Bravo! I just read an article in the Living Church today by a bishop friend of mine that represented everything you talked about here. Most institutional Churches today belong to the Diocese of Laodicea.
There’s a point soon after Hitler was rising in power that a German Pastor Martin Nemour had a meeting with Hitler, still hoping that this rising leader wasn’t that bad of a guy.
Upon entering, Nemour is confronted with a transcript of phone calls where he was making light of Hitler.
And Hitler says to him, “listen Mr. Pastor, you shut up… you just worry about your sermons. I’ll worry about the Third Reich. You stay in your religious lane, you preach your little gospel and WE will run the world. You will bow your knee to the Furher!”
That same lie is what pastors in America are believing today. That: “Our sermons are to be only about the Gospel.” In order to keep favor with most people, because we certainly want everyone to like us.
But Jesus said we are to be in the world, but not of it, and for that reason we will be hated(John 15:19).
How do we break out of pietism, by sharing truth in every platform/situation we can.
Jesus truth defeats the devil’s lies.
Transgender lies have been propagating here in America because Christians have been silent, inviting pietism.
Pastors haven’t been encouraging their people to resist evil by speaking out against evil.
We all want to leave a quiet and peaceful life as much as it depends on us. However, I do know there are times when we need to turn the tables with righteous anger. I often wonder: when do we turn them? When do we keep quiet? Jesus was quiet throughout his trial and crucifixion, with very few words here and there. He was vocal at the temple with the money exchanging tables. In our world: when do we do it? Do we speak out against a coworker who is transgender or do we speak up at the ballots? Do we limit ourselves to refusing to use pronouns, or do we actively teach against it? Oh, Lord, give me wisdom! But I am so thankful I am not a man, the provider for our family. If I lose my job over what is right, oh well. But for the men, the stakes are much higher. I pray the Lord will give you all wisdom and boldness to act at the right time…
There is a range of actions we might take in any given circumstance, and wisdom has to dictate what options are available to us. Sometimes we might act with righteous anger, other times we might not. The point of this essay is that pietism has convinced Christians that they must always be in a defeatist mode of action, when that's not always the case. So, for example, I think going along with transgender pronouns is a violation of the 9th commandment that forbids bearing false witness. Eight of the 10 Commandments are framed negatively ("you shall not") because it's easier to define and forbid bad actions than to prescribe and require good actions.
This article is way above my pay grade to "totally" understand but I agree wholeheartedly. We as Christians lack the courage to confront wrong when we see it. We figure it's someone else's responsibility to call it out. We just want to stay in our own little bubble where everything remains well. I guess Christians by nature are not confrontational creatures.
Excellent analysis. I've studied the problems in American evangelicalism for some time. But I've yet to see the link to a sort of pietism exposed this well.
I formerly went all in on New Age and occult spirituality because I recognized real spiritual power and ability over there — nothing like what “Christianity” presented in my youth (and even now).
When those who are in the realms of dark spiritual power come to know the Supremecy and availability(!) of God’s power through Christ, it is an easy “yes” to walk with God.
No one wants to say “yes” to a life of hypocrisy, impotency, and the foolish denial of the reality of the supernatural and actual spiritual power — and that is what is presented by the present “face” of evangelical xtianity.
Bravo! I just read an article in the Living Church today by a bishop friend of mine that represented everything you talked about here. Most institutional Churches today belong to the Diocese of Laodicea.
You nailed it! Sometimes it takes nails.
Right on Pastor Clary…
There’s a point soon after Hitler was rising in power that a German Pastor Martin Nemour had a meeting with Hitler, still hoping that this rising leader wasn’t that bad of a guy.
Upon entering, Nemour is confronted with a transcript of phone calls where he was making light of Hitler.
And Hitler says to him, “listen Mr. Pastor, you shut up… you just worry about your sermons. I’ll worry about the Third Reich. You stay in your religious lane, you preach your little gospel and WE will run the world. You will bow your knee to the Furher!”
That same lie is what pastors in America are believing today. That: “Our sermons are to be only about the Gospel.” In order to keep favor with most people, because we certainly want everyone to like us.
But Jesus said we are to be in the world, but not of it, and for that reason we will be hated(John 15:19).
How do we break out of pietism, by sharing truth in every platform/situation we can.
Jesus truth defeats the devil’s lies.
Transgender lies have been propagating here in America because Christians have been silent, inviting pietism.
Pastors haven’t been encouraging their people to resist evil by speaking out against evil.
It's good to see you posting again... well done.
We all want to leave a quiet and peaceful life as much as it depends on us. However, I do know there are times when we need to turn the tables with righteous anger. I often wonder: when do we turn them? When do we keep quiet? Jesus was quiet throughout his trial and crucifixion, with very few words here and there. He was vocal at the temple with the money exchanging tables. In our world: when do we do it? Do we speak out against a coworker who is transgender or do we speak up at the ballots? Do we limit ourselves to refusing to use pronouns, or do we actively teach against it? Oh, Lord, give me wisdom! But I am so thankful I am not a man, the provider for our family. If I lose my job over what is right, oh well. But for the men, the stakes are much higher. I pray the Lord will give you all wisdom and boldness to act at the right time…
There is a range of actions we might take in any given circumstance, and wisdom has to dictate what options are available to us. Sometimes we might act with righteous anger, other times we might not. The point of this essay is that pietism has convinced Christians that they must always be in a defeatist mode of action, when that's not always the case. So, for example, I think going along with transgender pronouns is a violation of the 9th commandment that forbids bearing false witness. Eight of the 10 Commandments are framed negatively ("you shall not") because it's easier to define and forbid bad actions than to prescribe and require good actions.
This article is way above my pay grade to "totally" understand but I agree wholeheartedly. We as Christians lack the courage to confront wrong when we see it. We figure it's someone else's responsibility to call it out. We just want to stay in our own little bubble where everything remains well. I guess Christians by nature are not confrontational creatures.
Yes.
Excellent analysis. I've studied the problems in American evangelicalism for some time. But I've yet to see the link to a sort of pietism exposed this well.
I formerly went all in on New Age and occult spirituality because I recognized real spiritual power and ability over there — nothing like what “Christianity” presented in my youth (and even now).
When those who are in the realms of dark spiritual power come to know the Supremecy and availability(!) of God’s power through Christ, it is an easy “yes” to walk with God.
No one wants to say “yes” to a life of hypocrisy, impotency, and the foolish denial of the reality of the supernatural and actual spiritual power — and that is what is presented by the present “face” of evangelical xtianity.