An Elbow In the Ribs

In the old days truth-telling prophets were ignored or beaten and burned at the stake for their unpopular proclamations against hypocritical hierarchy in the religious institutions. Nowadays they are unceremoniously shown the door, which is what happened to me a few years ago. This is where I vent about it. Reader warning: Some days I am really pissed because the religious conservatives who crucified Christ are still at it today, releasing a spirit of Barabbas into the streets.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy Rebellion Day

It is Independence Day and I am reminded again that independence is rooted in rebellion. Early American protest turned to resistance, then subversion and then rebellion and war. And it ended with freedom.

I came to this awareness on the first July Fourth after my exile from the church. I had protested bad decisions that my church leaders were making. They said I should submit to authority. I said, "Which authority, you or God? " "You or the by-laws of the church? "

I gave my friends permission to protest their church leadership in accordance with provisions of the church constitution. My actions were seen as subversive and rebellious, and they were. I was asked to leave.

To me it just seemed really silly - if not hypocritical - for one Protestant to tell another Protestant that he must not protest. Huh? Where did we get the title "Protestant"? Protestantism is rooted in rebellion. But the end of it was only partial freedom. Freedom from the old Catholic oppression and bondage to the newer Protestant oppression.

Anyway, I am a free man today. Free from institutional oppression by government and religion.

So, happy Rebellion Day, everybody! Enjoy your freedom.

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Favorite Books

unChristian, What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity ... and Why it Matters, David Kinnaman, head of The Barna Group. Christianity has an image problem with 16-to-29-year-olds who think of it as anti-gay, judgmental, critical and too political.
The Normal Christian LIfe, Watchman Nee. A real awakening into what the Christian life should be - apart from the church.
Rob Bell, Love Wins, A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. 2011, Harper Collins Publishers. A fresh look at some old theological ideas. Millions of Christians have struggled with how to reconcile God's love and God's judgment: Has God created billions of people over thousands of years only to select a few to go to heaven and everyone else to suffer forever in hell? Is this acceptable to God? How is this "good news"?
Searching For God Knows What, by Donald Miller. Read this to gain perspective and objectivity. My short review: "The realities of life and the universe clearly defined in anecdotes." Really, I feel I understand the human condition much better after reading this book.
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. This book demonstrates the organic, incarnational mission of believers these days to reverse the previous generation's exodus from the inner city to the suburbs, now intentionally migrating back to the areas of deepest need. See www.thesimpleway.org
The Present Future by Reggie McNeal. A very helpful book, not only in understanding the current Reformation, but also offering hopeful strategies for adapting to the emerging culture.
Punk Monk by Andy freeman & Pete Greig. New monasticism. The first 10 years of the 24/7 Prayer Movement.
Mere Churchianity by the late Michael Spencer (the Internet Monk). Finding your way back from church-shaped spirituality to Jesus-shaped spirituality.
Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola & George Barna. Exploring the roots of our church practices. Don't read this if you are comfortable with traditional church and like it that way.
The Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll. If everybody lived by the message of this book there would be peace in the world.

Favorite Quotes

"When you get close to God you don't become more spiritual, you become more loving." --John Fischer
"Love God, then do as you please." --St. Augustine
"People are more important than stuff. Always." --Bob Sims
"Judging is the very essence of gracelessness and goes counter to the grain of the Cross." --Anthony Ferrell
"What if evangelism in our time is more about listening than speaking?" --Jim Henderson, Todd Hunter, and Craig Spinks, in their book The Outsider Interviews.
"Lend your voices only to sounds of freedom. No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from." --Jewell
"Christianity can be built around isolating ourselves from evildoers and sinners, creating a community of religious piety and moral purity. That's the Christianity I grew up with. Christianity can also be built around joining with the broken sinners and evildoers of our world crying out to God, groaning for grace. That's the Christianity I have fallen in love with." --Shane Claiborne
"The Truth of God is here in Christianity, but it is heavily disguised by religion." --Bob Sims