comfortable in that landscape really couldn't articulate before," said David Kinnaman, a researcher for The Barna Group and author of "Unchristian."
Critics call Miller's works casual and glib and that he strays from biblical truths when he downplays homosexuality and other sins.
One such critic, Shane Walker, says Miller presents Jesus as a "nice fellow who meets one at the campfire and swaps stories." He forgets to remind readers that Jesus is also a judge and avenger who "wants to save you from his just wrath," according to his review for "Blue Like Jazz" , an organization designed to help local churches re-establish their biblical bearings.
There is a tension among current Christians leaders on how Christianity is going to be shaped over the next couple of decades. You can see the old conservatives struggling to maintain their influence, while a younger generation, pushes the Faith left.
However, for me, I don't really fit in either group. I'm not a fan of Republican Christianity, but I also feel that Faith and Religion have to offer you something more than a just a good feeling. I don't want to go to church just to be told I'm special and God loves me. I know that already. I want to be challenged to sacrifice myself for others. And frankly, I don't see that type of honesty anywhere.
I agree that there is a tension between the establishment church leaders Gen X. However, I don’t agree that the younger generation is pushing the faith left. I see it more as a desire for aunthenticity, which some of us interpret as simply a rejection of fundamentalism. We want Jesus, but we don’t feel obligated to accept modern American Christian culture as well.
From my perspective, the tension comes from a generation who has spent a lot of time in the Bible and realized that the modern church doesn’t look much like the one Jesus talked about. We grew up with a lot of church experiences, complete with strobe lights and smoke machines. We got tired of being entertained but not seeing a significant impact in the world. We want something with substance so we began looking for something less sensational/emotional and more authentic.
Of course, the establishment is heavily invested in keeping people in their programs, so they’re concerned. They developed their programs with the sincere desire to be effective in the culture. However, significant parts of the culture have developed an immunity to their approach and has grown to resent their efforts. We are tired of having people play to our emotions because we’ve had hundreds of emotional experiences with nothing to show for it.
In some cases, I think the younger generation has attributed false motives to their parents in cases when they were simply mistakes. That has made it unnecessarily personal. But I don’t see it as a right v. left thing.
I have to agree with Doc’s sentiments. Even though most of modern church makes me ill, it doesn’t necessarily cause me to lean in a political direction. I think our generation is smarter as a result of better overall education and a more informative media (especially the internet). Because of this, we’re more skeptical, and even cynical, towards the previous generations who more strongly value tradition and duty rather than individual “truth”. We want something sincere for ourselves first, and then pass that to everyone else. That approach is opposed to pre-boomer thinking which says you have to toe the line before you can have the right to oppose the thinking of the establishment. These modes of thinking have been in such direct opposition that there can’t help but be rifts between generations, especially when it comes to deep beliefs about faith. The dogma of yesteryear does not sit well with Gen X&Y+, and many desert their faith rather than try to reconcile with or submit to the older generation’s way of thinking about faith. If they can’t live it sincerely, they would rather discard it.
But…there are many who still value their faith, believe in Jesus, and even have a strong desire to see the post-modern world affected by the truth of the Gospel – to have a meaningful impact that is relevant to post-modern generations. The IC has largely rejected any change to the status-quo, and has alienated millions of young believers by labeling them rebels or worse! (I recently had a friend of mine call me a commie liberal because I disagreed with some of the Republican agenda.) I think the perception that our generation leans “left” when leaving the church is because the church labels them that way. To quote another religious nut *cough*TomCruise*cough* in the recent news, “If you’re not with us, you’re against us.” The church has helped to polarize politics as “us vs. them” and there is no middle ground for discussion or open-minded thinking. If you’re not 100% pro-life, you’re a baby killer! If you don’t believe in Creationism, you’re an atheist going to Hell. If you’re not a Republican, then why are coming to my church you heathen?
I think a lot of young people are like Cat, they do want something real to be a part of, to contribute to the greater good, and it would be especially meaningful if they could partner those beliefs and actions with their faith. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work? So why do churches seem to miss the point on this?
Hey All! Wish I could take time to respond more often.
But this topic is dead-center where I’m at right now. I’m part of what these articles would call that older generation. But I’m part of that exodus out of mainstream church.
I don’t think those leaving are “leaning left” as any kind of political reaction, a swing left to balance the swing right. I think it’s deeper than that. We see church and realize that my church body differs from the world in only the most superficial and meaningless ways. Read Barna and the others.
I’d recommend Shane Claiborne’s “Irresistible Revolution: Confessions of an ordinary radical” to everyone here. He describes a life lived genuinely following in Christ’s footsteps. BEING the church, not going to or “doing” “Church”. The call to sacrifice and life change are working in me and, i confess, are beyond me even now. Some links, for some of what is being done tangibly:
http://www.thesimpleway.org/
http://www.awip.us/
Look into the new monasticism and other movements toward believers living a more connected and sacrificial life. Throwing away commercialism and greed, seeking to care for “the least of these.”
I was there, guys.
I helped Bill and Wendell and the others starting the Moral Majority PAC, getting Reagan elected… blah blah blah. Greed and Christianity should seem as far distant as Heaven and Hell. But there we were, handing out lawn signs at the church and staffing the election night call centers from youth group volunteers.
So, please don’t dismiss this.
As we see so often on the blog. Visit those sites, prayerfully consider what you see and the examples being set. Examine your life and the activities of whatever community you attend. We’re seeing a real change in the body of Christ.
(Wow. Way too serious. Someone say something funny, quick!)
–p
I want to be challenged to sacrifice myself for others. And frankly, I don’t see that type of honesty anywhere.
What would be considered a challenge is subjective.
To what degree an action would be considered a sacrifice is subjective.
The concept of honesty is usually subjective.
Without a defined goal you will never even know for yourself if you have attained what you think you are after. You will not know yourself and everyone around you will judge such subjectiveness in different ways.
There is a tension among current Christians leaders on how Christianity is going to be shaped over the next couple of decades.
If Christianity is to be reshaped, who would be qualified to do so, and by what authority?
In the time of Jesus there were the Sadducees and Pharisees – both social-political groups that seized the Old Testament and morphed it into a tool for their own agenda.
“he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” was the warning from Jesus.
When Christianity morphs it is no longer Christianity. There are modern day Sadducees and Pharisees and they constantly try and change Christianity to “conform” to an increasingly immoral and decaying society.
My suggestion for you is to join the Peace Corps or something like that.
Or maybe you could start tithing and giving a faith harvest offering.
I agree with FICM, there is a lot more to it than liberal vs. conservative. I hate these labels because it makes me feel that I am rooting for two sports teams rather than looking at an issue. We cannot always continue to view the world in the liberal-conservative linear spectrum.
Honestly, I dont see much of a difference between the tactics of liberals and conservatives. The so-called liberals can be just as judgmental and hypocritical as the conservatives. For example, about 2 yrs ago I was waiting for the MAX downtown with a co-worker. An abortion rights activist approached us. He assumed that since we were women, we would be for it.
My co-worker was not a Christian and looks like a tree-hugging hippie. She believes that the unborn baby also has rights. She politely disagreed with him and he just rudely yelled at her and called her a facist bigot because her thoughts didnt agree with his liberal agenda.
On the other hand, regarding abortion I once said that trying to legislate abortion may not be an effective way to stand up for righteousness. The finger was pointed at me for being feministic and compromising my Christian faith.
Blindly following political ideas without critically examining or discernment is dangerous. And lets be careful about how we use the terms liberal and conservative. As Christians we need to be educated and look beyond superficial labels of politics. I am an advocate for EDUCATION and not propaganda.
BTW…I have read Blue like Jazz and there was a statement in his book that said that there are Christian principles found in both republicans and democrats or something like that. In other words, Donald Miller is neither conservative or liberal in political terms.
Donald Miller is a self-procalimed conservative. But he’s not a partisan voter.
If everyone has their own correct idea then its basically just a matter of seeing which idea, when put into effect, works the best.
I am amazed, but not surprised, that the same approach to business is applied to the church. It means security! Do you know how many marriages are destroyed over issues of money? I have witnessed many of them firsthand since childhood. I can imagine that in some of the wealthy good hearts they are torn with a love/hate relationship towards their money.
Does greed factor in and take things overboard — yes, obviously. But also, to an extent, having expenses paid off (at least the minimums) makes moving on to the next level in life a bit easier.
As far as getting in over your head out of “faith” that God will provide is kind of risky and maybe not the wisest thing to do. I believe God gives us wisdom because he is interested to see what kind of good stewards we will become with this life he has given us.
Its kind of predictable and boring when someone just does the expected thing and buys a whole gang load of cool looking decorations to make their party better. Why not just break the party mold and do something crazy different? I guess maybe we are lacking creativity so we just go the route of expensive flash (since it works).
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For me — Conservatives have valid (extreme) points but seem to lack the sympathy, compassion, and unconditional love that someone who was poor (humble) might have.
For example — Kicking a hurting person down with legalistic facts isn’t going to do a damn thing in their broken state. Unconditional love (as crazy as it may seem) is what will breathe new life into their spirit because everyone is just SEARCHING for the spot where the true love treasure chest is found. Thats why people are so obsessed with dogs
I can’t say that I wish hard times on anyone but sometimes it seems as if thats the only thing that can take them out of the fairy-tale world of inevitable blessing they are stuck in or born in to. I am only speaking for myself and my own life experiences. I was raised silver spooned and thrown into the polar opposite around the age of 18 (22 now).
The wealthy ignorant often times are the ones hurting the most. Its pretty hard to open up and talk to someone when everyone is looking to YOU for the answers since you have provided them all along (at least in your own mind)
Pride is a DISEASE just like all sin. The worst part about pride is that it can’t ever admit that its sick!
At least other sins can be diagnosed but what do you do with pride? Can’t argue with it…..
So drown it out with the real thing…..
I guess to sum it up —
true love is something that speaks for itself
true love is ONLY felt
true love is never something you need to be even SLIGHTLY convinced of or hyped up over.
it always speaks for itself….
It is the loudest, silent cry the world can ever know.
I recommend “God’s Politics: how the right gets it wrong and the left doesn’t get it” (something like that). When I put a sticker on my Element that read “God is not a republican or a democrat” it offended my church friends. Crazy, huh?
–p
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I would say that he is either “liberally conservative’ or ” conservatively liberal “.
Makes as much sense as some of the comments here. (:>)
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That just shows how some people follow propaganda and do not know what they are believing or supporting.
I have heard some church people complain about liberals and that the public schools are so liberal and so on, but the same person does not really know the meaning of a democrat and republican. Some church people are naive in following a popular propaganda.
However, choosing to be a democrat just for the purpose of being ‘different’ or to show that u are not like those religious republicans is not much different than a naive church person blindly supporting the republican party.
I have no problem with a person who chooses to be conservative or supports the republican party as long as he or she makes a well-informed decision.
Some might take sides to add excitment and drama to life but there are MANY MORE without an educated voice out there screaming and crying for a change they can’t put into words.
It goes much deeper than just wanting to “pick sides” lady almond.
I know so many hurting people on the verge of suicide. They are turning rocks over for Jesus and feel like they can’t find him! These people who have never put a thumb on the bible seem to have more common kindness than opinionated christians.
It’s about pumping some heart softener into hardened hearts that have been thrown so far off track into this war AGAINST or FOR politics.
Business as usual for christiandom. The desperate need chills near the sidelines watchin well-to-do people “discuss”
The answer is found in silent witness to Jesus. What are you doing when nobody is watching?
Who gives a damn what we do in front of a crowd. It’s instinct to put on your best behavior in front of a bunch of well-to-do’s……….
so what kind of behavior do we put on when we are alone with ourselves….
this is what we should be concerned with maybe