Thursday, January 24, 2008

Is this how they see us?

Check out this provocative video and tell me what you think?

Is this accurate? Are we connecting with those around us? Does it even matter? Why? What can we do about it?



The video is intended to promote a new book entitled, UnChristian, that looks pretty interesting .

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I saw this and read excerpts from the UnChristian months back. Sounds like a bunch of Rob Bell, Brian Mclaren, Emergent church-driven gobble de goop to me.

Jesus’ culture didn’t like Him – they practically called him every name in the book. The same can be said for the apostles and every Christian down through history. They hate us because they hate Him.
When Jesus sent the twelve out He said, “ All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! Matthew 10:22-25
We Christians in America are not receiving the same persecution that the early church did. We don’t always act like Jesus either. But even if we did – do you think they would like us? NOT!
Some of the name-calling is warranted but no matter what we will be hated – we must take Jesus at His Word.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Why do I (Christians) want this world to like us so much? Why do I worry about what they think or say? In my opinion, it is the fear of man that would cause a Christian to ask such questions.

To be honest with you, I am so weary of Emergent church stuff like the UnChristian. “Oh Allen, you’re going over the top!” Think so? Look who endorses the book…

-Allen Peek

Tim said...

Allen has made his feelings and perspective known. Thanks, Allen.

Now I'd like to hear a few others respond to the video and to Allen.

I haven't looked at the endorsements for the book. I just thought the video was curious and raised some thought-provoking issues.

Brianna Heldt said...

The book looks interesting and based on the contributors (not sure who's endorsing it) I will definitely read it. People across the board like Chuck Colson, Margaret Feinberg, Rick Warren, and my favorite, Gary Haugen, have contributed to it, which makes it intriguing (to me).

I DO think it's a problem that Christians are known for hating homosexuals, for example. I DO think it's sad that we're so busy denouncing behavior in others that we neglect to meet needs and offer the world God's love.

Jesus was despised by some but He was NOT known for hating people. Far too often I believe we have forgotten that everything's pretty much worthless without love.

I am not advocating making ourselves "likable" to the world for the sake of being liked, and we will always be at odds with the world's values. Nor do I think we should spend a bunch of time trying to get people to "like us"--we should just be living radically for Christ and loving others. All too often I think we're disliked because of how we treat people, people made in God's image, not because we love Jesus.

I think so much of what you think about this is tied in with foundational views on Christianity, evangelism, etc. As for the emergent church, I think they have some good things to say, even if you (as I) don't agree with every single point made by every single author labeled "emergent."

Okay, there's my big long comment for the year. :)

Tim said...

For the year? I hope not, Brianna. Thanks for engaging!