Fundamentalist Heretics

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There is a point when Christian fundamentalists can become Christian heretics.

I am speaking of those that claim to believe and practice the two greatest commandments, which are to “Love God and to love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:37-40), yet incite in others only hateful feelings by their condemning, protesting, shaming, and disregard for their neighbors.  Far too often we have witnessed those that claim Christianity — fundamentalists, some proudly call themselves — use similar religious tactics the Pharisees in the Gospels employed that Jesus preached against.  Why has the religion of grace produced such a grace-less community?

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A Note On Interpretation, Especially of the Biblical Kind

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There is a statement being discussed among some of my fellow bloggers:

“I’m gettin’ real tired of all this postmodernist-relativistic-thought-applied-to-Christianity b—-sh—. Knock. it. the. hell. off. You don’t get to interpret the Bible based on your *feelings* or things you think the Holy Spirit told you that don’t line up with what the Bible actually, clearly says. There’s such a thing as absolute truth and you don’t get to screw with it.”

There are a few statements here that need to be addressed in relation to interpretation.

What does the Bible actually, clearly say?
You have to interpret based on your “feelings” (prejudices, etc.)
Humans and Absolute Truth

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Wandering Through Hebrews 5:7 - Jesus’ Loud Cries and Tears

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So also Christ did not glorify in himself in becoming a high priest…  In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Hebrews 5:5a and 7, NRSV

The book of Hebrews emphasizes Jesus’ humanity more than any other book in the New Testament.[1]  The alternating divine/human language about Christ can be perplexing at times, since the author weaves back and forth between the two in the same breath.  The epistle (and thus, Christianity) poses a perplexing paradox: 

Why does God have to be human to save humanity?

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Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34) Good Friday is the day Christians declare that “God is dead… We have killed him – you and I! We are all his murderers.”  The Saturday following is the observance that Jesus lay in the tomb.  For Christians, we await the resurrection that comes Sunday.  The Apostles, however, were not offered an immediate explanation:  the crucifixion was met with confusion and desperation.  Behind our explanations of Christ’s death, we must not forget the tragedy of the divine separation of the Son from the Father. We need to take this tragedy — this divine separation — more seriously. What if we read Christ’s death in Mark’s gospel with us keeping the relationship of the Trinity in mind?  I argue that this should be a foundational reading to truly grasp the weight of Christianity. Before I dive into this topic, I’d like to echo the sentiments of G.K. Chesterton: “I approach a matter more dark and awful than it is easy to discuss; and I apologize in advance if any of my phrases fall wrong or seem irreverent“. But in my tip-toeing around sacred ground, I want to ask: How seriously do we take “the cry from the cross: The cry which confessed that God was forsaken of God”? Read More Another post of mine on The Unitive for Holy Saturday!
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Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34)

Good Friday is the day Christians declare that “God is dead… We have killed him – you and I! We are all his murderers.”  The Saturday following is the observance that Jesus lay in the tomb.  For Christians, we await the resurrection that comes Sunday.  The Apostles, however, were not offered an immediate explanation:  the crucifixion was met with confusion and desperation.  Behind our explanations of Christ’s death, we must not forget the tragedy of the divine separation of the Son from the Father. We need to take this tragedy — this divine separation — more seriously.

What if we read Christ’s death in Mark’s gospel with us keeping the relationship of the Trinity in mind?  I argue that this should be a foundational reading to truly grasp the weight of Christianity.

Before I dive into this topic, I’d like to echo the sentiments of G.K. Chesterton:
“I approach a matter more dark and awful than it is easy to discuss; and I apologize in advance if any of my phrases fall wrong or seem irreverent“. But in my tip-toeing around sacred ground, I want to ask: How seriously do we take “the cry from the cross: The cry which confessed that God was forsaken of God”?

Read More

Another post of mine on The Unitive for Holy Saturday!

Taiwan Experiences, circa Mar 2012 by Megan

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organicsoymilk:

Today I came across an old chat conversation in which Alvin, a new friend at the time, asked me a few questions about my experiences in Taiwan. As it happens, this conversation happened 365 days ago, haha. Many of you back home have asked me, “What’s it like in Taiwan?” and I’ve never been able to answer that very well, so perhaps this more detailed (and slightly edited) Q&A session will provide more details than I’ve shared in the past.  I really enjoyed reading back over it and was also challenged by the realization that I’m not as mission-minded as I was last year.  

I hope you will also enjoy reading it, and please pray for me if I ever come to mind!
 
CHECK IT OUT
 
(Thanks again, Alvin, for asking such meaningful questions. Having this conversation made me realize things that I hadn’t previously recognized. As always, you help me develop my thoughts, and you are a great encouragement to my faith.)

Megan is a Christian living in Taiwan as a teacher.  Read up a little bit on her experience!

When God Doesn’t Listen Imagine, with me: A growing church is preparing for their next service. The preaching-teaching pastor has been laboring over a text’s meaning. The music team is perfecting their transitions between songs. Lights are programmed to fit in with the mood of each change. The video team is putting together a film in relation to the sermon. The flow of the service is discussed and then printed out. Sunday morning rolls around. You enter the sanctuary and it is packed. You feel the strong energy in the room, the lights are just right, the music is loud, the expression on everyone’s face is passionate and animated. The sermon is powerfully delivered, the video is moving, prayers are heartfelt, and even some tears are shed. You and everyone around feel the unity of this local church. You and the congregation, moved in your hearts and overwhelmed by awe, disperse for lunch. And now imagine God putting the divine hands over divine ears and weeping. Many familiar with the above would call this “worship”, but is it really worship if God is not listening? Without God listening, it is no more than a show or a carnival. Read More An article I wrote for The Unitive.  Check it out!
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When God Doesn’t Listen

Imagine, with me:

A growing church is preparing for their next service. The preaching-teaching pastor has been laboring over a text’s meaning. The music team is perfecting their transitions between songs. Lights are programmed to fit in with the mood of each change. The video team is putting together a film in relation to the sermon. The flow of the service is discussed and then printed out.

Sunday morning rolls around.

You enter the sanctuary and it is packed. You feel the strong energy in the room, the lights are just right, the music is loud, the expression on everyone’s face is passionate and animated. The sermon is powerfully delivered, the video is moving, prayers are heartfelt, and even some tears are shed. You and everyone around feel the unity of this local church. You and the congregation, moved in your hearts and overwhelmed by awe, disperse for lunch.

And now imagine God putting the divine hands over divine ears and weeping.

Many familiar with the above would call this “worship”, but is it really worship if God is not listening?

Without God listening, it is no more than a show or a carnival.

Read More

An article I wrote for The Unitive.  Check it out!