Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Fear Church

I am tired of fear tactics used to manipulate people towards “faith”. Barking about pluralism, moral degradation, impending persecution (or get this the suggestion that we are already facing persecution in our stand on same-sex marriage or whatever) is blatant fear mongering. No wonder we are labelled as crutch walkers. That is what the Christian faith has become glorified escapism. What happened to being shrewd of crafty in our evaluation of our culture? What happened to the power of wisdom to out run the folly of our day? What do we have to offer people if it is nothing more than a reaction and an escape from the world around us?

I’m tired of preaching that resorts to fear mongering. Why can’t we say something from the pulpit that is not somehow couched in ramping up our fears?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Because that is what people want. Why else would be people watch snake-oil salesmen like Jack Van Impe and other "profiteers".

Sterling said...

The more that fear is preached and acted upon by Christians, the more we/they withdraw from society and the further society degredates. When Christian people isolate themselves in their homes, churches, schools and social clubs, they withdraw the lifegiving presence of Christ from society (or do they really have it to begin with if this is how they behave!). Such "Christian" people are complicit in the demise of society, leaving a lonely few to shoulder the burden of trying to make the world a better place. The former make me want to puke; the latter give me hope.