Comments on: My Post-Evangelical Wilderness http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Choosing the Emotions You Want A-Z Link Directory http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-2#comment-523920 Choosing the Emotions You Want A-Z Link Directory Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:31:20 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523920 [...] My post-evangelical wilderness [...] [...] My post-evangelical wilderness [...]

]]> By: Digging a lot » Blog Archive » Some thoughts raised by songs…2 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-2#comment-523852 Digging a lot » Blog Archive » Some thoughts raised by songs…2 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:07:27 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523852 [...] http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness [...] [...] http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness [...]

]]> By: What Is the "Post-Evangelical Wilderness"? | Fallen and Flawed http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-2#comment-523579 What Is the "Post-Evangelical Wilderness"? | Fallen and Flawed Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:34:47 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523579 [...] I asked myself the same question the other day when I read Chaplain Mike’s post My Post-Evangelical Wilderness. [...] [...] I asked myself the same question the other day when I read Chaplain Mike’s post My Post-Evangelical Wilderness. [...]

]]> By: Patrick Lynch http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-1#comment-523383 Patrick Lynch Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:42:14 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523383 Why can't you become a Baptist and just not be a hardcore denominational bigot? Why can’t you become a Baptist and just not be a hardcore denominational bigot?

]]> By: Matthew Johnston http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-1#comment-523362 Matthew Johnston Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:29:26 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523362 nope. nope.

]]> By: JB http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-1#comment-523356 JB Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:59:06 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523356 Wow, this post has generated a lot of interest. Glad to know I am not alone. A few thousand comments back, Jasonthebaldguy said, "the reason behind non-denominational churches having minimal confessions is that they do not speak beyond what Christ has spoken…" If that is true, why do the evangelicals I know IMMEDIATELY say words that indicate their doubt of my salvation when they find out that enjoy cigarettes, single-malt whiskey, and movies beyond the rating of PG? The looks, the words, the mumblings... I am "hurting my witness," (witness to what... how closely I have matched my lifestyle to 1950s suburban America in order to prove to God that I am clean enough to get in on my own merits?), am not "leadership" material (I don't resemble the neat, clean, and odor-free exemplars like Ted Haggard and his ilk?) When asked what has "Christ spoken" that gives them their warrant to judge me, they've got nothing from the Bible. Just cultural preferences that seem to be more pressing than the actual text, or even the red-letters. I am not trying to unfairly criticize you personally or paint with a broad brush, but I think your characterization of non-denominational folks is a bit off. I've never met those of which you speak. The ones I know are adding stuff left and right. Maybe not as bad as all the other groups out there, but they are not anywhere close (in my experience) to "not [speaking] beyond what Christ has spoken." There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ, except from all those better people down at the church. I am hanging on to my faith, and praying that the Lord would grant repentance of my actual sins, and teach me anew about his grace and mercy to cover even a wretch like me, but my post-evangelical wilderness sometimes feels like I need to be ducking "friendly fire" of my Christian brothers and sisters. (Again, I have nothing against Jasonthebaldguy... just using his quote as an example of something that has been bothering me in my post-evangelical wilderness.) Under the Mercy- JB Wow, this post has generated a lot of interest. Glad to know I am not alone.

A few thousand comments back, Jasonthebaldguy said, “the reason behind non-denominational churches having minimal confessions is that they do not speak beyond what Christ has spoken…”

If that is true, why do the evangelicals I know IMMEDIATELY say words that indicate their doubt of my salvation when they find out that enjoy cigarettes, single-malt whiskey, and movies beyond the rating of PG? The looks, the words, the mumblings… I am “hurting my witness,” (witness to what… how closely I have matched my lifestyle to 1950s suburban America in order to prove to God that I am clean enough to get in on my own merits?), am not “leadership” material (I don’t resemble the neat, clean, and odor-free exemplars like Ted Haggard and his ilk?) When asked what has “Christ spoken” that gives them their warrant to judge me, they’ve got nothing from the Bible. Just cultural preferences that seem to be more pressing than the actual text, or even the red-letters.

I am not trying to unfairly criticize you personally or paint with a broad brush, but I think your characterization of non-denominational folks is a bit off. I’ve never met those of which you speak. The ones I know are adding stuff left and right. Maybe not as bad as all the other groups out there, but they are not anywhere close (in my experience) to “not [speaking] beyond what Christ has spoken.”

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ, except from all those better people down at the church. I am hanging on to my faith, and praying that the Lord would grant repentance of my actual sins, and teach me anew about his grace and mercy to cover even a wretch like me, but my post-evangelical wilderness sometimes feels like I need to be ducking “friendly fire” of my Christian brothers and sisters.

(Again, I have nothing against Jasonthebaldguy… just using his quote as an example of something that has been bothering me in my post-evangelical wilderness.)

Under the Mercy-
JB

]]> By: Matthew Johnston http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-1#comment-523345 Matthew Johnston Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:00:08 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523345 I am a little unsure at what you eman in your last "question" :) but yeah the 'control freak' setting is what I am referring to. I am a little unsure at what you eman in your last “question” :) but yeah the ‘control freak’ setting is what I am referring to.

]]> By: Headless Unicorn Guy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-1#comment-523341 Headless Unicorn Guy Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:44:22 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523341 This is called "Giving the boss a Reality Check/Keeping the boss honest." This is called “Giving the boss a Reality Check/Keeping the boss honest.”

]]> By: Headless Unicorn Guy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-1#comment-523340 Headless Unicorn Guy Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:39:51 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523340 <i>Many have experieced your situation [especially in the 'heavy shepherding' facet that does go on]. </i> "Heavy Shepherding" as in the Control Freak "Discipleship Movement"? AKA "Break the thought-criminal in Room 101, then fill him up with "He Loves Big Brother"? Many have experieced your situation [especially in the 'heavy shepherding' facet that does go on].

“Heavy Shepherding” as in the Control Freak “Discipleship Movement”?

AKA “Break the thought-criminal in Room 101, then fill him up with “He Loves Big Brother”?

]]> By: Headless Unicorn Guy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness/comment-page-1#comment-523339 Headless Unicorn Guy Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:37:18 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=5435#comment-523339 <i>Lack of theological depth? Are you talking about the theologies put forth by the likes of B. B. Warfield, J. I. Packer, John Stott, Millard Erickson, Carl Henry, and John Piper?</i> More like Benny Hinn, Ken Ham, Jack Chick, and whoever came up with The Four Spiritual Laws.. Lack of theological depth? Are you talking about the theologies put forth by the likes of B. B. Warfield, J. I. Packer, John Stott, Millard Erickson, Carl Henry, and John Piper?

More like Benny Hinn, Ken Ham, Jack Chick, and whoever came up with The Four Spiritual Laws..

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