I am looking forward to Greg Laurie's big weekend in Rapid City to be over.
My problem with people like Greg Laurie is they are utterly convinced that they have a corner on the only spiritual reality that matters:
Jesus plainly said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the life. …" (John 14:6, NKJV) Yet despite this clear biblical teaching, another "emergent" leader says, "I see the world through the images of Christianity, which teaches me that I encounter God in everyone I meet, regardless of what they believe."
This is New Age mysticism, not New Testament Christianity. The truth is, you will only find Christ living in those who have put their faith in Him. Scripture reminds us, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12, NKJV). The doctrines of the "Emergent Church" do not represent the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints. In fact, it is a dangerous counterfeit.
This attitude kind of well, I'll say it, annoying, so you won't hear much of that kind of stuff if you go hear him speak this weekend. This kind of talk is saved for the "base" because he knows that it's a turnoff to people that aren't in the "club" yet. I personally experienced this change of rhetoric myself in high school when I experimented in evangelical faith and culture. (We have our regrets of bad choices of our youth; that's mine.)
But beyond annoying, this kind of unexamined, arrogant, exceptionalist spirituality also can lead to a cycle of spiritual violence (which can and has led to other kinds of violence as well).
This type of faith walk has led good people to allow discrimination and injustice, and it can even lead to actual violence against those that aren't inside the circle. GLBT folk of course, are often the first to be shown the door, their faith called into question and their gifts rejected by those that profess to love them. These are my friends.
Yeah, I have issues.
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Hey Bud,
ReplyDeleteI don't know who Greg Laurie is...is he important? Certainly not to me...he never came by for a chat or called to invite me out to coffee. Some nobody comes to my town and people go nuts. I'm pretty important around my house...nowhere else. Should I go to this guy's town and whoop it up? Let me know...I don't have anything to do other than care for my mother and father, mow the lawn, build my shop, fix meals, wash clothes, clean house, do the shoping, etc. How does he get away without caring for his house? Some guys have all the luck...travel around the world shouting at the top of his lungs and have people throw money at him like he was John the Baptist or something. I'll bet it's a donkey...he rides a donkey, right? Donkeys are so attractive to people they automatically go gahgah. I'm allergic to donkeys and palms...they give me hay fever. But I suppose I'll have to let people welcome me, too, sometime...and probably ride a donkey. Oh, DOES he not like gay folk? I'm really out then. He never ever met me and hates me sorta already. I'm kinda sweet on Timothy. And Peter isn't bad looking either. Then there's the old ball and chain, MM. Playing both sides, that's me. But that's alot of people. Shoot, I guess I'll go back to the shop and saw up some wood or something. If you see Paul, tell him we gotta talk about those gay folk. If I'm called the King of the Jews...well, we gotta accept everybody, y'know? Darn money changers...why do they have to come to this little berg?